Today we crossed into the Tropics

Today we crossed into the Tropics. We are currently located at N23.37.805 W 75.54.848. We drove into Georgetown that is located at N 23.30.704 W75.46.567. The Tropic of Cancer is at N 23.26.25 (appr) and we had dinner at N 26. 26.165 W 75.35.929. On March 20 the sun crossed the Equator and is headed for the Tropic of Cancer. On June 20, about 2 months it will be directly overhead here and that will be hurricane season. A view of the beach at the Tropic of Cancer.

With the sun rising earlier now I got up and went for an early morning run. His is the first time I did a run since Key West. It has been difficult to keep up with working out when we spend all the time aboard. I’ve often thought of swimming to shore with my shoes in a dry bag and then running but I need to limit my runs and often times there is no good place to swim in to. But, we have a fitness center here so tomorrow I plan to go there in the morning. Since it’s warming I can do more swimming which is an excellent all around workout.

After working out I took a very nice shower in the marina facilities. This is the first “regular” shower I’ve taken since Daytona Beach. Since we left Nassau we’ve been taking cockpit showers where we get wet with salt water, soap up and then rinse with the cockpit sprayer to save water. Other than that we’ve used the boat shower. But, it was nice to set a water temperature and just let the water run and I’m going to do it again tomorrow.

This morning for breakfast Linda made French Toast with the coconut bread we bought in Black Point. One of the elder ladies there made this excellent coconut bread with cinnamon and raisins. What a delight as French Toast. Before we left we bought a second loaf for the freezer.

Then we picked up our rental car and drove into Georgetown, the principal town in the Exumas. In the Bahamas they drive on the left side of the road and our rental car had the steering on the right. What an experience to have everything in driving a car exactly opposite to what I’ve done most of my life. We’ve driven on other islands where driving is on the left but it is always an experience. The gear shift is with the left hand, the rearview mirror is to the left and of course turns go into the left side of the road. We saw one gas station on the island so this morning we filled up so we wouldn’t have to later.

In Georgetown we went to the Exuma Market that was stocked because the boat just arrived on Thursday and it was very busy as the cruisers from the boats in the Harbor came in to stock up. Friday may have been better but we were able to score some fruits and vegetables that will hold us for another 2 weeks until we get back to Nassau. We did, however, get some frozen conch from a fish market that will go really well for dinner on Sunday. The availability of fresh food is a challenge in these remote locations that count on multiple links on the logistics chain for resupply. Again, shoppers in the US don’t appreciate how well they have it with the abundance of choice.

This evening we drove to Santana's Beach Bar that had been recommended to us by several folks. For some reason we didn’t see the lobster on the menu but I had conch and Linda ordered the grouper but we shared. It came with the usual cole slaw, peas and rice. It was good but everything was fried which is how most places here prepare food. Again, Americans don’t know how well they have food choice options. Santana’s is also south of the Tropic of Cancer.

We have been in the Tropics many times before but this is the first time we made it by sailing our own boat here. After we return north this summer we expect to return south this Fall into the tropics and continue traveling into the real sun belt. But for now, we made it.