A Day in Hope Town

After a brief hiatus, we are back in Hope Town – at least Nancy is; Goldwin will be here soon.  (We were off island for a family visit and routine health maintenance.)  And it’s busy, busy.  Today was definitely not a beach day.

Beautiful as it is.  No, too busy today.  First, the in-coming tanker woke me up.

It delivers gasoline and diesel fuel to the Lighthouse Marina.  But I needed to be up anyway because Thursday is garbage day  — one of three days a week boaters can leave trash at the garbage dock.  Yippee – another boater came by and took my bag of trash for me.

Then off to town in the dinghy.  Low tide at the Sailing Club’s dinghy dock makes for a long climb up.  Standing in the dinghy, I’m eye level with the top of the dock.

I’m headed to the weekly Writers Circle meeting.  About 20 boaters and cottagers meet to read what we’ve written – mostly based on past experiences.  Today we were entertained with stories about sailing from Bermuda to Newport, RI, coming down the ICW, a beloved cat named Birdie, finding paradise in Minnesota, making blueberry steak sauce, lobstering in Maine, and a favorite old car.

Then we walk over to the Edge for lunch .  Such a beautiful walk.

Harbor’s Edge is aptly named because it sits out over the water.  I always order Bahamian White Caps – an amazing mix of grouper (or mahi), peppers, onion, mayonnaise, and cheese – which is broiled, on toast (from homemade bread).  Like a tuna melt times 1000.  Others have conch fingers, quinoa bowls, or the BBQ rib special.

Back to the boat for a shower – the water in the solar shower bag is so hot I think I will have to add cold water, but I finally get used to it.  Just enough time to dry my hair – outside in the cockpit in the sun – and then another dinghy trip to shore.  This time, to meet with like-minded women to discuss politics.

By now, the freight boat has completed its weekly delivery of produce and other much-needed food items to the island and the shelves in the grocery stores are no longer bare.

I take my groceries back to the boat, via dinghy, and check that the solar panels are properly positioned for maximum sunlight – i.e., power.  Now I’m off again in the dinghy, to the opposite end of the harbor for an impromptu party of boaters, initiated by a group from Annapolis.  Here is Motu Iti at the harbor entrance, on her mooring.  The next two boats on moorings are also from Annapolis. There are others.  A blue boat off our bow is from Muskegon, MI, but the owners live in Rockford.

Some good friends are leaving for the season and the partiers all wish them a safe winter and happy return next season.

As I leave, I take a detour to re-fill the sun shower so it’ll get a full day’s sun tomorrow — when I need to get an early start again to make bread for a dinner I’ve been invited to by a cottager friend.   Also tomorrow:  a farmers’ market with locally grown produce, an art show by local artists, a lecture on traditional Bahamian medicinal plants, a fundraiser for our junior sailing program and the start of a national small boat regatta – all right here in Hope Town.  AND, a walk on the beach and dinner with friends.  Gorgeous weather predicted.