Thursday, May 25 - Monday, May 29, 2006

After spending a few days in Marsh Harbour, we headed out Thursday to Great Guana Cay. We really enjoy Great Guana, remote beach but still enough happenings if you want them.

While walking the beach on Friday, we met a lovely young girl named Catie. She taught us about different shells and the art of sea glass discovery. She and her grandmother took up the hobby when Catie was a little girl. Her family was vacationing on Great Guana for a couple weeks.

Catie

One of our favorite spots is the Sunset Beach Bar owned by Jerry and Chorene Fording. Saturday is their all you can eat BBQ rib night. Outstanding ribs!!! The best in the Abacos.

Jerry and Chorene Fording

After an entertaining trip to Nipper’s on Sunday, we decide to head out Monday to start our final visits to places in the Abacos. The Bahamas tour will be winding down this next month. We headed back over to Treasure Cay, this time to the anchorage not the dock. The anchorage and moorings have complete use of the resort amenities. The unlimited, long running water in the shower is definitely a real treat!!
(total trip - 20 nm)

Friday, May 19 - Sunday, May 21.2006
Left Hope Town and headed south to Little Harbor.

Spent the night at an anchorage off Tilloo Cay. Development seems to just be starting there. Only a couple houses there with two under construction. A turret on the point was really neat looking. We had the anchorage to ourselves. Very peaceful!!

With another beautiful sunrise, we pulled anchor and headed further south to Little
Harbor. Stopped for lunch between Sandy Cay and Cornish Cay. The water colors there were just amazing!! Absolutely incredible!! Pictures couldn’t capture it. Just breathtaking.

Onward to Little Harbor. Escape’s draft is way too deep to enter the channel for Little Harbor, home of Pete’s Pub, so we wanted to anchor just outside and dinghy in but the wind direction didn’t cooperate. The water erosion near the beach was forming some natural bridges.

Plan B lead us back to Lynyard Cay, just north of Little Harbor. Again only 6 boats in the anchorage. Ashore we walked across to the Atlantic Ocean side finding a little different shoreline. Things were a bit more rustic, ,like the north shore of Aruba. Erosion of the coral from the crashing surf formed cliffs and blowholes.

Sunday morning we sailed back to Marsh Harbour for provisions. (total trip - 48 nm)

Friday, May 12 - Wednesday, May 17, 2006

We had a great visit with Katie and her boyfriend, Eric. They arrived at Marsh Harbour airport late Friday afternoon. Saturday morning we sailed to Baker’s Bay on Great Guana Cay. Baker’s Bay is an isolated anchorage and we dinghied over to Spoil Cay to go shelling then enjoyed the sunset with a speidi BBQ, discovering that Eric is a natural conch horn blower. Sunday morning to celebrate Tom’s 50th birthday, we sailed to Fisher’s Bay, also on Great Guana Cay where we snorkeled, attended the afternoon pig roast at Nipper’s Bar and Grill. We then enjoyed Sunset Grabbers and the sunset at the Sunset Beach Bar (a little shack with a pool on the beach). Monday’s sail brought us to Hope Town on Elbow Cay where we snorkeled, walked the beach and explored the island. On Tuesday we awoke to yet another front causing squalls with winds of 58 knots and heavy rain. Dodging rain showers, the day’s activities including a visit to the Hope Town lighthouse and ending with dinner at Captain Jack’s. Wednesday morning we headed to Marsh Harbour airport via the Hope Town ferry. After an hours delay due to storms in Florida, Katie and Eric departed and are off to New Jersey and then up to Vermont to visit Rebecca and George.


Katie & Eric.


Katie’s idea of shelling.



Tom’s version.


Katie & Eric enjoyed the snorkeling.

Get nipped at Nipper’s famous beach bar.



Get grabbed with sunset grabbers at the Sunset Beach Bar.

Hope Town Lighthouse.

Friday, May 12, 2006

WOW!! After listening to the cruiser’s net, a powerful squall hit Marsh Harbour anchorage. Winds blew in excess of 50 knots with gusts up to 78 knots - hurricane force winds (hurricane winds begin at 63 knots). Escape’s anchor held to the very end when the BIG gust held us sideways to the wind but it did reset itself. Squall lasted about 45 minutes but felt like eternity. While tending to the excitement outside, we were surprised to find the cabin trashed after the squall. In the calm and everyone assessing damages - 2 boats had shredded their jibs or headsails and many boats re-anchored.

Saturday, May 6,2006

Life’s not always for playing. Work day at the Jib Room in Marsh Harbour.
Blog site updates.

Some things never change even if your location does. Laundry is always there but an ice cold Kalik makes even the worst chores bearable.

Then there is water to get.

Monday, May 8,2006

Brown Tip, of Brown Tips Boat Bottoms Cleaning, scrapes the red hair off Escape’s bottom. YUK!! Horrible job!! He is also know as the “saw man” in the “rake ‘n scrape” band that provided the entertainment for the Cinco de Mayo celebration we attended at Snappa’s Restaurant. Great guy with lots and lots of energy!!

Ferries are the mode of transportation for locals and tourists. There are used for not only pleasure but for transporting employees and also as a school bus for children from the outer islands into Marsh Harbour.

Thursday, April 27 - Monday, May 1, 2006

Winds of 20 - 30 knots with higher gusts for several days caused us to hole up at Treasure Cay Marina. Not much here but the resort and the beach. We were forced to relax at the beach, read, do puzzles, go for walks and plan where to next.

During a walk on the beach, Tom discovered a new friend, a Portuguese Man-of-War jellyfish that had washed ashore.

"Birdi...where are you?? I want to chase you!!"

Tuesday, May 2, 2006

Left Treasure Cay, headed to Great Guana Cay. Anchored in Crossing Bay for some solitude. Or so what we thought until we were joined by a pair of seagulls. One tried to steal Babette's sandwich from the cockpit when we were below. Tom saved the sandwich just in time. (trip - 11.2 nm)

Wednesday, May 3, 2006

From Guana Cay to Marsh Harbour (trip - 9.7 nm). Were able to restock supplies from the bountiful groceries and after 20 some days of limited options, Solomon’s Superstore and Price Right Grocery were like hitting the jackpot. Able to get internet connection set up…so we are now connected (at least when we are near a hotspot). Conch horn symphonies at sundown are a nightly happening in Marsh Harbour. Babette has mastered the skill and Tom is still practicing.

Sunrise in Marsh Harbour.

Friday, May 5, 2005

The Conch Lady - $5 per cup of fresh conch salad.

Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Snappa’s Restaurant during happy hour.