Today marks' 1 week since we arrived on Green Turtle Cay. We have really enjoyed our time here, fallen into a groove of bed when the sun goes down and back up in time to listen to the weather on the Marsh Harbour Cruisers Net at 0815hrs on VHF16. This is a volunteer operation that provides weather, passage reports and personal messages via VHF radio every morning. Not that the NOAA weather reports are worth much, but unless you have a satellite link, a SSB radio or the internet, this is the only way to get the weather.
We have been spending our days lately hanging out in Gillam Bay.
Partly because it's a beautiful spot with the potential for some great kiting, but mostly because for the last few days the winds have been out of the Northwest and a bit cool (high 60's/low 70's), and the Bay is on a lee shore. Thankfully the water is 78F (sorry for all the Imperial numbers, that's what's quoted here and I can't be bothered to convert!).We bring the dinghy to the end of the anchorage and have about a 10 minute walk to the beach. The kids are content to make sandcastles and splash in the water. They also seem to be intrigued by coconuts, spending alot (maybe too much?) time trying to open them to see what's inside. We did get one opened the other day and all had a good fill. That's about all the excitement we have had lately, although we did think we had a fried holding tank macerator which would have really been bad since I'm still not sure how I would have emptied our holding (sewage) tank without it! Crisis averted, pump is now fixed and we can all relieve oursleves as much as necessary!!!The winds have been howling lately, not dropping below 20kts for 3 days (great for keeping our batteries charged, just wish the direction was better for kiting!), but they are "supposed" to lay down tomorrow so we are going to move South. Our plan is to head to Man-O-War Cay before the next cold front comes through. Hopefully the weather and internet access will be a bit better.
All the best from the crew of "Charlotte-Ann".
After the pot luck, the four of us along with Aimee and Brian, Katja and Madelaine all made our way back to Pineapples. We had some fun with the kids, but we back on our boats by 2100hrs.
We left the dinghies at Pineapples and walked 10 minutes into New Plymouth, the main town on Green Turtle Cay. This is just what we imagined a small Bahamian town to be like. Pastel coloured houses, narrow streets and alleyways, very few cars (mostly golf carts),sleeping dogs and cats and very friendly people. The whole town was out and the place was full of people. The parade starts at the top of the hill and does a big loop through the town. All the locals have booths set-up selling BBQ food, cakes, breads, candies and anything that can be made with conch!! So we settled in with some great food and a few Kalik's (the local Bahamian beer) and waited for the show.
Here is a little video of the highlight of Junkanoo for Lisa. The poor guy was obviously dehydrated and exhausted, all skin and bones and barely able to out run her!! Yes, I'm talking about the guy in the white pants, not the one in the fat suit!!
