Underway Again #14: Georgetown

 

A view of our boat from Volleyball Beach

 

Boats are anchored quite closely

Georgetown, where we have been for the last two weeks, is on Great Exuma Island which historically was a home for pirates, a refitting base for British men of war and a World War II U.S. Naval Base.   It is on Elizabeth Harbour, a beautiful and sheltered basin which attracts a large collection of cruising boats, some of which spend weeks, months, and sometime the entire winter here.   Presently there are about 300 boats in the various anchorages, most of which are across from Georgetown off Stocking Island (different island from Lee Stocking).  There are countless little bays which are named Monument Beach, Honeymoon Beach, Sand Dollar Beach, etc. 

 

We are anchored just off Volleyball Beach

Dinghies on Volleyball Beach

Experiencing Reconnective Energy

Yoga under the Casuarina trees

 

 

There are different activities all the time- yoga on the beach at 9:00 every morning, volleyball every afternoon, bocce ball, water walk, rug hooking, art on the beach, softball, etc.  








Anyone that has an interest that they want to share is welcome to do so.  We have heard talks on the history of the Bahamas, on various technical issues, on cruising to different parts of the Caribbean, on  different health issues, just to name a few.  We have attended a meeting of the SSCA (Seven Seas Cruising Association) which we have joined.

SSCA is the largest cruising association in the world.

 



Some get together just to play!

And the food...............In Georgetown there are a variety of restaurants with excellent food.  We have had succulent ribs, conch, shrimp, snapper, mystery delicious fish, chicken etc. etc.  Every Sunday, there has even been a pig roast on Volleyball Beach at Chat & Chills. There is something to please every palate.

 

Some of the musicians are quite talented!

Not only are there things to keep you busy during the day but also at night!  One of the evenings we went to a music jam session at Big D beach where a bonfire was lit after dark. Whoever has an instrument brings it. We even had bagpipes!  Another evening we went to a Valentine's Dance on Volleyball Beach.

 

You can see the sparks from the fire!

Of course Georgetown has its own straw market.

 

Boating is not only fun and games but also one problem after another, one repair after another.    Our latest problem is our dinghy.  Every Sunday there is a non-denominational service called beach church which is held under the casuarina trees on Volleyball Beach. 

 

 On our way there last Sunday, our dinghy started taking on water.   By the time we got to the beach, Roman was in knee deep water.  While I sang in the choir Roman pumped out the dinghy, took off the motor, turned it upside down and discovered that the bottom was coming apart from the inflatable sides.  We got a ride back to our boat after church and appealed on the net for assistance.  A boater came by and brought some glue and took Roman back to repair the bottom.  The next day, after yoga, Roman put the engine back and we got to the boat only to determine that it was leaking again.  If you look at the picture on the right, you can see me exercising.

 

Our friend Harry from Sea Schell helped Roman hoist the dinghy onto our deck and gave him a ride into Georgetown which is a mile away across Elizabeth Harbour. He bought some glue and spent the next two days cleaning the old glue off and applying the new glue which was not what he wanted but what was available. It seemed that everything was fine.

We went snorkeling on the reef in the harbour. Nothing as nice as Thunderball Grotto but look how close I got to a huge turtle. I have not enlarged the photo. I really got that close!!

 




Can you see the fish?  They completely blend into the bottom.

Roman relaxing white waiting for me while I am snorkelling.

These goggles are prescription and worth every penny.