Alice Town/Hatchet Bay

Weather is so unpredictable!  One day you have squalls and wind of 40 knots and the next day, when you want the wind to fill your sails --- you have none!  After 3 days of high winds and storms we were able to leave Rock Sound and head to Governor's Harbor, but en-route decided to go to Alicetown/Hatchet Bay for the next front that is to arrive.  Hatchet Bay is considered one of the safest harbors in the islands. 

 The entrance into a land locked lake was man made by cutting into the limestone cliffs.  There are 12 government installed mooring balls, 2 of which were empty so we grabbed the line of one and tied Makai onto it, dropped the dingy from the davits into the water and took Rylee for his much needed walk.  Onshore we met Kathy and Bill from "Hale Kai" who informed us as to the location of the grocery store, laundry, bread making house, and internet cafe.  They have been here on a mooring ball for 2 months so know the area very well.  We also met up with Sue and Earl from "My Bonnie" who were with us on a mooring ball back in November in Vero Beach, FL.  They had left before us and were hoping to be in Puerto Rico by now, but have had numerous engine problems which have kept them in the area.

The following day, after we did 3 loads of laundry and followed up with a great lunch at the Water's Edge, we took our evening walk.  As we walked down one street we noticed a large group of people standing around.  When we got closer there was a black hearse and many plastic flowers for a funeral at the house (fresh flowers are unavailable).  Here on the smaller islands, there are no funeral homes so you have the choice of being laid out in your home or your church. Families usually don't use fancy expensive caskets, but plain Bahamian made wooden boxes. Retail caskets have to be shipped in from Nassau.  The families of the deceased hold a wake the evening before the funeral and another get together after the graveside burial.  Mourners commemorate the deceased by celebrating.


The island of Eleuthera is very green and lush and at one time was home to chicken farms and cows grazing in the pastures.  Now, there are only remnants of what once was.  The same fate applied to the cotton fields - gone with only wanderers left.  We during a walk had an encounter with a few white cows walking the side of the road.  They stopped as we approached and we noticed their horns (looked almost like a Bull), so we just let them be and we retreated to safer pastures.

The school children attend an all age school with outside doors to each small classroom.  There are no large budgets for schools on the islands and it shows in the building construction.  The students are so very polite and must wear uniforms to classes.