March 18, 2021 Lazy day at West End

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Focused on relaxing we spent the day at Old Bahama Bay Marina. We could have set out sailing across the banks today but knowing the winds would really pick up in the afternoon, instead we decided to wait for more settled weather.  Brent took a walk and Lois stitched. We read about the places we may visit next, and the history of the Bahamas.  Windows were washed with fresh water to remove the heavy crust of salt from the crossing .  There was an afternoon nap to help recover from multiple nights of 3-hour watches at the helm and waking up to check on the anchor.  We took a walk along the deserted beach at sunset, wading in the water to see what interesting things we could find. This guy is a bar-eyed hermit crab living in a conch shell, according to my Field Guide to Seaside Creatures.

This place is nice in a very low key way.  The resort includes ten buildings  each containing at least four hotel suites (and each painted a different island-style bright color).  To the best we can determine no one is staying in the suites.  The only guests come from the eight boats in the 60 slip marina.  The two on site restaurants have one or two tables occupied anytime we look.  The conch stand near the boat served a handful of customers all day. 
The people working here say it has been this way for some time now.  We try to patronize some of the offerings, but over priced resort goods are really not appealing.  

There is a very pretty infinity pool, but it's hard to imagine jumping in to splash around in these days of covid. 


The big thing that happened today:  the blankets, wool sweaters, winter jackets, heavy socks and wool hats got stored deep.  These winter clothes seem incomprehensible now, although we depended on these daily until just recently.  Even in and after St Augustine we were in pullovers and jackets, especially after dark.  Here such clothing seems grossly out of place.  We are in shorts and sun protection gear that until just very recently was waiting deep in the hold of Second Star.

So tomorrow we have a new destination in mind.  In the morning we will evaluate the weather to decide if we go or stay in West End another day.  We are fine with either choice. 


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