Chillin in da Bahamas

Don’t let ‘em fool ya when they say “its betta in da Bahamas.” With all the pictures of the white sand beaches and palm trees swaying in the breeze you could easily be convinced that it is going to be that way twelve months a year. Well believe me, “it ain’t necessarily so.”

Now there are many days like that, and the sun does shine most of the time, but Bahamians take their licks like everyone back home, and I’m not talking about hurricanes – just your day in day out temperature swings.

I guess when your body adjusts to certain temperatures, you become accustomed to it. Here the temperatures can vary from the nineties during the summer months to the upper seventies during the winter, but Mother Nature seems to get a kick out of throwing an occasional curve ball, just to keep everyone honest.

We arrived mid-November and were beginning to get a little cocky when the temps were in the eighties and the skies were clear. The water was in the mid-seventies and life was good. But as the Farmer’s Almanac had predicted, things began to change early December and when the first cold front blanketed the northeast with snow, the winds blew all that cold weather into the southern parts of Florida and into the Bahamas. It dipped into the high fifties for a couple of nights and Bahamians were chilled to the bone.

A few years ago, we experienced similar conditions. The workers at a nearby construction site were dressed in what could only be described as snow suits – ski hats, down jackets and gloves, and it was around sixty-five. The sight of them hovering around a fire pit was quiet humorous, but for them it was the only way to get their body temperatures back to something a bit more tolerable.

This December was no different. That first Artic blast changed things for a lot of people. The locals were pulling out their winter clothes and the boaters, having recently arrived from south Florida, began trading in their t-shirts and shorts for jeans and fleece pullovers. Those with heaters aboard used them day and night whenever the temps dropped below sixty, and there was no sympathy from friends and family back home. If you recall the previous year, it was uncharacteristically cold as well.

Much like last year we find ourselves sitting on the boat enjoying an adult beverage or two, awaiting the passage of yet another cold front. The thermostats set on seventy two and it is a little disheartening to think we have come all this way just to watch the wind whipping amid the palm trees and the waves breaking along such a beautiful white sand beach.

This is not necessarily the high season for tourism in the Bahamas, but the cruise ships continue to bring in hundreds of thousands of paradise seeking tourists hoping to make their escape from the wintry weather back home. We see them stepping off the shuttle buses making their way toward the straw markets and bars dressed as though they were in Oahu mid-July. And even the most kind hearted amongst us has to laugh, as we watch them running from shop to shop, trying to escape the frigid temperatures with a flamboyant taxi driver yelling, “it alright mon, you in da Bahamas now and ever-ting gonna be alright.”

Well anyway, it’s great to be back in the islands among the people we have come to love. They do make us laugh at times, but we share in their sad times as well. Tourism in the Bahamas has definitely been affected by the downturn in the US economy, yet most everyone has a smile on their face and a kind word to say.

So if the weather is beginning to get you down where you are, pack your swim suit, grab your snorkel and sunglasses and make your way to the Bahamas. You may want to consider bringing along a pair of your favorite jeans and a sweater or two, but as you do, always keep in mind that tried and true expression, “hey mon, it always betta in da Bahamas!”

Getting Away For The Holidays

We managed to get away for awhile to see some new sights, visit with some old friends and enjoy some time on the water for a change. The timing was perfect and the weather has been superb.

We thoroughly enjoy embibing on the "riches from the sea." And while our favorite has always been the freshly fried conch, cole slaw and fries served with a really cold Kalik beer at Old Bahama Bay Resort on Grand Bahama Island, we have found some new placces that would fall on a "not to be missed" list.
In the LuCaya Marketplace we started the day with Coconut French Toast served by an always friendly staff at the After Deck. The real butter and imported maple syrup added a nice touch. It is always fun to stop here early in the morning and watch all the shop keepers getting ready for the days influx of cruise ship patrons.
And as you can see here, we managed to get some fresh conch and lobster from a local fisherman who was still dripping wet from his diving expedition out on the Little Bahama Bank.
Moving south into the Sea of Abaco we stopped over for several nights at Green Turtle Cay which is the beginning of the Central Abaco region of the Bahamas. The area is quaint, the people are most helpful and hospitable, and as with other islands and cays, it has a character all its own.
There are two Sounds in Green Turtle Cay - White Sound to the north, Black Sound to the south. While we enjoy both, for this visit we chose to stop at the Leeward Yacht Club in Black Sound due to its' proximity to the Settlement of New Plymouth. Lots of activities are planned for the holiday season, and the convenience factor helped make the decision.


