Thompson Bay, Long Island
Ambler Isle
V and S
Wed 16 Mar 2011 11:19
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Thompson Bay, Long Island is a very nice
settlement. It has car rental, several grocery stores, hardware stores,
and more. The houses are neat and well kept, a riot of flowers
abloom. The locals are very friendly and helpful. The cruising community
comes here to escape the hustle bustle of Georgetown, bringing some of that
hustle bustle with them. The Long Island Breeze Resort offers free
dinghy dock, wi-fi, coin laundry, showers, pool to the boaters. Today
there are about 30 boats in the harbour. Many are boats we met along the
way. After visiting the farmer's
market, we walked the road 1 mile to the ocean beach. Tide was high and
the surf beat the rocks. We walked about a mile down the beach and found
one hamburger bean. It seemed the beach was pretty picked over.
Walking the one mile back, we decided to treat ourselves to a Kalik at the
restaurant. We think that might be a good walk to do everyday.
Exercise is always lacking on a boat.
Several were gathering there to make a trip to
Cuba. Mur Dina is one of them. They invited us over for a
bon voyage drink last evening. Right after accepting the invitation,
Pretty Penny invited us for dinner. Putting them off a day, we
awoke to an invitation from Southern Estate for a dinner
party. They are here ahead of the Georgetown-Long Island sailboat
race. With the race will come some 50 boats. Might be time to
go elsewhere.
The flotilla for Cuba left this morning. They will
go south to Duncantown, Jumentoes. Cuba is only 57 miles SW of that
point. They hope to be in Cuba in three days. Of course, it is
illegal for US citizens to go to Cuba, the boats going are all Canadian
vessels. We aboard Amber Isle are not interested in going to
Cuba. While many Americans envision a pristine island in the sun, the
truth is that Canadians, Europeans, and South Americans have gone to
Cuba all along. Armed guards patrol the coastline. Boaters
must check in at each town, often paying to enter the harbours. It is
forbidden to leave a boat at anchor with no one aboard; they fear Cubans will
board and take the boat to freedom. Anchoring is discourage, they really
want everyone in the marinas. The marinas are gated and locked. Some take
bus rides into the villages. Roads are bad, even nonexistent in some
places. There are no street signs. They have no dairy products, and
strangely, no bread is available. I imagine the poverty is
unbearable.
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