Our last night at the Tiki Hut Pam met Kevin, the lead singer for the Gully Roosters, a long time favorite band of the Abacos. It just happened to take place while I was taking something to the boat. She said he gave her a full body hug that almost made her blush! I think he put a scare in to her because we had no problem leaving in the morning!
Wednesday 3/25/12 We cruised out into the Sea of Abaco and headed towards an area called "The Whale". A passage open to the Atlantic that can at times be impassable. Fortunately our passage wasn't bad with just a 4' swell rolling in from the ocean. We travelled just a few miles further before dropping the anchor in Fischer Bay off the shores of Great Guana Cay.
Once secured we dropped Minnie T into the drink and went off in search of Nipper's Bar. We tied off to the public dock in Settlement Bay and walked over the hill to Nipper's. Since it was a weekday the place was pretty subdued with only a few testosterone filled sportfishermen sitting at the bar. Apparently Sunday is the day that things get cranking with a pig roast and music.
Nipper's has a great view of the reef just offshore and access to a beautiful beach. Truly a tropical paradise with alcohol, food, and souveniers to round out the amenities! Yes I bought the t-shirt!
The remainder of the day we enjoyed the sun and scenery sitting in the cockpit of Tourist.
Thursday 3/26/12 We awoke to the rocking from the wakes of passing sportfishermen heading out to get those elusive fish. Following coffee we pulled anchor and sauntered in to Marsh Harbour to find the Jib Room where we had reserved a slip for the next few nights to use as a base of operations while my son Ryan visits us.
Once we made radio contact with them they instructed me to head into a fairway that got narrower as you went in. Only when we were beside the slip did they realize that we may be too big so I was instructed to back out while they found us another, more accomodating slip. Just inside the T head was where we ended up. Much better! We went up to check in and scope the place out.
While at the bar/office/restaurant we decided to have lunch and combined it with laundry. Only $4.00 a load! Pam was cranked! Not so much at the price but because one of the employee's was doing her laundry and had things backed up. That was only the first problem. The biggie was that we couldn't get internet at the boat and when we brought it up to the bar we still couldn't get on. One night without internet at a marina is ok. Several without is a deal breaker. The final straw came when upon Ryan's arrival we tried to have dinner only to be informed that they weren't serving food and in fact were just about to close for the night! Pam's galley here we come!
Ryan's flight was on time and in spite of our keeping a lookout he was walking out the dock before we saw him. We relaxed after dinner and visited into the night.
Friday 3/27/12 Before we checked out of the Jib Room Pam made biscuits & gravy for breakfast. A truck stop treat that is unsurpassed! I also took the dink across the harbor to check out Mangoe's Marina and more importantly their internet. While over there I spotted a familiar boat last seen on the Tennessee River. Nauti Nell, a fellow looper is in the next marina over from Mangoe's. Hopefully we can catch up with them before we head out of Dodge.
Anyway Mangoe's looked good and got good reviews from the folks I talked to.
With a forecast that looked like spring in the Midwest rather than the Bahamas we headed out in Tourist to explore the area. We rode over past the lighthouse at HopeTown and down to Tahiti Beach where we dropped the anchor and went to shore. In spite of the windy overcast conditions we checked out the area and talked to the others on the beach before going back to Tourist. On the reccomendation of one of the beachcombers we headed off in the dink to Cracker P's for lunch. Another beach bar setting with decent food and two little dogs that wouldn't leave our table side.
After Cracker P's we dinghied back to Tourist and headed to Marsh Harbour to find our new slip at Mangoe's.
That evening Pam prepared the last of the Bahamain lobsters for dinner which of course were delicious!
Saturday 3/28/12 Unfortunately the forecast was right and Saturday arrived with increased winds and rain which squashed any plans for venturing away from the dock. Sunday was even worse. Unfortunately for Ryan the weather wasn't what any of us had hoped for during his visit. We did get to spend a lot of time catching up, watching movies, eating, drinking, & smoking cigars under the gazebo at the marina! In spite of the weather it was great to have him here even if it was for only a short time. Monday came all too fast and in keeping with the week-end he flew out in the rain!
Shortly after Ryan departed we lost the internet for 2 days. It wasn't until the 3rd day after he left that we had word that he made it home safely! That sucked!
No comments:
Post a Comment