Another glorious sunset (this one viewed from our dingy as we rafted together with other cruisers)
Sorry we haven’t posted in over two months, but we ended up staying in Great Harbour Cay (GHC) much longer than we planned (nearly eight weeks), which other cruisers refer to as the GHC coma. It is so lovely and relaxing, why go anywhere else? Our schedule is also complicated by the fact that we both work Monday through Friday, so moving the boat and adventuring around is mostly restricted to weekends. At some point we decided it was more conducive to our mental health to just stay put and enjoy socializing in GHC than to keep moving.
On March 8, Sylvia flew out of GHC back to the States, where she has been staying with Hugh’s parents in Rhode Island. Hugh was joined on the boat by friends Mike and Gail, who sailed with him to the Abacos for some exploration and provisioning. Gail flew out of Marsh Harbour a few days later, on Hugh’s birthday, and Hugh and Mike ventured on together. They pulled up anchor from Marsh Harbor and motor-sailed 400+ miles north to Charleston, SC. The passage was an uneventful and relatively easy 60 hours for the pair.
Sans Souci is now “on the hard” near Charleston for some needed repairs to the propellor shaft, and Hugh is visiting his parents and Sylvia in Rhode Island. Later this month, Hugh (and maybe Sylvia, too) will return to the boat and finish delivering it to its summer slip in New Bedford, Mass.
Highlights of our last two months follow in photos.
Nighttime walk on Sugar Beach
Our friend Ghislain sporting one of Hugh’s “GMAN” shirts
Boat project! Replacing the headliner in the main berth.
Dinner. Red snapper caught by a local fisherman, Herbert.
Dinner at Da Wharf in our marina with fellow cruisers Randy & Holly and our special guest from Chicago, Paula.
More fun with Paula, this time at the Native Hut.
Rum punches at the Friday night Chill and Grill. WARNING: rum punches are very, very strong. Your Saturday is at risk.
What do you do with a drunken sailor?
Timiko- one of the local dock hands and an all-around good guy
A trip to Shark Creek with CIndy, Ja, and Kim
Manatees love a fresh drink
Cool Bahamas mornings mean the dock cats find a warm spot
A night out at anchor, away from the marina
Dinner with Denise and Ghislain on their Canadian-flagged sloop, “Pardis”
At the Drift + Drink- we had the green flash as the sun set.
Night stars with masts
Exploring Sugar Cave. Must go at low tide!
Looking for sharks on Sugar Beach
Shark siting on Sugar Beach
A local’s hat.
Inside the main grocery store, A&L, which received groceries once a week, by boat, if we were lucky.
Brian blowing the Conch while Chuck helps get Sans Souci freed from the dock. Video by Rose.
Mike and Gail as we cross from the Berries to the Abacos
Little Harbor, Great Abaco Island
Pete’s Pub in Little Harbor
Not a bad place to swim! Photo credit to Gail
Hugh’s birthday dinner at Colors in Marsh Harbor with Mike & Gail, and the crew of Oz: Christina, Nick, Callie & Noah. It was also Christina’s birthday!
Saying farewell to the Bahamas
Mike as we get the last of the turquoise waters
Dolphins accompanying Mike and Hugh near Charleston
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It’s easy to get “stuck” at GHC. Miko looks good. My wife, Kathy, started the drink and drift. Something we brought from Maine.
Tim, so very cool that your tradition persists at GHCM! We loved the time we spent there. You may remember some of the old crew, specifically, Carl and Chris Nelson and Chuck O’Brian. They’re still spending significant time there!
Love the BLM hat! Funny. We are in the northern Abacos and miss Sans Souci!
Thanks, Randy! Glad you are having such an adventure. Next year we will try to make it to some more places and will seek your advice on all the best spots!