Voyage 2023: Chapter 1

20 Dec 2022, Revisiting Green Turtle Cay by Air, 26 45.612 N/ 077 19.8 W

The Cat and I stayed in Vero Inn and Suites to visit cruising friends in the Vero Beach area (of course, Mattie Kay forgot to take pictures). What an unreliable cat! Harry and Sheila came to stay there also, as we were going to fly out on a Island Tymes charter to Green Turtle Cay via Treasure Cay airport and Bolo ferry. And so, on 20 Dec 2022 we boarded a Piper Aztec at Treasure Coast International Airport (TCIA) in Fort Pierce with a departure time of 1000 hours. The flight reminded me of the flight Capt. Ann, Mattie Cay, and I took a year prior. It was our last passage together.

Capt. Alex and sea Capt. Bob were up front while Harry and Sheila were backseat riders. Flight was as smooth as last January's flight with an on time arrival at Treasure Cay Airport. Bob went to the airport trailer to check into Customs and Immigration. Thank you, Wellington, for facilitating Mattie's paper work in a more than timely fashion! We had a cab waiting for us to take us to the Treasure side of the Bolo ferry dock. And off we went across the Sea of Abaco to the Bolo docks in Settlement Harbour of New Plymouth. Home again!! This is the 4th time for Capt. Bob, the second time for swab Mattie Kay, and the first for Harry and Sheila.

9 Jan 2023, Christmas Holidays in GTC, 26 45.612 N/ 077 19.8 W

Capt. Bob waited too long to sign up for the Rose Cottage (aka John Howe House) during the Christmas holidays. However, the "Cottage under the Buttonwood" was available for the holidays. You may notice that there are no buttonwoods; they were lost in a long forgotten hurricane several decades ago. The house is right off Settlement Point, in sight of the Government Dock. There were 4 or 5 berthed freighters on the docks while were were at the cottage. Kind of busy. Of course, MV Legacy docks there also, but more about her later. First thing we did after situating in the cottage was to go sightseeing around the island. We went to Gilliam Bay, Long Bay, Green Turtle Club (for a nice breakfast), the Clinic (where Ann got stabilized for evacuation to Nassau), and flooded paths for further exploration of Gilliam.

For at least 5 days before Christmas, residents, visitors, and cruisers march through the streets singing Christmas carols accompanied by drums and cow bells (starting at 0500 [5am]). Ann and Bob marched through the streets during our cruising visits but this year it was only Bob, a few cruisers, and lots of town folks; until the last day where we had old time crowds. St. Peter's Anglican Church was decked out with Christmas decorations as were the other three churchs in New Plymouth. Sheila and I attended the service and we both remarked that was a very much like our Catholic service. Later on Christmas Day, the cruisers had a pot luck dinner at Sundowners. Again, the participants were not as numerous as they were pre Dorian/Covid, but still a respectible crowd. Good times and good food.