No room at the Inn and "Why is my boat so slow?"

Yesterday we tried to get back into HopeTown but no joy -- all moorings full. Karen wanted to play another game of Jack's Bingo. We anchored off instead just out of the harbour. The wind direction was fine and the Island protected us BUT the boat wakes were large and incessant. I had no idea so many boats went into and out of HopeTown.. It was rough on the hook.

Apparently scores of boats are making the migration from the Exumas to parts north. The radio is full of folks planning to cross back to the USA. It has been a tough winter here in the Bahamas and a lot of folks want to get back to civilization. I think they feel it is "owed to them" now because they are so RUDE. In HopeTown there are 54 moorings. All but about 12 are rented for the season by folks that just like it there. Unfortunately when they leave they put a reserve marker on their mooring and leave for a few days. Folks come in and can't pick those up and they are upset. What can you do? MAkes for a lot of hot tempered folks.

We went to Marsh Harbour to escape the boat wakes at Hopetown and to be ready to extend our 90 day immigration limit this Thursday here in Marsh Harbour. At 2pm today there were 54 boats on anchor here and more have arrived. It is crowded but at least minimum boat wakes. We didn't go to the dinghy dock today but I expect it is pandemonium there right now -- room for only about 12 dinghies at a time.

This morning -- early like before 9am -- I dove on the boat to scrub the bottom. WOW I couldn't believe all the growth on it. I'll try and post a picture later of the bottom condition. The stuff comes off with light brushing but there is a lot of bottom surface and I'm doing this while scuba diving. Very difficult. I got it about 980% cleaned when my tank ran out of air. I'm a heavy breather here and was at it for just over an hour. It looks pretty good and definitely ran better -- faster -- on the way to Marsh Harbour today.

Tomorrow is a large chore day with a BIG Laundry load -- probably 4 machines worth -- and some light grocery shopping. Got to get the air tank filled too. We will grab a taxi with all the laundry and go to a commercial Laundromat here in Marsh Harbour. The machines are bigger and faster than what you find at a marina, slightly cheaper but offset by the round trip $12 taxi ride.

Ohh it's warm here now. Hitting 80 degrees in the day and lows of only 75 at night. I might have to turn a fan on soon.