Good morning from Sand Dollar Beach, Stocking Island,
Exumas.
Exumas.
Yesterday school was done in under two hours, so we
had time to visit Georgetown before lunch. It is about 1.5 nm over across
Elizabeth Harbour. There is a huge Batelco tower that makes an easy landmark
when looking for the town. The shopping area circles Lake Victoria which has a
tiny link to the harbour under a small bridge. Once inside the lake, there is a
long floating dinghy dock at Exuma Market where there were already 35 dinghies
tied up. There is free R/O water available at the dock and trash disposal
beside the grocery. The market had the biggest selection we’ve found in the
since leaving Nassau. Ran into Susan Goldsworthy from Hillsboro, NC while
shopping. She and Tom are doing well aboard “Gypsy Soul” and will be
here for several more weeks.
had time to visit Georgetown before lunch. It is about 1.5 nm over across
Elizabeth Harbour. There is a huge Batelco tower that makes an easy landmark
when looking for the town. The shopping area circles Lake Victoria which has a
tiny link to the harbour under a small bridge. Once inside the lake, there is a
long floating dinghy dock at Exuma Market where there were already 35 dinghies
tied up. There is free R/O water available at the dock and trash disposal
beside the grocery. The market had the biggest selection we’ve found in the
since leaving Nassau. Ran into Susan Goldsworthy from Hillsboro, NC while
shopping. She and Tom are doing well aboard “Gypsy Soul” and will be
here for several more weeks.
One hundred percent humidity and a temp of 92 made
wandering about town wear thin quickly. We are still looking for the elusive 3
amp mini fuse and neither the marine or hardware stores carried fuses. Faced
with a 1.5 mile walk to the auto parts store we elected to take our groceries
and return on a cooler day. Beth did find a good looking head of cabbage in the
straw market as we were leaving.
wandering about town wear thin quickly. We are still looking for the elusive 3
amp mini fuse and neither the marine or hardware stores carried fuses. Faced
with a 1.5 mile walk to the auto parts store we elected to take our groceries
and return on a cooler day. Beth did find a good looking head of cabbage in the
straw market as we were leaving.
The breeze on the water felt great as we zoomed back
across the harbour. After depositing the groceries we set off for the southern
tip of stocking island to explore some coral reefs. We just let the dinghy
drift and watched the underwater scene go by through the glass viewing window.
This is referred to locally as “Bahamian TV.”
across the harbour. After depositing the groceries we set off for the southern
tip of stocking island to explore some coral reefs. We just let the dinghy
drift and watched the underwater scene go by through the glass viewing window.
This is referred to locally as “Bahamian TV.”
Noah did get into the coconut that his friend from
Black Point gave him. It took the electric drill to get into the husk. After
anticipating sweet coconut milk for four days, the sour liquid that came out
was a real disappointment.
Black Point gave him. It took the electric drill to get into the husk. After
anticipating sweet coconut milk for four days, the sour liquid that came out
was a real disappointment.
The local vhf radio has been interesting. When
anchored off Black Point, the local power company came on channel 16 and warned
folks that the disconnect team was going to be on the island today, so
“you better check and make sure your bills are paid.” Here in
Georgetown there is a very active morning radio net with commercial
announcements, items for trade, and local activities.
anchored off Black Point, the local power company came on channel 16 and warned
folks that the disconnect team was going to be on the island today, so
“you better check and make sure your bills are paid.” Here in
Georgetown there is a very active morning radio net with commercial
announcements, items for trade, and local activities.
After lunch we visited Volleyball Beach, a hub of activity
on Stocking Island. The Chat n’ Chill allows cruisers to use the large beach in
return for purchasing beverages from them. Adults were playing Volleyball,
Bocci, Dominoes and weaving baskets. Kids were swinging from ropes and building
sand castles. Noah’s friend David showed up so they went lizard hunting and
played on the rope swings.
on Stocking Island. The Chat n’ Chill allows cruisers to use the large beach in
return for purchasing beverages from them. Adults were playing Volleyball,
Bocci, Dominoes and weaving baskets. Kids were swinging from ropes and building
sand castles. Noah’s friend David showed up so they went lizard hunting and
played on the rope swings.
We drove the dinghy around the three natural hurricane
holes near Volleyball Beach. Boats are stacked in the outer holes like
sardines. The inner holes now have mooring balls. I walked around the beach and
could almost touch the stern of a couple of anchored boats, they were so close
to the land. It might be protected from the wind, but is way too crowded for me
to be comfortable. Today’s photo is of the anchorage cove behind the Chat N’ Chill.
holes near Volleyball Beach. Boats are stacked in the outer holes like
sardines. The inner holes now have mooring balls. I walked around the beach and
could almost touch the stern of a couple of anchored boats, they were so close
to the land. It might be protected from the wind, but is way too crowded for me
to be comfortable. Today’s photo is of the anchorage cove behind the Chat N’ Chill.
Around dinner time the winds picked up as predicted
and we had steady 25 with gusts to 32 overnight. The spacing of the boats is
good and there was no reversing current to worry about so it was actually a
fairly comfortable night. Too much wind for the KISS, so we shut that down
before going to bed. Winds will continue to be in the twenties today before
decreasing tonight, so we will probably just hang out on the boat.
and we had steady 25 with gusts to 32 overnight. The spacing of the boats is
good and there was no reversing current to worry about so it was actually a
fairly comfortable night. Too much wind for the KISS, so we shut that down
before going to bed. Winds will continue to be in the twenties today before
decreasing tonight, so we will probably just hang out on the boat.
