Day 21. Lay day in Green Turtle. April 12

Day 21

Another beautiful day with lot of wind. Spent the morning catching up with the blog and organizing photos.

Have a new neighbor on our dock, Jason and Ashley, on a 39 ft sailing vessel. Bill helped cut some dock boards flush with the dock so they could tie up. With the wind, it took a bit of manhandling the boat to get her along side, but we succeeded. They are ending a 4 month tour of the Bahamas. Bill has already hit them up for advice on stops we plan to make.

We headed into town for lunch and caught up with Bob and Cara and walked in with them. They are a couple who has sold all their land possessions and plan to travel and live on their sailboat. It is their first trip to the Bahamas. We went to MacIntosh's for lunch and had delicious Mahi Mahi tacos, sharing boating stories in between bites. Later we walked around the island, checking out the grocery stores as the supply boat had come the day before.

Along the way we have heard stories from different residents as to the impact of Hurricane Dorian on this island. A resident and restaurant owner shared that many of the residents evacuated to Great Abaco Island. Those who stayed took refuge in the building with the highest elevation in town- Amy Roberts Primary School.

Here is a shot of one flight of the old steps up to the school.

The islanders banded together to rebuild businesses, churches and homes, but some have not been renovated, left to the elements. Lots of building lost roofs and second stories. The marina here lost its roof, the laundry and restroom buildings were destroyed and not a single dock board remained on the docks. The owner Donnie pushed up his sleeves and boaters who came regularly to the area anchored their boats and dinghied in offering to help rebuild the marina. As Donnie puts it - "It was a gift to have the help of my boaters."

Below are some shots of the effects of Hurricane Dorian.

And many buildings are still under construction.

Most of the buildings have been rebuilt, a credit to the people who live here.

Also took some shots around town that just struck me. All the conch shells harvested for the local restaurants used here for decoration for a luncheon snack shack.

And of course, the ever present roosters and chickens. This guy was particularly vocal about us encroaching on his space!

Later that night, we invited our dock neighbors, Jason and Ashley on SV Onward to split the carrot cake we bought from a bakery in town. That also gave us the opportunity to pick their brains on cruising the Exumas. Always good to learn from recent first hand experience.

Halfway through our sharing we were alerted to a rocket launch. We watched as the rocket rose red in the sky and travel over our heads. Next we were treated to the flash and booster reentry. Was quite spectacular to watch the booster descend and drop out of site on it landing pad. I still think that is amazing!

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Crustacean Travels

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