Georgetown Week 4

Everyone turned out for the bocce tournament

We had hoped to leave for Long Island this week but the weather did not cooperate and so we spent another week here in Georgetown. More boats are arriving here every day and the social life is non-stop. We began the week with the Exuma Horticultural Fair on Saturday with exhibits of exotic plants and vegetables and some interesting lectures about ecological issues affecting flora and fauna in the Bahamas. Sunday began with “Beach Church” with over 100 cruisers in attendance this week. We sat on Muskoka Chairs and at picnic tables with our toes in the sand. There was a choir and small “orchestra” of 6 boaters who had brought musical instruments. Along with flutes and guitars, we even had a synthesizer! Afterwards we feasted on goodies--cinnamon buns,brownies, squares and other sweet delights baked by the cruisers the day before, and had a good visit with each other--making new friends and welcoming the old ones. We returned to the boat for a well-needed afternoon rest and then ventured out again for dinner at St. Francis Resort and the weekly Trivial Pursuit competition that is held there each Sunday evening. This week our partners were Majlis and Don from “Blue Blazer” who maintain a home in the Toronto Beaches when not in the Bahamas. Vince knew Don previously from OBBC and so we had lots to talk about.

“Dana” and “My Whim” have left now, sailing northwards towards home and so we are finding ourselves amongst new friends. I met an interesting Dutch couple unexpectedly on the beach early in the week when, through a mis-communication with Vince about where we would meet up with each other (I was at Bible Study on one beach and he at a WiFi seminar on another), I found myself alone, stranded 3 miles from the boat and unable to contact anyone as to my whereabouts. And so I walked the entire way along the Atlantic shore of Stocking Island until far in the distance I saw a couple frolicking in the surf. But before I could catch up with them they disappeared into the foliage making their way along the shady island trail back to their dinghy on the sheltered side of the island. They were just about to push off when I came crashing out of the woods behind them, like a crazy women, claiming to have been abandoned on the island and begging to be taken back to my boat which I could now see from shore. After that we became friends. They came over to Fortnight for sundowners one evening and later in the week they invited us aboard their boat “Elza” for a candlelit dinner! They have been living aboard their boat now for 16 years having travelled here originally from Holland and, since then, cruising extensively in the Mediterranean and everywhere in the Caribbean.

On Wednesday we were invited to join 5 other couples from Guelph (of all places!) for lunch and a “get-to-know-each-other” at St. Francis Resort. We spent the better part of the afternoon together and hope to see each other again at a pot-luck over the summer when we’ll all be back in Canada. We were all battened down for a big blow which came with a strong cold front on Thursday and for most of the day no one ventured off their boats as winds as strong as 50k threatened to dislodge anchors. But everyone got through it all unscathed and when the seas calmed down a little, Majlis and Don--who are anchored beside us--managed to dinghy over to our boat for sundowners and a visit. Yesterday all was completely calm once again as we made our way over to Volleyball Beach under sunny skies for the annual Bocci Ball tournament. Hundreds of cruisers were on the beach! Rockin’ Ron was spinning discs from the 60’s, the tiki hut at Chat ‘n Chill was dispensing “Goombay Smash” and “Bahama Mamas” non-stop and it was party party party all day long! We didn’t manage to win anything in the Bocci Ball Tournament, but our boat name was called during a draw and we ended up leaving the beach with a bottle of fine merlot. Another blow is expected this evening so everyone is making preparations once again to “batten down the hatches” and sit it out. The weather is promising to lighten up early next week so hopefully we’ll be able to pull up our anchor then. Until that happens however, we’re happy to be here in this wonderful place.