Clarencetown, Long Island, Exumas, Bahamas

Well, last post says April 1, but I had written it earlier.  I am still trying to figure out this bloodspot site.
Anyway, we have been in Clarencetown since Thursday, March 28.  Very small little settlement but nice people and 2 good restaurants - Outer Edge at flying fish marina and Rowdy Boys  up the road.
We left Georgetown for Long Island, spent one night at Calabash Bay, then went to Rum Cay for a few days.

The crooked docks at Sumner Point marina on Rum Cay.

Picture of our chart plotter showing our boat on the way to Rum Cay (boat shaped black icon).
You can how the depths change so rapidly from 1000's of feet.  Our destination was within the circle.
Yellow is land.

Walking these crooked docks at Rum Cay is an adventure in itself.  Ray is under the shelter.

This is still Rum Cay - just waiting for some new investors.  Actually, the Bahama islands have many abandoned projects scattered all over the place-constuction equipment rusting away, vehicles, materials.  It seems people have big plans but for various reasons just walk away.  One well-known person was Roger Staubach.  We think the government is often corrupt, then there is the weather (hurricanes), and the difficulty getting supplies.

Ray and friend Brian went swimming in this fresh water pond on Rum Cay

In front of the Last Chance grocery store on Rum Cay

Playground on Rum Cay

Sculpture by Bobby at Rum Cay - made out of brain coral 

Lots of study before we leave for the turks and Caicos

    We heard via the cruising grapevine that dockage was free at Sumner Point marina so decided to give it a shot.  Unable to raise them on the VHF radio, we anchored outside their channel and Ray dinghied in to check it out.  We had to wait until high tide to get in and then it was still a scary experience, winding around coral heads and sand bars.  I felt like closing my eyes !

    Hurricane Sandy came here last fall, damaged some of the property and blocked the channel, so they just dredged and opened it up March 8th.  Since the facilities are not up to snuff the owners are just charging for whatever we use but no dockage fee.  Originally, this place was really nice with a restaurant on site, but is now down on it’s luck.  But we love it here, just enough people at the docks for some fun but basically quiet. 

    The owner, Bobby, is an artist and has made some amazing sculptures out of coral.  His girlfriend, Gro, is from Denmark, has sailed all over the world, and met Bobby here.  people seem to come and go. Right now a gorgeous girl named Michelle is staying indefinitely and making jewelry, while her boyfriend is making money taking people scuba diving.  Only 60 people live on the island, and there is no industry other than the occasional cruiser or sportsfisherman needing something.  The only restaurant, Ruby’s, needs notice if you want a meal.  The grocery store is open about an hour a day and keeps the lights off to conserve electricity. 

    However, this is the perfect out-island to experience.  As you walk along, everyone says hello or waves.  Beautiful isolated beaches.  If only we could catch a fish!

When we leave here we start the final chapter of our Bahama cruising guide - it is called 

“Far Horizons - the Bahamas south of the Tropic of Cancer”