Mayaguana-March 15,2006

(Glenn) Mayagauna has the nicest people we have met in the Bahamas. We have only met a few dozen of the 300 or so inhabitants but they have all been friendly and helpful. We visited the Zion Baptist church in the Abraham's Bay settlement for Sunday morning services. There were about 25 people there including kids, lay ministers, choir and the band. We re-met the woman who runs the dry goods store (about 40 different items) and she later had me follow her to her house to exchange the last of our Bahamian currency for U.S. Mayaguana's go out of their way to help visitors. There is a lot of talk about development for the island. The Bahamian Prime Minister spoke at the airport on the day we arrived and it looks as though things will start happening fast in the next ten years or so. I hope they maintain their small town charm as they grow into a diving and fishing tourist mecca.

(Michele) We have had a wonderful week in Mayaguana. Our friends Trish and Ted (Flicka, San Francisco) arrived the day after we did. Trish is the woman who operated a women's sailing school for 17 years. You can imagine how excited I was to have a female sailing mentor anchored next to me for a week. Trish is rewriting her book on sailing and needed more photos for it. So you know me, always delegating, I suggested Glenn take some photos in return for her assistance with sailing advice. Glenn did a photo shoot on their boat and Trish spent time with me teaching me how to rig a second reef in the main sail and add a downwind preventer to our boom. Ted plays music so we had many wonderful dinners together eating fresh cracked conch and singing in the cockpit while looking a beautiful full moon.

(Michele) On the island of Mayaguana there are only two pay phones. The one closest to us did not work. We were informed that the "resort" on the other end of the island also has a phone. We took our bikes and rode 18 miles. I was tired when I got there but not too bad. We got to the resort and guess what? You got it, the phone did not work. Oh Well!
So we ate lunch at a smaller, unopened resort. The couple was lovely. Velva cooked one of the best meals we have eaten out in the Bahamas. She made slaw, peas and rice and fish. Thank goodness for the carbs for the ride back. We rode 18 miles into a 20-knot head wind. Boy, was I happy to get off that bike!

(Glenn) Two months we have been in the Bahamas and yesterday I finally got to kill something. We have been sailing and anchoring over reefs and flats just teeming with fish, conch and lobster, yet we have paid for almost every bite of seafood we have eaten. Other boaters have given us fish that they caught. Others boaters have given us conch that they caught. Our harvest thus far, on our own- zero, nada. Yesterday changed that.

My inner caveman wanted to put meat on my family's table and my inner cheapskate wanted free seafood. Both were satisfied when I speared a nice big lobster on the reef near our boat. We split him four ways with the crew of Flicka as an appetizer before conch chowder and beer bread aboard Crossroads last night. And it was good!

I don't really like killing and even get a bit creeped out when a dead conch moves while being skinned however the ends justify the means. My apologizes to vegans everywhere. Animals are good eatin and free is free. One more lobster and the spear will pay for itself. Tonight we say goodbye to the Bahamas and sail all night to Provo, in the Turks and Caicos.