FRIDAY
TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 0 NM
For A laid back, unplanned day we were sure busy. It started out with the ferry entering the channel and docking right in front of the Quest. There were people exiting to waiting taxis, freight being unloaded and merchants looking for their deliveries. We loved watching the flurry of activity occurring right of our bow!
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| THE BAHAMA FERRY |
Calming down from the excitement of the ferry’s arrival, we walked out to the nearby 1892 Andros Lighthouse that marks the entrance to the Fresh Creek Channel. The cannons from the Cottsac Schooner that wrecked on Stanyard Rock in the 1800s were added to this welcoming corner in 1952.
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| LIGHTHOUSE AT FRESH CREEK |
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| :....... AND THE CANNONS DON'T THUNDER" |
We finally made it to see the Androsia Batik Factory (http://www.androsia.com/) in action. We were able to wander from room to room and watch the tedious, time consuming process develop. It’s a lot of work! In the Wax Room the printed pattern marker is placed on a long table and then the white fabric is rolled out and pinned over the pattern. Next, the stamps are dipped into very hot wax and pressed in the proper places on the fabric. When the entire length of the placed fabric has been properly stamped, they pull out another length and repeat the process until the whole bolt of fabric has been stamped.
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| STAMPING THE PATTERN ON THE WHITE FABRIC |
The next stop is the Dye Room where the waxed fabric receives its vibrant colors in old bathtubs. Other tubs are then filled with hot, hot water and the wax is removed from the dyed fabric by working the swaths in the tubs.
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| WORKING IN THE HOT WATER TO REMOVE THE WAX |
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| SOAKING FABRIC |
Once the wax has melted off, the fabric is now ready to be hung out to dry on the lines behind the factory. What a colorful display!
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| THE DRYING BATIK BILLOWING IN THE BREEZE |
The Cutting Room was void of any activity today but the storage of brightly colored threads and stacks of batik fabric made it like walking into an art gallery.
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| SPOOLS OF BRIGHTLY COLORED THREAD |
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| BOLTS OF THE FINISHED MASTERPIECES |
The Sewing Room is where they sew, clip, press and prepare to ship the garment made here from their beautiful fabrics. Today they were working on shorts and tablecloths.
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| SEWING AND PRESSING IN THE SEWING ROOM |
Toot-toot! Honk-honk! That was the notice that the Friday produce delivery had arrived. A little old couple had the back of their pickup truck packed with fresh fruits and vegetables for us to purchase. All the boaters rushed to answer their call and we did our best to deplete their stock before they moved on to their next stop. We got beautiful cabbage, onions, corn, peppers, limes and a few sketchy oranges.
For dinner we hiked over the bridge to the more lively Hanks Place for yet more yummy conch and some tasty grouper. All day we kept our eyes open for the mythical Chickcharnie. These creatures are supposedly peaceful if treated respectfully and unmolested. If you encounter one you may be granted good luck for the rest of your life. However, do not sneer at him or he will turn your head completely around!
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