I’m going to step out on the proverbial limb and state that boats that spend time in Elizabeth Harbor (aka George Town, GT) fall into two categories: winter residents who are involved in one or more activity and short stay visitors who like GT but also need/want to move on. To say that the latter are “users” might incur the wrath of many, but hey I’m putting us smack in that group, and it’s my term and my blog so there!

Don’t misunderstand, we like George Town… in small doses. So far, Exuma Market outshines even the big boys in Nassau or Marsh Harbor. Less sq feet for sure, but an excellent selection is packed into it. Any market that carries the yogurt I like (Fage with honey), Haas avocados, Russ’ fave Junkanoo Juice and Italian sausage, gets high marks from us.  Sausage is not commonly found anywhere (we’ve been) in the Bahamas.

The library is the best. George Town also has a clinic, shops, banks, fuel and other services that cruisers need or want. A huge benefit is the R/O water available free at the dinghy dock. The various beach areas let you choose your activity: volleyball, basket making, hangin’ out, walking, hiking, kayaking or beachcombing. You can do as much or as little as the mood strikes you or the weather permits.

Since many cruisers end up in GT at some point you will likely meet up with friends you haven’t seen since who knows when. The morning Net is an excellent source of weather, harbor activities and for keeping tabs on the new arrivals and departures.

Many who leave GT temporarily return when family and guests fly in. The taxis are kept busy and boats often re-anchor at Kidd’s Cove to be closer to town for visitor pick-up.

GT is a good jumping off place if you want to head further south to Long Island and beyond, or east toward Cat Island. We spent less than four days in GT before our 13 day visit to Long Island. A break in the wind Thurs Jan 31 gave us a one day window to head back and prep for our visitor’s arrival on Feb 7. The forecast still showed a bunch of windy days with a front arriving Tues. Really hoped that the weather pattern would get back to normal after the front.  A stalled, quasi stationary front has been hangin’ around; winds up then down, then up. No clocking around as with the approach of a front, so that’s been good. E 10-15 would be greatly preferred.

Here comes the long version of touring Long Island. Luckily for all concerned we ran out of time to see everything, so the following represents maybe half of what we could have seen. We didn’t get to the Diamond Crystal salt pond ruins (operated here 1962-1982) and we didn’t see all the plantation ruins, the Hamilton caves nor the Columbus monument at the very northern tip of the island. Our rental car was a “wheel on the left side” one which kept that part normal but oh we felt weird driving on the left.

Driving on the left side of the road.

Actually the driving takes place mostly down the middle and cars move left when another car comes along. Not much traffic and guess what? No traffic lights and thankfully no rotaries!

We turned north from Long Island Breeze which is located in the Salt Pond area of LI, almost at the island’s half-way point. Got as far as Stella Maris, turned around and headed south, reaching Dunmore before calling it a day.

Cactus, Lori and Ruins sign (which is not pointing to Lori)

A large wall – Adderley Plantation ruins

Mother nature works to reclaim this wall

I cut my foot on a broken branch and used a palm leave as a bandage- worked well.

Windy shore- Atlantic side as seen from Stella Maris

Looking at tabernacle inside Old Spanish Church, c 1500

Maybe not original, but the pegs and nails are quite old

Old Spanish Church in Salt Pond

Dean’s Blue Hole- tucked in a protected corner at the beach

We saw only young banana plants- many older were destroyed by Sandy