Another Adventure:S/V "MEGERIN": Hopetown, Abacos

Playing bingo at Captain Jack's in Hopetown

We had intended to be in Hopetown for Easter week-end but some nasty weather was predicted to hit the Abaco's, which were north of us, so we elected to stay put in a very safe harbor on a place called Royal Island. The cruising guide described it as the place to go to hole up for refuge. However, there is nothing ashore and as Easter week-end was coming up I really wanted to be able to talk to our families. And when I checked my iPhone I could get a signal so called my mother using "World traveler ATT minutes" and found out she was in the hospital. She needed a pacemaker, which was done and she feels better than ever. Jim was home for Easter so that was a lucky thing. We spent 6 days at Royal Island, but having communications was wonderful. There were a lot of other boats and we made some friends and took turns having happy hour on each other's boats as there was no beach to go to. Ray and I both got some boat chores done and I actually did a lot of cooking. For Easter brunch I made a new recipe of ham/egg/pesto cups - delicious. But no chocolate bunnies.

Typical lane in Hopetown - most people use golf carts or bicycles.

View of Hopetown harbor from lighthouse window during our evening tour

When cruising on a boat a favorite pastime is listening to the VHF - everyone eavesdrops on everyone else!
So Ginny and I made up names for each other and had a secret station to go. However, our cover was easily blown - the other boats recognized our voices and just scanned their radio until they found us.
It is like an old-time party line so you have to be careful what you say!
It was a 10 hour motor sail to the cut into the Bahamas. "Cuts" are where the ocean and the Sea of Abaco meet and can be dangerous to go through in the wrong conditions, mainly high winds against a high sea.

Walking up to lighthouse - it is 101 steps to the top.

View of famous lighthouse from across the harbor. We are one of the boats anchored under it
and enjoyed looking at it at night - it flashes 5 times with a 15 sec pause.

Example of creative detail found on many of the cottages in Hopetown. Every day we would take a walk and saw some we had never noticed before.

Sunset behind the lighthouse.

Taken on top of the lighthouse. We were taken on a tour by the keeper who has to tend to it every two hours during the night. We watched him light the kerosene lamp and he explained how the weights then rotate the glass lenses. It is beautiful inside and is the only light house of it's kind remaining.