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OK, as of 1:00 today Bill seems to have fixed the motor and it is running without smoke or steam pouring out. As much as I have watched him solve mechanical problems this one was one of the most difficult. After receiving all the parts he had to modify, modify, modify in order that the 2007 models fit in the 1973 housings. This took all day yesterday and most of today. Now we just have to wait for a weather window to head towards Hopetown. The winds are piping up, fronts are coming through and the window may come towards the end of the week. We have to go through "The Whale", a particulary nasty, but brief, ocean crossing.

I am trying to make photo additions a little easier. Select this address and paste in the URL bar.

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So a little bit about Green Turtle Cay. It is made up of White Sound (fancy resorts) , Black Sound (where we are -boatyards and considered a hurricane harbor), and New Plymouth settlement. There are a little over 450 people living on the island and most can trace their ancestry to loyalists who fled New York during the American Revolution. Then lots more came from states along the eastern corridor , primarily farmers. However, poor soil - many left. It was then the wrecking capital of the Abacos. With the fading of sponges, pinapple growing, and sharking what the islanders now have are tourists and crawfish (rock lobster). However, the town of New Plymouth has had 80 structures landmarked for historical significance and according to one resident the look completely changed when an enterprising businessman started bringing in a variety of paint colors to enhance their houses.
New Plymouth has shops, groceries (mostly very expensive), a liquor store, bread baked daily, and restaurants. There is also a museum that was restored by Alton Lowe, a well known Abaco artist whose father also made ships models. There is a sculpture garden where there is a life size sculpture of two women, one black and one white with busts of Bahamian citizens around them.
We have met many people who come here to rent houses and stay for a week or more. The beaches are gorgeous, both on the sound and on the ocean. Golf carts are the main form of transportation (we might rent one to explore the entire island).
We have also participated is a few island events. First, everywhere we go a 'hello' is said to anyone passing you by. Then on Friday evening we went to the "Tree lighting" festivities. I thought all 400 people would be there for such a joyous occasion but not so. I think it was either to political or to religious but there were less than 100. When Bill and I were walking the site we passed a house that had la nice display of Xmas lights. I took one photo and after the second one everything went black. The entire island was without electricity. We kept walking and waited a bit until the emergency generator kicked in (this happens alot here). Before the lighting there were speeches by administrators (one opened his remarks by talking about the increase in crime and murder!!!!), and a sermon by a man of God who had us all seeing the light. A couple of church groups sang (I heard there was going to be a choir but only 5-6 were in the groups that sang) one was especially wonderful - gospel/Xmas. And then after Santa arrived we were all invited for a free boxed dinner. Bill and I took ours back to the boat and the food was fabulous. We haven't eaten in any of the restaurants yet but I'm sure this fare was far outstanding (and a lot cheaper). I have to learn how to make dirty rice.
Last night we went to a fundraiser for the 6th grade class. The money was to be used for a 3 day trip to the resort Atlantis in Nassau. It was on the basketball court and again, dinner (this time for a minimal cost) was provided, the children played, the boom box rang out all kinds of Xmas music (some I even recognized) Bahamian style. We went with new friends and had a wonderful time. Bill even joined in the "Cake Walk" where for $1.00 you got a number on a piece of cardboard and walked around a circle until the music stopped. Then a number was drawn and if you were on it you won a cake. Thankfully, Bill only did this once and we didn't win. He wasn't the only adult but he was adorable with the other kids.
Oh, there are only 12 children in the 6th grade and I'm sure they raised a fair amount of money for the trip. The kids,from 2 years old to teens played musical chairs, limbo, and I've never seen so many variations of play with hula hoops. I also had my first Goombay Smash - it's delicious and I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
The weather right now is deteriorating so we are going ashore for a little while.
Til later.....