Sunday, April 5, 2020

Coronavirus is affecting everybody, including us in the Bahamas.  Before I update on that however, here’s some good stuff…

Sea Glass

After our guests left, we re-provisioned in Marsh Harbor with both fuel and supplies.  At that time, the Bahamas were encouraging social distancing but no other significant actions.  The weather was projected to be relatively calm so we headed south to one of our favorite spots, Lynyard Cay.  We took advantage of the beautiful weather and did some seaglass hunting and replenished our supply of lobster.  The first day of seaglass hunting we went to the backside of Little Harbor, behind Pete’s Pub and enjoyed gathering glass in a little cove with the waves splashing us up to our waists.  The next day we went to the ocean side of Lynyard Cay, and snorkeled a cave where we’ve found a lot of seaglass.  We weren’t disappointed.  I thought it was a little too rough in the surf so didn’t stay in very long.  Kathi, being both tougher and braver than I kept gathering glass.  She even found 2 small red pieces, extremely rare for here.

The next day, the winds shifted to the south and then to the west so we went to Armstrong Cay and replenished our supply of lobster.  Kathi found a Spanish, or slipper tail, lobster which are not uncommon but are very rarely seen since they stay in very dark areas.  In the photo, it is the lobster perpendicular to the other lobsters.  Our friends on Second Sojourn had been in the southern Bahamas, with 2 more sets of guests scheduled to arrive so they weren’t planning to be back to the Abacos until mid-April at the earliest.  Due to coronavirus, their guests cancelled their trips (Thankfully it turns out) so we were happily surprised to see them show up at Armstrong Cay the next day.  We enjoyed a couple of days of lobster hunting, helping to replenish their supply, socializing with dinners together and cards.

On March 17, the Bahamaian Government put in place a social distancing order and closing non-essential business.  Grocery stores and fuel docks remained open but to our dismay, liquor stores were considered non-essential.  Worse, when we had resupplied the day before, we did not restock our liquor supply so we had only emergency rations to last until near the end of March.  We didn’t worry however, the orders closing the liquor stores was only in place through March 30.  We moved up to Marsh Harbor on the 30th in anticipation of resupplying.  Unfortunately, the orders were extended for another week, through April 6.  Our emergency supplies had run out on March 28, even with some resupply from Second Sojourn.  We decided we would start our movement back to the northern Abacos in preparation for the trip back to the states.  

On April 3 we made the trip through Whale Cay passage and anchored outside of Green Turtle Cay, the last outpost for supplies in the area.  Second Sojourn had arrived at Green Turtle Cay 2 days before us, notified us that the liquor store had been open until yesterday.  Dang, we missed it.  They also let us know that they were approached by a police officer on their way to the grocery store and asked for ID.  

We wanted to top-up with fuel so I emptied our four 5-gallon jerry cans into the tank and went to the Green Turtle Club fuel dock to fill them up.  While paying in the store (They have a small convenience store with an attached liquor store) I told the clerk I needed to get some liquor.  She said, fine, I’ll just ring it all up together.  Hallelujah!  I restocked the liquor supplies, just short of hoarding.  When I got back to the boat, Kathi was surprised and very pleased.  We had gone 5 days without alcohol, didn’t have a problem during those days, but were happy that we could once again enjoy a relaxing beverage in the evening.  Kathi went back to the store to get a couple more bottles of spirits to repay our friends on Second Sojourn.  When she got there, a police officer arrived.  Kathi thought, darn, he’s here to shut them down, but no, he was there to fill up a box with liquor and was in line behind her.  After stocking up, we moved to the next island north, Manjack Cay, about 3 miles away and enjoyed a visit with Second Sojourn.  That evening, the Bahamian government put a lockdown order in-place closing all businesses including grocery stores until Monday morning.  No one is allowed outside their homes or off of their boats.  Boats are prohibited from moving.  The council on Green Turtle Cay has made a ruling that no boaters are allowed on the island and no supplies are to be provided to them; they feel they need to save their supplies for the locals.  I guess they are worried about having their supply chain jeopardized and running short of items the locals need.  Boaters have become “Persona non gratis.”  Fortunately we are fine with fuel and supplies.  I can’t say the same for everyone else.  

Who knows what will happen tomorrow morning.  Will the orders stay in place or will they allow us to move.  Thank God for our health, common sense and resupply.  Sasi takes it all in-stride, refusing to give in to stress; and we still have beautiful sunsets to enjoy.