Hopetown, our winter home

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We left Green Turtle Cay on Wednesday morning at dawn with our new friends Jim and Nancy leading the way through "The Whale". This was another passage that must be done with fair winds, tide and current since we go through a narrow cut into the Atlantic Ocean. We decided to give it a try knowing that if the water was too angry we could always turn back. Well, the passage was OK, lots of rolling and seas from 1 -3 feet with a few 4 footers that rocked us some. Simon did get seasick again but then did just fine. The weather turned out lovely and our trip was, thankfully, uneventful. We picked up a mooring in Hopetown a little after noon. Then we went into town to check it out. Well, it's a small place with lots of charm, a lovely beach and Vernon the baker who was just taking out sourdough bread from the oven when we got there. While walking around we heard that there was going to be "caroling" that evening. We stayed ashore, met a family that we knew from Vero Beach on the beach, and then about 70 people including Bill and I, with handouts of the words, walked around the area singing to various folks at their homes. Unfortunately, before the caroling ended we felt a few raindrops and since we left the boat with all portholes and hatches open we decided to head back. Once onboard we realized how exhausted we were from the trip and missed out on a free dinner of souse and sweets.
Our friends Nancy and Jim came on Thursday and we have been having a wonderful time with them. Jim and Bill are wonderful together and Nancy and I get along just fine. They will be here til the second week in Jan. and I know I will really miss them.
Today, Bill and I went to Marsh Harbor (about 1 1/2 hours away) to check it out. It is a "city like" place with hardware stores (Bill is in love), restaurants and groceries. The day was beautiful with light winds so we motor sailed all the way there. On the way home we were surrounded by rain clouds, we got some wind but no rain and at all times we were in about 12 ft. of water.