First, the internet has been down for about 48 hours --- sorry for the delay. This isn't unusual.. And I typed the blog a couple of days ago and some of it seems underlined. Can't figure out how to fix it and I want to publish this before the internet goes down!!! But we're really happy to be here instead of waiting to cross from Miami!
As we entered the channel into between South Bimini and North Bimini the shallow water took on that great, Bahamian clear greenish-blue.
Our marina for our duration here in Alice Town, North Bimini, is Sea Crest. Small (as all three here are) with space for about 10 boats.
However, the reality is not quite the same as the internet ads….see ad
The ad does show the width of the island, though!
The Bahamas are really seeing a huge tourist downturn. The local “bread lady” isn’t making bread these days unless by order. Just not enough demand with the reduced number of cruisers.
Anyway, we gladly lowered our quarantine flag and raised the Bahamas courtesy flag!
The view from our dock is beautiful. It’s very shallow here, with only a channel cut out for large boats. Not sure where this guy found a place deep enough to anchor.
We went for a walk around the settlement. Alice Town is much larger than many of the settlements we found on the other islands. Lots of small shops,
a couple of grocery stores, a few bars,
coin laundry, bank, and government building, and the usual use of conch shells for just about everything.
The dockmaster here directed us to a local ocean side eatery (restaurant isn’t quite the word…) for hamburgers and fried conch. We ate outside, enjoying our lunch and Bahama Mama and pino colada.
But, after being up since midnight, this is how we REALLY felt!
As in all of the islands, everything is brought in by boat.
Some don’t survive and just lay in the beautiful water and slowly rust away.
The day we arrived the diesel boat also arrived. He sat at the next marina and pumped diesel into diesel trucks all day.
Today the green grocery truck arrived , bringing fresh produce (guaranteed to be on the grocery shelf by 3 – ha! Remember “island time”?). The truck also has the frozen goods that the restaurants sell (hamburgers, French fries, just about everything). They are apparently loading off large orders, too. We saw one fellow jubilantly carrying off his big screen TV.
Oh, and the garbage ferries. We think they ferry our garbage to the next island and then their garbage to ours….
And now its Saturday. The wind and rain howled yesterday, 35-40 knots steady, higher guests. Today is bright and sunny again, but still windy. Later today the town is having an anual festival - should be fun! We'll plan to go and post as I can.
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