This is an amazing place, a beautiful playground. We are moored off the Chat +Chill restaurant which is nestled amongst the trees off a white sand beach. We are in blue water. Around us are other boats with toys: paddle boards, small sailing boats, kayaks. There are adults, kids and dogs.
Started the morning with some breath holding exercises. Apparently there is an app to help you hold your breath longer for free diving. We can only hold our breath for around a minute and 20 seconds and that is staying still.
At 8 am, each morning, we tune in to channel 72 on our vhf for the cruiser’s net. It is hosted by some people who spend the season or the year here. It starts with an old song and some trivia. Next is a report of weather and tides, followed by emergency messages and boat departure information. There is a section called local business: Jamal’s concierge will fill your propane tank, Julians is cooking chicken and ribs today, there is a clinic above the Fish Fry. It is Election Day in the Bahamas.
Community announcements follow. There is a women’s boater group, the t shirt stand needs volunteers, pickleball volleyball, Texas hold’em poker, yoga and my favorite, swing dancing. There is fun volleyball and serious volleyball.
Boaters general, includes people needing help with boats. Electric mermaid has engine trouble and wants a tow from one anchorage to another. Some crew from one boat are looking to go to Cuba on another boat. Someone wants information on going to Turks and Caicos and someone else needs mechanical work on a yanmar.
The chat ends with trade or give away, kid’s corner and taxi shares. New arrivals are then welcomed followed by a thought of the day. A very nice community service. After the net broadcast, people contact one another on channel 68 to coordinate.
We met Ann and Greg from Halekai. They paddled by on paddle boards and stood on the boards by our boat and talked. I was glad to meet them because I had taken pictures of their boat sailing. They were the green boat that was with us at the Galliot anchorage and on the passage down the sound. We exchanged numbers to exchange pictures. They had taken some of us as well. They were so kind and offered us use of their paddle boards whenever they were not in use.
We then went to Jeff and Deb’s boat to see their boat and try their paddle board. Their boat was great with lots of ideas for us. Everyone has little tricks that you can learn from. They have a giant food hammock in the kitchen. Deb has also decorated the mast down below with stickers from all the places they have been. Their cockpit has foam cushions and canvas privacy shades on the side. There is a frame that comes from the stern that holds canvas that shades the steering console. They have a nice storage net under the hard top that stores things out of the weather.
I tried paddle boarding. It was really fun. I did well on my knees and sitting but standing was tough. It is great core exercise. I think with practice, I could do it. I feel well balanced except for my last 20 inches of legs. Falling was not scary or dangerous. David was a natural and did not even get wet. I can’t believe that Ann and Greg stood on their boards for such a long time talking to us. Greg even got his phone and put in our info from the board.
We headed back to the boat for a quick lunch and then on to fun volleyball. We played 6 on 6 and people rotated in. The court was shaded by some Casaurina trees. They are invasive from Australia but provide good filtered shade. They look like some sort of pine tree but are not in the pine family. They shade the volleyball and picnic area but also provide tree climbing and rope swings for the kids.
Jeff and Deb came to our boat for sunset. She blew the conch horn and I tried it too. Amazing sound. It was a special occasion so I opened up an Asheville popcorn. Deb brought green grapes, a real delicacy.
Tomorrow we may head to Georgetown for trash deposit, filling water jugs and a little grocery. Wonderful first day in our new temporary home. I hope Fishes can get here soon as they would love the children’s community here.