The Bahamas Dec 31, 2012 - May 9, 2013

THE BAHAMAS  Dec 31 2012 through May 9, 2013

After a little over 5 months in the Bahamas I am hooked. With the incredible support and friendship (and dinners) from Liz and Rick I had an amazing experience living on my boat in the beautiful Bahamas.  I made new friends, got to see special places, and became a part of the sailing community. I stepped out of my comfort zone and into a new lifestyle.  

Monday Dec 31, 2012 - Happy New Year's Eve

I was invited to play tennis with a group of boaters (Carolyn, Mike, Hank) even though I had not played in years.  Carolyn loaned me a racquet and I was part of the morning tennis crowd.  They are low key and play for fun, lots of good humor banter, it is a delight and a routine has begun.

Tonight is the fireworks at Port Lucaya, so the plan is to shop, eat, and then drive down to watch the festivities. The outfits were more interesting than the fireworks, very high heels and very short skirts, shorts, etc. The Bahamian women spend serious time on making themselves look good.  Make up and hair done up right! 

The New Year has arrived and it looks like it will be a good one.;-]

Tuesday Jan 1, 2013 

The first day of the New Year was warm and sunny.  Liz, Gilly and I went kayaking around the area and out Silver point inlet to look for some shells.  What a nice day.  

Tonight is the Junkanoo parade, I have no idea what that is all about.  

Well, not only did we go to the parade but we were in it.  We got all trussed up in reed hats, skirts, with chest plates and cow bells for the boys (Rick and Glen).  Not sure how we got talked in to that, but with bells ringing, whistles blowing, and drums a drumming we shuffled down the main street.

Some Marina buddies watching the parade were a bit shocked to see us in the middle of the “bushwackers” group.  

This is a photo of the very accomplished UNH Professor Liz Falvey.
Look what retirement in the Bahamas has done to her.

So far my introduction to the Bahamas has been very interesting. 

Wednesday Jan 2, 2013

After sleeping in, I missed the dumpster diving with Liz.  She managed to skoff up a colorful fish and mounted it above her bar. 

 Since I had taken video of the Junkanoo event,  we had a viewing with dinner and hair cuts for the participants. 

This is a diverse group down here. 

For the remainder of month,  I got to know the Marina folks and the Bahama way of living.  I kayaked, photographed sunrises and sunsets, played tennis, went to the beach, collected shells, snorkeled, floated around with Liz and Gilly, had many fine dinners at the castaways (Liz and Ricks) and met lots of fun people.  

Captain Chris started doing the Bright work on Élan, and by the time he was finished most of the marina had stopped by to check it out.  Nice job!

The Marina threw Liz a surprise retirement party. Lots of lobsters were prepared for this one.

Liz and Rick showed  me around the best beaches with two dogs (Tango and Gilly).  Pelican Point is one of the best places for shelling and photography.

Rick is always posing  ;-}

What another great way to spend a day, floating around Silver Point Beach with Liz and Gilly.

In the meantime Rick's quiet Bahama retreat is growing into a full fledged marina

I did manage to take the boat out of the marina, with Rick's help, and sail to Peterson's Cay for a day of snorkeling, shelling, and fine dining with other boaters. 

Duncan, Heather, Liz, Rick, Glen, Kathy + 2 friends

 We took the dinghies over to Barbary Beach opposite the Island for some shelling.

Captain Chris finished the third coat of varnish.  Looking good!

February was another great month with visitors and excursions

Sandy and Shirley start the month off with a visit filled with drama and discovery. 

Their first stop; my boat, then Lucaya to shop, the coral beach bar with Liz and RIck, and shelling on some fabulous beaches.

Port Lucaya was a shopping Mecca, sort of

It was very cold at the beach bar. 

We all enjoyed Barbary Beach

Tango loving the water

One of our favorite places turned out to be the Garden of the Groves

This is a wood sculpture from some of the early indian settlers

We are fam i ly, I have all my sisters with me
























Sandy even tried snorkeling, she really liked it, after she got in we couldn't get her out. 

Shirley got into the kayaking and beaching

Me too, I always like kayaking and beaching

















Sunsets and sunrises over Silver Point Inlet were always beautiful

Sunrise was pretty spectacular as well

There was no shortage of events, for example the Benefit for the blind turned out to be a real fashion show.

Diane, Hank, Judy, Anthony and Tom were always in the thick of things.

Cindy came for a visit and we wore her out, the theme for the week was beach, boating and bars.

Margarita Villa was a hit

MIke and Carolyn joined us for cocktails on the very clear and calm waters just off Silver Point Inlet. This was special. 

Oscar night at ORYC was a real Gala event.

Nice BOA ladies

who is taller...................I would say Tom holding the glass in the background

Bahamas Air Sea Rescue demonstrates safety on the water to local school kids at the Ocean Reef Yacht Club

March saw lots of visitors and a trip to Abacos with Liz and Rick

Bob comes back to the Islands for a visit, and of course Margaritavilla was on the short list.  It was a cold winter in the Bahamas as well as the north, I would rather be in the Bahamas. 

BASRA has a Buffet and parade with all the supporters from ORYC.  As you can see a good time was had by all. 

Duncan love to dance

Nice hair ladies

The parade never ends

And the beat goes on

Cruising the Abacos with Liz and Rick was a special treat.

