Bahamas - Cat Island, Exploring the Island

It was Great to meet up with Brad and Johanna of Selah whom we’d not seen since July last year, when we visited them at their home up the Wilmington River, Savanah. We had a great evening of drinks and freshly caught Tuna which Brad caught on their way over from Exumas to Cat Island.

Johanna, me and Jenny

Brad BBQing the Tuna Fillets on his ‘Egg’ aboard Selah

Brad and Nicholas

Nicholas and Johanna

Excellent meal of Tuna Fillets, Asian Slaw, Baby Potatoes, Grains, followed by Blue Berry Pie

We agreed to go Sight Seeing the next day. We anchored the dinghies on beach and walked about 200m to a Gas Station who rented vehicles. 10 minutes later we were all set to start our adventure

Map of Cat Island. We are anchored in New Bight, in the northern part of the big curve on the lower section of the map.

Ruins of a Church right next to the Gas Station

My new Hat

We went to look at the Government Dock, and found pubs open and the Dock empty of the Mailboat.

Bennet Harbour, where we anchored the two nights prior, was a charming Resort 

Lovely accommodation overlooking the sea was being renovated

Not much to stop and look at and driving north for 2 hours, was mostly sightseeing through the car windows

Beer-o-Clock, we went down a road to the beach to find a Bar and found a real quaint place but is was closed!

Low Hanging Fruit

Our trusty Steed

Almost at the northern most point we found Kizzeys Cafe, OPEN, and stopped for Drinks and Lunch, wiling away more than 3 hours shooting the breeze between us and with Roscoe, a local who was helping out Kizzey.

Stunning Mobile, made locally from Sea Fan and Shells

Roscoe

Nicholas and Brad enjoying a few games of Pool

Amazing views, right on the beach

Roadside Fruit and Art Vendor

Our last exploration was to Como Hill and the Monastery on the summit

The start of the walk

The Stations of the Cross are on either side of the steep path up to the summit. We all arrived at the summit rather out of breath.

Father Josephs Crib

Inside the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, it is tiny with 1 pew

A warren of passages leads to the Kitchen and Sleeping quarters

The Kitchen and Hearth

Father Joseph was apparently diminutive, and the entire scale of the Monastery is small with low ceilings everywhere

We took the easy walk down the grassed drive, photos at the Mount Alverin Gateway

We returned our vehicle and all retired to our yachts for an early night.

Next day, Selah was moving on north on their journey back to Savannah, and came round to say Bye. We hope to meet up with Brad and Johanna next year in Bahamas or somewhere

USA - Georgia, Wilmington River, Dock Party & TS Elsa

Another day and more fun. We spent the day doing some chores on Meshugga and I accompanied Johanna into town. She had an appointment, and dropped me off at a Shopping Mall for some Retail Therapy. Having not seen stores in more than six months, I was over-awed at the selection of Everything.

Whilst I waited for Johanna to be ready, I took a few photos of their spectacular home.

There were a few of these small lizards running around - very cute!

The view from the patio down to the river and dock with Selah and Meshugga

The view across their and their neighbors lawns

Just beautiful

And more so….

That evening a Dock Party was planned……

We ate aboard Selah and then everyone came to tour Meshugga, and we helped their appreciation with the supply of bubbles

Gene and Linda

Gavin and Beth

Next morning it was time to say Goodbye. Hurricane Elsa, now downgraded to a Tropical Storm, was approaching and Brads dock would be under sever pressure with two big yachts on it.

MV Selah’s dock

We motored further up the Wilmington River and went into the Herb Creek, to see out the night when the Tropical Storm would come over us.

The iconic hotel where in the 1930’s the Mafia operated out of. Now it is respectable Condos.

Our anchorage for the night. Mud flats behind us and in the south (where the wind is predicted to come from) heavy trees. No photo.

Tropical Storm Elsa approaching… 

Tropical Storm Elsa on Radar, we are right in the thick of the heaviest of rain.

We had 40 knots of wind constant, for our SAFFIR family and friends, that’s a good SouEaster blow.

As per Sod’s Law, TS Elsa came through at night 9.30pm - midnight with no moon. Our anchor held fast, and no leakage of water into Meshugga anywhere. 

All good !