3.18/Wednesday Morgans Bluff to Fresh Creek
We departed again at 7:20 am, motoring out the channel headed south with large waves hitting us at the bow. Once on our course, we had southeast winds 10-15 knots, motor sailing around 6-6.5 knots. It is so strange to look on one side of the boat and see 36 foot of water and on the other it drops off to over 2,000 feet. It is a magnificent place to fish, but we didn’t have any luck today.
Not too long after we had gotten the sails up and trimmed, we noticed a dark cloud in the south east which looked like it might have rain in it. Steve checked the radar and saw a squall ahead. He got on the radio to tell Cygnus and Sunseeker, while I went below to retrieve out fowl weather gear. There was no lighting, but the winds were almost 30 knots and there was a heavy rain, which was a good thing because it washed the salt water off the boat and the sails. Within 30 minutes we had sailed through it to see another smaller squall a few miles ahead.
Fresh creek has a reputation of having strong currents and a shallow channel which put us on our guard while entering. George had radioed ahead to secure slips for the three of us and asked for a dock-hand to be waiting to help us tie up.
We found it to be a little tricky getting into our slip with the oncoming current, but once in the slip Steve said it was too narrow for our boat so we had to back out and move to the end of the finger piers and tie up. By 3:00 pm, I was in the Lighthouse Marina office checking on a Internet connection and asking questions about laundry facilities, and grocery shopping. Sunseeker/George and Karen from Jacksonville, Florida, invited Cygnus and us for dinner on their boat. Because it was very windy outside, we enjoyed another dinner of mahi-mahi prepared anther way than we had last night. I made a Key Lime pie which was a hit for dessert.
The winds howled all night and we rocked up and down. Because of the 3 foot tide change, Steve was up several times during the night checking the fenders and retying the lines.
3.19/Thursday Fresh Creek
Carol, Karen, and I walked a short distance from the marina to the Androsia Batik Outlet/Shop (not a discount store) this morning in order purchase the beautiful batik designs found in the small town on Andros Island. Androsia is strictly a Bahamian product, made in the Bahamas by Bahamians. The company was started as a cottage industry in 1973. Since then, they have been manufacturing wearable art that captures the beauty of the islands.
Batik is an ancient art of waxing a design and stamping it on fabric in various patterns; hand-dyeing, then boiling the fabric to remove the wax. I remember having to make a batik fabric in one of my college textiles classes. We had original thought that we would design our own fabric in a class they teach, but you need two days to finish the product, which we didn’t have.
We spent at least an hour looking at all the fabric designs, clothing styles, and trying on different items to purchase. They also make tote bags, napkins, tablecloths, oven mitts, aprons, children’s clothing, stuffed animals and fish, and I am sure I forgot other items. We “made their day” with our purchases.
We walked a short distance to the factory for a self guided tour to watch the Bahamian women at work. We only saw seven people working today; six women and one man who looked like he was ordering supplies. One room was the stamping room, the next the dying room, and the third the cutting and sewing area. I was mesmerized by the gorgeous colors of large thread spools organized on shelves on one side of the sewing room. I don’t think my camera fully captures the essence of this display. If you are interested in purchasing items you can go to; http://www.androsia.com/. I understand they also custom design for corporations, groups, and other organizations and can ship all over the world.
After lunch, the group minus Steve walked into the small town to find a grocery store. After asking a local lady for directions, we located Gator’s, one three stores we went into searching for groceries. One of the hardest items to find is sliced bread. On most islands you can find fresh made bread but today no one was making any or had any to sell. I am astounded by the high prices of the products found in these stores not because we have to pay them but because this is the price for the local people as well. An orange or apple was $1; lettuce $4, eggs $5. No wonder so many of the locals eat rice, pasta and very little produce. We did see small freezers with frozen chicken, beef, pork and other frozen products but again they were very expensive. This is a low income area and I don’t know how they survive paying these high prices. We are lucky to have Wal-Mart and other discount stores available which offer competitive prices and a large selection. I might add also, all the local people we met and talked to were very friendly and helpful
While we were on our shopping trip, Steve was doing the laundry and preparing dinner for everyone on Little Wing. Since we had eaten mahi-mahi two nights in a row, Steve thought red beans and rice would be a switch for an entrée. The meal was delicious and enjoyed by all.
I spent some time walking around the Lighthouse Marina trying out my new camera. I am forcing myself to take less sunset and sunrise pictures and shots of foliage. Even though this lighthouse is not one of the more attractive lighthouses we have visited, I think it has character.
Early morning, Steve was awakened by a crash outside the boat. Winds were clocked at 30 knots and we were really bouncing up and down in the slip. While checking the lines and fenders, he heard the sound again, to find that Sunseeker next to us, was bouncing up against the dock. The outboard motor was banging so hard it had broken off a piece above the prop. Steve alerted George and he came outside to retie his lines and check for damage. It seems there is a 3 foot fluctuation in the tide at Fresh Creek, which constitutes adjusting your lines as the tide changes.
