Even Sandy was up early today – 6:30 a.m. -- and she’s got her nose in another Sue Grafton novel!  We decided It was finally time to leave Red Shank.  The winds abated  slightly and were forecast to moderate still further.  We picked up the anchor at 9:00 and headed toward the beaches with Foreclosure following us.  Dropped anchor in Kidd Cove because we needed to do laundry, get dinghy fuel, buy some fresh produce and check our e-mail.  Busy day and it was hot!  Once our chores were done, we moved back to Hamburger Beach.  White Heron invited us for happy hour and to meet their friends.  It felt good to be “home”!

Bridge Into Lake Victoria in Georgetown

Exuma Market Dinghy Dock ... Popular Place!

Cruiser Friendly Exuma Market

Packing Groceries for the Dinghy Ride to the Boat

We quickly settled into our routine.  Sandy went to yoga on the beach and, then, went with Colleen  (Mandalay), to a craft fair in town.  Meanwhile, Bill fetched water from Chat & Chill.  It took two dinghy trips to bring back 45 gallons of water @ $.60/gal!  And, the winds were still fairly stiff.  The craft fair was an annual event put on by the Bahamians.  There were probably 40 exhibitors, ranging from basket weaving, to shell creations, to paintings, etc.  Very nice.  Of course, both girls made some purchases!

Chat & Chill Beach Bar

Chat & Chill Beach Bar

Tonight is a big night in Georgetown among the cruiser community.  It is the kick-off for the annual Cruisers Regatta.  This is the 24th annual regatta, so you know that  people have had lots of practice getting the drill down.  It started with a Pet Parade at Volleyball Beach.  We missed the actual parade but saw some of the entrants.  The winning dog and owner were dressed as pirates.

Evening activities kicked off with the Conch Blowing contest.  Conchs shells are made into horns by cutting off the tip of the shell and forming a mouthpiece in that area.  The horn is blown like a trumpet.  There were 50 entrants of all ages and prizes were given for the longest, loudest and kids longest blow.  There was even a conch band with all 50 entrants sounding their instruments at once!  Bill’s dad would have loved it!

Conch Horn Band Concert

Of course, you must have a theme for this annual event.  This year’s  was “Prom Night” and people competed for Prom King & Queen.  Half of one of the sand volleyball courts had been roped off, strung with lights and decorated with tissue paper flowers.  There was a portico for King & Queen contestants to enter and be photographed.

Posing at Prom Night

What a blast!

Eighteen couples entered the contest.  The winners were outfitted outrageously.  Costumes ranged from elderly couple almost unable to negotiate the step up to the stage to a couple of whom the girlfriend was pregnant to a couple in drag, he as a floozy in a tight red dress, she as a gangster hubby.  Finally, a gal in a lime green polka dot mini dress w/ hula hoop and 60’s hairstyle and glasses.  She could really make that hoop go!  The drag couple won.

Afterwards, there was a dance contest, a bonfire on the beach, fireworks using outdated aerial flares and a dance to music from the 60s.  (The next morning Bill’s ankles hurt from dancing in the sand!)  It was a great time.

Sunday

Sunday meant Yoga for Sandy, followed by Beach Church for both of us.  The service included a vocalist and a mime.  Very good.   Coffee and cookies were served afterwards so we had an opportunity to meet new friends.  By he time we returned to the boat, it was 11:00 a.m. and time for the breakfast we hadn’t had yet.  Sandy prepared eggs bacon, homefries & fruit.  We decided to head to Long Island in the morning with Pearl and a couple of other boats, so Bill set up some initial waypoints for Far Bahamas Islands on the GPS.

That afternoon we took a dinghy ride to Sand Dollar Beach where Sandy quickly found 15 sand dollars in a variety of sizes while Bill cut palmetto leaves for basket weaving. Sandy walked up the ocean side beach and met Bill at Chat & Chill.  Later that afternoon we visited friends, dropping off some small gifts and saying our good-byes to some of the Georgetown crowd.