We left Hope Town on Elbow Cay on Sunday afternoon by ourselves because the other two boats went further South to Little Harbor. It was very windy and the harbor was crowded so it was not fun getting out but Ginny made it fine and we were on our way for a big 5 mile run to Man-O-War Cay. We did not have reservations at the marina but I read that the gas dock was open until 4 P.M. so we got there about 3 - the gas dock and marina were closed. We docked in front of the fuel dock in slip #7, wrote down the electric and water meter readings and had dinner on the boat. The next day at 7 A.M. the marina opened and they said we could stay where we were which was fine with us. There was a fair amount of traffic in the harbor so the wakes from boats would rock us a little but none at night so we could sleep well. Man-O-War is a cute little island with the Sea of Abaco on one side and the Atlantic on the other. The marina was right in town so you could walk everywhere. I thought there was more to see so I rented a golf cart for 1/2 day and we drove around but once you got out of town the roads were horrible and there was not much to see so don't rent a golf cart if you go. We asked someone if there was snorkeling close and they said to take the dinghy to the Low Place and walk across the island to the Atlantic where we could see the reef. The island is only about 50 yards wide at the low place and we walked across to the other side but it was too rough to snorkel so we just walked around the beach. Ginny found a small shell with a creature still inside so we took its picture and then put him back into the sea. When we got back we walked around and there was a lady on a golf cart selling bread and sweet rolls. Her name is Lola and she bakes in the morning and then drives around the island selling her wares. We bought a loaf of bread and some cinnamon rolls and both were very good. On Tuesday, "Something Special" and "Passport" came into the marina so we caught up with each other and had happy hour on "Something Special".
We really liked Man-O-War but it was time to move on so Ginny and I left on Wednesday morning for Treasure Cay which was about 16 miles. The trip was nice but a little windy docking but the slips were large with 50' piers so we bowed in which was a little easier. It worked out great because I could get the dinghy down and explore some of the canals. Treasure Cay is on the a large island named Great Abaco Island. I think it is about 120 miles long. Marsh Harbor is also on this island so you could drive from Treasure Cay to Marsh Harbor by car. Treasure Cay is a resort area so there are lots of condos and hotels but not really a city. There were two rows of stores very close to the marina with a well stocked grocery store. The big attraction on Treasure Cay is the beach on the Sea of Abaco with a view into the Atlantic. The softest sand I have been in (meaning it is hard to walk on) and the water is stunning. There is a tiki bar on the beach that serves lunch and drinks of which we had both. The other two boats came on Thursday which was also pizza night at the marina restaurant. Someone said to get in line early because it will get very crowded and you could wait a long time for your pizza. We went over about 5 and got a table and then we were one of the first ones in line at 6 for pizza. We had numbers 4, 5 and 6 so we got our pizzas soon and I am glad we did because the line was long and the wait was very long - we numbers up to 85. I don't know where all of the people came from but it was packed. The pizza wasn't all that great but it was a nice social gathering.
Since we are heading back towards Florida we have to go around Whale Cay into the Atlantic again to continue West. If you read my other post about coming this way you understand that you can't travel anytime you want but have to pick you day. We decided that Saturday was the day and it was perfect. It was calmer than when we came through before and since we had done it once it was more enjoyable. We are now back at Green Turtle Marina for another couple of days of dock and dine before we head West. We rented a golf cart for 1/2 day and went into town for some bread and a gombay smash. There was a fair at the local school so we stopped off and walked around the school. We expect to leave here on Monday and head for Spanish Cay for a night or two and then try to get to West End by Wednesday so we can cross back to Florida this coming weekend.
Leaving Hope Town
Our dock at Man-O-War Cay
Pretty small town
The elementary school
That's me on the beach
The high school
Lola and her bread cart
Ginny found this and it was alive
We put it back
I didn't see any bats but I wasn't going to look either
Where Lola bakes
The Albury Sail Shop
They make small runabout boats here
Not much activity in the shop
I used the hooka to check the bottom. Thanks Bill and Karen for the loan
The beach on Treasure Cay
A field trip to the tiki bar for slushy drinks
The tiki bar from the beach
A perfect beach
I haven't seen a dolphin since Florida but this one was in the harbor
The restaurant where we had pizza night
This is the route from Treasure Cay around Whale Cay and then on to Green Turtle. I looks like you should be able to go between the islands instead of going around but if you look very closely at the chart there is a big rock called "Dont Rock" in the way and it is very shallow.
Dont Rock
"Passport" on the Atlantic side of Whale Cay
Looking back at Whale Cay after we went around
The primary school in Green Turtle
The fair at the school
