Florida? What the heck? We’re not going back to the states until late May! So we thought, until Scott’s tooth became infected and the side of his face swelled, his eye hurt, and his mouth was in great pain. We had been excited to explore a “new to us” place, Long Island, but those plans got thrown out the window. The day we arrived in Long Island we did not go ashore at Salt Pond as Scott needed a nap, he had been napping daily for a few days prior to the infection so I knew something was amiss. The following day we took our trash to shore and did a quick walk through the grocery store and the farmers’ market.
I couldn’t resist trying a few of the unique items from the Farmers’ Market such as the sea salt and sopadillas. I had never pondered the possibility that sea salt could be hand gathered, but I did know that a great portion of the Bahamian Island of Great Inagua is owned by Morton Salt with smaller salt flats scattered throughout the Bahamas. The woman that sold us the salt had enough packed in the bulging snack size ziploc to last us a couple of decades. The 3 sopadillas (dillys as they are called locally) were hard and un-ripened, similar in appearance to a kiwi. The nice man selling them gave me a brown paper bag to ripen them and explained that if I ate them too soon I would not like them and too late they would be too squishy. I think we timed it just right. They were a bit grainy in texture and tasted a little like cinnamon to me. In my Google search I learned that people describe it tasting like caramel, pears or dates. Since I’m not an adventuresome eater I think I need a few more tastings to really “like” them. Finally, we purchased 2 jams, Guava and Government Plum, both locally grown. The plum is yummy!
From our anchorage in Thompson Bay we took the dinghy over to Tiny’s Hurricane Hole. Tiny’s is definitely tiny. Three cottages, a small outdoor seating area for drinks and food and an extremely nice dinghy dock where the locals hang out.
The following day Scott called his dentist in Stuart and he immediately put him on antibiotics, of which we carry an array, and said Scott absolutely had to get it examined. Whoa, this is a challenge. The easiest and closest island for leaving the boat and flying is Emerald Bay, a few miles north of Georgetown. We had just left Georgetown but back we went. The whole process was quite stressful from getting the last 2 seats on the flight, covid testing in GT and in Stuart, booking a hotel, a car, and staying away from Covid in Florida. We did experience some good news: the dentist getting Scott an appointment and pulling his last wisdom tooth, Scott saw an orthopedist for his problematic shoulder, got an MRI, and blood work. My big news… I got my first Moderna vaccine. Yeah!!!! I shed a few tears but couldn’t wipe my drippy nose because I didn’t want to take off my mask while waiting my 30 minutes (I’m allergic to Sulfa so I had to stay an extra fifteen minutes.) We also enjoyed spending quality time outdoors with several friends, all had received both of their vaccines, which was a strange but wonderful experience.
Scott celebrated his 75th birthday in Stuart. He certainly doesn’t look, nor act, like he’s 75. He is required to have only 33 more birthdays because I plan to live until 96 and I want him by my side!
Our small American Airlines planes were packed. There were only 2 seats on each side of the aisle so no empty middle seat for us. When we landed in George Town it was such a relief to be back on Bahamian soil and back on-board Unforgettable. I definitely prefer the quiet, laid- back island life, friendly folks, and simplicity. I don’t need Walmarts every 4 miles, fast food restaurants, and crowded highways. Life in the Bahamas requires patience from us spoiled Americans. Patience and simplicity have not previously been my virtues but I am progressing and loving every minute of the change.
Now back to Long Island to pick up where we left off.
Scott and Melissa's "Unforgettable" Adventures 
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