On Thursday, March 20, the moon was still shining vividly at dawn

Sunrise

After we’d finished our morning chores/school, we went to Sand Dollar Beach for a birthday party. The birthday boy was turning nine. We’d never met him, but they’d announced on the morning radio net that everyone was invited. We figured that this would be a great opportunity to meet some other families.

Sand Dollar beach started on the Elizabeth Harbour side of the Kahari Resort (the resort we’d seen yesterday at the end of the little inlet). Here is a shot of the resort

Sand Dollar beach was quite long (the black line on the map below). We had no idea where exactly the party would be and were worried we wouldn’t find it.

It was actually easy to find by the cluster of dinghies along the shore. We immediately understood why they chose this location. There was a homemade swing set, a fire pit, and a covered shelter. It was perfect for a kids party!

Not long after we arrived, one of the kids cut his foot. There happened to be two paramedics at the party. They said it was a serious cut, and no one had appropriate supplies on hand in their dinghies. Someone put a call out on the radio for supplies. Minutes later, several dinghies pulled up with mega first aid kits. A pediatrician also pulled up.

This is why we love the cruising community. Everyone is fiercely independent, and there is an expectation that each of us will responsibly take care of ourselves. But we all understand that stuff happens, and if there is a cruiser in need, we will all drop everything and rush to help. Its truly a community that has one another’s backs, and it is reassuring to know that they are there for us.

The verdict was that the boy needed to go to the clinic in George Town to get stitches. Unfortunately, the medical emergency dampened the mood, and most people dispersed after we were assured the boy would be okay. We headed back to Kosmos and stayed aboard for the rest of the evening.