Nassau to Hopetown, Elbow Cay, Abacos

     Sunday found us back at Starbucks for a delicious breakfast sandwich and a last check of email before we headed off for points north.  We left Nassau harbor around 10 and headed NE for Royal Island which is just west of the tip of Eleuthera Island.  It is a very handy and snug harbor with not much scenery and no facilites, but it is a great place to stop off on one's way to the Abacos.  After a quiet night we got an early start for the 60+ mile trip to Little Harbor Inlet on the SE corner of Great Abaco Island.  We entered the inlet at around 5 o'clock, but didn't stop at Little Harbor because the entrance carries only  3 feet and our only chance would be at high tide, so we continued on to a good anchorage at Lynyard Cay.  We were part of a fleet of at least 10 boats that crossed from Royal to Lynyard. 
     We decided to spend another night anchored at Lynyard because we had heard that the beach there was worth exploring and also we wanted to dinghy back to Little Harbor to visit Pete's Pub and Gallery, famous for good food and a studio and gallery showcasing Pete's bronze sculptures and several other artists' works.  We did both,  the beach (on the windward side had loads of flotsam, but also some pretty beach glass) and the pub and gallery.  We lucked out and got a tour of the studio and foundry which was fascinating.  After lunch at the pub we hit the gallery and bought a bronze (tiny, but we like it!) and a watercolor print.
     Today we sailed from Lynyard to Hopetown by a very circuitous route.  There are no navigational marks, just waypoints that must be heeded to avoid all sorts of shallows.  We picked up a mooring around noon, had a bloody mary to celebrate a safe, grounding free, trip across the shallows particularly at the entrance to the harbor. (Another "high tide only" place for a boat with 6' of draft.)  After lunch we headed ashore to climb the lighthouse and then dinghied across to the other side of the harbor to explore the town.  We had our first ice cream in 3 months!  We had dinner ashore at Harbour's Edge. You can dinghy right up  to the restaurant and tie up while you eat.   We passed up their delicious looking desserts because we had found a freshly made key lime pie at Vernon's grocery store!  ~~~(\_~~~D&M
Google Earth track file for 3/29
Google Earth track file for 3/30
Google Earth track file for 4/01

Our first beach bar! We have been so deprived! Pete's Pub and Gallery in Little Harbor, Great Abaco is not to be missed.

We passed this island sloop sailing from Lynyard Cay to Hopetown harbor and it reminded me of my sister Alice's last painting, so I played with it a bit.

Brunelle snuggled in under the watchful eye of the Elbow Cay Lighthouse (1864) in Hopetown Harbor, Abacos

Brunelle viewed from the top of the lighthouse.

Hopetown viewed from the lighthouse, the Atlantic Ocean is on the windward side of Elbow Cay.