A lot to catch up on. We left Hopetown a few days ago and came to Marsh Harbour for more supplies and to see if we could get our refrigerator running (again)! Dan had replaced the compressor but it still worked erratically. Before we left Hopetown we had a great evening of Mexican Train Dominoes on with Fred and Cathy and Jim and Maria. The next night Maria made us an incredible supper on Magnificat. While we stayed out in the cockpit and ate, the kids and Rusty curled up and watched movies until late. That is one of the great things about this trip. The middle of the week and you get together with friends and you don’t have to worry about the time. You don’t have to leave early because you are afraid you’ll be tired for work the next day. If I want to stay up late and read, or even wake up in the middle of the night and read for a few hours I can. I never did that even on the weekends.

The kids got some much needed kids time as we ran into a family with two boys on a St Francis catamaran called Sand Dollar. Clint and Diane from Vero Beach Florida have two boys Cody and Noah. They played at the pool together and then one stormy day in Hopetown, they invited the kids to their boat to play. Dan dropped them off and starting drinking rum at about 10:45 am. They didn’t make it back until the rain slacked off about 5:30. I had a great day on the boat by myself and the rest of the family had a great day making new friends.

We are having major radio problems now. It started where we couldn’t hear all the cruisers net and now we really can’t hear anyone, so we need to head to Man O War to have someone go up the mast and check the connections. Sean at
Marsh Harbour worked on our refrigerator and for about 3 days it worked and now it doesn’t. Before we head south we have to get these things fixed.

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!

Happy Mother’s Day to my mother and all my friends with children back home.  I can’t think of a better place to spend Mother’s Day then in the Abacos.  Tristan and I did some snorkeling off the beach and of course we hit the Hopetown Harbour Lodge pool (our favorite pool).  The kids gave me a Jasmine and Pineapple candle from the coffeeshop.  The coffeeshop here is great.  It is housed in an airy turquoise colored house with dark hardwood floors inside.  Beautiful artwork from local artists cover the walls.  They roast their own coffee beans and the coffee is really good.  You can drink your coffee, get a delicious muffin, cookie, pineapple or coconut bread, hang out on the couches, use the internet, read the magazines there and just have a relaxing time.  Several times we have taken the kids there to do their schoolwork while we use the internet. 

We also helped Cathy celebrate her birthday.  Instead of a traditional birthday cake she went with the Key Lime pie from Vernon’s grocery.  Vernon owns one of the grocery store and makes the island’s best pies.  Fred put a few candles in the pie and we all sang Happy Birthday.  Tessa and Tristan made her birthday cards.  We always have a great time with Fred and Cathy and we were glad we could help her celebrate her birthday!