Mid February - Mid March 2007

We’ve given up our home base mooring in Man-o-War as of 3/1/07 and have become a Marsh Harbour dweller. Not much traveling lately. We have been working very hard preparing Escape for her trip to the Central Bahamas. Her crew is getting anxious to explore new areas. It’s definitely time to move on.

Marsh Harbour Anchorage

Tom has been occupied with making sure all systems are a go. Things like checking the

engine - a BIG necessity even for a sailboat. We do enjoy having 2 sources of power - sail and power. Changing fuel filters can have you standing on your head in cramped places.

Then there’s tearing the entire aft cabin apart to remove the back wall for checking hoses, fuel tank, holding tank and macerator (the means of pumping our sewage overboard). I think you’d agree this would be an important feature to have working. All systems appear to be in good shape.

Inventory of necessary spare parts is easy. It’s hunting the islands for the establishments that carry the parts you need to get that’s time consuming. This saves frustration when something breaks in exotic places and it takes forever to get a replacement shipped in.

Next comes the worst part of all - reprovisioning. We’ve been told from fellow cruisers that supplies in Eleuthera are plentiful but the Exumas are another story. The grocery stores in Marsh Harbour can supply us with what we feel we need and/or want. Of course at a higher price than in the US but at least we can get them.

Challenge #1

Getting the groceries from the store to the dinghy.

Challenge #2

Getting all the groceries in the dinghy and back to the boat.

Challenge #3

Finding places to stow it all.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED !!


We have still forced ourselves to make time to enjoy special moments with the friends we’ve made as well as the special encounters with nature (finding treasures, dolphins, jumping eagle rays are just a few).

Momma and baby fishing in Marsh Harbour.

One very special event was the most delicious Chinese meal we’ve ever had. It was onboard MaCherie with Bob & Lana. Lana truly outdid herself, right down to handmade egg rolls.

We have made many friends and memories, too numerous to count that will be with us forever. The Abacos have been a great place. However it is time to move on.


Our last weeks in Abaco will be enjoyed and shared with family. Tom’s sister, Colleen and husband, Marcel have rented a villa on Elbow Cay 3/17-3/31. We are looking forward to the fun times ahead with them.