Have I died and gone to heaven?

After some networking at the laundromat, I was invited to join the aqua aerobics group at the Harborview Reef Pool, otherwise known as the "gab and splash". With the surf roaring in the background and the sun shining on our shoulders, we exercised up a frenzy, while laughing and talking. "The girls" filled me in on why they love to spend their winters here. Some were live aboards, some had graduated to cottages, but they all loved the wonderful natural beauty of the island, and they kept themselves busy with community activities, gardening, kayaking...so it got me thinking about spending the winters in Hope Town,

Andy and I headed up island to the Abaco Inn for lunch. This wonderful spot sits high on a hill between the Sea of Abaco and the Atlantic Ocean...breathtaking views and warm breezes.  For the frosting on the cake there was a golf cart parade at 5:30. With the cruisers sitting on the stone wall holding Tervis Tumblers of cocktail  juice, we cheered and shouted New Year greetings as the go carts rolled by, each decorated with imagination creativity. This was  followed by a reggae band, fireworks and a restful rocking of the boat for a good night's sleep.. Have I died and gone to heaven?

Last day for the Christmas Crew

Farewell to Emily, Amy and Scott!

The Christmas Crew is leaving today.  We will miss their wonderful company and their helpful crewing. It takes teamwork to make this ship happen and the experience is better when shared. We motored back from Hope Town this morning, wind was blowing up to 30 knots and there was a chop on the sea.  Preparing for airport trips and I will have one final coaching on the picture portion of the blog.  We will try to keep up the journal, but will miss the technical expertise that the kids shared.

Quiet Day on the Waterfront

After a raucous night at Bingo, some of us returned to the boat and some of us stayed out to party. Whether you were on the boat or at the bar, the band was equally heard. Today was a quiet recovery day, with some kayaking, a trip up to the top of the Hope Town lighthouse with some gorgeous views.  We enjoyed some some local color at the Pig Roast to benefit the Hope Town sailing team. It was pork, rice and peas, with a local drink called the Swiggle...gin and coconut water. . Some of us have temporarily stopped day drinking, we need to recharge those brain cells.

Preparations at the Pig Roast

Double Diamond in the Harbour

View from Hope Town light

Mother Daughter top of the light

Christmas Celebrations

On Christmas Eve day, we took the boat to Great Guana Cay and got ourselves to Nipper’s. They had the Patriots game on, so we watched a bit and took a walk on the beautiful beach. Then we headed back to the boat and decorated for Christmas – there were garlands, Gorham silver snowflakes, a Santa flag, stockings hung in the cockpit, and of course, our tree. Christmas Eve dinner was the feast of one locally caught fishes on the grill.

We woke up early on Christmas morning to see what Santa brought us. Our stockings were full – we must have been good boys and girls! Santa brought everyone a Nipper’s tattoo! Judy managed to make the traditional Christmas morning casserole and the usual mimosas!  There was plenty of Christmas music on the iPod.

Once we were done with the morning festivities, we anchored off Fowl Cay. Then we dinghied out to the ocean side for some snorkeling on the circular reef – it was pretty impressive – lots of varieties of coral and lots of colorful fish of all sizes! That evening we went to Man of War Cay, and had a Christmas dinner of London Broil, potatoes, and green beans, followed by a special Christmas pie that Judy & Em made.

Today we kayaked in the harbor of Man of War Cay and then anchored off the Cay for some swimming and relaxation – the water was so clear, and the bottom so sandy that we felt like we were in a swimming pool. Emily took the Bos’n chair up the mast to see the view.

Now we’re back in Hopetown – it’s Bingo night at Captain Jack’s and tomorrow there’s a pig roast on the town dock!

Watching the Pats win at Nippers!

decorating

the Santa flag!

Our Christmas tree, all decorated

the stockings were hung in the cockpit with care....

Mimosa time!

showing off our Nipper's tattoos! How they got here, we haven't a clue...

the Double Diamond Christmas crew

Double Diamond in Man-o-War Cay

kayaking in M-o-W Cay harbor

Doesn't it look like a swimming pool? That's the Sea of Abaco.

Emily needed a Time Out after too many Painkillers...

T'was the night before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the boat

Not a creature was stirring, the rum bottles were stowed.

The stockings were hung in the cockpit with care

With hope that dark chocolate soon would be there.

Then up on the deck there arose such a clatter

Andy arose from his Kindle to see what was the matter.

And then what did his wondering eyes see

But a shimmering sloop and eight fish of the Cays.

With a little old sailor so lively and quick

Andy knew in a moment he must be St. Nick!

And up the anchor line St. Nicholas flew

With a sloopful of rum and tattoos for two.

And then in cockpit, this jolly old elf.

Andy laughed at the sight in spite of himself.

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his toes -

It was totally inappropriate for the isles Abacos.

