Monday, 31 December 2018

Happy New Year, 2019!


Well – it’s been quite a week! Our lack of refrigeration continues, despite efforts from Jeff and fellow cruisers to remedy the situation. We’re still waiting for our friend, David, to arrive from Florida with the part to be replaced, but he’s been thwarted by consistently strong winds – making the Gulf crossing impossible.

The upside is that we’ve, for the first time in 5 years, had a chance to visit many different beaches in Elizabeth Harbour – each with its own special charm. And we’re meeting dozens of fellow cruisers, who are also prevented from sailing away by the weather.

We started out in Red Shanks – a calm, well-protected harbour about an hour outside of George Town. There we met another couple who became friends, and we spent many lovely hours with them walking the tiny perfect beach, toasting each other at “sundowners” on our two boats, and generally “chillin”. We saw dolphin and sea turtles from our dinghy cruises around the harbour and enjoyed beautiful sunsets from Sea Change, celebrated by the blowing of my conch “horn” (I'm improving daily).

In contrast to the peacefulness of Red Shanks, we then returned to the George Town area for laundry, groceries, water and ice for the fridge, and began a round of beach parties to celebrate Christmas and then New Year. Two separate New Year’s Eve beach parties included fires, drumming and dancing, conch-blowing and lots of good pot-luck food. Last night’s even featured a well-put together ritual to welcome the New Year!

Finally, we continue to make progress with boat issues – all getting resolved (apart from the fridge so far). So we’re ringing in 2019 feeling grateful to be here, determined to “pay forward” the loving kindness of everyone we meet, and wishing our friends and family back home the best of everything life has to offer. Happy New Year!





















  

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