a month in the Abacos

Yesterday marked our first month in the Bahamas at the Abacos Cays. (it was also Vaughn's birthday so we splurged with Conch Fritters and French Fries at lunch and then were given a big chunk of fresh Grouper by a neighboring boat.)

Our Hopetown stop has included access to a very nice pool next door at Hopetown Hideaways....large nice deck with gazebos surrounding the largest pool we've used in the Abacos.

Local spear fisherman come by to clean some huge grouper...maybe 25# fish.

There seem to be some constants in these here islands.....

Warm and Sunny during the day with temperatures up to about 80. Usually a breeze.

Cools down at night for good sleeping weather...about 70, usually a breeze.

We have not used the air conditioning at all.

Not much rain, sometimes clouds.

Lovely sand beaches.....sunrises....sunsets....moon and stars!

Lots of different boats to see and great boaters to talk to....Australians, Europeans, Canadians...

Folks from Park City Utah, Toronto, Washington DC, Sturgeon Bay, Vancouver...you never know

Everything is expensive....gasoline $6, beer $5, ice cream cone $5....case of beer $50-75

Fish and Conch cheaper.....grouper $9/lb, snapper $6....a dozen conch fritters $7

.....expect to pay about 2 to 3 times what you do at home in the grocery....but they do have selection in the big city of Marsh Harbor.

...except the rum $8 for a bottle.

Water is sold by the gallon, usually about 25 to 30 cents out of the hose....cheaper on the mainland at $3/day if you stay a few days. In our first month we've been able to only pay once for water at Marsh Harbor....8 days at $3....so our first month was only $24....We came over full, had free water at West End, filled up at Harbor View Marina and still have another week in the tank (we hope).....probably fill up this week with another night at MH.....$15?

We've done a couple of the local venues.....rib night at the Jib Room, Sunday Pig Roast at Nippers, Sunset at Grabbers, Breakfast at Mango's and our cheap date at Captain Jacks with the nice $3 fries!

Real estate here is crazy expensive....but we're close to the US and like everywhere have driven up prices and then collapsed....who knows where prices go now!

Maintenance of the boat continues....Vaughn now touches up the brightwork. I've replaced the pump on the generator and zincs in the engines......batteries are a challenge....found I'd boiled my instrument bank dry somehow...keep a better eye on them now!

We now will head south this week for snorkeling at a shallow reef that was recognized by Jacques Cousteau and go to Little Harbor to see Pete's pub and enjoy the protected anchorage there.

Then who knows....off to Bimini? or back through these Abacos.