Georgetown

We sailed into Georgetown about a week ago.  We didn't mean to spend a whole week here but it has been a fun week.  Georgetown is similar to Nassau in the sense that it is a great place to provision and possibly get boat parts and other important things. . . and that is where the similiarities stop.  The town is cute and filled with friendly, helpful people.  I would stereotype it as a Canadian retirement community.  There are some very interesting old people here, some  very annoying old people here, and a handful of young sailors.  Half the time we meet someone I'm thinking "this person is  very interesting and I wouldn't mind spending time with him/her and learning a thing or two".  The other half of the time I'm thinking "this person is a douche and thinks he/she is the  boss of me".  But there is free R/O water and a lovely dingy dock where everyone safely leaves thier dingy.  There is a quirky morning radio show on the VHF that is run by the cruisers that come back to Georgetown every year.  It's a little silly but informative with the "going ons" in the community and places where we can put our trash, get water, gas, etc. 

We had Christmas Eve on the Stray Cat which was an impromtu and Franzia filled evening.  And if we had any doubts they have been put to rest: Franzia poisoning is real.  We ran into the Texas Two Step crew again,... Dave, Leslie and thier daughter Michelle and they came over and celebrated with us.  The are always a hoot to hang with.   The boys aboard YOLO, Andy and Lance, also came and provided good fun.  They came in all bearded up, full of smiles and instantly bonded with the group.  Both these boats have blogs so google them and check them out.

We had Christmas on the Gualby and it was wonderful.  I only cried a few times in the morning and then when I talked to our families--they were confused tears--happy and sad.  It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm.  We enjoyed an amazing meal of perogies (Shannon family receipe), smoked pork shoulder, green bean casserole (or "hot dish" as the Minnesotans that brought it call it), cheesy potatoes, chocolate peanut clusters, rum cake, and washed it down with Sangria.  We laughed alot, hung out on the nets after dinner, and enjoyed our day to the fullest. 

The day after Christmas was one of my favorite days yet.  We were anchored off of Hamburger Beach and decided to explore the island.  We paddled in with Pen Dog and took the not well traveled at all path over the island to the other side where we were met by a magnificient beach with huge sand dunes and sparkling blue water with a . . . surf break.  We walked the deserted beach, amazed at the gem we had discovered and wondered if all the tons of boats that are anchored close to the volleyball courts and organized events ever hiked to this side of the island.  It was another beautiful day and we were warm from the hike over so we went for a swim in the big waves.  I felt like a little kid, giggling and hollering when I would float over the big swell and lose sight of Con.  The waves were super fun but I definitely went got worked a few times.  Thank goodness for the sandy bottom.  On the hike back over to the anchorage to get the surfboard we ran into Shannon and Ted and they joined us for the surf session.  Ted and Con grabbed their boards and then we took the more traveled path back (way less rocks and trees in the way)  We spent several more hours at the beach playing in the water and surfing and we only saw two other people walking the beach.  Beautiful.

We then had the pleasure of being a part of Junkanoo.  Junkanoo is parade of awesome, elaborate costumes, dancers, and good, drum led music.  We drank Bahamian beers, danced to the beat of drums and horns, and had ourselves a damn good time.  Thanks goodness for that free R/O water the next morning. 

After Christmas Lounging

The overgrown trail to the beach

The A-frame we couldn't quite make it to

Gualby anchored on the other side of the island

The better path... less stickers but steeper climb

Junkanoo Parade, Georgetown

Cutest Drummer boy ever-he would get tired and shake his drum hand out like it hurt