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It was good to be moored safely in Man O War Cay Harbor on
Sat. and Sun. when the storms blew through.
Jay likes to be ready during the blustery winds, even in the rain, in
case some quick action is needed. Our
4x4x2’ concrete block mooring held our boat with no problem.
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After the storm, there is almost always a rainbow to welcome
the nice weather to come. We baked cookies and bread during the stormy waiting
time. We also studied charts and guides
to think about the rest of our journey in the Bahamas and back up the East Coast.
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On Monday, we left Man O War Cay where they continue to
build beautiful wooden boats. We learned
the boat builders did begin to build fiberglass boats for foreigners back in
the 1950s and you see a lot of Albury fiberglass powerboats around the Abacos.
We did see a sign posted on one Man O War Cay work shed that said, “If God
wanted us to build fiberglass boats, he would have given us fiberglass trees.” However, we saw them building both wood and
fiberglass boats. The Elbow Reef Lighthouse built in 1864 marks our entrance
into Hope Town.
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The 120’ high lighthouse is unique with its two identical
keeper houses. The museum folks said one
is now used for storage. However, one
keeper had a family including seven children so both houses at one time were
needed to house the whole family of the lighthouse keeper.
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Jay was impressed with the eight foot thick walls of the
lighthouse at its bottom. The local people did not want a lighthouse to be
built since they depended on salvaging the local ship wrecks to make their
livings. The British government persisted
and eventually the lighthouse was completed in 1864.
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There are 101 steps to get to the top of the lighthouse and
it is bright Bahamian pink on the interior.
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This lighthouse is the only one of three remaining
lighthouses in the Bahamas
that is hand wound by the lighthouse keepers during the night, uses a vapor
burner and a unique Fresnel “bull’s eyes” lens that concentrates the light so
it is visible for 15 miles. Jay likes getting a close look at the gears.
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The view from the top is well worth the climb. Priority is moored down below in the harbor.
25kt winds still blow following the weekend storms. Norma is standing on the leeside of the
lighthouse protected from the winds.
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Hope Town is delightful to walk through as no cars or golf
carts are allowed on the street along the harborside. The houses are well cared for and flowering
plants decorate the yards. Norma is
listening to a welcoming tape recording on the front porch of the Wyannie Malone Museum. Wyannie and her family came to help begin the
settlement of Hope Town in 1785 as they were Loyalists escaping from the
American Revolution.
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| After a stop at Marsh Harbor to refill a propane tank we visited the settlement of New Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay on Wednesday. |
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| We enjoyed a walk around the quaint little town with a stop at the Bronze Sculpture Garden that celebrates many important people who made significant contributions to the history and culture of the Bahamas. It is a meaningful history lesson of all the Bahama islands and cays. |
