So it was with excitement and some apprehension
we began preparing for our first guests aboard! Questions kept going through my
mind, Would they like their cabin? Would it be sufficient? Would they like the
meals? How would it all go!
By no stretch of anyone's imagination am I a
Chef. Occasionally my meals are just edible not delicious, what if I had one of
those disasters feeding them!
At least we knew Dick, he is our spinning
instructor at the gym in St. John's, Newfoundland. Great sense of humour and seemed
easy going. He was bringing his lady Andrea and was smitten that was a good
enough indication of what she would be like. We were not wrong, both were a
complete delight to have aboard. They didn't seem to starve, ate what was put
in front of them, partied and played hard with us between chilling on deck and
keeping up an ongoing game of scrabble between them. 
We had planned a possible route and gave them
options each day of what they could choose.
We set off immediately and took them snorkeling
on the nearby reef. Andre stayed aboard and kept the motors running while we
spent some time getting used to the water and exploring the reef. As the fish
are fed by visitors they crowd around you in the water often bumping you to
remind you that you are supposed to feel them. They both did well and we were
happy to take them out to the next deeper reef at Fowl Cay.
The Fowl Cays National Park is a 1,920-acre
reserve. The reefs and three 25′ to 40′ dive spots in untouched water are
renowned.
After the swim we headed to Man-o-War Cay. We
had dinner aboard then dinghied over to the dock to wander the town and get the
best ice cream ever for dessert.
Man-O-War is one of our favorite places. It has
a population of about 300 Bahamian residents and about 135 foreign resident
families. During the summer some local houses are rented by vacationing
families that have a reputation as good house guests. It has been a 'dry
island' for many years (no alcohol) in the recent past the restaurant has been
given permission to sell wine and beer. Progress? Lol
This island is about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long,
but relatively narrow, often less than 100 metres between the harbor and beach
side of the Island. A section of island called "The Narrows" by
visitors and "The Low Place" by locals is exceptionally narrow, with
a beach on both sides separated by a roadway built into the rock formation
between them, less than 10 metres across. The harbor side of the island faces
Marsh Harbour, and a beach side runs the length of the opposite shore. The
community is very close-knit, and most of the residents are in some way or
another related to the Albury family. A number of workers commute each day from
Marsh Harbour. There are two small grocery stores, a marina, a boat yard, a few
gift shops, a hardware and lumber store, two restaurants and a bakery.
Golf-carts are rented by several companies (the narrow roads, often unpaved
outside of the town centre, only permit the use of golf-carts or other small
vehicles). No liquor is sold on the island. The people are very conservative,
and still hold deep affection and loyalty to the British Crown. The majority of
the residents are avid church-goers. The island has four churches, one
Non-denominational, one Pentecostal, one Methodist, and one Plymouth Brethren.
This is also where we spent Christmas Day with
fellow Rhodesian and other South Africans. On the beach at 'The Low Place' we
had a braai / BBQ.
Our next anchorage was at Great Guana Cay in
Fishers bay where we walked the island and dined and partied at Grabbers.
Expensive but most enjoyable, we think this is one of the most expensive island of
Abacos. The two restaurants are very well known and 'must see' destination they
make the most of it with $7 beers compared to about $4 elsewhere.
Hope Town wears the chosen destination for New
Years Eve. We had thought to party ashore but heard there was nothing open
unless you had booked seats at one of the many restaurants. Our friends on Joda
joined us aboard and we played Mexican Train Dominos and laughed and chatted
till everyone ran out of steam. Most of us slept while Dick was driven quietly
crazy by repetitive playing of the song "Follow da Leada". Lol we had
to include it in the video we made for them.
Man Jack was the next anchorage where they fed
the Sting rays by hand and had shark darting in grabbing the scraps the Rays
didn't get. A long walk on the Island and Yoga on the beach thanks to Dick. Was
wonderful fun.
A quick stop at Crab Cay and Green Turtle Cay
and then another favorite at No Name Cay to visit the pigs. Andrea does not eat
Pork at all and we swear the pigs knew. They ate our of her hand like a trained
dog. Very very gently. When she stroked one of the babies the Mum warned her
off grabbing her arm in its mouth. Andrea says she could feel the teeth holding
but the pig never bit down just gave her a stern warning.
Treasure Cay beach is known as one of the top 10
beaches in the world. Stunning is the word for this 3.5-mile stretch of
sugar-soft, powdery white sand, matched only in brilliance by the
sparkling turquoise water colors lapping
at its shore.
A fitting end to a wonderful week, it was then
back to Marsh Harbour for the trip home to a snow covered St. John's.
We loved having you both. Hope to see you again
soon.
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