Another day in Hopetown waiting for good weather. Not a bad place for a wait though. Jim and Maria on Magnificat a 38’ Prout, pulled into the harbor. Jim and Maria are from South Carolina but have really lived all over. We hadn’t really had a chance to talk to them since Old Bahama Bay. Fred and Cathy were going with us that night to Sea Spray Resort Marina to have dinner and listen to a local Bahamian band. Jim and Maria, along with Rusty, their incredibly cute Yorkshire terrier, decided to join us. We caught the free taxi outside of Hopetown Harbour Lodge. When our taxi finally came he told us he needed to go to the ferry dock to pick up a couple of members of the band. We didn’t mind because the whole reason we were going was to listen to the band.

At the ferry dock the lead singer and the guitarist boarded the van. They were nice guys and promised us some good music. When we got the Sea Spray the wind was really strong. They were not taking anymore dinner reservations as it was too windy to serve people. We decided to head to the Abaco Inn. It was a nice walk, but really windy.

The Abaco Inn was a bit pricey but the food was really good. The management made Rusty stay outside but Tessa kept him company until her food came. The Abaco Inn is a small restaurant and resort set on the ocean side, with incredible views of the waves hitting the beach. The swimming pool is perched on an overlook to the ocean. You can relax in the pool and watch the waves hit the beach, spraying water over the rocks. Inside the restaurant was candlelit with white tablecloths and soft music. Very romantic, well as romantic as you can be with 6 adults,2 kids and a dog.

After a great meal we walked back on the winding road to Sea Spray. The band was just starting when we got there. Jim and Maria hit the dance floor while Tessa and Rusty made the rounds visiting the other dogs and their owners. Tristan reluctantly agreed to dance with me.

The band was really good. They sang some original music as well as Jimmy Buffet, some country and of course the song we hear everywhere in the Abacos, “Sweet Home Alabama”. I am not sure why this is such a popular song here, but when it comes on everyone heads to the dance floor. One of the local guys asked me to dance. The local dance is kind of like a cross between a cha cha and a mamba, which of course I have no idea how to do but I did the best I could and had a blast.

When the song ended I went to look for Tessa. She was coming back from the bar. She and Rusty had been socializing. She could only stay a few minutes because someone at the bar was buying her a coke.

Later that night a couple came over and introduced themselves as Tessa’s friends .Bill and Carolyn on Prima had bought the coke for Tessa and came over to introduce themselves. They were on a motor yacht and were in the marina across from where we were moored in Hopetown. They are from Texas and are very nice. While I was talking to them I noticed Tristan on the dance floor with a young, very pretty girl. After the dance she introduced herself to me. Her name was Fallon and she lived in Lincolnton NC about 30 minutes from where we used to live and about 5 minutes from where my sister lives now. I told you the world was very small in Hopetown. She was with her boyfriend whose parents owned a house on Elbow Cay.

We had a great night but about midnight we decided to take the taxi back. I knew the kids would not be getting up early in the morning!