Governor’s Harbor

One of the best types of schools!

      Our 9 AM departure was moved up to 8:30 because everyone was up early.  We were off to Governor’s Harbor, the notorious ‘Worst Holding Anchorage in the Bahamas’, and they are right! We even had first had knowledge from a cruiser just leaving the harbor, who had found good holding, but Pete could not set the anchor in his first two attempts. The third was the charm.   We had dropped anchors around 12:30. One of our problems was that the spot Pete wanted to drop the anchor was where the racing windward buoy was dropped due to the wind change for the youth sailing program. Of course, right after we had secured the anchor and cut the engine, all the racers headed back to land.

    We calculated our fuel and Pete wanted to pick up diesel and gas before heading out since there is a gas station on the main street. 

    When we arrived at the boat launch area of the harbor, a fisherman was selling fish and lobster. The lobsters were huge and the fish were being prepared on the cement.  We had no way to keep them cool until we returned to the boats later.  They were pretty well picked over by the time we finished our hike.

Pete and I had deja vu. . . we had seen this very place
 in Lin and Bruce Alize's blog.

Martha beach combing on a pink beach.

    We all wanted to see the pink beach, which is only about a half mile across the island.  Pete opted to return to the boat with the fuel and meet us there. The beach was beautiful and the access road was right next to the Club Med property.  He was unreachable by radio.  It might have been the height of the hill interfering with signal.  Then we heard Pete’s voice.  He was given directions and took a very big detour, past the town dump.  He heard water so he continued walking.  We sent everyone on their way and I took him back to the beach so that his search was not in vain.  The group found a shady spot to wait and we made the climb over the hill together. 

This original Govenor's home
overlooked both the harbor
and the ocean.

    We chatted briefly with the new owner of the governor’s home, which sits atop the hill.  Club Med is still owned and maintained by a Pennsylvania man.  The islanders are very angry that he has not reopened it.  Its elimination after due to Hurricaine Andrew took with it 500 jobs.

    On our way down to the harbor, I stopped in one of the local shops for a straw basket, while Martha picked up some items for the grandkids.  Then the guys were off to the liquor store while we ladies went to the grocery store.  I was able to get some ice cream and make Pete’s day.

    Once back at the boat, the dock workers continued well past dark, unloading the barge.  There was a basketball game going on real close by, as the ref’s whistle blew frequently. The music beat came from a jivin’ bar and the roosters had no concept of time; they crowed whenever. Otherwise it’s a pretty peaceful place.

~  ~ (\_~ ~ ~     Kathy and Pete