From Spanish Cay, we sailed to Green Turtle Cay, where we
read there is a grocery store, and we walked around the little village of New
Plymouth.
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| The water taxi to the mainland (Great Abaco Island) |
Just to the southeast, was the famous No Name Cay, with it’s
main attraction, Piggyville. We had to
visit. The island was fringed with beautiful white sand beaches, and was home
to at least a dozen hairy pigs, and at least that many chickens. It was quite
an attraction, as the boats arrived throughout the day to feed the “swimming
pigs of Abaco”.
From No Name Cay, we transited the feared and treacherous
Whale Cay Channel in order to get to the protection of Treasure Cay harbour.
Treasure Cay has a crescent beach that is one of the World’s top ten! We caught
one of the marina’s moorings and enjoyed benefits such as hot showers and use
of their swimming pool. The beach was fantastic, and no one was there!
Next port of call was Marsh Harbour, which is a proper town
with two grocery stores and lots of other shopping. We had a wonderful opportunity
to visit a special education school called “Every Child Counts” that has a
wonderful program that employs its own graduates that wouldn’t be able to find
work otherwise. They supply local restaurants with pre-packaged cutlery and bar
soap etc. This school is not funded, so
it has to raise its own money throughout the year.
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| One of the nice homes along the harbour front |
It was here in Marsh Harbour that we found a replacement for
the bi-colour navigation light we lost off our bow crossing from Charleston. We
also purchased charts and guides for the planned Caribbean Sea crossing to
Panama, and the South Pacific Islands.
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| Tim trying to pull down coconuts. |
While anchored in Marsh Harbour, we listened to Christmas
music over the radio, and were growing nostalgic of the beautiful Canadian
Christmases with our family and friends.
We had nothing to purchase or wrap, so we made our own Christmas tree
out of collected bits of driftwood and seashells!
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| Our Christmas Tree! |
We also put up a string of
lights in the rigging to pass on our cheer to others in the harbour! We miss
everyone terribly.
Merry Christmas,
everyone!