Rick and Gilly pick me up at Marsh Harbour

Liz is in the Gally getting some yummy food prepared

Spot, Barb and Tango at Marsh Harbour

Off to Lubbers Quarters for anchorage and beach exploration

 And guess what.... It is cold yet again

Sorceress at anchor in Lubbers Quarters

There goes Rick posing again

 Next stop Little Harbour with a "little harbor"  a little town, big art and Pete's Pub.

Ahhh

Pete's Pub

Pete's Pub

bronze studio

bronze art

Scientific fact: more left foot shoes found on beaches

Next stop on our route Pelican Cay

yup, posing again

This is so about the Journey

we have the Cay in our sights

Hope Town was a surprise with it's manned lighthouse, cape cod style houses, and cart paths. 

The boys wait patiently

really?

Off Road with the cart

There was a full rage going on, Spot decides to check it out. He got very wet!

Marsha and Barb stick to more normal activities.  You may note that it is still chilly.

I think this is poison wood, hmmm

Man of War Cay is not the usual tourist trap.  They build boats and make sailcloth bags

the entrance is very tight and the small harbor is usually full.

outside the harbor is a very nice anchorage

Treasure Cay is more touristy, reminded me of Florida, but the beach was rated as one of the best in the world

It was a bit stormy

but the sand was incredible

dragon or driftwood?

And the gangs all here on Gypsy Rose 

The return to Marsh Harbour was bitter sweet, it was the end of Abaco cruising for me and I was whisked back to Grand Bahama on Regional Air, a very small aircraft. 

Thanks to Liz and Rick for a wonderful experience

Nice views from the air, but it meant the end of the Abacos for me.  Time to resume daily tennis, kayaking, potluck dinners, visitors and more ORYC events. 

Hank and I decided to take the dinghy out for a dive.  Did I forget to mention that the motor was acting up. 

what a nice day for a dive

what a nice day for some exercise

Ok, that was a long haul 

Mike and Carolyn to the rescue

So lets try something that does not need a dinghy, How about looking for sea glass with Judy, Anthony, Doris, Trish and John. 

Everyone is finding sea glass

looks like Judy found something special

Nice mural

How about a sunrise Kayak to the beach on St Patricks Day.

this was supposed to be jumping

We do throw an interesting shadow

look who is doing all the paddling

what a great time of day

Of course there was a big celebration for St Patrick with food, costumes, limericks and music.

Tom prepares for the joke of the day competition

The ORYC musicians

 The boaters go back to their daily routines

Tom relaxes

Not to be outdone, Marsha and Trish relax 

The Swan of Tuonela heads off to be hauled out and bottom painted for the summer.

Marsha, Thai, Tom check out the beach bars

Thai, Tom and Peter find another beach bar 

We are supposed to be getting sponsors for the upcoming BASRA fund raiser.  No harm in tasting the goods.

green heron

Mahi mahi

Along with people visitors I had many bird guests.  This one was at my boat most every morning.

Some folks actually caught fish, however they had some competition with the sharks. 

April was another busy month that just flew by.

Bill 

Liz and Rick had a couple more visitors that arrived just in time for the pre Easter eating event. 

Kathy and Cathy 

It's a hungry crowd

Rosie and Claus

Larry

Judy and Jamie

Cathy and Duncan

Liz and Rick's visitors were also enlisted to help with the Easter BASRA fund raiser

Ticket sales

shopping

cheerleader

judge

Cathy and Bill were just having a good time

balloon toss

And then there were the winners

After all the winning you just have to relax in the hot tub

The rest of April was filled with new adventures and lots more "activities"

I missed the date to request an extension from immigration by a week and the immigration officer told me I could go to jail.  I apparently was looking at the date my fishing permit expired. The officer educated me about the difference between immigration and customs.  After messing around with me a bit more she finally gave me an extension for another 60 days and sent me on my way.  That was fun!

Shirley comes to visit and we spend time kayaking, beaching, shelling, taking pictures and exploring with Kathy.
Gold rock beach was way down the Island but it was worth the ride. 

Ok, does Dr Doolittle come to mind

now this is posing

more driftwood anyone

It is always nice to finish the day with cocktails on the dinghy

Shirley checks out Margarita villa before she returns home

and this came home with me

Bob comes back for a visit and we put him to work right away cleaning the dinghy's bottom

Bill gets his boat ready to sell

Cindy socializes with Tom

Eric and Jennifer visit

Pool posing works better for some

life is good

One of the prizes Liz and Rick won at the BASRA fund raiser was an authentic Indian dinner for 8 prepared by Santi.  Santi beat out many professional chefs at Bahama wide Competition.  The meal was wonderful.

The first Junior Sailing Festival was held at the West End sailing Club.  There was not a lot of sailing but there was lots of good food and music.  

Conch salad was the best 

This must be the committee boat

To celebrate the pending sale of Bills boat the buyer took us all out to a BBQ and bonfire on the beach.

all the players are here 

add a little juice

add a little more juice

add a little food 

light the bonfire

add a little gasoline

add a little more gasoline

Add a little warm glow and the evening is complete

LIz, RIck, Bill and Cathy leave the Bahamas and head for exotic places leaving Marsha behind to help John take care of Gilly.

Who is going to cook for me now?  No fear John is here. 

John and Gilly do some bonding

they go to  Banana Beach

they kayak together

They play in the sand

now who is having the most fun.

May 9, 2013 Bob comes to the Bahamas and we sail off into the sunset towards home.

My time in the Bahamas was a life changing experience. I will always cherish the opportunity to make new friends, learn about new places and how to live with less and enjoy more.

If you step out of your comfort zone even a little you grow so much more.