GEORGETOWN WEEK !

Compared to the relative isolation of sailing alone with Vince, our first week anchored off Georgetown was a social whirlwind. Each morning after listening to the cruisers net at 8:00am, we planned the days activities, choosing from a enormous smorgasboard of things on offer to do, see, and experience.

Our first morning here, we dinghied into the village, where we enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast at “Peace and Plenty” before setting off to explore the town. Our table was set up out of doors overlooking the sparkling Caribbean waters where it caught a refreshing breeze. We met a vacationing El Al pilot and his wife from Israel who were enjoying their 5th holiday here and chatted with them at length over cups of coffee. Then it was off to find the post office and Laundromat, pick up supplies at the grocery store and poke about in the library, straw market and the various well-stocked retail establishments that line the harbours shore.

During this week we managed to explore a different beach on Stocking Island every day. Not surprisingly we found several sand dollars in the surf off Sand Dollar Beach, and lots of pretty shells and sea urchins along the wild Atlantic shore. We hiked many of the trails which criss-cross the island returning afterwards to relax with cool drinks and the company of friends in the tropical shade of “Chat ‘n Chill”. On Monday we attended a Ham Radio Club meeting on Hamburger Beach where we learned more about operating WinLink and enjoyed a delicious Bahamian luncheon buffet. On Tuesday it was duplicate bridge and Wednesday happy hour-- followed by dinner and live music with friends at St. Francis Resort.

But the highlight of this week for ME at least, was learning to bake bread aboard a 45’ catamaran. Earlier that morning a call had gone out from Sue on “Catalyst” for anyone wishing to learn how to bake bread on a boat. Three of us responded and were welcomed aboard shortly after lunch. We brought our own bread pans, Sue provided the ingredients and we spent a wonderful afternoon in her light, airy galley producing cinnamon rolls, savoury loaves and perfect white bread amid “girl talk” and laughter. Later, after returning to our boats with two unbaked loaves in hand, we popped them into our own ovens and enjoyed freshly baked bread at “tea-time” with our husbands. It was a marvelous way to pass the day—learning a new skill, enjoying the company of kindred spirits and making a memory that will last forever. Now, each time I smell the fragrant aroma of baking bread coming from my OWN oven, I’ll remember that wonderful day and the kind-hearted people I shared it with.