Little Harbour, Abacos to Royal Island, Eleuthera

We awoke to some passing thunderstorms and rain before daylight. It was nice to get a good freshwater rinse for our salty, salty boat.

I listened to the weather on the SSB, as I do almost every morning, and decided that today was the best day to jump across the 50 mile stretch to Eleuthera. We moved the compressor from the roof to the cockpit, and pulled the tanks out of the Whaler, to place in the cockpit as well. It proved we didn't need to move the compressor, as it was a gorgeous, smooth crossing, but, better safe than sorry!

The Atlantic Ocean was calm, with barely a gentle swell. We saw two ships in our crossing, and a couple of sportfishing boats.

We entered the reef at the cut between Little Egg and Egg Island. As I puttered on to our anchorage a couple of miles away, Allen took the Whaler to look at the wreck. The freighter had a galley fire in 1970, that quickly spread, until her fertilizer cargo combusted. The captain ran the ship on the reef, and evacuated the crew. The cargo smoldered for months, and I'm told it killed much of the surrounding reef.

For the next 22 years, she sat upright, looking like an anchored ship. Hurricane Andrew broke the ship into, and sunk her, making for an interesting shallow wreck, and we may dive it tomorrow.

I brought the MERCY into a great holding anchorage at Royal Island, where you could find protection from almost any direction. I've heard a couple of boats rode out Andrew here.

After supper we sat on the bow and watched lightning in distant clouds of a front line. The clouds never made it to us, so we never got rained on, and it was just far enough away to be enjoyable to watch!

Hopetown and Little Harbour

Thursday morning, we got underway for Marsh Harbour, to top off on fuel, gas, and water, so we can cross to Eleuthera in the morning. It looks like we have a weather window, now thru tomorrow night. If we don't go tomorrow, we'll probably be another week in Abacos with the weather; which would be fine, too.

Allen at the Hopetown Lighthouse

We left Marsh Harbour, and went to Hopetown to climb the lighthouse, and see a little of the town. We walked up to Vernon's for some fresh bread, but, they were closed for lunch from 1-2, and we were there shortly after 1. So, we didn't get any bread, but, we did climb the old lighthouse, and took in some spectacular views..... my what a pretty boat in anchored over there!

View from the Lighthouse at Hopetown

Then we went down to Little Harbour, where I sit writing this. This was one of the gorgeous spots I wanted Allen to see. He and Mercy are currently in the 19', puttering around looking at the cliffs and caves.

We are actually on a mooring tonight, and plan to go to Pete's Pub for coconut cracked conch for supper. Well, update they were out of conch.

The wind generally drops off during the night, and its only about 5 kts now! We're just inside the southern exit out the bight, and will probably leave in the morning for Eleuthera.

Bight of Old Robinson and Little Harbour

Today we woke early, and went south through the cut by Lubber's Island. The water was so clear it was scary! In ten feet of water, it looked like we'd run aground, and we crossed a few six foot spots when we went through the Tilloo Bank cut.

We anchored off Wilson City, which is protected from the forecast SW winds later today. I never saw a building, much less a city.

While still at high tide, we ran the Whaler around to the Bight of Old Robinson, and found two blue holes. I quit counting at thirty turtles, but, I suspect I saw 85 or more.The Bight is very shallow, accessible only with enough tide for the depth ou need to float your boat.

Then we ran into Little Hwrbour. What a gorgeous place. I think I found where I want to live when I grow up.There are moorings available for $15/night.

After we left Little Harbour, we stopped on a beach on the SE side of Lynyard Key, Gotta keep the crew happy. She is so happy, that we're back at the boat now, and she is snoring away. At the slack low tide, I'm going to snorkel Sandy Cay, which I've heard good things about.

Went snorkelling, the water is very clear, there is just not a lot of fish, and there is a lot of dead coral.

I moved over outside Little Harbour to hook to the internet (it was important, I need Fred to buy a water pump, and have Allen bring it!) I can't believe what an internet-dependent jumkie I've become in the last few years. I am slowly trying to wean myself off....

But if I did, where would the blog be?

I went into Pete's Pub and ate their coconut cracked conch. Oh yeah, killer! Their coleslaw had walnuts in it, and was very good, too.

Now I'm outside the harbour, on the hook. I would have grabbed a mooring earlier, but the tide was borderline on getting in, and Pete's quit serving food at five (on Mondays only) So, I dropped the hook, ran in with the skiff, and ate a grand early supper.

I don't know if I'll be in wi-fi access tomorrow, but, if not, I'll be in Marsh Harbour on Wednesday for laundry and parts run, and change the oil on the main. Thursday I'll pick up Allen.