The Marina at Emerald Bay, part eight

March 29,2020 - April 2, 2020

The restrictions due to the coronavirus  have been extended to April 8 here in the Bahamas, which I think is a good thing.  There are still only four confirmed cases, but there are ten people in a quarantine facility.  All of these cases are more than 100 miles away from us and, thankfully, all of the people at the marina are taking the restrictions seriously.  We will get our second grocery order delivered today from Exuma markets.  We are thankful we can still enjoy cooking and eating good meals.  

The truck arrived around 4:30 pm with everyones
grocery orders packed in large blue storage containers.

I have always been excited about seeing marine animals in the wild, but it has become an even more exciting event when I encounter a sea turtle swimming in the marina on my daily walks. Many reef fish live in the marina as well.  It seems that the concrete supports for some of the piers have started to grow coral and it has attracted sergeant majors, yellow tail snappers, spotted grouper, and we have a resident nurse shark. A couple of days ago we had a green heron land on the boat for a short visit. I miss swimming and I may even start cleaning the bottom of the boat just to have an excuse to get into the water.  

Some pictures I captured this week:

I found pink coral growing on the cement pier.

I often see this sea turtle in the
marina on my morning walk.

Our resident nurse shark

Sea gulls are not a common sight in the Bahamas.
A small flock has decided to live at the marina.

The greens of the golf course I walk by
each morning have to stay green.

One of the villas next to the golf course has
a very unique pool that encircles an island.

This view of the above pool shows the
lounge chairs that are sitting in a
shallow pool of water presumably
to keep the sun bathers cool.
That's the guest house in the background.

It is such a blessing to hear the
ocean on my morning walk.

Some flowers along my path.

m/y Entourage is the largest vessel
in the marina. I think it is 150 feet long.

Than you for reading my blog.

The Marina at Emerald Bay, part seven

March 23, 2020 - March 28, 2020

On Monday morning I filled out the paper work to reserve a rental car for our Wednesday provisioning and exploring trip.  However, on Tuesday morning  the Prime Minister of the Bahamas put “stay at home” orders in place.  No one is allowed to leave their residence unless they are going to the doctor, pharmacy, grocery store, or filling station.  The marina is closed to all new boats and if we check out of the marina we cannot return.  Liquor stores aren’t even allowed to open. We couldn’t get the rental car so we had to come up with a different way to get groceries,  We actually have enough groceries to last quite awhile, but we don’t want to use everything up and find we can’t get more food.  Many of the cruisers at the marina emailed our grocery orders into the Exuma Market in George Town.  There was some confusion on Wednesday as to how the orders would get to the marina, but Exuma Market offered to drive them to the marina and they arrived at 4:15 pm.  That was quite a relief as I had been a bit concerned about the procedure all day.  The market will be doing the same for us at the marina next week.  Fortunately, the marina is large and there is plenty of room for my morning walks and we can still go to the boaters lounge as long as we practice “social distancing”.  We are glad the Prime Minister is taking the pandemic so seriously and we feel very safe here.

We’re doing lots of reading, cooking and I’m watching some good shows on Netflix, but it is still very confining. I do miss going to the beach at the resort nearby.  I shouldn’t complain as being quarantined in paradise isn’t bad.  I’m just so concerned about my family members in the states and miss them so.  Wish there was something I could do to help.

This is my third effort at making pizza
on the boat and it was the best yet!

Large villas line the point of
the resort property. 

Some sailors still take day sails.

I really miss swimming in the ocean.
This beach is east of the marina
but not really suitable for swimming.

Each day seems to be much like the day before.  The weather is beautiful, but starting to get hot so we have to keep the air conditioner on.  I miss all of the activities I usually did in the Bahamas- swimming in the ocean, snorkeling, exploring new places, and eating out occasionally.  It almost seems like life is at a standstill here.  The restrictions have been extended until April 8th so we will be placing another food order with The Exuma Market.  Thankfully we can get our food delivered to the marina.  

One morning we noticed that the bilge pump was turning on more often than usual.  We examined all of the water hose connections and found some loose hose clamps in the connections under one of the floor boards between the galley and the head.  We think the problem is solved, but will continue to monitor the fresh water system for evidence of leaks.

Stay safe from COVID-19.  I watched a very informative video which was posted on Face Book by my niece Allison Hartle. You can find the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J0d59dd-qM&fbclid=IwAR1uxRmmjg3ocEJW19VPhUB2j6WjW5KQ6NaY7WVxrlvHlcFnGuAxdG4RIiw It explains how the virus works and why it is so important to be serious about the precautions that have been set in place.

Thank you for reading my blog.

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.

The Marina at Emerald Bay, part 5

March 11, 2020 - March 16, 2020

Again we rented a car on Wednesday to get groceries and explore.  Unfortunately, because of the high winds the mail boat was delayed in making deliveries and the shelves were a bit bare at Exuma Market and Island Prime Meats.  We had to return in the afternoon to get a few more items.  We also stopped at Smitty’s which is a small grocery store and pharmacy to purchase some items for Bob’s back pain.  We purchased some analgesic cream and a back brace which helped Bob a great deal that day.  

