The Marina at Emerald Bay, part 6

March 17, 2020 - March 22, 2020

We have been monitoring the progress of the Corona Virus Pandemic in the US.  Conditions seem serious with schools closed, businesses shut down, grocery store shelves empty, and citizens required to self quarantine, shelter in place, and practice social distancing.  Bob and I are strongly considering staying in the Bahamas longer than planned.  

On Wednesday we rented a car to buy groceries and explore.  After stowing all of our food we drove north to Shoreline Beach Club, Bar, and Restaurant.  It was slightly north of Cocoplum beach.  The food was great and the beach beautiful.  I took a walk further north on the beach and got some great photos.

We walked along the pathway to
Shoreline Beach Club and Restaurant.

The beach in front of the restaurant

Coconuts are growing on a tree
behind our table on the porch.

A power boat was anchored off the beach.

Some Bahamian children turned a huge
piece of styrofoam into a swim platform
 and were enjoying the water.

A beached row boat

A large piece of delicate fan
coral washed up on the beach.

Some colorful kayaks were stored on the beach.

On the way back to the marina, we stopped for dessert at the Light House Ice Cream Parlor.  The sign on the front door said "Carry Out Only".  We saw some people on the back porch and entered from that door.  The owner was frantically wiping everything down with disinfectant.  We ordered our ice cream and watched the news on TV which gave us the reason for all of this concern - three cases of the covid-19 had been diagnosed in Nassau. We stopped to fill the car up with gas and all of the attendants were wearing gloves, washing their hands, and using hand sanitizer profusely.  We stopped at the liquor store to pick up ice and the store was only allowing two people in the store at a time.  Fortunately, Nassau is many miles and many islands north of us, but with the continued arrival of tourists to the resorts near by it made us wonder how long the Exumas would remain virus free.  Bob and I both contacted family to get a first hand report of conditions in the US.  After considering all of the information we gathered we decided to stay where we are until mid-April and then reevaluate our plans.  

Life has become a routine here at the marina.  After breakfast I take a long walk along the ocean on the near by resort's golf cart trails and the marinas roads and docks.  The resort is like a ghost town as all resorts and hotels have been closed.  Restaurants are only permitted to serve carry out.  We have not left the marina since last Wednesday.  Several boats here are still occupied, but we stay clear of each other even though most of us have been in the Exumas long before the virus became a problem - you just never know.  After lunch I usually go to the lounge and check e-mail and watch a Netflix show or two if the signal is strong enough. Bob’s back had continued to improve until Sunday when he woke up with severe pain again, causing him difficulty walking.  With continued treatment with analgesic gels, his back brace, and ibuprofen I hope he gets some relief from the pain quickly.

Keep Calm, and carry on at home!

Thank you for reading my blog.