Arrived George Town

We arrived here almost two weeks ago after 12 days on the "Exuma Banks". A couple of really great sails on the two Ocean legs since crossing from the Keys.
The first was through what is called the tongue of the ocean because it looks like one as it splits the shallow banks on either side and the end. We sailed close hauled for the day at hull speeds under auto helm. Arrived at the West End on New Providence Island the sun high over head so we could navigate through the unmarked reefs to our anchorage for the night. Next day motored down the banks to Allans Cay covered on our last post.
Then on to mostly uninhabited islands including a national park that the Bahamians are keeping as it was when Chris Columbus was there. Therefore, they ask to take nothing and leave only footprints. To a cruiser living in our disposable society this means hanging on to your garbage until you make landfall on an island which will accept your treasure. So we smashed our Pelligrino bottles in bags on the rocks to reduce volume, threw food scraps overboard (as they recommend) and did remarkably well for a week.
The other thing we were without was being able to replenish our water supplies. Historically we would go three days on our two 60 gallon boat tanks of potable water and feel pretty good about ourselves. Then while in the Keys we went a week while having access to shore side showers and heads and were feeling mighty fine. . When we bragged our about our accomplishment to our buddy boat, Mary Lee, in Bimini, the reply was "you guys are going to have to get serious about your water conservation while in the Bahamas".
So we have. It is amazing what little you really need to live and be clean, happy and satisfied. The first mate has taken this to an extreme and has done an excellent job of figuring out water savings systems. (And while not doing that lecturing the captain on his water usage.)
We stopped in Staniel Cay in mid Exumas and were looking forward to the second most populated area in these islands to take advantage of provisioning, internet, etc. After visiting the first of the three food stores Cin commented on the way out that we have more food on our boat than they have in there. Luckily the other two "Grocery stores"were better, but let's face it it would be hard not to be.
We purchased a box of Town House Crackers as we had not had a cracker or pretzel in a week and were looking forward to the evening hors'dovres. Unfortunately they were very stale although we didn't toss them until we hit George Town where they have two pretty good food stores.
The sail down here was our second ocean passage of 50NM and it too was a close haul in 10-12kts which made for an enjoyable trip. The entrance to the George Town area is not marked and has reefs dotted along the first three miles.
Captain and first mate were wearing headphones so Cin could be on the bow reading the water (VPR) to confirm what the charts and GPS was telling us.

Several  hundred sailboats here and they have their own social network which starts every morning at 8 with the Net broadcast on the VHF of the happenings for the day. Volleyball, dinghy racing, softball practice and a pot luck dinner one the beach.
It is "Regatta Week" and the first mate has us signed up for all sorts of events; trivial pursuit, the coconut challenge, sail boat race, volley ball and soft ball to name some.
We are looking forward to having Tara this coming week and then Sophia Gabrielle is bringing her parents for a visit as Tara heads back to school.
Time is flying.