Whoo! What A Ride! - guest blog from Jann & Gail

That’s the best way to describe our arrival aboard Crossroads. We arrived in Georgetown at 10:00pm. It took two trips in the dingy, in the rain, in the waves to transport four people and five pieces of luggage to the boat. Everyone and everything (except for the computer) was soaked with water. Once aboard we were immediately hit with pitching and rolling enough for us to question the wisdom of two weeks aboard. Many pills and seabands later we were fine and emptying our bags of goodies for Glenn and Michele. Michele kept promising this would be the worst night because we would move to a calmer anchorage, and of course she was right.

Our first three days in Georgetown coincided with the annual National Family Island Regatta. What fun it was to watch the islanders sail their native boats with big sails and colorful boats. The crew use long boards for counter balance and move them from side to side for each tack. The crew slides up and down the boards for ballast looking like crabs scuttling on the beach. After some straw market shopping, grocery shopping, and bread buying from Mom (local bread baker who sells from her minivan three days a week) we hoisted anchor and moved to the leeward side of Stocking Island.

Stocking Island is a beautiful island just off Great Exuma. This calmer anchorage is where we stay for the majority of our time. Here we swim off the boat, kayak, yoga on shore, watch beautiful sunsets, and shell hunt. We have left our hectic American schedules behind and are now operating on Island time.

Michele and Glenn are great hosts. We eat great food and enjoy wonderful cocktail hours with them. Many of their cruising friends have also come to Georgetown and we spend the next four days getting to experience the strong friendships formed with other cruisers. Delilah arrives with fresh Mahi Mahi to share. What a treat!! They were thanking us for delivering their new computer from the States, but the fish far outweighed the delivery. We now understand what “potluck” really means to cruisers, no green bean casserole for this crowd! One night we all went ashore for a potluck that would rival any Indian restaurant. Curry dishes were everywhere. We ate until nothing was left. We have many good recipes to try at home.

Before their friends head north, Glenn fixes his famous bread pudding with Mom’s coconut bread and we count fourteen aboard Crossroads, a new record! We feel blessed to have met so many of their friends and hope we will see them in Hardy one day.

As Jann and I head home tomorrow we will never forget the special times we have shared with Glenn and Michele. We are thankful to have husbands and children who were supportive of our adventure. We are especially thankful to Glenn and Michele for their hospitality and sharing a piece of their dream with us.

Whoo! What a ride!

Jann Christensen and Gail Theiler
(two of Glenn’s “big” sisters)