He said not a word but unloaded his bag

And gave the sailors all of their schwag.

Then, laying his finger aside of his nose

Up the mast, and the rigging, Santa Claus rose.

On Nipper,’s on Pete’s, on Jack’s, and on Snappa’s

On Grabber’s, on Jib Room, on Curly’s, and on Cracker’s!

He rose to the masthead and before he sailed out of sight,

He called, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Our Christmas tree!

Finished up Thursday at Pete’s Pub – dinner under the stars and the t-shirts. Amy had no success at the hook game, despite persistence and training by the expert. Friday morning we gathered greens for our Christmas tree, and sailed northward towards Hopetown. It was so warm, we just had to stop at Tahiti Beach, where naked women swam out to our boat and gave us tropical drinks. After a swim we made it the rest of the way to Hopetown, where we got some ice cream and martinis (it was Martini Madness at Captain Jack’s, after all). After we returned to the boat, we decorated our Christmas tree, which Judy assembled during our sail. Scott spotted what we thought was a sea snake swimming by off the transom, but after Judy & Emily went back to Captain Jack’s and had a marine biologist buy them shots, we were convinced that it was just an eel.

At Pete's Pub

Warwick Neck Garden Club at work

Drinks brought by naked ladies at Tahiti Beach

we all scream for ice cream!

Martini Madness! Blue!

at Captain Jack's

The Hopetown candycane lighthouse lit up for Christmas

Pete's Pub or bust!

Sailed to an isolated anchorage off Tilloo Cay where we began some snorkeling adventures. Andy was as colorful as the fish in his bright red rash guard and bright green scuba do rag. We saw some fantastic star fish, angel fish, and the colorful, but poisionous lionfish. This morning we sailed down the Abaco Sound to arrive in Little Harbor, just in time for a pina colada and a noon time swim. We did a little more snorkeling this afternoon, but have chilled down to lots of  R&R. Tonight we have reservations at Pete's Pub. We may be the only people at this seaside shack. We'll let you know. The weather is beautiful, found lots of shells and coral while beachcombing.

Emily finished her book!

Scott with Andy the elf in his Scuba Do-Rag

The Double Diamond looking good in Little Harbour

Beachcombing!

Slow down for Pete's Pub!

Emily arrived in time for the rum tasting!

The Christmas Crew is in tact! Emily arrived today and met some friends at the airport who gave her a ride via the liquor store and a beer! We had a nice sail downwind back from Hopetown after a morning swim. Sunny weather and clear water!  After Emily arrived, we started to make some rum drinks, but then decided we needed to taste the assortment of rums on board first. Now to dinner!

Last night's dinner - grilled chicken with Uncle Buck's homemade BBQ sauce!

Scott chilling on the foredeck

Emily arrives with her duffel, liquor store purchases and beer!

The beginning of the rum tasting!

All arrived safely to Marsh Harbour. First night spent at Snappas watching the Pats, drinking rum and chilling down. Today we sailed to Hope Town which is on Elbow Cay. Had a nice walk looking for authentic Bahamian Christmas decorations. Emily arrives tomorrow. Santa arrives on Sunday.

Palm fruits - Christmas decorations or port & starbord?

Bahamanian cottage and Christmas tree

Scott and Amy in Hopetown harbor

windswept palms on the ocean side of Elbow Cay

Scott with the nutcracker

Double Diamond with the Capetown Lighthouse!

Andy, Judy, and Scott on a Hopetown bench

Bahamas Bound

Christmas is coming and we are heading out to set up our tree and hang tinsel on the lines on the Double Diamond. All plans are for Judy, Andy, Amy and Scott to arrive in Marsh Harbor on Sunday. We will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of Emily to round out our Christmas Cruise Crew. Stay tuned for the photos of the decorated Double Diamond and some tropical Christmas scenes. Sure hope Santa can find us this year!

New Blogger

We left Man-O-War, for a short hop to Hopetown, where we stayed 2 nights. We talked to Ron Engle, the guy who handles Maine Cat charters from Hopetown. The second day we went south a ways to a snorkeling location, saw a variety of small fish.

Next stop was Marsh Harbour, near the airport that Bert & Deana left from. Dave and Andy are now fending for themselves. Andy is the new blogger.

The next day we spent doing laundry, grocery & beer shopping, cleaning, and making arrangements to leave the boat in a safe location while Dave & I fly back for a couple of weeks. We've jointly taken over the cooking, our first dinner pasta & sauce with Italian sausage. We did fine. When I figure out haw to attach a picture, I'll do that.

There may not be much blogging for a while, as we are flying home soon. Andy, Judy, Emily, Amy, and Scott will head for the boat around Christmas, hopefully with good weather. Then Dave and Jeanne will Arrive at New Years.

Andy