SPENDING TIME ON GREAT EXUMA 2/24/13 THROUGH 3/5/13

HUNKERING DOWN IN GEORGE TOWN

     With the Hanson’s departure and the anticipation of some windy and stormy weather, we were quite content to stay docked right next to Algonquin at the Exuma Yacht Club for over a week.  Garth and Dan did a little fishing and enjoying their time out on the water.

DAN AND GARTH ANTICIPATING  DOING THE FISHING THING

IT'S IN THE BAG!

     We rented a car with Garth and Kathy for a couple of days and really did some inner-island exploration.  Heading south from George Town we meandered through Rolle Town, The Ferry and stopped for lunch at Santana’s in Williams Town.  Santana’s is known for the best fried lobster on the island and I wouldn’t put up any arguments on that point.  Santana’s is also a favorite to Johnny Depp when filming down here.   We ran into a little rain this day but our spirits were not dampened and it did cool things down considerably.

SANTANA'S

WE ALSO VISITED THE TROPIC OF CANCER BEACH

     

     The next day we set our sights on the northern part of Great Exuma and covered such locations as Moss Town, Forrest, Farmer’s Hill, Steventon, and Rolleville.  There were stops made to search for sea beans along the wrack line of debris and shells on the swash zone where the sand is hard and wet.

     The town of Steventon is the site of Pompey’s Rebellion. In 1829, 32 year old Pompey led a rebellion when 77 of Lord Rolle’s slaves were told that the Estate Agent was shipping them to Cat Island before they could harvest their families’ crops.  These men and women fled to the bush and hid until their provisions were depleted then 44 of them returned under Pompey’s leadership.  They commandeered Lord Rolle’s salt boat and headed to Nassau appeal to the antislavery sympathetic Governor Smith.  They didn’t quite make it and were captured along the way and thrown into Nassau’s work house.  Governor Smith got wind of their plight and had them all sent back to Exuma.  He did, however, make an example of Pompey by publicly administering 39 punishment lashed.  Pompey’s leadership in this early rebellion earned him a place in history of the Bahama antislavery movement.  Slavery was abolished in the British Colonies in 1838.

STATUE OF POMPEY IN FRONT OF THE RUINS OF AN OLD JAIL

STUCK HERE IN  A BAHAMIAN JAIL!
SO NOW YOU KNOW WHY I AM SELDOM IN THE PHOTOS

I WAS LUCKY, DAN SPRANG ME OUT

     In Rolleville we stopped to inquire about some prickly pods hanging from shrubs.  One of the guys had been part of the crew on the Class C sailboat Thunderbird in Little Farmers Five F races.  He was more than happy to snag some of the prickly pods known as Donkey Eyes and shell out the hard beans.  Kids have been known to rub the beans briskly on something hard then torment buddies by applying the now hot bean to their skin.  Yep, kids will be kids the world over.

PICKING THE MULE EYES TO SHARE WITH US 

     By the 5^th it was time to move on.  The laundry had been utilized, we were provisioned to the hilt and we were ready to go.  Algonquin headed north to begin their journey back to the mainland while Quest set out east for Cat Island and the refuge of Hawk’s Nest Marina where we would ride out the next expected blow. 

  

WE WAVED SO LONG TO ALGONQUIN BUT HOPE TO MEET UP
WITH THEM DURING OUR TRIP THROUGH FLORIDA