So, Earl and I are waiting for a good weather window here on Green Turtle Cay. If one has to get “stuck” somewhere, Green Turtle in the Bahamas is a great place for it. Earl and Karen left Temptation at the Green Turtle Club in White Sound. This small resort and marina is one of my favorite spots in the Abacos. We spent time here in Intuition, and it is where we cleared in with customs when I helped Jim and Barb cross on Skat.
The fish cleaning station is empty, but the staff here is ready to help whenever the next boat comes in.
At this time of year, the vast majority of boats here are of the power persuasion. We are one of only two sailboats in the marina. With hurricane season approaching and the potential for daily afternoon thunderstorms, speed on the water can translate to safety.
Earl had arranged to stay at the Green Turtle Club through June 8, but the weather wasn’t getting better. An ugly system of thunderstorms was moving up from Key West with 40-50 knot winds predicted in and around squalls. The marina had reservations for a group of power boats coming in from Florida so we, reluctantly, left the slip.
Before leaving GT Club, Earl rented a golf cart so we could do a provisioning run into the town of New Plymouth. I spotted this van, then realized that our golf cart was actually larger!
Pavement has arrived on the island. New blacktop has covered the shell and gravel road all the way from White Sound to New Plymouth. The ride was considerably smoother than on my last visit, three years ago. I wonder if the number of accidents will increase of decline.
In New Plymouth we enjoyed conch burgers at “2 Shortys” where we were the only non-locals. It is worth going a couple blocks off the main street to save a few dollars and enjoy conversation with the the folks that live on the island.
One old home has been populated by coconut pirates.
The same home, seen from another angle, is being reclaimed by the local flora.
Back at the marina, a unique looking ketch catamaran named Wabi-Sabi came in for fuel.
Still no room here at Green Turtle Club, so we left to grab a mooring. After a comedy of errors on my part, we managed to tie up (and prove that the boat hook floats). Unfortunately the mooring was marked “reserved” on an attached float. Ended up getting a slip at the Bluff House where they “might” have room for us through Friday night.
Owners of “The Office” cruise the Caribbean Sea selling see through kayaks to resorts. The mount one on each side of the bow as demonstrators. While they wouldn’t be anything special in the USA, in the clear Bahamian waters they would be great fun.
The other side of the hill beckoned at sunset and I was rewarded with a beautiful view.
A couple watched their last sunset as singles from a Bluff House balcony. The resort was readying the beach for their Saturday wedding.
Conch shells marked the end of each bench and the rain stayed away for this destination wedding.
Someone with a sense of humor posted this sign on a palm tree.
Killing some time we took the dinghy to the inner part of White Sound. At least ten boats were washed up in the mango swamps, evidence of the power of hurricanes.
Walked over the hill to the Tranquil Turtle for lunch and a couple of Kaliks. The cafe offers a breeze and and a view of boats and waves on the Sea of Abaco.
The hill is steep. We wonder how many golf carts have ended up in the ocean at the bottom.
Here’s the view from the Tranquil Turtle. Not a bad spot to sit and relax.
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This curly tailed lizard was waiting outside the kitchen door for any table scraps that might emerge.
On the way back we found some land for sale with a lookout tower to lure potential buyers. Climbed up and there was a great view of White Sound and the Sea of Abaco.
Earl looked at home on the perch high above the bluff. This would never be considered safe back in the states.
This bit of island infrastructure is the local filling station. It exists solely as a stand-alone gas pump. You fill up and drive to the marina where you can pay your bill.
Evidence that there really was rain and wind making it worth waiting here at Green Turtle. Chris Parker predicted unsettled weather with 40-50 knot winds in squalls through Saturday.
The continuing poor weather delayed boats coming over from Florida, so the marina didn’t have to kick us out.
Our dock neighbors left a day prior to us with one of two engines broken, a dinghy with a shorted electrical system due to a partial sinking, and no working generator. We wished the couple, their two teenage daughters, and five dogs an uneventful and settled voyage to Freeport.
We plan to depart tomorrow and will watch for them along the way.