I’ve heard cruisers say that it’s not worth taking your bikes to the Bahamas. I strongly disagree. Yes, most settlements are small enough to get to the stores and restaurants by walking. However, on the islands with paved roads, we have always been able to explore far beyond our ability to get to these places on our feet. Yes, sometimes the roads are narrow but we’ve found, especially in Rock Sound, the drivers watch for people on the road, give a friendly “honk” of their horn to warn us of their approach, and go to the other side of the road when passing our bikes. They do drive on the “wrong” side of the road here. Above, we are on the beach access road. It is quite hilly so we got a good workout. Minnesotans will appreciate the street sign in the photo at the left. Before you get your reader glasses on I will tell you that it says “Northshore Drive.”
We are waiting in Rock Sound for another front to pass through. However, the predicted high winds and squalls have not developed. It appears that fronts in the spring are not as strong as the winter ones we experienced a few months ago.
After a strenuous bike ride, we reached the Atlantic Ocean beach on Rock Sound with its pink sand. Yes, pink sand. We hadn’t expected to find much on the beach but there were lots of little shells and of course we had to scoop up the pink shells and some of the pink sand as well. Luckily, we found some bottles washed up on the shore as we hadn’t intended to be collecting sand.
We spent quite a bit of time on the beach and eventually walked back to where we had left our bikes. I’ve mentioned in other blogs entries that we feel very safe in the Bahamas. I can’t imagine going to a beach in the States, leaving our bikes unlocked at the top of a hill which we couldn’t see once we climbed down to the beach, and coming back to the bikes after hours there. But, there were our bikes, the baskets still holding our jackets and other items.
After walking on the beach, we continued on the road looking for the Northside Restaurant. It is a landmark here and recommended highly. Rosie, the owner, will come into town to pick diners up, feed them, and return them to their dinghies. We followed a road with a sign on it that directed us to the “Restaurant.” We assumed it was Rosie’s and rode up the steep hill. There was her house, with a separate room overlooking the ocean. There were about ten tables (maybe less) in the room.
We immediately gravitated to the far side of the room where she had her vast collection of shells and projects in progress. She was making 100 small shell dolls for a wedding (photo below). Her choice of various shells for the dresses, hair, hats, etc. on the dolls (about four inches tall) was amazing. I envy the lucky people at the wedding who will receive these shell dolls as favors. She was also making a slightly larger doll out of shells.
As we talked, Rosie offered to take us to a beach 20 miles away to look for shells. I was pleasantly surprised as I recall a friend, Linda from Fortnight, who also met Rosie and went shelling with her to this same beach. I was envious to hear this and now grateful that we’ll have the some opportunity. We’ll be going with her on Wednesday.