February 18, 2015 - Great Friends, Great Fun!!

After having a fantastic evening with Kevin & Michele, they settled into "On the Rocks", their home away from home, and we cozied on Patriot. They picked us up on Sunday and we took the ferry from Marsh Harbor to Great Guana Cay, the home of famous Nippers on the ocean and their Sunday pig roast. We had an outstanding day, in spite of the hurricane-force winds. and enjoyed the party atmosphere at Nippers, their pig roast dinner, the spectacular beach and the laughter and fun of being with Kevin & Michele. Before going to Nippers we stopped at Grabber's a quaint resort and bar/restaurant right on the beach.

Entrance to Marsh Harbor...a welcome sight

Marsh Harbor is the largest city in the Abaco Islands

Our marina - Marsh Harbor Marina & Jib Room...if it ever gets warmer we'll enjoy a relaxing day around the pool

Grabbers, beachside restaurant/bar on Great Guana Cay

Michele, giving the thumbs up. Order us a Kalik!

Grabber's beachfront. We played a couple games of corn bag toss and relaxed in the beach chairs before heading back to the ferry to return to Marsh Harbor.

Much calmer on this side of the island, and very peaceful.

Michele, SO happy to be here, and not wading around in Michigan snow

Kevin has his eye on this sleek boat

Ah, yes...this is one of the boats Kevin has drooled over

Corona Light is the flavor of the day

This digger along the path to Nippers, looking tired but in the party spirit

Now THIS is the Bahamas I expected! Nippers Bar

Toasting to our good fortune, with Nippers' specialty drink. Yummy!

Very happy to be celebrating with our friends from home!

The guys, seriously contemplating our next move.

Kevin, NO...don't throw her over the edge!!

O.K., I guess I'll keep her.

Posing before our wind-blown beach walk

The view from Nipper's deck

Very rough on the ocean today, with waves crashing wildly

Lots of coral rock along the shore

Glad we're not on the water in the boat today

Finding some interesting shells

Coming back from our beach walk...a long walk up the steps

On Monday our chauffeur picked us up and we went to the airport to collect Al & Gayle, who flew in from West Palm. They are here until Friday. We all happily greeted each other at the airport, and they were impressed with the welcome sign and ecstatic with the cold beers that were awaiting them in the van. We took the long trip out to Pete's Place for lunch. The landscape on Abaco is quite unexpected - roads surrounded by pines and scrub brush, with no roads running along the Sea of Abaco or the Atlantic. The roads are paved and in fairly decent shape, but no signs or center line. It has taken us all a long time to become accustomed to driving down the road on the opposite side. It is quite intimidating!

After stopping at the local grocery store, we took them back to On the Rocks so they could get settled and came back to the boat to collect items for our upcoming dinner...fresh lobster! The lobster was enjoyed by all, and the melted butter was the best we've ever had, prepared by Al.  :)

Dolle art

Patiently waiting

We were all very excited to connect with the new arrivals, Al & Gayle

First introduction to Bahama's local beer - Kalik

Pete's Pub menu, delivered personally by our own Jimmy Mon

This group is loving' the Abacos!!

Shoreline at Pete's Pub

Al, checking out the telescope at On the Rocks

Sunday, February 15, 2015 - IN MARSH HARBOR!!!

After listening to the forecast, chatter on the radio, and chatter around the marina, we decided to venture out for the trip to Marsh Harbor. The waves on the ocean were very high so we went through the "whale" in the inner passage. While it was very comfortable for most of the way, our trip through the "whale" was very rough!! We endured for the short trip and were very relieved when we got to calmer water.

Shortly after arriving at the marina, we connected with Kevin & Michele, who had just flown into Marsh Harbor from Grand Rapids. It was GREAT to see them, and we had a fantastic evening...dinner at the Jib Room for their steak special.

Today they picked us up in their rental car and we met the ferry for a ride to Great Guana Cay for the day. Highlight of the day was a pig roast at Nippers and relaxing on the beach at Grabber's. We brought the 4:45 ferry back and came over to Kevin & Michele's rental for a little r&r, and brought our bag of laundry. They have rented a very cute little cottage with one side on the ocean and the other side on the Sea of Abaco. It really is beautiful here, and will be even more beautiful when the wind and waves calm down.

Our slip at Marsh Harbor Marina is very well protected from the wind and we are looking forward to doing a lot of exploring this week and for the rest of the month.

Manatee in the harbor, swimming from boat to boat

Portugese Man-o-War swimming in the harbor

Old Bahama Bay Marina, West End, Bahamas

One of the resort buildings in the Old Bahama Bay Marina/Resort...nice fitness center in this building

Eddie's WONDERFUL, tasty fresh conch salad. Out of this world!!!

Bathroom and showers for the marina

Great place to relax along the beach at West End

This says it all...Paradise in Old Bahama Bay

Pictures can't capture the beauty of this water. Gorgeous!!

The boat that crashed on the break wall the same night we arrived. These folks arrived after dark and the waves were much higher than they had been earlier in the day. While volunteers recovered some of the things from the boat, most everything was lost. Fortunately, the couple sailing the boat was able to jump off the boat onto the rocks and were safe and sound.

Sharing the beach with the sea birds

My resting nest for part of the afternoon, enjoying my book and the peace and quiet

Pool available to marina and resort, but too chilly to enjoy

Friends Larry & Debbie on Bear's Nest...our crossing partners from Ft. Lauderdale and again from West End to  Green Turtle Cay. Very fun people!

Our other crossing partners from West End to Green Turtle...Russ & Debbie on Sea Turtle

Beverly, showing her catch from the dock at Green Turtle

February 13, 2015 - Arrived in Green Turtle Cay

Yesterday morning we left early and traveled on emerald water, smooth as glass to Great Sale anchorage where we were joined by several other boats. Six of our new boating friends, Larry & Debbie from "Bear's Nest", Russ & Debbie from "Sea Turtle", and Lori & Bill from "Perfect Day" came over last night for cocktails, snacks & conversation and we made plans for traveling together today to Green Turtle.

Last night was a little rocky, but other than the rocking boat, no problems. Thankfully, our anchor held just fine and we stayed in our spot for the entire night. We left around 7:00 this morning to travel to Green Turtle Cay, which is a barrier island just across from Great Abaco Island. It was a little rougher day, but we traveled with Bear's Nest and Sea Turtle and it was an overall very pleasant day. Weather was sunny for most of the day, near 80, and although it got a little cloudy later in the day, we got no rain.We are now in a slip at Green Turtle Club and, if we can't cross to Marsh Harbor, will anchor tomorrow night at Donnie's Boat Rental anchorage, where other friends are staying.

We had planned to cross "The Whale" tomorrow to Marsh Harbor, but it appears it will be too rough to make the crossing and may have to wait until Monday. SO disappointed, but talked to friends Kevin & Michele, who are coming to Marsh Harbor tomorrow, and they will hopefully make a ferry crossing on Sunday to meet us in Green Turtle if we aren't able to get to Marsh Harbor. Can't WAIT to see them!!

Internet is slow, so no pictures until we can get a better internet connection.

We are SO happy to be in the Bahamas! It is unbelievably beautiful here and there's much to explore. Our month + will be well spent and we will be sharing our adventures as we go.

Thinking of all of you at home with cold temperatures and grey skies. Sorry! We have been enjoying 75-80 degree weather and sunny skies almost every day and don't take one single thing for granted.