Rock Sound
All of yesterday's rain and cloud cover was gone this morning. We spent a few hours onboard cleaning, restocking the pantry, making a grocery list, and gathering trash before lowering the dinghy. By 11:00 we were zipping across the anchorage to one of the nicest dinghy docks we've encountered. It was long and sturdy with many ladders on both sides. We dropped off our bag of trash and turned south down the main road. Today's scenery was loaded with color. The giant red blooms of a hibiscus helped to settle the belly-aching I did yesterday about missing the colors of spring. Tidy gates opened to private waterside patios with a view of the harbor and all of its blues. A short distance down, construction was booming in the new Ocean Hole development. This government-sponsored project provides quality, affordable housing for the people of Eleuthera, built by the people of Eleuthera. It is refreshing to see these projects for the Bahamians. So much of the construction we see are mega-mansions built by wealthy non-natives.
Our destination was one of our favorite spots. We have visited several times and noted a new sign that was both larger and brighter. A little lizard greeted us from his sunny spot on the stone wall. Once again, the Boiling Hole was flat and calm. The pool of water is fed by an underground source and in rough weather, bubbles rise to the surface to create a boiling effect. Since we always visit on days with beautiful weather, we see it as more of a reflecting pool.
The path and wooden steps to Cathedral Cave are well-maintained. We entered and again were struck by the majesty of the surroundings. Large underground tunnels were illuminated by the high mid-day sun streaming through holes in the "ceiling." In the darker corners, plenty of bats hung around. Large roots grow down through the overhead holes in search of land and water.
Several other groups of visitors came and went as we walked around. One disturbing aspect we saw was the amount of graffiti now present on the deepest walls of the cave. We did not notice this last year, so it must be another new trend in the boorish behavior of tourists while guests in this beautiful country. We walked back toward the dinghy dock while chatting with two fellow cruisers. They turned and went to their boat and we continued down the road. Bougainvillea of multiple colors seemed to be in every yard and sprawling over every fence. Red, pink, purple, white, and salmon blossoms were all present. The two churches we passed were advertising their Holy Week activities. Our next destination was Frigates for lunch where I had a salad topped with a large grilled grouper filet. Barry had a colossal burger. We shared a table with two other boaters and enjoyed sharing tales of home, travels, and maintenance issues.
A short walk later we were at The Market, the largest grocery store we have visited since the Winn-Dixie in Key Biscayne, FL. The produce section was nicely stocked and we loaded up on all our usual items. There was an entire section set aside for locally-grown produce. We were more than happy to purchase the home-grown tomatoes. We were able to get everything on our list except for bread without a huge case of sticker-shock. It just so happened that we passed the ice cream store on our way back to the dinghy dock. We stopped in for an uncommon treat -- the small waffle cone loaded with hand-dipped goodness for $4. While there we chatted with a couple from Massachusetts on the sailboat we passed yesterday on our way into the harbor. It was after 4:00 when we began walking to the dinghy dock. The deep pink blossoms of the oleander and more bougainvillea lined our path. After yesterday's grayness, today's bright colors and sunshine combined to create a much better mood.
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