January 4, 2012

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

By the time I got up, many boats who took shelter there were already gone.  “Wind Lass” stopped by to tell us their plans and we both left about the same.  “Wind Lass” went to Pipe Creek and we were heading to Staniel Cay, only because we needed water and diesel.  Just as we left, Fred noticed that water that cools the engine wasn’t running out of the back of the boat.  I was clueless as to what we should do so I just stayed out of the way.  Fred said, hoist the Jib and the engine was cut off.  It was still cold outside because of the cold front that moved through and I was certainly not dressed for winter weather, which is what it felt like when we were with the wind.  He went down below and within a half hour of clanking and grunting he held up the problem, like he had just found the golden egg.  I hated to ask but I did.  “Clogged tube” he boasted as he cleaned it out.  Motor sailing gave us hot water again, which is really nice for cold weather.  I wanted to be first since I was still numb.  We dropped anchor and headed into town.  It was certainly not what I expected.  Everyone was talking about Staniel Cay so I figured it was the closest to civilization we had been to in awhile.  The town was colorful.  Exactly the colors of the islands loved to depict.  As we tied up the dinghy, sharks were all under us.  Fred was not even phased with them and said they hang around for the scraps at the fish cleaning station.  “Sharks dine here...that’s interesting” I thought, and VERY CAREFULLY climbed the ladder where it was safe and dry.  I did try to take pictures but haven’t checked to see if any came out.  The homes were run down and it looked like they were barely holding onto life as I saw it.  It did appear some were trying to clean up the yards, which were mostly sand and rock so that gave me some hope they were on their way as a community, trying to tidy up.  The garbage truck was nothing but an oversized golf cart and it dawned on me that there were no cars here.  The only gas station I saw was at the gas boat dock.  We wandered through the rough streets which were boarded with the most amazing flowers, all natural to this area.  Bogenvillia being the most prominent but a rainbow of colors just the same.  We came up to this bright blue mess of houses and I couldn’t tell if they were connect or not or perhaps taking claim to all the blue homes in that area.  There was a bread store/house we thought about going in but were greeted by a group of locals, friendly people, and said there was no bread today because they were waiting for the mail boat to come in.  A few houses/doors down, we entered what was labeled as a Burke’s convenience store.  I think I had more in my kitchen at home than they had.  All the essentials one may need in a quick fix.  All the meat was frozen and packed into one freezer.  You had to dig around, very similar to the routine with my freezer at home, and pick what you want.  All the produce was in one refrigerator and the same method of choice was necessary if one wanted produce.  Actually, I felt at home there.  We ended walking out with some cookies.  The couple were so nice and I watched as the little lady added everything up with a pencil and pad, finally giving Fred the grand total.  It was worth the experience.  We chatted a bit and she disappeared.  The man said to wait, she was getting something for us.  Soon she came back out with a gift for us, a 2012 calendar all on one page.  That was so sweet of her.  These people are wonderful and so happy.  We left the store and I came across a huge shrub with blooms very similar to Plumeria but it wasn’t.  A young man yelled over to me what it was and broke off a huge piece for me, mearly 3 feet and said, put it in water and it will grow.  Fred looked at me like ‘what the heck’?  I proudly accepted it and we Fred said, “what are you going to do with that?”  I said “put it in water and let it grow”.  Sounded like a good thing to do to me.  Soon we approached a pink building/house.  It was the other well known grocery store on the island.  There was a blue one and a pink one.  The pink one is Smith’s Pink Store.  Neither had names on them.  You had to know where they were.  I was blinded when I stepped in because it was so dark in there coming out of the sunlight.  It took me a moment to adjust my eyes and by then, she and Fred had struck up right where they left off the last time he was here.  We bought some potatoes, eggs, lettuce straight out of her fridge, 6 oranges and a few other things.  By the time we left both stores, the back pack was full.  We saw the entire island in less than an hour.  This place has 2 restraints, and 3 bars and 2 marinas and a school. That’s it.   This Cay is 1 1/2 mile long and about 1/2 mile wide.  Cute little place.  There were some cottages scattered here and there for rent.  As we made our way back to Casa Mare’ I asked Fred just what it was these people lived on.  It’s just the way it is here.  I don’t see how they could buy groceries unless they bartered.   Guess I should have asked but it really didn’t matter.  They were happy and showed me they were.  That’s what really matters.  We returned to the boat and relaxed for the evening.