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TRAVELS WITH ANGEL
Rebecca (with Angel in the background)
at Marsh Harbour, Bahamas.
these remote stretches of out-island beaches. An
abandoned surfer’s shack was found on Great
Guana’s beach. Signs of long-ago campouts, a
pile of plastic soda bottles and other odd debris
surrounded a wooden half-shelter. On Man-O-
War’s beach, a large power yacht lies mostly
buried in the sand, a victim of the 2005 hurricane
season. An unnerving sight, only its pulpit and
an open hatch are visible.
For the hungry beachcomber, some of the
treasures found were edible. The popular
coconut palm bears fruit year-round, which can
be consumed at almost any stage. Some tropical
cultures will eat the coconut when they are mere
buds about an inch or so in diameter. These
buds are pickled, and the outside, which tastes
dry and plant-like, is consumed. Later in the
growth stage, the large green nuts offer a mildly
sweet water and a soft, edible coconut jelly. The more
mature green-starting-to-turn-yellow nuts offer a sweeter
water and the more familiar firm white flesh. The challenge
is cutting through the fibrous husk to access the
coconut inside. Wild growing avocado, sapodilla and citrus
trees were also spotted, and I solicited Bill to help pick
a sour orange for use in a cooking marinade. Just off the
beach, fishing and conching also provided the freshest
treats around.
By the sea, the traveling boaters found it easy to relate
to each other without the prejudices found on land. Cruisers
typically exchanged business-sized cards or contact information
and people’s card collections grew. We discussed the
usual topics; that last bad storm, anchoring, good harbors or
where to fill the boat’s water tanks. Babette contemplated
the ideal sun hat with a brim that doesn’t flop over your
44 February 2007 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com