Bellatrix

24 December 2014

Hopetown, Elbow Cay, Abaco

We wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!!! Particularity to my children and their families.

We left Marsh Harbor for Elbow Cay, we will have to return to Marsh Harbor when our mail arrives, we had it sent 4 weeks ago!

Bill is pretty good, when you ask what IITYWYBTHAD means the response is, “If I Tell You Would You Buy The House A Drink”.

We anchored off of Tahiti Beach, beautiful. We spent 2 days enjoying the beach, exploring, snorkeling, and fishing. We are seeing many sea turtles, starfish, and larger barracuda. The water is crystal clear aqua marine. We went to “Cracker P’s” on Lubber’s Quarter’s Cay for football, then to Chad and Masha’s boat “Free Spirit” for after dinner drinks and dessert. The next day to the picturesque town of Hopetown.

Last night we joined about 150 other cruisers and towns people walking the streets of Hopetown Christmas caroling. A fun time was had by all, making stops at homes where shots of rum and eggnog were shared.

There is a light house here that was built in 1863 and is still in use. It is lit by kerosene and visitors are asked to carry cans of fuel up as they tour.

A typical day in the Abacos…

We find we are ready for bed around 7 pm (I know, it’s weird). We try to stay up till 8, we sleep until about 6:30, shortly after sunrise, and have coffee and listen to the “Cruiser’s Net”. The Cruiser’s Net, on VHF 68, starts with the weather report, then local happenings and arrivals and departures. Invitations are next and then “open mike” where cruiser’s can share needs, look for other cruiser’s and announcements such as birthdays etc. Applause is indicated by everyone keying their mikes, Robin giggles every time, funny! After breakfast we go about the day enjoying the weather and water or touring a town. The weather has been glorious.

75 -80 degrees during the day and 68-70 at night, good sleeping. Water temperature is around 74. Dinner out or on the boat, sundowners (cocktails) and conversation on someone’s boat, then back to the boat to read and bed.

We will spend the next few days in Hope Town. Tomorrow is Christmas and we will attend Mass under the “fig tree” around noon. One of our friends gave us a painted Sand Dollar Christmas ornament that will suffice as our “tree” and we will open gifts under it.

Again, a Very Merry Christmas to all…