Friday May 6: to Treasure Cay

     Friday morning we went into Man o' War one last time for some fresh produce and a few other things.  For the first time since Florida we bought some water - .45/gallon - just 10 gallons, to augment our drinking water supply.  We also filled up the gas tank for the outboard.  Mid-morning we bid goodbye to Man o' War and headed out.  It was still a bit windy from the NW and the seas were choppy enough to throw salt water all over our cleaned decks.  So much for the fresh water rinse we'd gotten from the rain.

Marsh Harbor 

Marsh Harbor loading dock.

     We took a swing through Marsh Harbor, to see if we were missing anything and to try to touch base with La Maitresse, who has been anchored there.  The boat was there but they were ashore, so we left them a note with our intentions (next stop Treasure Cay, then on to Green Turtle Cay).  The harbor itself is quiet large and exposed to the NW, so they probably had a bouncy time from the rain squalls.  We definitely chose the better harbor to ride it out.  Marsh Harbor is the working harbor of the area - this is where other towns send propane tanks to be refilled, where they get their supplies brought in in bulk, and where most of the working people live.  Marsh Harbor on Great Abaco Island is the third largest town after Nassau and Freeport.  Fun Bahamian fact:  the whole country has a population of about 300,000 people;  over 75% of them live in Nassau.

Entrance to Treasure Cay

     We continued on up to Treasure Cay, which isn't a cay, but sort of a spoon-shaped peninsula off the top of Great Abaco Island.  The guide book calls it a 'must see'.   As we entered the concrete-lined canal that leads to the little harbor, Dan remarked that it looked a lot like Florida.  We have found little to change that opinion.  The harbor is almost entirely lined with crumbling concrete sea walls, and there are a few narrow canals leading out of it.  Colorful houses, condos, and many many docks line the canals; it's very reminiscent of the ICW through Florida, except these houses are much smaller.  There are two marinas.  The first one is Treasure Cay Marina, and a large sign informs all cruisers to register with them, even if you are anchoring.  For the first time ever we had to pay an anchoring fee.  The good news is that with the fee comes full use of the marina facilities - wifi, garbage, water, and showers.  We can even use the pool if we wish.
    We took a walk on the "sugar sands" of the three-mile long beach just a few minutes' walk from the marina.  It was pretty, but to us the ambiance was one of vacationland:  there are bars and condos and umbrella'd chaises to support the small hotels and it was obvious the beach was groomed daily.  If the beaches around George Town are considered like adult day camp, this is adult Disneyland.  It's very resorty.  After our time in the the more primitive southern Bahamas, we are not so impressed.
     So far our travel through the Abacos has gotten increasingly more upscale.  We are wondering if the rest of our journey through the Bahamas will be the same.  

Sunset at Treasure Cay