CODA STILL HERE IN THE BAHAMAS 2025 (53)

CODA : Exploring Spanish Wells, Bahamas.

4 March 2025 

Spanish Wells Yacht Haven,  Spanish Wells,  Eleuthera, Bahamas  

Spanish Wells has a resemblance to Martha's Vineyard with quaint cottages and beautiful flowers.

Marc-  Another interesting cottage.  The first chore I did this morning was go on foot to get my propane tank refilled on a nearby street.  If you know me I am not one to easily get lost.  I was told to "Go up to 14th street then go left until you see the tanks in the Richard's yard."  There were few street signs and google maps was totally lost, indicating that the streets here are not numbered sequentially.  On the google map 14th street is next to 8th and so on.  I did find 13th street when I asked the owner of this house what street I was on.  She was quite helpful in saying just turn left on the next alley, go to the end, and you're at 14th Street.  I did get to 14th street but then a woman in a small car stopped and asked if I needed a ride.  I must have looked strange (old guy walking around with a propane tank in one hand looking lost).  I indicated I was looking for "Richard the propane man's house."  She got out of her car, said she would take care of me, walked across the street and knocked on a door.  Another woman came out and said "Oh, Richard's house is just over there."  Then they both walked me down to Richard's house about 100 feet away.  It's not over.  The second lady said "Just leave your tank on the lawn and Richard will fill it." Then Richard's wife came out and said hello and told me Richard was at work at Pinder's Auto but would fill my tank at lunchtime or when he got home at 5 pm.  "Just come back a little after that."  I went back at 5:05 pm and there was Richard out in his yard filling my tank.  When he finished he told me that he was taking $5.00 off the refill price because the tank had a little left in it.  Friendly place eh? 

Sorry for the drama here but this is really a small town where everyone knows everyone and it's very friendly with zero crime.  Doors are mostly open, kids play outside.  We spent much of our day riding our bikes around the two connected islands:  Spanish Wells and Russell.  It was good exercise and fun.

We passed about 10 large lobster fishing boats on the commercial street getting ready for the last trip of the season.  They are about to go out for the last official month of fishing.  Boats were loading up on supplies, gear, whatever they will need.

We came along this repair boatyard with good advertising.

The boatyard has a marine railway that crosses the street with a unique feature:  there is a wooden bridge for the street traffic to cross over the marine railway that is removed whenever a boat passes to or from the water.

Another view of the marine railway and bridge.

That jumbled up bunch of boats is the only mooring field in town.

The eastern tip of Spanish Wells.

Sign over the ferry dock building.  The ferry connects you to either Eleuthera or Nassau.

Sue found a nice clothing and fabric store in town and I found a field of dreams.  Imagine hitting a baseball out of this park.

We stopped for lunch at a beach park.

Beach gazebo with special water left for the local free range chickens.

Next we crossed the bridge over to the more rural Russell Island.  We saw goats and chickens about and some agricultural land.  Some boaters told us to go out to the Sandbar grill.  

Might there be mermaids here.

No mermaids but this interesting little lizard appeared.

We split a Poutine order overlooking the bay.

Later in the day we found a rather unique neighborhood Ice Cream Parlor.  Most people drive up in their golf carts and order ice cream.  It opens at 7 pm.  The soft serve ice cream was excellent and the small size was quite large.  Made my day!

Sue:  There is a lot to explore here.  There is a museum that we want to see, and we've contacted the lady who gives tour via WhatsApp.  We're waiting to hear back from her.  I went in a clothing and souvenir store, and was shocked to see some beautiful fabric and notions.  Before I came to The Bahamas (this is my first time) I asked my friend Kathleen if there were any fabric stores here.  She said she had never seen one.  I had no idea how silly my question was until we got here and I saw that there were barely any grocery stores, never mind a fabric store.  I'm sure there are fabric stores in Nassau, and I think that is where most people buy their clothing, but we didn't go to Nassau (only to Atlantis).  Spanish Wells is a very industrious place.  There is a lot of industry (primarily commercial fishing), homes are very well kept, and it looks to be thriving.  Of course I had to get some fabric - 2 different prints of sea turtles.  They had quite a bit of "Bahamas Batik," and I am trying to think of what I could do with some of that so I can justify going back tomorrow to get some.