Nassau to Hopetown, Abaco

http://marlinstriker.blogspot.com – to view all past blogs.

Catch Up – We finally arrived someplace that has internet that works and is included with our slip.  Internet in the Exuma ranged from $25 per day for very limited access and megabytes.  Or flat fees of $70 for anything from 1-3 days of access and that was very limited in megabytes if you could actually make it work.  Anyway, now I can catch up on a couple of things from last week. 

We had an absolutely great week with Jessica.  She seemed to have a great time and wants to come back to the Bahamas.  We also had a wonderful time last week.  Jess kept us very busy with several activities every day. 
 

Compass Cay Remembrance  2016

Everyone who has been to Compass Cay Marina knows that before you leave a special remembrance must be left.  So Jessica created a special design from the Marlin Striker 2016. 


For our friends and family in North Carolina – We met the Larry Parker of yachting (boat name: Aquaholic).  Looks like him, sounds like him, and even acts like him!  What a hoot!!!

Just for Jessica...

Saturday, May 28^th, 2016

Jessica left at 8:00 AM, we were not able to go to the Staniel Airport with her because there were not enough golf carts so we said our good byes at the Yacht Club and Jessica got a ride to the airport with another group from Boston.  It was heartbreaking to see her leave.  We were all having such a good time.  The seas were like glass.  Bill kept saying, “Somehow we are going to pay for this day”.  The weather and seas were absolutely amazing so we were able to travel at 30 knots plus all of the way to Hurricane Hole Marina, Nassau.    Once we arrive we immediately began cleaning up the boat.  It had collected its share of sand and salt from the Exuma islands.  Bill worked on the tender and the outside while I cleaned the inside and did what seemed like tons of wash (sheets, towels, dishes, clothes).  We then decide to take a walk over to the Paradise Island Marina.  To our surprise we ran into our friends, Bob & Lynn from the boat Cocktails and it was docked next to Wheels and Reel Wheels owned by Rick Hendricks (NASCAR owner) and Aly works on as a deck hand.  After a long day of departure, travel, and cleaning we both crashed on the couch for an hour before heading over to the Green Parrot Restaurant next to the marina for a simple dinner and relaxation. 

Cocktails beside Wheels

Wheels and Reel Wheels (75' fishing tender)

Atlantis at night

Sunday, May 29^th, 2016 – Day 33

By staying at Hurricane Hole Marina we are able to use all of the facilities at Atlantis so we headed over to Atlantis to enjoy some of the water activities.  After several rides on the Raging River we headed back to the shops for a bite to eat.  While we were there a big thunderstorm rolled through.  It lasted about an hour so during that time we sat outside one of the restaurants and watched the lightning.  There was one really close lightning strike and heart stopping thunder.  Everyone commented that was very close and most suspected that the lightening had hit the bridge.  Hurricane Hole Marina is next to the bridge and the fuel dock for the Marina is actually under the bridge.  Poor Stewart (our dog) must have been really shaken during the storm!  Upon returning to the Marina we found out that the lightening had hit a boat and the fuel dock that were about 200 yards from our boat.  The lightening had jumped from the boat and blew the electrical panel for the fuel dock right off the wall!! 

Monday, May 30^th, 2016 – Day 34

Today was time to go across the bridge to the shopping center near the cruise ships.  We asked the Marina staff where to go to get haircuts and they suggested Windermere Day Spa and Salon at Harbour Bay Village Shops.  The facility was very clean and the staff were very friendly.  One of the gals had just entered her first body building contest this past weekend and had finished second.  She had her picture in the local paper so we all enjoyed her enthusiasm and excitement.  The haircuts were not the same as home but they would have to do.  After getting cleaned up we headed across the street to the Harbourside Marine.  This is a great boating store, they have everything you could think of or need.   It is always fun to look around and we also replaced some of the ballyhoo (bait) that we had used in the Exuma Islands so we would have plenty for the fishing tournament in Abaco.  While we were in the store we ran into Jamal from Compass Cay Marina.  Jamal was there to pick up their boat which was having a new engine put on it. 

Tuesday, May 31, 2016 – Day 35

We traveled to Hopetown, Abaco.  Once again we were blessed with flat seas that had a slight roll.  We traveled at 27 knots all the way to the Man O War entrance in Abaco.  We took our time entering Hopetown as we arrived at low tide and had very little water (5 feet or less), we turned sand on the way in at times.  The channel entering the harbor is very narrow so the harbor master asked us to wait a few minutes in the open water while other small boats worked their way out.  Even then when we got in we had to go to a temporary dock to wait for the boat that was in our spot to leave.  It was a sailboat that was not able to go out until high tide.  So while we waited we had lunch at the Hopetown Inn & Marina Restaurant.  The food was marginal at best. 

