Georgetown Week 2

It really IS a small world! When our friends on Higheeled learned of our problems with the wind generator, they told us of another couple aboard “Lions Paw” whose unit had similar symptoms. After getting in touch with them they dinghied over to our boat to talk to us about possible solutions. Later, as they were getting ready to leave, we asked them where they were from. Burlington! When we told them we had taught school there, not only did we discover that Vince had been their daughters Physics teacher but that she had also been one of the students that he had taken to Nepal to build a school!!

After that exchange of information, we became fast friends and have spent a lot of time getting to know them better and finding out what their daughter has been doing in the ensuing 15 years.

There was a big blow here mid-week during which time we were all confined to our boats on anchor watch. Several boats broke loose--one of which had no one on board--and so there was much “bru-ha-ha” as cruisers jumped into dinghies, boarded the rogue boat and tried to bring it under control before it smashed into its neighbours. Eventually everything was put to rights and we were entertained over the cruisers net listening to everyone freaking out and making macabre jokes. That evening we invited Cal and Nancy aboard “I-need-a-wind2” over to play cards. Cal had some difficulty holding his “hand” since his thumb was heavily bandaged due to a horrendous anchoring accident he suffered 6 weeks ago. As he was approaching Bimini, his engine quit at the edge of some shoals. He impulsively rushed forward and dropped his anchor to avoid going aground just as a big wave struck the bow of his boat. This caused the anchor rode to slip--tearing his thumb off!! Luckily he didn’t lose it as it remained attached to his hand dangling by a cord of something or other. A big cruiser came out from Bimini, took him aboard and he was airlifted to Miami where they were able to sew it all back on. You’d think he’d decide to pack it in after all of that but no--he’s buddied up with various other boating convoys during the past month and soldiered on to Georgetown. We have been helping him over the past few days with anchoring and other tasks but I don’t know how his wife can put up with it all--she must be a saint.

We had a great time up at St. Francis Resort a few days ago teaming up with Satya and Phil from Brydil Anchar along with about 50 other cruisers for a great evening of competitive Trivial Pursuit. There were more long walks on the beach, books read and lunches out before another threatening “blow” forced many of us to decide to relocate to safer surroundings. Normally we’d sit this out, but Chris Parker, the Bahamian weather guru said that this next cold front--which has spawned hurricane force winds near Bermuda, and caused huge snowfalls in the southern US, was going to bring the strongest sustained winds to the Bahamas that he has seen in his 10 years of predicting weather. And so with that said, 65 of us pulled up anchors and headed 10 miles north to the marina at “Sandals--Emerald Bay” where we could safely weather the storm.

We’ve been here now for three days and having a wonderful time spoiling ourselves amid all the luxury a Sandals Resort provides. Because this place has only recently been acquired by Sandals, they are offering bargain rates to attract clientelle. We pay only $20/day to tie up here! Unbelievable!! We have been running into friends on a continual basis and have had some really good times. On Friday there was an “Olympic--opening ceremonies” party in the lounge and last night--Saturday--we charted a bus to take us all to a Valentines Party in Georgetown where, after a great dinner of ribs and jerk chicken, we boogied the night away to a live band under the stars beside the beach and swaying palm trees. We’ve walked the huge crescent shaped beach at Sandals and even hitch-hiked to a local village for lunch.

The day we all left Georgetown for Emerald Bay, the cruisers net was playing “chicken sounds” during their morning annoucements. And when all 65 of us return tomorrow, and the net asks for “new arrivals” I think they’re planning on playing the “Chicken Dance” over the airwaves as they welcome the chickens back to the coop. We’ll be travelling in a convoy accompanied by Blessed Spirit, Cookie Monster, My Whim, Higheeled, Lions Paw and Adagio, and may be anchoring off Stocking Island at Sand Dollar Beach this time around. Dana is still there along with Avalon, but who knows--we may break away from the pack once into Elizabeth Harbour and drop the hook someplace else entirely where we can make even more new friends and experience another change of scenery. Never a dull moment.