We departed again at 7:20 am, motoring out the channel headed south with large waves hitting us at the bow. Once on our course, we had southeast winds 10-15 knots, motor sailing around 6-6.5 knots. It is so strange to look on one side of the boat and see 36 foot of water and on the other it drops off to over 2,000 feet. It is a magnificent place to fish, but we didn’t have any luck today.
Not too long after we had gotten the sails up and trimmed, we noticed a dark cloud in the south east which looked like it might have rain in it. Steve checked the radar and saw a squall ahead. He got on the radio to tell Cygnus and Sunseeker, while I went below to retrieve out fowl weather gear. There was no lighting, but the winds were almost 30 knots and there was a heavy rain, which was a good thing because it washed the salt water off the boat and the sails. Within 30 minutes we had sailed through it to see another smaller squall a few miles ahead.
Fresh creek has a reputation of having strong currents and a shallow channel which put us on our guard while entering. George had radioed ahead to secure slips for the three of us and asked for a dock-hand to be waiting to help us tie up.
We found it to be a little tricky getting into our slip with the oncoming current, but once in the slip Steve said it was too narrow for our boat so we had to back out and move to the end of the finger piers and tie up. By 3:00 pm, I was in the Lighthouse Marina office checking on a Internet connection and asking questions about laundry facilities, and grocery shopping. Sunseeker/George and Karen from Jacksonville, Florida, invited Cygnus and us for dinner on their boat. Because it was very windy outside, we enjoyed another dinner of mahi-mahi prepared anther way than we had last night. I made a Key Lime pie which was a hit for dessert.
The winds howled all night and we rocked up and down. Because of the 3 foot tide change, Steve was up several times during the night checking the fenders and retying the lines.
3.19/Thursday Fresh Creek
Carol, Karen, and I walked a short distance from the marina to the Androsia Batik Outlet/Shop (not a discount store) this morning in order purchase the beautiful batik designs found in the small town on Andros Island. Androsia is strictly a Bahamian product, made in the Bahamas by Bahamians. The company was started as a cottage industry in 1973. Since then, they have been manufacturing wearable art that captures the beauty of the islands.
Batik is an ancient art of waxing a design and stamping it on fabric in various patterns; hand-dyeing, then boiling the fabric to remove the wax. I remember having to make a batik fabric in one of my college textiles classes. We had original thought that we would design our own fabric in a class they teach, but you need two days to finish the product, which we didn’t have.
We spent at least an hour looking at all the fabric designs, clothing styles, and trying on different items to purchase. They also make tote bags, napkins, tablecloths, oven mitts, aprons, children’s clothing, stuffed animals and fish, and I am sure I forgot other items. We “made their day” with our purchases.
We walked a short distance to the factory for a self guided tour to watch the Bahamian women at work. We only saw seven people working today; six women and one man who looked like he was ordering supplies. One room was the stamping room, the next the dying room, and the third the cutting and sewing area. I was mesmerized by the gorgeous colors of large thread spools organized on shelves on one side of the sewing room. I don’t think my camera fully captures the essence of this display. If you are interested in purchasing items you can go to; http://www.androsia.com/. I understand they also custom design for corporations, groups, and other organizations and can ship all over the world.
After lunch, the group minus Steve walked into the small town to find a grocery store. After asking a local lady for directions, we located Gator’s, one three stores we went into searching for groceries. One of the hardest items to find is sliced bread. On most islands you can find fresh made bread but today no one was making any or had any to sell. I am astounded by the high prices of the products found in these stores not because we have to pay them but because this is the price for the local people as well. An orange or apple was $1; lettuce $4, eggs $5. No wonder so many of the locals eat rice, pasta and very little produce. We did see small freezers with frozen chicken, beef, pork and other frozen products but again they were very expensive. This is a low income area and I don’t know how they survive paying these high prices. We are lucky to have Wal-Mart and other discount stores available which offer competitive prices and a large selection. I might add also, all the local people we met and talked to were very friendly and helpful
While we were on our shopping trip, Steve was doing the laundry and preparing dinner for everyone on Little Wing. Since we had eaten mahi-mahi two nights in a row, Steve thought red beans and rice would be a switch for an entrée. The meal was delicious and enjoyed by all.
I spent some time walking around the Lighthouse Marina trying out my new camera. I am forcing myself to take less sunset and sunrise pictures and shots of foliage. Even though this lighthouse is not one of the more attractive lighthouses we have visited, I think it has character.
Early morning, Steve was awakened by a crash outside the boat. Winds were clocked at 30 knots and we were really bouncing up and down in the slip. While checking the lines and fenders, he heard the sound again, to find that Sunseeker next to us, was bouncing up against the dock. The outboard motor was banging so hard it had broken off a piece above the prop. Steve alerted George and he came outside to retie his lines and check for damage. It seems there is a 3 foot fluctuation in the tide at Fresh Creek, which constitutes adjusting your lines as the tide changes.
No comments:
Post a Comment