The Elbow Reef Lighthouse was erected in 1864.  When first built, the lighthouse showed a fixed light and did not flash.  In 1936, the Imperial Lighthouse Service saw the need for a light which could be easily identified by ships at sea.  Thus the Elbow Reef Lighthouse was given a major refit using the lens and turning mechanism which had been at the Gun Cay Lighthouse.  The fixed light was replaced with a rotating first order Fresnel lens with a unique character described on nautical charts as  GP FL W (5) EV 15 SEC 120 FT 15M.  That is five white flashes every 15 seconds at 120 feet above sea level with a visibility of fifteen nautical miles.  In 1953, the Imperial Lighthouse Service determined that the cracks caused by lightening to the brick tower were threatening its integrity and another major rebuilding process began.  Engineers from England Trinity House poured concentric rings of concrete in steps around the previously smooth tapering brick tower, making it noticeable wider.  The brick tower is 89 feet high and there are 101 steps to the lantern room. 

Wednesday, June 1, 2016 – Day 36

After breakfast we took the Shuttle over to Hopetown.   We walked around Hopetown which is like a very small, quaint Cape Cod village.  The streets are so small that even golf carts are not allowed to operate in town.  We visited several little village shops and then settled in for a great lunch at Capt’n Jacks Restaurant.  After lunch we called on VHF for the shuttle which took us over to the Lighthouse Marina Ships Store.  We walked back to the Marina and spent the afternoon catching up on the blog, emails, and some repairs (forward bilge pump).



Capt'n Jacks Restaurant - Excellent

Thursday, June 2, 2016 – Day 37

Today we took the ferry from Hopetown to Marsh Harbour where we took a taxi from one ferry pier to another ferry pier.  Then we took a second ferry over to Great Guana Cay to visit.   

Ferry Landing

We had lunch at Nippers on the beach.  The beach and water were beautiful.  We then walked around town and visited the 2-3 gift shops, dive store and general store.  With about an hour left before the return ferry we had a drink at Grabber’s.  Another local bar and grill.  Although the view and scenery are better at Nippers, I really liked the atmosphere better at Grabbers.  Both had a pool in the center of the facility (restaurant).  That was unique, but much needed.  It was quite hot.  The ferries were a unique experience as well.  In the morning after catching the marina shuttle over to Hopetown with the school children, we rode to Marsh Harbour with another group of slightly older kids, and on the return from Guana Cay we had a whole boat full of local workers returning home after the day’s work.  The experience and conversation was interesting to hear.  After returning and taking a swim in the Marina pool we once again loaded onto the marina ferry to go to the Hopetown Lodge for dinner.  The lodge looked like Tarpon Bay Lodge (for those of you who know this location) or an old time hotel and bar.  It smelled musty, the table linen was dirty and there was a palmetto bug (cockroach) on the floor in the bar BUT the meal (chef) was fabulous.  Our meal was definitely the best we have had since leaving Cape Coral.  After almost leaving because of the lack of cleanliness but then deciding that there really so no other place to go but back to the boat and I had not taken anything out of the freezer for dinner, we were pleasantly surprised by the meal.  Oh well, what can you do?  We are in the islands!

Frank - Nipper's Restaurant Cat

 Many thanks to all of our friends and family who continue to send us emails.  We love hearing from you even when our ability to respond is limited.  Hugs to you all. 

June 3, 2016 – AM   Thank you for all of the birthday wishes. 

We climbed the lighthouse and took some nice pictures of the area this morning. 

For a late lunch we took the ferry over to Hopetown and went to On Da Beach Bar and Grill.  This came highly recommended from the waiter whom we had meet last night while walking Stew.  We meet Roger on the dock, complaining about the visitors who had docked their boat in his personal spot.  He lives behind the marina.  Rogers family had owned the property where the marina is built.  He has a Pomeranian named Diamond, she is quiet but he said that she does not like most dogs so she and Stew never really met.  On Da Beach was okay, but nothing special and it is not easily accessed as once you get to Hopetown we had to call the restaurant for a ride to the other end of the island.  Pretty view and nice beach but not really worth the ferry, and ride. 

Hopetown Inn & Marina

Tomorrow we will move to Boat Harbor Marina at the Abaco Beach Resort in Marsh Harbour, Abaco.  Our friends Glenn and Laurie will join us tomorrow and then for the next week we will have 8 more friends joining us for the Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament.  With all of the events that will be going on each day of tournament I don’t expect that I will have another blog for at least a week.  If we are doing well fishing I may try to post some pictures with limited comment.   Thank you for all of the support we have and are receiving.  Smiles to everyone.