We've Changed!

We have changed in more ways than one, but the main one is that we are in Hope Town and aren't cold anymore! We were scheduled to fly out at 6:20 yesterday, which is when the nor'easter was going to arrive bringing snow and rain. We beat it with just a few sprinkles on the plane's windows as we taxied down the runway. It was quite a day though, and I am going to copy and paste last night's email written to my sister and brother, to share the details. It may sound like complaints at times but now, after a good night's sleep on last spring's new mattress, it's all dream. Plus I woke up to our first gorgeous sunrise as the first ferry of the day arrived. The birds are singing, the roosters are crowing, and the woodpecker was already here to "say hello." 😉

Here's my letter:

We have arrived after a very long interesting day. I awoke at 1:30 and we had the house winterized early. Got to the airport early and had to wait, even once we were onboard. The toilet didn't work and maintenance had to come and fix it before we took off. Then with the storm it was so rough at first, I shut my eyes because we were in the back and I didn't want to see the plane shaking and flexing. Plus it was a noisy plane with a vibration by my head (the gigantic engines were right behind us). Got off in Atlanta and had something to eat and saw there was another earlier flight to Marsh Harbor at 11 AM, so we ran to the gate, but they said we couldn't get on even though there were seats, because our luggage had to go with us. So we waited until boarding at 2 PM...at least there was an Arby's for Dave. LOL. We were freezing in the airport all day, even Dave, so that's how cold it was. Once we boarded we had to wait again because a toilet wouldn't flush! Late start but they made up time. This plane was smoother and quieter except there were really noisy people speaking Russian (I think) behind us talking loudly the whole time and he had his knees in my seat back bumping me for 2 hours. After landing at 4:35 we wanted to rush through immigration and customs and out to a taxi to get to the auto part store for a boat battery and the market for some food, in order to get on the 5:45 ferry. Of course this is Bahamas time mon and we were still in fast American mode. No one moves fast (and the line was long), but we rushed as much as possible, got a 90 year old taxi driver who was ready to assist, and he took us to both places, so we made it on time to the ferry...thankfully because the next one was at 7:15. There was no cart to get our stuff down to the ferry dock so I sent Dave into the office to get tickets before we hauled it all down there. A ferry crewmember came out and asked if we were going to HT and grabs all our stuff in 2 trips (including the battery) and brings it down. I told Dave to tip him and he said that while he was getting our tickets the same guy was picking out snacks to eat but ended up not having any money. Dave told him that if he brought our stuff to the boat he would buy his lunch snacks! Problem solved. When we got to HT we asked the crew to drop us off at our marina dock, but when they got there the dock was gone! We knew they were rebuilding it, but our manager said there would be a pier left for us to get off (and the employees to get to work). No one knew that today they would strip down the whole thing! So they dropped us off at a neighboring dock on this side of the harbor, running aground, and we had to lug all our stuff past the lighthouse, through a broken fence, and over to our apartment. By this time we sure weren't cold anymore and ran in and put on a sundress and shorts. I came in and even though the windows were open, there was no air moving, so I tried the air conditioners and thankfully they work better than they ever have. The apartment is pretty dirty from sitting all summer with very gritty floors, but tomorrow I will tackle all that. I am almost unpacked, but now I feel like I want to get everything done at once, as usual. All dishes, glasses and silverware have to be washed because they sprayed for bugs and there a few dead ones in the drawers. The phone wasn't here like I thought it was, and we just could not figure out where it went. We were really bumming. That is not like us because we are pretty organized. As I went to turn on my computer, Dave asked if the phone might be in the computer case by some chance and , after me insisting that it wasn't, by golly it was in a small pocket hidden away from when we left last spring! Whew!

Since I wrote that letter I vacuumed and Swiffer dusted the floors (quick job so we don’t track grit around), washed most dishes and glasses, and even got the TV up and going (didn’t even have to reset it). We will get things back in shape and boats in the water as soon as possible. It’s great to be back! Plus we made it for Dave's 62nd birthday!