DON'T WORRY . . .

. . .go to the ocean!

            Our last days in the Bahamas went by fast with whirlwind stops.  We left Marsh Harbor, headed for Great Guana Cay, Manjack, then Great Sale and finally West End.  Most of the trip was plagued by very light winds.  Never-the-less, we did get a little motor-sailing done.  Great Guana is home to Nipper’s, the most famous bar and grill in the Abacos.  Alas!  Weather prevented us from being there a couple of weeks earlier, so we missed the Barefoot Man’s concert.  Nipper’s rum punch was good anyway.  The beach, the reef and the rocky outcrops were beautiful.

  

Milo had the usual assortment of shellcraft and other geegaws.

We anchored at Manjack Cay and went ashore.  Manjack is a nice place; inhabited by a homesteading couple who have cut paths through the jungle and posted colorful signs to keep you from getting lost. 

 

  There are neither stores nor any kind of commerce on the island.  Truly, “Don’t worry, go to the beach.”

The forest is populated by curly tails

and strange critters

.

            After a restful night at Great Sale, we headed for West End.  The resort there was busy because of Spring Break; lots of families.  A two mile walk into town provided a respite from being cooped up on the boat.  We saw shore birds

 

and witnessed seagulls feeding frenzily on something in the water. 

 It reminded me of a scene from Hitchcock’s “The Birds.”  West End Settlement is a relic from better days.  Years ago, the town enjoyed greater prosperity.  Today, the town consists of rundown buildings and ruins.  The Blue Marlin Club, a large hotel, restaurant/nightclub establishment sits empty and roofless.

 We had a litany of final this-and-thats---

a final conch salad

a final tropical drink

a final combing of the beach

a final shorebird

final sundowners with our friends Bill and Maureen on their "back porch"

 Just like our welcome at Bimini, we got a great send-off, complete with a junkanoo band. 

  We set our alarm for 11 PM (what kind of nut sets his alarm for 11 PM?) to get ready for a midnight departure.  And then our Bahamian adventure was over.

But they say that if you've got sand in your shoe, you will be back!