Lunch at Lighthouse Cafe and Ice-cream Parlor, again, was delicious.  Afterwards we traveled north to a side (dirt) road that led to Cocoplum Beach.  The beach was beautiful and very shallow with huge sand bars that led from the beach far out into the water.  I was able to walk out to the furthest sand bar without the water getting above my knees.  The beach was noted for sand dollars and other shells which I collected a few. 

A kite surfer was taking advantage of
the strong winds over shallow water.

Drift wood on Cocoplum Beach

This panorama of the beach
shows the sand bars.

The sand bars made for good shelling.
Here's my collection from the day.

On Thursday we prepared for leaving The Marina at Emerald Bay on Friday. I stowed the bikes in the quarter berth and arranged all other items for easy access, cleaned, cooked, and did laundry.  Laundry at the marina is free, but with only two working washers it gets a bit backed up. However, its a good time to make friends with the other ladies while we wait for available machines. Several ladies were waiting on the porch and chatting.  I often go back to the boat to wait, but we had downpours off and on all day so it was just easier to wait by the laundry.  Believe me, if you aren’t there when a machine comes available you are out of luck, especially if the person who snagged the machine has three or four loads to do.  I got lucky and had two machines open up at the same time just as I was starting my laundry. Yes!!!!

Bob made the decision not to leave on Friday, but instead we rented a car and drove to the small hospital clinic just north of Georgetown as his back pain was getting continually worse.  We had quite a wait for not only the rental car to arrive, but to be seen by the doctor at the clinic.  We thought Bob got excellent care from the staff and a very thorough doctor.  He got an analgesic/anti inflammatory shot, a prescription for ibuprofen 800mg, and instructions to see his primary care physician as soon as he got home for further tests.  Hopefully, the problem will calm down enough for him to get back to Maryland without more pain. 

Bob’s condition continued to improve with the medication, back brace, and analgesic gel. I fell into a routine here; walking in the morning, cooking lunch, cleaning in the afternoon, and reading later in the day.  Things were a bit boring, but we have to stay here until Bob feels well enough to proceed.

Thanks for reading my blog.

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The Marina at Emerald Bay, Part 4

March 5, 2020 - March 10, 2020

On Thursday I was finally able to get to the beach for a nice swim and some sunbathing.  The Grande Isle Resort seems to look the other way when guests at the marina use the beach and pool.  Of course I always feel obligated to have a drink at Sandy Toes to pay my way.  One thing for sure is I’m getting, what my sister Nancy would call, a kick ass tan even though I use 50 SPF sunscreen.

The beautiful beach at Grand Isle Resort
is just steps from Sandy Toes Tiki Bar.

 Friday was another beautiful day with chores (cleaning the cabin and laundry) at the top of my to-do list.  First though, we had to move the boat to a smaller slip to make way for a huge power boat that came into our old slip just a half hour after we vacated it.  That entailed all of the line tending and arranging in preparation for the big blow that was coming in early Saturday morning.  

s/v Rainy Days is in slip E14.

Saturday was Bob’s birthday! He picked french toast for his birthday breakfast and for lunch we went to the Palapa Restaurant at Grande Isle Resort.  The day was cool with high winds out of the north.

I had a delicious hamburger and garden salad.

The next two days brought us a major wind event.  The 26+ mph winds screamed through the rigging and banged halyards against the mast making for some impossible sleeping conditions.  On Sunday we walked to the entrance of the marina to watch the raging ocean crash waves against the rocks and beach.

The waves are continuously crashing
against the rocks and sand.

The spray over the rocks was impressive.

Nobody was coming in or out of the marina
today as evidenced by these waves.

Thank you for reading my blog.

The Marina at Emerald Bay, part 3

February 27, 2020 - March 5, 2020

It’s been a quiet week in Lake Wobe…, on no, I mean The Marina at Emerald Bay.  For two days the weather was windy and cold.  The temperature didn’t get above 68 degrees.  I mean I didn’t need a jacket or anything, but it sure seemed cold.  I did lots of cooking and cleaning.  I made pizza from scratch one day and it turned out well.  I’ll make a few corrections on my next batch, after all it’s been years since I made pizza. We’ve been having lunch on board every day instead of going out and have enjoyed beef stew (Bob’s creation), stroganoff, pasta salad, fried chicken, etc.  I’ve also been making some yummy breakfasts.  We both agree that our homemade food is better than the $100 lunches we’ve been having here in the Exumas, but we like to eat out on our grocery shopping days. I polished all of the stainless steel on deck and cleaned all of the windows.  Bob and I have continued to improve our dock lines, changing out the bow line chafe guard again.  The boat is riding better in the water now with a lot less motion even though we’ve had some strong winds.  I’ve been walking or riding my bike around the marina everyday and feeling more fit.  Since I stopped taking statin drugs for cholesterol control my muscles and joints don’t ache after exercise as they used to. 

Bob’s creative pasta salad was yummy.

