March 28 - Hopetown Lighthouse

Day 5 in Hopetown ... just a delightful little community!  They have a weekly rate (2 free days) at the Hopetown Marina that we'd certainly take advantage of except that we've got an IMPORTANT DATE to keep with ROBERT EWING on Wednesday, March 30! 

We spent one day just working on the boat.  Calm winds .. mild temps .. perfect weather for another coat of varnish on the teak!  People frequently stop by the boat to ask me why I'm working on the boat here ... and I always answer: Can you think of a better place?  Indeed not!  Varnishing teak is a labor of love between me and Maja!

Dan completed a few touchups on the gelcoat ... but his huge accomplishment of the day was getting our salt water hand pump to work!  It has not worked since we purchased the boat, and we've always been told "Awww, just take it apart, replace the gaskets, it will work just fine."  And in fact, it did!  Now we have a source of free water to use for pre-rinsing dirty dishes and other dirty jobs that you don't necessary want to use water that you paid for!

Brasso + several hours of polishing = shiny pump!

After a day of work, we spent the next day at play.  We dinghied over to the beach to go swimming, snorkling and read books on the lovely soft sand.  I realize all these pictures are starting to look the same, but I find it impossible to not get out my camera at each awesome spot.  We ran into our friends, Hank and Carol (s/v Kismet) on the beach as they just arrived in Hopetown and are staying here for a week.  Looks like we'll extend our stay too in order to spend time with them. NCAA Basketball to watch this weekend!

A trip to the Hopetown Lighthouse.

Another day, another task ... so we hiked over to the Hopetown Lighthouse.  The lighthouse is famous because it's one of the few kerosene powered lighthouses still in operation.  But it's the view of the Atlantic and Sea of Abaco that truly makes it worth the climb to the top!  Amazing ....

Hopetown Harbor ... you can only use a mooring.

Tomorrow is Tuesday, March 29, and we're thinking we may have to cut loose from this little piece of paradise and travel over to Marsh Harbor.  We'd like to find a place in the anchorage and do some grocery shopping before Robert arrives on Wednesday evening.  Wednesday was a good choice for him to arrive b/c we'll meet him at the bar in Snappas Restaurant, and Happy Hour on Wednesday runs from 5pm to 11pm!