(Not Jimmy) Buffet

After docking at Rum Cay Marina, we met our neighbours Jeff and Peggy, who joined us for SRPs at RP o’clock. They told us about the buffet down in Port Nelson. After downing our SRPs, we joined them in the walk to the Ocean View Restaurant. Jeff recommended going by the beach as the shorter, faster route. Unfortunately, he had gone at low tide and the tide was now rather high. We had to cross a great many unpleasant rocks while ducking around overhanging growing stuff and surrounded by clouds of voracious mosquitoes. This also involved taking off and putting on again of sandals: barefoot for sand, sandals for rock. Each time WW bent over, his reading glasses slide from his breast pocket onto the ground. At last, they made a complete getaway, which he discovered only on arrival at our destination. Two down, one to go. He was determined to go beachcombing in daylight.

Jeff had offered to buy us a drink, but he did caution us that, on his only other visit, he’d asked what was available. “Anything you want,” said the barman. “Rum,” said Jeff. “Don’t have any rum,” said the barman. “How about vodka?” said Jeff. “Nope. No vodka,” said the barman. “Well, what do you have?” asked Jeff. “Anything you want,” said the barman, “so long as it’s gin.”

WW and I tried sky juice which is green coconut water and gin. It’s quite sweet and flavoured with nutmeg; really quite nice if you don’t mind the sugar. I’m not keen on sweet drinks myself. WW had earlier asked for scotch; the barman said he didn’t have any. WW and I were staring at the bottle of Johnny Walker on the top shelf, wondering. An older woman sitting in the dining area—and clearly in charge—said, “Johnny Walker. That’s scotch.” The barman’s gaze wandered up. “Oh,” he said.

The woman in charge announced that the buffet would start at 7:30. In the meantime, more and more people arrived. At the appointed time, the woman in charge went from chaffing dish to chaffing dish, describing the contents. Ribs, turtle, chicken curry, roast turkey, ham, crawfish salad, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, pork, peas and rice; desert was cheesecake, coconut macaroons, or cake. “Plain cake,” she said.

It was wonderful.

Fortunately, we met another pair of cruisers who had rented a golf cart ($60/day) and offered us all a lift back which significantly reduced the mosquito menace. It had been a long day and we were happy to settle into our berth.