Rick flies out this morning.... (he's sad)

Cousin Rick is flying home today.  
He has been a tremendous help and a lifesaver aboard.  He will be missed.  But life goes on... so, we will dinghy to shore in about an hour.  Then I'll join him to see the airport and learn the routes.  I'm at anchor in Marsh Harbor, where i will remain for the next few weeks.  I'm sure I'll have an "Aha moment" soon about the realization of where I am and how will i get home again.  But for now, I'm still blissfully ignorant.    (simple minds)

 A small - not busy - airport.  Marsh Harbor

Story Line:

• Diesel fuel 100 gallons.  water 40 gallons.   Question Sister Lynn asked about my fuel.  I estimated 70 gallons.  Turns out it took 80 gallons to get us back to our start point.  Then we squeezed in another 20 gallons for a round 100 gallons added yesterday.  That and 40 gallons of water.  #EXPENSIVE.

• Calcium deposits in the pump hose.  (NO PHOTOS)  the toilet pumps 'stuff' into a holding tank that is emptied regularly.  Except in the Bahamas.  They dont have facilities here for pumping out tanks.  So everyone pumps overboard.  Except my hose was clogging.  Calcium deposits can build up and fill a hose.  (like plaque and a heart attack with clogged arteries.)  My toilet had a heart attack.  Yesterday AFTER lunch Rick and i pulled off the discharge hose from the toilet and took it to shore to beat it with hammers to dislodge the calcium.  (imagine a 2" hose that is full of concrete except a tiny middle section that barely lets water through.  that's what a calcium deposit does.)  So it's like we did open heart toilet surgery.  The patient is doing well.

• To Celebrate being done with 'Toilet Duty' we dinghy over to the pretty marina to relax...

• The grocery store and $$$.  Today i bought one gallon of Milk $6.30 it was not a choice issue.  (as there was zero milk on the shelf when i arrived.) The stock boy wheeled in two pallets of Milk and opened a case to hand me the first gallon.  Everything here is expensive.  But there are choices and supply is good.

• Gary, Tara, Cora, Alex LAST FAMILY left here yesterday.  (from my post October)  Friends i met in Belize circa 2005.  They left the dock going south.

• Lee and Lisa.  Friends i met July 2017 in Stuart (back when i had one leg)  They were here on a dock and i ran into them at the Junkanoo our first night in town.

• I've gotten some new questions from my Nephew Ryan and Lynn the question sister

Ryan writes

Questions:

1. You've knocked off the northern chain - do you intend to motor down to the main island or the East islands at some point?  Maybe some day.  For now i'm happy here.  I need to regroup and figure out what i can do.

2. Do you feel comfortable enough to do that alone, or will you continue to have a ship mate for those types of transits?  After my July Leg slip i am more comfortable with some help aboard just in case needed.

3. Have you found a place with decent pie?  No.  BUT i did stumble into a bakery when out walking today and picked up a piece of chocolate pound cake.

4. Can you post a 360 degree shot from the back of your boat so we can get a feel for what your new home is like?  I'll try.

Ryan

Chocolate Pound Cake  (hint - it's great)

A Pan View of the harbor.  (hint, I'm at Left edge of shot)

Lynn writes

My question: Do the Bahamians talk with a pretty accent?  YES.  They do.  

I'll try to get some audio / video and include it when i can.  here is some audio from the Junkanoo to hold you over till i get the voices.

"I am ready for sunny warm weather. We are all probably jealous of what we THINK you are doing. Stop sending to-do lists and start sending pics of lounging with turtles and your tan and your dinner. The sunsets are gorgeous. 

Xo, Lynn"  (the question sister)

Just a few local photos and some food for Lynn.

Rick blowing his Conch Horn at sunset.

Sunrise

Sunset

At anchor in Marsh Harbor.         -Skip

PS:  Hey DAD, Lynn says your internet is giving you fits.  I hope you get it fixed soon.  I wrote you similar stuff but you can keep up here.  All is well.  People are friendly and warm (like we found in Belize)  The town of Marsh Harbor is spread out along the main road and not a town square as i expected.  So it will take many days of cycling to see it all.   *PSS, I got a phone card, so I'll call you and check in.