Publish Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Location: Georgetown, Great Exuma Island, Exumas, Bahamas
Coordinates: 23° 30.767′ N 75° 44.725′ W
Cruisers gathered at St. Francis Bar to watch inauguration.
As a family, we all wanted to see the inauguration of our new president. Ayla was an Obama supporter from early in the primary process. Dave and I understood the historic significance of this inauguration and presidency, and wanted Ayla to see it. Of course out here we don’t have TV, and the internet is not robust enough to support streaming, but fortunately the local bar was going to be showing it.
The challenge was the weather being less than cooperative. We had moved Three@Sea across Elizabeth Harbor, with several other boats, to seek protection near the Red Shanks Cays from a cold front moving through the area producing strong west and northwest winds. However, the St. Francis bar was on the opposite side of the harbor. We were faced with 25 knot winds, two foot waves in the harbor and about a 20 minute dingy ride (2-3 miles). After consulting with our friend Brian, who is a fearless (but always safe) dingy driver, we decided to go for it. With life vest donned, and a route agreed to by David and Brian, we took off in two dingys with 4 adults and 5 kids to go and see the inauguration. All the while, I had the Gilligan’s Island theme song playing in my head. The anticipation was far worse than the ride itself. Brian took the lead and broke the waves for us. Dave was masterful on the tiller surfing down the wave faces, and we all arrived wet, laughing and safe. Theme parks can’t give you the ride mother nature can. :-).
There were about 60 other cruisers who had braved the elements to gather on this day. Whether
Ayla's friends who watched the inauguration with us.
people had voted for Obama or not, it didn’t matter, we were gathered in this small bar on Stocking Island to witness history. During the inauguration, there were tears, cheers and a palpable sense of community filled with hope and good wishes for our new president. I hope our experience in this remote venue is a harbinger for Obama’s presidency.