Exploring

February 8 and 9, 2023

Yesterday, we decided to go joyriding…exploring some of the other cays that define the “Hub of Abaco”. That’s the local name for a point just off Marsh Harbor, from which routes radiate to Treasure Cay, Great Guana Cay, Man O War Cay, Elbow Cay, and Great Abaco Island, where Marsh Harbor is located. These islands (cays) surround and define the Sea of Abaco, which is the body of water we are living on.

It was a gorgeous day for a ride – blue skies, and that beautiful aquamarine water so typical of the Bahamas.

We left mid-morning for Treasure Cay. It’s not truly a “Cay” per se. It’s more of a marketing construct – THE brand name for a development of homes, canals, marinas, and shops. The plan was to pull into the harbor, pick up a slip or a mooring ball, and spend the day on Treasure Cay Beach – one of the longest and (reportedly) most beautiful beaches in the Bahamas.

Unfortunately, it was not to be. Treasure Cay has made VERY little progress since Dorian. There were no docks; four (occupied) mooring balls; and a collection of little shacks that was supposed to pass for a “shopping center”. So sad.

No docks and the marina buildings are pancaked

So Treasure Cay became a drive-by, and we moved along to Great Guana Cay. The first stop was Baker’s Bay Marina, which presented a sharp contrast to Treasure Cay. The homes are all restored, the docks are brand-new, and we motored past one mega-yacht after another! Baker’s Bay is all private, so we couldn’t stay. But we did get to watch a pair of kite surfers on hydrofoil boards. WOW!

On to Orchid Bay Marina, just a half hour farther south on Great Guana Cay. We wanted to visit Orchid Bay, because there is a famous (notorious) beach bar called Nipper’s on the Atlantic side of the island. The ideas is to tie up in Orchid Bay and walk the short distance across the island to Nipper’s. Unfortunately, the roller coaster ride continued: we were thinking of staying overnight, but there was very little to induce us to stay. Half the harbor was filled with ruined docks, and there didn’t seem to be much going on at all.

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Today is calm and quiet, and it’s kind of a maintenance day. Lynn did some shopping and the laundry, and I cleaned the bilges and (hopefully) repaired a leak in a hose. Livin’ the Glamorous Life, y’all!

TTFN