Detour to Port Lucaya

We were ready to head back to the USA, but we had dog food and Oliver's medicine yet, so we decided to head to Freeport on Grand Bahama. We had heard about the area from fellow sailors Robin and Andy and Doug and Shirley. It was only 25 miles south of where we were in West End.

We timed it to traverse the entrance at high tide. We had an uneventful journey and arrived at Ocean Reef Resort and Yacht Club on a Sunday afternoon. No one answered the VHF, but fellow boaters directed us to a slip and helped us tie up. Our friend Doug was one of them. 

Ocean Reef is mostly a time share resort and one of the winter destination for Canadians. Eight boats left earlier in the day, or else we would have been out of luck. The place is booked all winter. There is something to do every night, welcome parties, karaoke night, guitar player, movie night, etc. every Wednesday morning the ladies take a shuttle to the Port Lucaya marketplace for coffee and shopping. I attended this ritual once. Ocean reef is gated, they have a small workout room and 2 pools. It was nice except for the wandering cats with attitudes. They would lie in wait to attack poor Oliver. With names like Hitler and Stalin, you see I am not exaggerating. I still do not understand why cats are allowed to wander and make messes, but a dog must be on a leash and picked up after? Sorry, soapbox. Anyway, the people were nice. We were one of four American couples. One couple,  Dennis and Gayle were from Onekema/Manistee area. They have been coming to Ocean Reef for 10 years. We also had a big potluck for Easter, prayers and good company, which was nice. The funny get together is nicknamed "meatball Monday" and it is a happy hour to welcome new guests and a party for those of us there a while. 

Freeport is a nice area generally, but the recession has hindered it 's progress. There are many abandoned homes,canals dug with no development,  a non existent International Bazaar and roads needing some TLC .We had to go to Customs to get our visa extended from 90 days so we rented a car. Shirley and Doug  went with us so we explored, after waiting an hour or so to get a new stamp (I won't even go there). The other nice thing about the resort, besides a monthly special, is shuttle to the grocery store, beach and the marketplace.  There was also a beach to dinghy to if the winds were mild or NOT from the south. 

Anyway, after our 3 1/2 weeks here, we went back to Old Bahama Bay for the crossing. 

Ollie's morning routine.

Sailing to Freeport.

Once near Freeport we had to zigzag around anchored freighters.

Freeport Harbor. Notice the cruise ships too.

Tanker unloading to a pipeline. They have tugs pushing against them to stay in place. 

At Ocean Reef. View one from our boat.

View two

Port Lucaya Marketplace. We had lunch here one day, good conch burger. 

Botanical Garden

Oliver looking for fish. Tough life!

Shirley and Lena shopping on the Wednesday ladies day.

Our view having coffee. 

Amber, a "saved" potcake, by Tom.
He saved this abandoned puppy in Marsh Harbor.
She and Ollie got along great.

"Meatball Monday"

Castle in distance built by the fast food "king".

Out the channel and to the beach.

Oliver is in heaven.

Canal, never developed as they planned. 

At the "$2 bar. 

The $2 bar. Very High Class!

COming soon, some pictures of our journey back to the US. Be home next Week!!

March 1-23, Bahamas

 

 

 

 

After leaving Elbow Cay we started making our way back the 100 plus miles to West End. We spent 10 days at Marsh Harbor at the Jib Room. This was a time to grocery shop at Maxwell's, the biggest store in the Abacos,  (dinghy across the harbor and then walk four blocks), do laundry for a more normal price ($4 versus 20) and just hang around. The Jib Room is known for their RIB night and it did not disappoint. I ate and ate, while Dale looked on in amazement. We took bike rides to check out downtown and the Abaco resort, dinghy rides to explore, 2 trips to the store and many dog walks. The street we were on was pretty busy, so I had to learn defensive walking with Oliver versus looking out for only golf carts.

 

After our time at Marsh harbor we made out way North and then West to head home. We did another stop in Green Turtle as we liked it there, then the obligatory stop to anchor at Great Sale Cay, where we actually had a lot of company, before making our way to West End and Old Bahama Bay. When we got to OBB as we now call it, Oliver made a beeline straight for the beach. He loves that place.  

 

Dinghy Dock in Marsh Harbor. this is where you park and then walk the 4 blocks to Maxwell's.

All tired out, cuddling with his dolphin.

Street we walked by the Jib Room, yikes traffic!

Not the beaches we got used to, but a great view.

Orchids at the Jib Room



Marsh Harbor, boats anchored



Oliver likes the dock. At low tide we could not get him up to the dock from a dinghy, so we get to stay in a slip.

Saw this on our bike ride, really!

Neat boat in Marsh Harbor

Oliver exploring

Seaplane in Green Turtle, taken from the back of our boat.

His buddy. They always were together.

Snorkeling sight, back at Marsh Harbor

Rib Night. The place is packed.

Marsh Harbor neighborhood.

The water is really this clear.

Ode to VanGogh, as we anchored.

A fellow sailor as we go to West End.

I can never get enough of the sunsets.

OBB, some of the smaller boats, HAHA!



Oliver found the beach!

OBB, After this stop, we were going to come back to the USA, but instead went to Freeport, Port Lucaya area.
Those pictures coming soon.

more on the Bahamas

We are now in Vero Beach, Florida, and I will try to catch up on our time in the Bahamas. Internet was so slow there that pictures would take all day to download a few. Since we wanted to do other things than stare at a computer screen, I finally said, "enough", so here is another Bahamas installment. These pictures are from February when we spent the majority of time in Elbow Cay.

This is the Whale Cut from Green Turtle to Guana Cay. This is my IPAD chart warning us of breakers. We had 4 foot swells the first time through and 2 foot swells on return.

Picture of shore in Whale Cut. 

Anchored in Guana Cay. Rumor had it this boat belonged to the owner of the Baltimore Ravens.

Nippers on Guana

Grabbers on Guana

These next pictures are on Elbow Cay.

Fire Station

Vernon's grocery store

Abaco Inn a favorite happy hour spot we could walk to in 10 minutes. view is outstanding.

Crew of Different Drummer and Sandy Paws

Hopetown lighthouse

Methodist church in Hopetown

Loved this coffee shop and coffee

Believe it or not but this was country music when we went. 

My sister, Mary and Dale at "On Da Beach". Good grill!

Rainbow over Sea Spray Marina

Hopetown was founded by loyalists who left the US after our independence. 

Model of Abaco built boat

Museum pictures. It was Malone's house. Mom and three sons came here to live. They must not have liked the US government declaring independence.

Loyalist flag in museum. You can see Mary and Dale's reflection.

Abaco Inn view on the day we took Mary here.

Ferry to Marsh Harbor. Mary is on this.

Selfie at Captain Jack's. Do you think we eat too much?

You can look down and see beautiful fish without getting wet.

Oliver doing what he does best. 

Mary at the Abaco Inn with a RUM cocktail.

Shells at low tide almost in the tidal pool.