As planned we have journeyed to the Bahamas and are currently on the hook in White Sound in beautiful Green Turtle Cay which is 3 miles long and half a mile wide. The Island quietly languishes in a time warp where the Island's children still attend an "all grades" school, and quaint pastel homes and business establishments line the village streets of New Plymouth. Green Turtle is on the Atlantic Ocean side of Great Abaco Island, sporting a clear azure blue sea teaming with huge conch, crawfish (spiny lobster; dinner tonight,) sea turtles, dolphin and a plethora of other sea creatures.
Today we rented a golf cart and covered nearly every path navigable by a cart on Green Turtle, passing huge expanses of white beach gently sloping into the sea glistening like a kaleidoscope filled with blue, green and gold beach glass. The distant breakers speak to hidden reefs teaming with sea life; the jagged edges of the coral heads threatening ships and claiming many a sailor's life.
The historic settlement of New Plymouth was fun to explore and a lunch of fried conch at the Wrecking Tree Restaurant was a culinary highlight. Across from the restaurant was a dock where a local had a full time job of pounding the conch to an almost pulp like consistency that made it perfect for the fried tidbits we so enjoyed for lunch. The Wrecking Tree Rest. sported the wrecking tree where locals brought their bounty from wrecked ships to be bartered and sold.
On Jan 12th a lumpy 56nm Ocean transit from Lake Worth Inlet (West Palm Beach) brought us to West End on Grand Bahama Island. Two nights there afforded us the opportunity to explore and then it was off to Sale Cay across flat calm Sea of Abaco; entertained by flying fish leaping, dancing with wild abandon, and dolphins too busy feeding, to be more than mildly curious about another passing boat.
From Sale Cay, that might better have been named Desolate Cay, a glorious day of cruising brought us to Spanish Cay Marina where we were delighted to meet the female sailor, Marilyn aboard her boat the Wimbrel. We originally meet her in Yorktown and again in Norfolk; it's always great to meet up with fellow travelers.
In march harbor, Hurricane the pooch who was rescued as a 5 week old puppy during Hurricane Irene via a scoop net from the sea, greeted us warmly as landed at the marina. While being greeted by a pooch is great, languishing in a hot tub, located for a perfect view of the Sea of Abaco which was illuminated by the waxing full moon provided a relaxing end to a perfect day.
Pure paradise! We've had a stretch of mild weather, so I am not as green with envy as I'd otherwise be. In fact, last Saturday we went to the beach at Point lookout with no more than a sweater. The beach was lively with people and pups, and we saw harlequin ducks, a black scoter, red-throated loons, and Bonaparte gulls. Except for the lack of palm trees, the beach looked much like yours.
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