Black Sound, Green Turtle Cay

 One can almost feel the calm here. Only the occasional Bolo Ferry, shuttling guests back and forth from the airport, stirs the waters. The sunsets are spectacular and the white sandy beaches across the way make an ihe deal setting to cool down from the 80 degree temps and to enjoy the moon glistening over the ocean.

A new find "restaurant" opened during our absence. Two Shorty's, over on Back Street in the Settlement, serves take-out meals that are delicious and surprisingly inexpensive. Denise and her sister Kola served up our favorite fried conch and fries - and it is certainly ties the record for the best we have ever had. There is a pic-nic table under a tent if you wish to dine in. The locals find their chicken wings and fries for five dollars their traditional favorite, but according to the sisters, visitors usually get the fish.

As we were both busy working this summer we have found it refreshing to relax now that we are back on the water. There is a lot to see and do on all the islands but we have especially enjoyed our visit to the northern Bahamas. We have been blessed with beautiful weather and have enjoyed reuniting with many of our friends from years gone by - in a way, it's like coming home after being away so long.

And for those that have written inquiring about Maggie, she has been a real trooper. She turned 17 this year so for her birthday we bought her a little red wagon to help her get back and forth. She loves the feeling of nobility when she's around the other dogs.

Carolyn wanted to add a few words to this Post but unfortunately she is tied up at the minute, so wanting to get this posted before the holidays end, we will need to her from her next time.

It is fun being out here, but keep those emails coming so we will know what you are up to.

And Fun Was Had By All

Summers in Atlanta have a lot to offer, and the Sandy Springs Concert Series was no exception. We gathered our folding chairs and packed away some delightful food in the cooler to sit under the stars and enjoy a free Tams concert. The energetic group had everyone dancing on the lawn while they remembered a few of the songs from "way back when."

Albany, GA was on our list this summer. We visited with oldest daughter Allison and the four grandchildren during Grand Parents Day at Deerfield-Windsor. It was good to see the progress that everyone is making in school, and with a 6-0 record we thorouly enjoyed seeing Patrick as an Offensive Tackle and listening to Bryan, a percussionist in the band. I must say we were most impressed with the accomplishments of all four of them.

Allison has done a wonderful job balancing her busy schedule and raising four active children. Brittany, the oldest, will be graduating from Univ. of Georgia and Tommy is busy working while attending classes at Darden College in Albany.

Speaking of college, I managed to visit upstate New York during the summer on behalf of the Waterway Guide. First time to spend that much time there, and I put about 1700 miles on the rental car before flying home.

I was glad that I had the opportunity to keep my promise to Carolyn about visiting the Tri-Delt house at Syracuse University. She was a member and stayed in the house during her tenure. The sorority members rolled out the red carpet upon my arrival and I was able to take a few memorable photos to share with Carolyn when I returned.

As always I remain active with the Rotary Club of Sandy Springs. It's a great club, and a very active one. In the Fall I served as Chair for the club's participation in the Sandy Springs Festival when we worked with our local InterAct and Rotaract students to promote the world-wide distribution of Shelter Boxes and disaster relief.

Another Rotary project that Carolyn and I enjoy involves serving dinners at the local firehouse. Over the years we have become friendly with many of them, and that's not a bad thing if your house catches on fire or you need an ambulance in a hurry. They are a great group of dedicated men and women!

And finally, no summer would be complete without Carolyn's substitute teaching at Dunwoody Prep. There is a story that can be told about every day, and after 20+ years we could probably write a book.

The teachers appreciate how Carolyn can pull a creative art project out of the air. The children enjoy the artwork, but best of all they love the story telling and puppet shows. As you can see  it's always a fun day when "Miss Carolyn" comes to Dunwoody Prep!

Until next time,

It's Hot-Lanta for Sure

Wow, has it ever been a hot summer in Atlanta! Even the water in the pool is too warm to even try to cool you off. Despite the heat we have managed to entertain a lot, visit and catch up with friends when we are not putting in some long hours to "keep up with the Jones's." Carolyn puts in long days at Dunwoody Prep and has managed to find the time to catch up on her reading. She seems to find some of the most interesting books on sale at the local Goodwill Store, and it's not unusual that the topics have a lot to do with dogs.

Maggie, our beloved Border Collie of 17 years, is not real thrilled with being back in Atlanta. She just loves the boat! Any time either of us head for the garage she seems to think we are heading for Sea Island Girl without her.

At seventeen she is keenly aware of everything going on around her and maintains a ferocious appetite. Her longevity and health are most likely due to the glucosamine and yogurt she receives twice daily.

