Marsh Harbor and Hope Town

We sailed from Spencer’s Bight to Marsh harbor in about 20 knots of breeze, the forecast was for less than 10 knots.  It must be hard to do the weather for this area as none of the forecasts have been correct so far.  We docked at the Marsh Harbor Marina and Yacht Club, which was a nice facility with all of the amenities.  I knew we had been “out” for some time when I had to dig the power cord out from under the sewing machine.  We spotted Texas Dreamer across the harbor, we had not seen them since the Keys, and it was very nice to catch up with them.

Traffic Light in Marsh Harbor

Marsh Harbor has the biggest grocery store we have seen since leaving the states. And the road even has a traffic light.   There was a “Rake and Scrape” at the marina, complete with a libo stick, it was a nice evening for all of us.

Michelle ended up getting ill and having to see the doctor, so we spent a few more days than we had planned.  The clinic was nice, but not cheap like you often read about in cruising magazines.  They do ask before each procedure if you can afford it.  Michelle rested, and we hooked up cable TV and AC for a few days.

We left on Tuesday for Hope Town.  It is an interesting and picturesque place, so much so that the harbor is featured on the Bahamian $10 bill. 

We climbed the lighthouse, which was built over the objections of the local “wreckers”, who made a living off shipwrecks.  They actually sabotaged the building to protect their “trade”.   The lighthouse still operates as it did, with kerosene like a Coleman lantern (it is about that big).  It spins by the keeper cranking a weight to the top and letting it fall slowly every hour.  We also spent some time shopping and touring the town.  There was a nice history museum with artifacts from the loyalist days.  Many southerners, loyal to the King during the revolutionary war, resettled in this area. 

Coleman light inside the dome

Emily and the Falco crew went snorkeling off the beach there and came face to face with a 6-7 ft. reef shark.  It turned and swam away, uninterested in any of them. 

Diamond from the lighthouse