We spent the night anchored at a ghost town in the Bahamas back in May and I have to confess that I was a little nervous about who or what was lurking in the shadows.
Ginn sur Mer was a big development project at the West End on Grand Bahama Island in the Abacos. Much of the infrastructure was put in place - canals, golf courses, roads, utilities and an airport - but then the developer defaulted and the place was abandoned.
Several people had told us what a great well-protected anchorage it was and it seemed like the perfect place to wait out a front that was forecast to come through before we made our way south to the Berry Islands.
We entered the inlet, made our way through the canals and found a good place to drop the hook.
This is what it looks like during the day. You can see a water tower, roads, stop signs, electrical lines and a golf course on shore, but no people or buildings. It's quite surreal. It's like some sort of hurricane came through one day and sucked up all of the houses and people, leaving the infrastructure behind.
At night is when things really get creepy. The wind started howling through the palm trees.
I had a closer look on the shore and wondered who or what crushed one of the retaining walls. It had to have been something big. Maybe it crushed the wall trying to climb down into the water to attack people on one of the sailboats anchored in the canals?
You look around and realize you're the only people for miles around. Or are you? Although, are ghosts, zombies and vampires considered people? They're dead aren't they?
Fortunately, we made it through the night unscathed and lived to tell the tale.
Cruising Log | Tuesday, 23 May 2017 - Wednesday, 24 May 2017
23 MAY
Anchor up at 7:45 AM after a very roly-poly night anchored on the Banks. Had to use generator to start engine. Replacing our battery bank has moved up in priority on the boat project list. Very confused seas. 6' waves close together. Buried the bow on occasion. Fish on the line! Darn, just a stupid barracuda. Anchor down at 12:15 PM at Ginn sur Mer. Nautical miles = 30. Engine = 4 hours 30 mins plus another 30 mins at anchor to check engine. Spending =Nil
24 MAY
A peaceful night despite the spooky surroundings. Hung out waiting for the front to blow through. Nautical miles = Nil. Engine = 30 mins to check it. Spending = Nil
Have you ever visited a ghost town? Did anything spooky happen to you?
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Not too many zombies swim, so I think you were safe.
ReplyDeleteThat's what the zombies want you to think :-)
DeleteWe've stayed in a couple of ghost towns in Canada, but the one time I felt nervous in an anchorage was in Tonga. We were setting ourselves up to make a passage and anchored off a prison island (no guards, just prisoners left there to serve their sentences). One of the prisoners swam out to the boat to see if we had any food and cigarettes to spare, scaring the bejesus out of me. The guy came out of nowhere and was hanging on our anchor chain calling out, "hello, hello". It's funny now, but I was a little nervous then and didn't sleep well that night.
ReplyDeleteStephanie @ SV CAMBRIA
Oh my, what a story! I wouldn't have slept a wink at all at that anchorage.
DeleteYou so have a story here! :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this post - safely, in my little office, tucked away from zombies and whatnot...right?
Make sure you keep your office door locked :-)
DeleteSounds like a fun and scary place to anchor for the night. Hubby and I would have enjoyed this very much.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day and weekend. ☺
It's definitely one of the more interesting anchorages we've ever stayed at.
DeleteThere used to be a ghost village at Portavdie on Scotland's west coast, though I believe it has now been demolished. Built for oil workers who never came. Visited once and it was very weird.
ReplyDeleteSounds very similar. Very strange to be in a place like that. You think of all the time, energy and money that's gone into construction, only never to be used.
DeleteThat is so cool! You know I would have been there and exploring it in a heartbeat. Are you allowed to go ashore?
ReplyDeleteI've been to a ghost city in China and ended up writing a book inspired by it. I'd say that's a win.
That's a definite win! I've read that they discourage people from going ashore, although I'm not sure who would notice.
DeleteI love ghost towns! How cool! I'm sure it could be quite creepy, though, thinking about how far you are from other people.
ReplyDeleteIt was both cool and creepy :-)
DeleteGrand Bahama is not in the Abacos.
ReplyDeleteI worked on that project. I was going to be a wonderful place. The west end is safe and has a pretty nice bar and restaurant at old Bahama bay
ReplyDeleteIm familar with tbe property outragious ly beautiful.unless dolphins scare you I don't understand this silly comment.
ReplyDelete