 I have regained my interest in photography. In July I purchased a Nikon D5000 DSLR and have been attending classes at the local Wolff/Ritz Camera store. The technology amazes me, and whenever I have the time I take a shot or two in hopes that the classes are helping to improve on my technique.

In case you missed the story, Sea Island Girl was the victim of a freak tornado in Freeport, GBI back in April. While the damage could have been much worse it has taken several months to repair the damage inflicted. Hopefully, all of the projects should be complete by late October.

Traveling to Brunswick to work on the boat has not been all bad. We were able to take a few hours last evening to test my photographic skills while enjoying some of the scenery around the marina. Night time photography requires some practice, so we loaded up Maggie and headed for the Sidney Lanier Bridge to

test our skills.

I felt rather good about the results, though from other photos I have seen there is alot of room for improvement. As time passes, and my skills improve, you will hopefully see the results in future posts on our blog.

Wish us well, we are still enjoying life!

Abaco Art Show

Being among friends in Abaco seems to bring out the best in people, and this year was no exception. Everyone got involved, whether it was water aerobics, yoga, basket weaving, walking or jewelry. For those that had never done it, there were those willing to help - and the results were remarkable.

"Yoga at eleven," was the call each Monday, Wednesday and Friday on the RMHYC Cruising Net, and though it was an exceptionally cold winter season, the brave ventured into the water for aerobics. "It all helps the body" was the by-word for those involved, and when you get to be our age, the body needs all the help it can get.

While the athletics types worked off their energy, some of the more artistic took an opportunity to perfect their craft, or learn from others new techniques. Kathy Sales is a new to water colors and enjoyed her time perfecting her stroke and color combinations.

And while she was dabbling in the paint, others were seeing what they could do with pine needles and rafia. An endless number of hours go into creating baskets and bowls, and while some were honing the basic techniques, others created masterful pieces of art. While some were not as complex in their design, every basket was in and of itself, a work of art.

Jewelry crafting was another past time, using sea beans, sea glass or the beans removed from tree pods. The variety of necklasses, bracelets and ornamental pins was endless, each artist having their own style and technique. Some of the artists sold their creations at the local flea markets and art shows.

One of the more creative ventures was provided by our friend Ray Vallerie. He created a scale model of his own boat - Last Dance - our of scrap wood and bits and pieces he could scavange around the marina. That is his boat in the background. The sailboat in the foreground was one he completed last year which is a replica of a boat owned by a close friend. The hours Ray put into these were endless, and his attention to detail was remarkable.

At the end of our cruising season we put together our own art show, giving everyone an opportunity to display their creations. Carolyn had an opportunity to display some of the artwork created by students in her class at Every Child Counts.

For many of the projects they used shells and other natural items from the island. The most popular creations were the rubbings made with tin foil using plastic forms with various pictures. As you can see they were colored by the students with permanent markers and frames were design to enhance the pictures.

All in all it was an enjoyable winter cruising season, and it seems most everyone had an opportunity to get involved in one project or another. It seems that many of the lessons learned will be things which enrich the lives of those participating.

Meet "The Girls"

It was never in the plans, however when we learned the impending fate of two, three year old Weimaraner-German Shorthair pointers, there was no question that we would get involved. They had become a problem for their owners as they enjoyed roaming the beaches along the shores of Abaco, and the general concensus was that they needed more attention and time than their lifestyle would permit.

We met Zoe and Bella in Marsh Harbour at the Abaco Beach Resort. They would frolick along the beach and approach anyone willing to show them a little affection. As many of the boaters had dogs of their own there was an ample supply of doggie snacks, which was always a welcome sign for the two sisters.

Zoe is slightly smaller and is more readily recognized by having one white toe-nail. Bella is the most loving and her sister seems to be the instigator, often nipping at her sister when bored and looking for a romp on the beach in search of a trio of dophins that frequent the marina.

When it was learned that the owners had discussed euthenizing these wonderful dogs, a boating friend decided to "take charge" and see to that this did not happen. He and a friend searched for an adoption agency that specialized in their breed, and found the SE Vizsla Rescue in Roswell, GA. The agency, working closely with our friend, began searching for a ideal home for the pair. Our contribution has been to care for them these last two weeks.

Zoe and Bella have been a joy, and it will be difficult to see them leave the area that they have become so accustomed. We do however feel the rescue organization has the best interest of the dogs at heart. A good thing is that hopefully we will be able to reunite with them in Atlanta in the near future.