Marsh Harbor, Abaco - another big town.

We were able to sail about half the distance between Eleuthera and the Abacos, but since it's about 60 miles we couldn't keep sailing when our speed dropped below 4 knots.  We saw several freighters up close, and once we got into shallower waters we had another escort of four dolphins.  The water is so much clearer here than in Florida that you can see them 2 or 3 feet below the water.  They came streaking up from behind and then slowed down to match our boat speed.  They sort of rolled over on their sides to look up at us while their tail fins sort of brushed up against the hull.  I like to think they enjoy putting on a show for us, but more realistically they're probably just laughing at how slow and ungraceful boats are.

This afternoon as we came into Marsh Harbor I caught a glimpse of a sea turtle.  His head looked about the shape and size of a cantalope.  Then a few minutes later we got to be the entertainment for a few boats.  Marsh Harbor is not huge and has several areas of shallow water.  There are also two unmarked channels where you are not supposed to anchor.  There are also lots and lot of boats anchored here.  After motoring around a bit looking to find swinging room between several boats we dropped the anchor.  Before the boat drifted downwind to set the anchor we realized we were aground.  It was almost low tide at that time (the best time to run aground!) so we only had to wait a couple of hours.  In the mean time our boat was sitting perpendicular to all the other boats in the harbor.  Not 5 minutes before we went aground we noticed another boat aground trying to leave Marsh Harbor.  I should mention that at low tide most of Marsh Harbor has only 6 or 7 feet of water, so it's not always easy to find room between other boats in deep enough water.

Next on our agenda we hope to find the parts we need for our outbard, and Sue wants to do laundry, again!  I just can't figure how she gets her clothes so dirty