Stuck in Treasure Cay Marina

Treasure Cay - pic courtesy of Tina White flying over Hugo and Askari tucked up

We ended up spending 18nights in the Marina at Treasure Cay – oh my gosh there was just no let up in the cold and windy weather for more than a day at a time. With our 2.2m draft we could only get in and out of the entrance channel at high tide so we were effectively trapped, the good thing was they had a monthly rate that was about the same cost as for 5 days so it wasn’t costing a fortune and there is a really nice community. We met some great people there but this really wasn’t what we came to the Bahamas for.

Our grey view - not so bad and very private

I did have time for baking - even made pastry- Carmelised Onion Tart

Our recently repaired alternator had failed again so we took the opportunity to get a new one shipped in – Mastervolt USA were great and sent us a replacement unit free of charge the same day – getting it cleared through customs in Nassau and then sent to the Abaco’s was a different matter. Miss Marshall from UPS is now on our speed dial but eventually got it to us two weeks later…..

We did get visits from turtles and dolphins in the marina

We hired bikes for a day, they turned out to be the worst bikes in the world but they only cost $7 and we managed to cover the 30 km round trip to the blue hole. It was a totally circular sinkhole, buried deep in the forest. Apparently its 70metres deep and has three layers – fresh clear water on the top, a layer of old decomposing leaves, then deep dark salt water beneath. It was really cool as we had the place to ourselves and the swimming was great.

Nice bike!

Treasure Cay Blue Hole

Our good friends on Hugo had sailed out to the Bahamas from Florida for New Year and a wedding, a real treat was getting to spend their last night with them before they went back to their new land lives in Nashville. Russ’s mum Jen is 83 and was visiting from Australia – she sailed with them, a real life super gran.

Hugo arriving at Treasure Cay

Packing the lovely White family off to the airport - miss you guys!

We hired a car and drove the full length of Great Abaco island over a few days. Going to Little Harbour for lunch at Pete’s pub and a hike out to the lighthouse was a great day. We had a big food shopping day in Marsh Harbour in the torrential rain, where we ran into the crews of Venture Lady and Country Dancer hiding out in a bar. We drove to the north end and found ummmm like nothing, oh except a huge new port that the Chinese and Bahamian Government have invested $39m to build but apparently the depth is only 6ft- hmmmm?!

Little Harbour - very protected once in

Yes that's why we are in the marina

Pete's Pub - we resisted buying one of the amazing bronze sculptures - the family history is really interesting though

Derelict lighthouse at Little Harbour

New Port - North Abaco

The Lovely Treasure Sands Club

Very Bahamas - Treasure Sands

Finally a cocktail in a real glass - Treasure Sands Club

Lovely garden in Marsh Harbour on one of our many visits to try and get the alternator 

So like our old cat Scooby - Bacardi nearly came with us

Then on our last day of exploring we went looking for rare Abaco parrots – it was only when we got to the National Park we discovered that it was 4wd only so we went for a hike and only managed to find a few blue feathers, but we did find some really pretty Atala butterflies – apparently they were nearly extinct but are now common again following changes to harvesting of it’s host plant. Lunch at Nancy’s a lovely local restaurant in Sandy Point made the day – we could see the Disney island off in the distance and heard stories from the locals who used to work there, interesting that the chairs in the restaurant had mickey mouse on them!

Abaco Parrot feather - the closest we got!

In search of Abaco parrots like this - not my image

Atala Butterfly in the Abaco National Park - that's a mouth-full....

Potcake Dog at Sandy Point - these local dogs named after the rice and peas fed to them are very cute

Fried chicken at Nancy's - food of gods!

We finally collected the alternator from Marsh Harbour airport on the 18^th, our third attempt. Andrew fitted in that afternoon and a weather window opened up for us to leave the marina the next day for more real adventure.

Heading south again.....