The cruising community is really very small and it doesn’t take long before you run into someone who knows someone, or something about you or your boat. Last week Jeff stopped by in his dinghy with his two boys. He had heard us (SongBird) hailing another boat on the radio earlier in the day. He had to come by and check us out, to see if we were the same SongBird that used to belong to his friends… sure enough we were or more accurately she (SongBird) was. Jeff took pictures so he could pass them on to the previous owners to see what we had done to her, and how she was looking. We have since been in touch with them.
Yesterday we went with a small group to clean up a beach. Well it doesn’t take long before you wonder when or how they will stop producing plastics, or think of some way to deal with this enormous problem. Every piece of trash we picked up was plastic. The impact on our environment is horrific. I could not help recalling the dead baby Gooney birds out on Midway Island that had died from starvation because so much of the “food” that the parents brought back was plastic. After they would die and their feathery bodies had decomposed, there would be left, a pile of plastic. I have seen many birds wrapped in those six pack rings. Seeing the shiny plastic glimmering in the sun, thinking it was food, swooping down trying to pick it up, only to get caught around their necks, unable to ever get the constriction off. Depending on its location they may live the rest of their lives with the constriction, or die of starvation due to the impediment. I know this is depressing, but at some point the reality has to be faced and addressed… not sure how or if that will ever happen, but it sure needs to.
The weather has been sunny and warm, the winds are going the wrong direction for us to head south and the seas are too big in the Big Pond, so we are waiting. We finally started up our water maker. This is the most amazing thing we have on the boat! This contraption, which is a series of long cylinders, takes seawater, of most any condition, (does not have to be clean sea water) and turns it into the sweetest water I have ever tasted! It makes about 15 gallons of water an hour! Of course we would never rely on this mechanical contraption for our water, but we will make as much of our water as possible since it tastes so much better.
Next stop Norman’s Cay: we will be meeting Jared, Ruthie, Jeff and friends of Jared’s and Ruthie’s whom we have not yet met. Jared and Ruthie have left FL and are sailing that way, they are currently waiting for a weather window at Chub Cay. They will be picking up Jeff and their friends in Nassau then head to Norman’s. We will then all head down to the Land and Sea Park in the Exumas and spend some time exploring the sea life, and doing some volunteer work. We hear there is some of the best snorkeling down there, the water will be warmer and they say it is even more spectacular then what we have grown accustomed to here in the Abacos.
That’s it for now. Love and sun, Carey and Lisa
Observations and notices:
The bank in Hope Town is open one day a week: Tuesday’s from 10-2.
Notice in Dr’s office: Please turn off all cell phones and VHF radios.
Closed for inventory: Mon, Tues and Wed.
The distance on a map to local sites is determined from the one stop light in town.
When riding the bus you will probably stop for gas along the way but no worries they don’t turn off the engine so no time is lost… it’s all Bahamian time anyway.
When it rains there is a good chance the streets will flood so wear shorts and old shoes.
Carry a stern anchor when going to the public dock with your dinghy; you will be required to use it.
No worries if your dinghy doesn’t have running lights for night use… no one else does either. Forget lifejackets or any safety equipment for that matter.
The liquor store will open your bottle for you if you don’t have an opener on you.
When you live on a boat you never know who may stop by and say hi just to get to know you or ask about your boat.
The local black Bahamian will generally be dressed looking like an American (gansta, hoodie, gang banger, you pick a word you like) but will flash you a huge smile, wave and offer you a ride.
Most cruisers are older than us, although not all… they are a wild, energetic, eclectic, individualist, friendly, free group of folks whom we enjoying getting to know.
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