Tuesday, April 14, 2009
14 April - Day #41. Nellie's short a crew member as John flew back to Florida this morning. Not for long though as he, with Susan this time, will be back aboard Saturday. It's easy to dream about the idyllic island life. I can see myself living here in a brightly colored pastel house shaded by palm trees and overlooking the ocean. And, of course, there's always a cooling breeze rippling the tranquil seas. Unfortunately there's a reef in this fantasy, and mine came in the guise of a hardware store. Our visit to a very nice one this morning quickly turned into an episode of "Holy Cow, can you believe the Price?". It seemed everything cost at least three times as much as stateside. The $19 vacuum we have aboard was $84 while a gallon of lamp oil was $33. Back on Nellie by 1000 we weigh anchor with a destination of Hope Town on Elbow Key. We leave Marsh Harbour in formation with a Moorings (bareboat charter) sailboat. The young captain's tentative boat handling is perhaps an indication that he's nearer the beginning of his vacation than the end. I think back some 17 years when we first chartered here; all the adventures. I catch the eye of the young captain, smile and wave. He promptly goes aground. Yup, it's exactly like when we were first here. The 20 knot winds have the Sea of Abaco up a bit but it's only an 8nm trip. Hope Town is an old English settlement. It's lighthouse was built in the 1860's and is still warning mariners of the treacherous reefs today. The little harbor offers 360 degree protection. There's no room to anchor but moorings are only $15/night. The cute and colorful little houses come right down to the water. There aren't roads but rather concrete paths wide enough for golf carts, which the Cay has in abundance. It's a short and pretty walk from bay to ocean. A little way south we come across a restaurant with a gorgeous water view. I recommend their mahi mahi sandwich with a Stong Back Stout. Back aboard Nellie and napping we're awakened by someone hailing us. It's Dave and Nancy off Pour Vous with a cocktail invitation. An unusual lightening storm with lots of cloud-to-cloud activity lights up the night. At 4/15/2009 12:55 PM (utc) Nellie D's position was 26°34.45'N 077°00.73'W 8nm today: 1233 total. DBH
