Still Stuck in Hope Town

Feb 22 thru Feb 24

—Blogpost written by Bob

Thursday, February 22

Today is our fourth consecutive day with high winds, though not as bad today (only 13 knots at the moment). The forecast is for two more days of high wind after today. We had the briefest of rains this morning—it may have lasted one whole minute. The sun never stopped shining.

As usual, we listened to the Cruiser’s Net this morning. One of the “open mic” subjects today was an announcement about a fellow cruiser’s birthday. Upon request of the day’s moderator, many of the listeners joined in with mic clicks, almost like giving applause. 

At noon, we walked about 3/4 mile south of Hope Town along the Queen's Highway to get to On Da Beach Bar and Grill, a casual oceanside restaurant.  Just as we arrived it started to rain and we scrambled to find a dry spot to sit.  We both ordered the fish melt sandwich which was superb!  I also had the house special drink, the turtle racer.

The road sign for On Da Beach Bar and Grill.

Just as we got to the restaurant, a rain
shower came through the area.

The ocean view is stunning from the restaurant!

The rain soon passed and we were able to eat our lunch without getting wet.  Along the road on the way back we took particular note of very colorful handmade signs that adorned all the telephone poles along the road.  

There are 27 handmade signs on
just this one telephone pole!

Love the sign "WE ARE...PENN STATE."

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I wish I could fully describe the society here in Hope Town—I’ll give it a try. Cruisers make up most of the town’s winter population and many of them come back to Hope Town year after year. The society is a very friendly lot. Fellow cruiser’s frequently stop by in their dinghy to simply chat—it’s an art that’s almost nonexistent in all of the east coast communities where I’ve lived. On trash mornings (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday), there are always one or two dinghies that come by our boat offering to take our trash (along with theirs) to the trash collection truck at the public dock. Many of the cruisers are involved in various volunteer capacities in the town. 

A contingent of expats and seasonal residents living in cottages also make up a significant portion of the town’s population, some of them being ex-cruisers. For the most part, the town’s permanent population make a living off the cruisers, seasonal residents, and tourists that come to Hope Town.

Throughout all the time we’ve spent here over two seasons, I don’t recall a single negative incident—no yelling and screaming of obscenities, no drunken behavior, and not even snide remarks.  Everyone seems, not only to accept the small town’s limitations but, to embrace them.

Friday, February 23

There was a short time early this morning when the wind died down to almost nothing. It was at first light and I was still in bed.  As the sun came up, the high wind resumed.  The wind is currently blowing at 14 knots (but it has been varying between 10 and 20 knots, exactly in accordance with the forecast) out of the east. There is barely a cloud in the sky. So far in the month of February, the daily temperatures have only varied between about 68 and 82 degrees F which is perfectly comfortable.

We’re having sliced apples and peanut butter as a light
breakfast this morning--this is one of our favorite
mid-morning snacks while transiting the ICW.
We shared this breakfast plate.

A pampered pooch's life in Hope Town.

We had a delicious flatbread pizza
for lunch at "Wine Down & Sip-Sip."

After lunch we walked along the ocean beach.
Here the waves batter the rocks
on the shoreline.

This is a view of the harbor from near the church.

Some rusty rental bicycles in a shop we visited
on the way back to the boat.

I ordered a 40-watt SOLBIAN-brand solar panel (SL-40) via email this afternoon because this model is being discontinued and is on sale until sold out.  This panel will fit nicely on the remaining space on our hard dodger. Coastal Climate Control of Annapolis will hold it for us until we return around Memorial Day.

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It is now 6:30 PM and the sun has already set. Someone on a boat is blowing a conch shell horn, just a long steady note. Our cats are out in the cockpit exploring and taking in the evening sights—of course, they have been sleeping all day and this is their normal alert time. The wind has died down considerably—it is probably blowing at about 5 to 10 knots, still out of the east. The small wavelets rubbing against the hull of the dinghy are making a shallow gurgling noise. A few dinghies are still moving around the harbor. This is certainly a peaceful place!

Saturday, February 24

At 7 AM the day is starting out perfectly with bright sunshine and a clear blue sky. The wind is still out of the east and, again this morning, at 13 knots. The wind is supposed to start moderating today, with the range dropping to 10 to 15 knots (from 15 to 20 knots). We have chores on our agenda for today: showers and laundry.

I listened to Chris Parker’s Caribbean weather forecast this morning on our shortwave receiver (on 4.045 MHz USB). Reception was excellent at about 7:30 AM. (I also tried to tune into Bahamas Weather on 7.096 MHz to no avail.). I feel it is important to explore all our options for our weather forecasts since it is such an important factor in our travels.

I listened to Chris Parker's Caribbean weather
forecast this morning.  I liked all the
available information on gulf
stream crossings.

We went out for lunch at Harbor's Edge Restaurant and walked on the beach afterward.  I'll let my photographs do the talking.

On such a beautiful day, the Hope Town Sailing Club's
dinghy dock is full of dinghies, mostly inflatable ones.

A white float on a bright yellow line
washed up on North Beach.

The last remains of s/v Ellipsis, the sailboat that was
recently wrecked here in Hope Town, sits
beside someone's house.

Bahamian beer bottles on recycling
day in Hope Town.

Well, I'm not sure what we will have for dinner tonight--our provisions are running low.  This was our last full day in Hope Town this season.  We will be leaving tomorrow around noon.  Our next blogpost will be made from Green Turtle Cay, where we will be based for the month of March.  Stay tuned for more of our continuing adventures...


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