Scotland Cay, Abacos, Bahamas

Rita stopped by this morning in her golf cart and asked us to join her at the lagoon.

She has kayaks there and we enjoyed paddling around on the flats.

Here's Rita on her stand up paddleboard.

We paddled out towards the incoming surf...but turned around when the kayaks started getting tossed around in the waves.

I saw a "dark spot" in the water - turned out to be a pretty ray.

In the evening we took a nice long walk on the beach, picked up some sea glass and shells.  Tomorrow Dick and Lindy arrive!

Scotland Cay, Abacos, Bahamas

The day started off very ominous looking!  A front that had been causing rough weather in the States made it over to the Abacos and brought wind and lots of rain.

So, I made more bagels while we waited out the storm.  By afternoon it had mostly passed and we pulled anchor.

We moved over to the private island Scotland Cay to await Dick and Lindy's arrival.  We had been invited to visit with Will and Rita who we had met in the Ragged Islands.  They own a vacation home on Scotland Cay -- and they have an EXTRA slip in the marina --- and a landing strip right next to the marina.  What more could a person need???

 A pretty green turtle right beside our boat.

He was just slowly swimming - not like all the frightened ones we see out in the mangroves that zip away as soon as they see you.

We took a little island tour with Rita and Will.  This is the view from their lovely home out across the Atlantic.

Over to the landing strip.

There are lots of planes here because it's Easter weekend.  Will says normally there are few planes.

A pretty sunset.

At the end of the tour, Will and Rita came aboard for a glass of wine.  Lovely of them to host us here! 

Marsh Harbour, Abacos, Bahamas

We're back in Marsh Harbour.....seems like a broken record?  When the winds clock around strong to the south and west, Marsh Harbour is really the only protected anchorage.  No worries, it's pleasant here.   I spent a good part of the day trying to read "The Sympathizer" a Pulitzer Prize winning fiction book about a Vietnam era spy....but at about a quarter of the way thru I gave up!  I don't do that often but sometimes you just have to say "life's to short to read un-interesting books!"

Near Marsh Harbour, Abacos, Bahamas

At Lynyard Cay, Sojourn and Laura Belle took a short walk over to the ocean side for a bit of beach combing.

There are pretty limestone formations - here is a natural "bridge" - the ocean surge splashes thru this open area.  I did not walk on it as it appears to have a crack!

Picked up lots of small sea glass.

The Sojourn and Laura Belle "in repose".....

Beautiful beach here.

 But winds are forecast to be heavy for the next few days, so we decided to head back towards Marsh Harbour.

Always enjoy seeing the whimsical buildings along the Bahamas.

Tiloo Bank

Sailed 17.7 of the 18 miles with engines off.

And had a pleasant "race" with Salty Dreams on the way back to Marsh Harbour!

Lynyard Cay, Abacos, Bahamas

Today we sailed about 20 miles south to Little Harbour.  On the way, I was playing my long-running Words-With-Friends game on my phone.  The game I have going with Sharon provided an amazing set of letters for me!!  Cool to be able to play the word Sojourn!!

Had a wonderful sail for about 4 hours, only had to turn on an engine to make two turns that were dead into the wind, but otherwise it was engines off.   Laura Belle, our friends from Oriental, NC are a few miles behind us.

Laura Belle coming into the anchorage at Little Harbour.

Just a leisurely visit.

To Pete's Pub.

And beachcombing looking for sea glass and shells.

A walk to the ruins of a lighthouse.  Not much there but what looks like the lightkeepers house.

Laura Belle and Sojourn.   Kay and Bruce came over for snacks and we had an enjoyable evening!

Marsh Harbour, Abacos, Bahamas

We're still in Marsh Harbour, just doing some chores before Dick and Lindy arrive next Monday.


I had purchased these local small grapefruits a couple of days ago.

They were very "tart"!!  

 Friends from Oriental, Kay and Bruce on Laura Belle stopped by in their dinghy today for a nice visit.

Another pretty sunset!

Marsh Harbour, Abacos, Bahamas

We were almost out of water so we put the sails up for several hours, just tacking back/forth to keep us moving in clear water.

Tomorrow our Visa runs out so we have to go to Customs/Immigration in Marsh Harbour to have it renewed.....

Hope Town, Abacos, Bahamas

Taking advantage of the rest of our 24 hour rental period, we rode about 10 miles round trip to the southern end of the island.

Hope Town and Elbow Cay are much more "ritzy" with almost no abandoned buildings.

They do like these little signposts!  We saw dozens of them.

Pretty palm shaded lane.  Mostly just golf carts on the road but a few cars/trucks.

The lighthouse here is the only manned kerosene powered lighthouse it the world according to the signage.

Unlike lighthouses in the States, this one is just completely open to the public.    I guess they figure we're capable of not falling off or down the steep stairs on our own.....

Up the 109 steps

I believe these are pressure tanks for the kerosene. The fuel is apparently pulled to this area about 1/2 of the way to the top in 5 gallon jugs via an old block/tackle rope.

Lovely views out of the windows on the way up.

Pretty old cupboard on a landing about 2/3 of the way up.  It wouldn't open (I tried, of course).

The last few steps were more of a ladder.  Beautiful ancient brass handrail.

The machinery that turns the light.

Looking thru the lenses themselves.

To get outside at the top, you have to stoop down and crawl thru this 1/2 door.

The ledge is pretty small and the railing is mid-thigh so it feels really exposed and windy.

But the view is spectacular of Hope Town Harbour.

On the other side of the lighthouse, you can see Sojourn!

Back down the steps.  A lovely visit!

Tired, we turned in our bikes and went back to the boat for an afternoon of naps and reading.