On Tuesday the wind had calmed down enough for me to go to the beach after lunch.  Boy, nothing can beat this white powdery sand (that never gets hot) and the warm turquoise water.  Unfortunately after about an hour big clouds blocked the sun and it was too chilly to stay on the beach so I retreated to the Sandy Toes beach bar for some refreshment.  Bob met me there and we enjoyed the chatter of those around us even though our favorite bartender, Annette, was not there.

Wednesday we rented a car and did our grocery shopping at  Exuma Market and Island Prime Meats. We spent $180 this week.  Next was lunch again at Lighthouse Cafe.

Here is the house next to the Lighthouse
Cafe that Bob and I fantasized about
buying to live here full time.

The beach right in front of the
house is amazing.

The colorful porch of the Lighthouse Cafe.

I had snapper fingers, beans and rice, and coleslaw.
Bob insisted on mentioning that fish don't have fingers.

We traveled south from there across the one lane bridge to Little Exuma. 

The one lane bridge

On the way to Little Exuma we photographed these
stark dead trees by Little Bush Salt Pond.

Santanna’s was our first stop where I thought I would be able to swim off the beach, but was warned by our waitress that there were sharks in the water here.  I did see a nurse shark, but nothing more threatening.

The beach at Santanna's looks very inviting to me.

This was our view from the table where we
relaxed and enjoyed a Kahlik.

Of course, we bought rum cake from Mama, next door, before we headed back to the marina.

Thank you for reading my blog.

The Marina at Emerald Bay Part Two

February 21, 2020 - February 27, 2020

One morning there was no wind, and Bob and I were both attacked by no-seeums.  The problem with these bugs is you can’t see them and the bites are just a tiny prick until the next day when they swell up and itch like crazy.  Consequently, we spent the next very windy day in a benedryl fog trying to combat the itchiness.  

I’ve also been helping Bob test each one of our four batteries which is a royal pain in the neck.  The first two batteries are in the cock pit locker so everything stored in the locker had to be pulled out and stowed in the cockpit. First thing in the morning one of the four batteries had to be disconnected, tested with a volt meter, hooked up to our electric inflator for an hour, disconnected from the inflator, tested with the volt meter, and then reconnected.  The worst part was that the electric inflator sounded like a lawn motor running inside the cockpit. This procedure was repeated each morning for four days. The next two batteries are behind a drawer storage unit that had to be removed to test each of those two batteries.  As you can see it was a long drawn out process with lots of disruption to our living space.  When it was completed Bob sent the data to the battery company and we are waiting for a diagnosis.  To me it looks like all of the batteries are OK.

Because of very high winds, we were marina bound for a couple of days. One bit of excitement was that in the middle of the night during this high wind event one of our dock lines broke and the electric cord and the spring line were the only thing holding the bow, not a good situation. Bob stayed on board to throw me a new bow line.  I jumped off the boat and with the assistance of our neighbor got a new bow line in place and pulled the boat over next to the dock.  The only thing we could figure was that the bow line chafed on the houzer pipe (the stainless steel hole in the toe rail made for lines to pass through).  The next morning Bob repaired the dock line and put a leather chafe protector on it to prevent the line from breaking again.  Fun times in paradise!

Sandy Toes is our favorite beach bar.
You can see how it gets it's name.

After lunch at Sandy Toes (great barbecue pork) we noticed that the bow line had chafed through the leather protector in just one day.  This unleashed a mad rush to fix the problem.  Bob decided the best solution was to use rubber hose as a chafe protector.  Of course, the hose was stored under the quarter berth requiring me to remove all the stored items once again.  Getting the hose onto the line was no easy task and required us to sew the line to a smaller line, feed that line through the hose, and generously grease the thicker line with vaseline so we could pull it through the hose.  We also replaced the leather cafe guards on the spring lines with rubber hose as well.  This should solve the chafing problem.  One good outcome of tearing the quarter berth apart was getting  our bikes out to use while we are at the marina. The next day we took some photos around the marina.

We found this lion fish swimming near the dock.
They are an invasive species and all are
encouraged to eat them.

We find many clever boat names on our travels.

You got to love palm trees!

For the next few days I took a bike ride up to the entrance channel of the marina and all around.  It’s great to have my bike to ride again and this marina with all of its docks and roads is a safe place to ride.  We arranged to get a rental car on Wednesday and drove down to George Town to grocery shop at the Exuma Market and on the way back we stopped at Island Prime Meats to finish our shopping.  We actually were able to get everything on our list for a change and spent a grand total of $240.  After lunch at the Lighthouse Cafe and Ice Cream Parlor we spent the afternoon exploring the northern most area of Great Exuma Island.  The roads were particularly narrow with plenty of pot holes in this part of the island making for a hair raising trip.  I had to ignore Bob’s expressions of terror and focus fully on driving on the left side of the road.

Bob and I had the best lunch
we've had yet in the Exumas here.

This was the view of Paradise Bay
we enjoyed from the porch of Lighthouse Cafe.

The water is so shallow in this bay
that these sand flats appear at low tide.

Exuma Point Beach was the most northern
of Great Exuma's beaches.

An abandoned pier at Exuma Point Beach

I enjoyed another walk on the beach.

We have two more weeks left in our month long stay at The Marina at Emerald Bay.

Thanks for reading my blog.