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Cruising Wilsons
 Bob
and Carolyn Wilson, aboard Sea Island Girl, continue Lakeside’s long
running series of cruising adventures which began in the mid-1990s.
To date we’ve had the Johnston family, Jean and Bill Bayman, and
Mechelle and Bill Cooksey all contribute to the series. Bob and
Carolyn boated on Lanier until leaving for their adventure in 2002.
Returning to Abaco Islands is just
like coming home
The sky was pitch black the night we anchored at
Great Sale Cay with the only light being from what seemed like a
million stars overhead. The blackened image of the deserted island
was a welcomed sight following 12 hours of little more than the
occasional fly fish prancing across the deep blue waters of the
Atlantic. We had arrived in North Palm Beach from Brunswick five
weeks earlier and had been waiting for favorable conditions to make
the hundred or so mile trip across the Gulfstream, and now, though a
bit weary, we were excited to be back in the Bahamas and settled in
for the night.
Continuing on a southerly trek across the Little
Bahama Bank the following day we caught sight of local fishermen
checking their lobster traps, and others diving for conch which are
plentiful in these waters. Lying on the white sand 10 feet beneath
us were countless star fish and coral formations. We encountered
sponge fields at one point and occasionally would spot a school of
brightly colored fish swiftly swimming through the crystal clear
waters of the Sea of Abaco.
The sun had cast a welcomed warmness over Great Abaco
Island by midday, while a gentle breeze was blowing in from the
Atlantic making it a good day for traveling. Coco, having readily
adjusted to long days on the water, was lying on the pilothouse
floor gazing out the doorway just enjoying life.
.jpg) Returning
to the islands, as we have the past nine years, is akin to pulling
into your driveway at home after being away on vacation. It’s good
to be home, the neighbors are glad to see that you made it back
safely and there would be lots of unpacking to do. So when we
arrived at Boat Harbour marina in Marsh Harbour some 10 hours later
we had a large contingency of friends to catch our lines and help
secure the boat. The unpacking would wait.
Hurricane Irene had passed over the area last year
leaving in its wake twisted docks, buckled roofs and downed palm
trees, but by the time we arrived in late December most everything
was cleaned up and it appeared that most businesses had reopened.
Several restaurants and marinas had been closed since September,
which is normally a slow tourist season, giving them an opportunity
to complete needed repairs.
Despite the setbacks, Abaconians are a hardy lot.
They endure power and telephone outages, which are commonplace. They
shuttle back and forth from the cays to the mainland on almost a
daily basis to conduct their business, or for routine shopping.
Seldom do they complain.
 The
warmth and hospitality of the Bahamian people amazes us. The local
Rotary Club has made me an honorary member, Carolyn receives hugs
and cheers from her school students at Every Child Counts each year
when she returns, and when we walk into town the locals that we have
met throughout the years greet us with an appreciative “welcome
home” or a toot of their car horn as they pass by. Others stop with
a friendly “can we give you a lift?”
It has been a month since we arrived and the weather
could not have been any nicer. We have already established our
routine – I am up at 5 a.m. stroking the keys on the laptop, Coco is
nudging my leg at 7 a.m. ready for her morning jaunt with her newly
acquired canine friends, and the Admiral is mapping out her day on
the beach to collect shells or planning a new project for her 19
students at ECC.
With the weather being the best in several years, we
have had the opportunity to visit the surrounding cays. Much of what
we have experienced remains the same, but there have been some
interesting developments – a new Marsh Harbour airport terminal is
being constructed, a local television station is on the air, Martha
Stewart and Oprah Winfrey reportedly have purchased homes at the
Bakers Bay Club on Guana Cay, Bahama Telecommunications will soon be
offering 4G phone service and the contents of the recently sunken
mail ship have been recovered.
Now you can fly in, watch television like it used to
be in the early 1960s, hob knob with the rich and famous, and lie
on the beach and Facebook all of your friends. Sounds great doesn’t
it?
Until next time,
– Bob & Carolyn Wilson
Visit the Wilson's 'blog site' at
www.cruisingwilson.blogspot.com.
Email the Wilsons at:
cruiswils@gmail.com or
wilsons@lakesidenews.com.
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