Marsh Harbour is a busy anchorage. It seems some 'cruisers' idea of cruising the Bahamas is to sail (motor) to Marsh Harbour, take a mooring ball and there they stay for the season! Two days and we were champing at the anchor line looking for less popular destinations.
Man o War Cay
The island was developed on boat building and William Albury built his first schooner at age 14 years. Although the he passed in 1970 the tradition lives on! The Island has about 300 Bahamian residents and 135 foreign residents!
This has become one of our favorite islands in the Abaco's. I read on young Beth Albury's page the love story behind the island.
Quoted from Beth Albury's page : http://www.abacoinfo.com/islands/kids/bethalbury-manowar.htm
"My island home history is a love story. Ben Archer and his wife were from New England by way of the Carolinas. They settled in Marsh Harbour, Abaco and he bought the land of Man-O'-War from the crown in the 1780's. He later gave it to his daughter Eleanor.
Eleanor and her father were farming on Man-O'-War. During one of their farming visits a boat was shipwrecked on the reef. The men came ashore and one of them was Benjamin Albury from Harbour Island who was a loyalist. Eleanor and Ben, although very young, fell in love at first sight. They got married a year later. Eventually, they had thirteen children." End quote!
Eleanor and her father were farming on Man-O'-War. During one of their farming visits a boat was shipwrecked on the reef. The men came ashore and one of them was Benjamin Albury from Harbour Island who was a loyalist. Eleanor and Ben, although very young, fell in love at first sight. They got married a year later. Eventually, they had thirteen children." End quote!
Most of the residents of the island can trace their roots back to this couple. The island is spotlessly clean and beautifully layed out! We also discovered 'Island Treats' most delicious ice cream. There is a different flavor everyday. So far we think the Sour Sop made from the fruit of the same name is our favorite!
There is everything you could want here, either made by the locals or brought in. The locals are extremely religious and there are three different churches on the island. We have been told there are no resident blacks living on the island, they come to work by ferry and have to leave by 5pm. The only item you can't get is alcohol, it is a 'dry island' and none is sold but we believe they don't mind you bringing your own.
Fowl Cay (Some strange names here with no explanation I could find as to how they got them)
This small island with a natural 'jacuzzi / swim pool' that occurs at high tide when the waves break over the reef into the little pool! So far we have only snorkeled in the Abaco's but heard scuba was well worth it on the National park reef at Fowl Cay! We were not disappointed we dived with Caribbean Reef Shark, Huge Groupers and a grandpa of a Barracuda a well as the usually reef fish! This was a record dive for us, 1hr and 20 minutes under water! Video to be posted!
Treasure Cay has to be our second favorite!
We 'discovered' Treasure Cay when we looked for a place to hide from Tropical Storm Anna. Protected from wind and seas we anchored in their harbor. We discovered the best cinnamon buns we ever tasted at Flo's.
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