Saturday, May 2, 2009
2 May - Day 60. It's a lazy morning as we have to wait on high tide to clear the Little Harbour entrance bar. Our tide tables for Marsh Harbour, about 20 miles away, say high tide is at 1530 but at 1330 Vicki notices the tide starting to ebb. Unlike yesterday the seas are much calmer today. We decide to do some coastal exploration along the Sea of Abaco's southwest side. This area is completely different than the high-rent-district along the barrier islands. It's mostly uninhabited, very shallow and mangrove strewn. There's evidence of past enterprises that the sea and wind haven't totally obliterated, yet. Companies which try to make a living off the land don't exist here for long. A tree harvesting business lasted only until the trees were gone. The soil is so poor that nothing grows quickly. If the vagaries of the market don't do the business in, a hurricane surely can. We saw several industrial buildings whose roofs were peeled back as though by a giant can opener. We slowly work our way to Man-O-War Cay and pickup a mooring in the harbor. Man-O-War has to be one of the most delightful islands here and reminds me of a quaint English village. The golf cart paths are all concrete and the yards well tended. It's a devout population as no alcohol is sold on the island and only churches are open on Sunday. On a mooring in Man-O-War Cay, Abacos. 23nm today: 1403nm total. DBH
