The Barrett Girls Arrived!

[Abacobrad]

Hi Jersey Julia- hope all is going well for you in NJ. Karla and Nataly arrived after a 4 hour delay in Ft Lauderdale. A bit worse for the wear... FCA said 15 minutes a few too many times and that meant another trip to the bar. Tom B had his hands full, but managed pretty well.

We had a nice day today boating, got Stick snorkling and introduced to Kalik.

Off to the club for Jr. Junkanoo tonigt. This is a test to see if I can post pics from Bita Bay. More pics soon I hope!

[Terry W]

Hey, Brad, keep those photos coming.

BitaBayHouse looked good when I was there the end of May. Hoping you get no more wave action to take your sand away for a long time.

Jr. Junkanoo at the GT Club is a fun addition. Enjoy! Wish I were there.

[Abacobrad]

It will take a few days for the body clock to adjust, but sunrise was great this morning. Its going to be a hot one. Off to Munjack with a boatful to fish, snorkle, grill- will take plently of Kalik pics!

Have a blessed day!

[Abacobrad]

The Ocean was a lake, and we were able to anchor off of Munjack beach for the day. The sharks made fishing a shorter trip, but the beer was cold and the company superb. Clifford did a standup routine on the beach that had us falling down in stitches...

[Abacobrad]

Today was a repeat- flat and wonderful boating. Went pilcher hunting with no success. Caught a bucketful of yellow tails and they are headed for the grill as I type this. I help catch em, clean em, but I'm not cooking em!
We've got the Barrett girls managing the short order cooking.

[JerseyJulia]

i finally managed to find the board again... the pictures are amazing! i WAS having a wonderful time until i saw these pictures dad, (regardless of the fact that i cant get more than 2 hours of sleep a night)!!! NAtalie and Karla look like they fit right in on Green Turtle! i send my love to everyone all the way from New Jersey!

[Myra]

Brad thanks for the pictures. Send more!

[Abacobrad]

Batelnet has been down- trekked into town to check on events. Not a pretty picture in the world at the moment. So here are a few pics to put a smile on.
Louie Louie and Magggie D arrived so we are now dinner for 14 on the porch tonight! Jersey Julia- call your mother! (and your Dad)

[JerseyJulia]

Is that a bonefish in your hands dad??!!!! the island looks beautiful! i hope the weather shapes up!
I promise i will attempt to eat and sleep!! I send my love to everyone!~~

[Abacobrad]

Along with Tommy Boy and Gay and Victoria. We had a fabulous dinner at the house last night followed by much fun at Sundowners. We did manage a nice day at Munjack tucked in from the GALE.

Looks like we're going to clear quickly here- praying for FLA, AL and some sort of miraculous miss!

Final pics of this lot...

We wondered if Clifford walked on water??

[Abacobrad]

Yes Jersey Julia- caught a Bonefish on the new fly reel that Poppy gave me for Christmas. A real nice day on the flats before the wind arrived.

Check out Gilman and Will sleeping off a late night!

[Myra]

Thank you so much for the pictures. We are now less than 3 weeks away. The island looks inviting as usual. Any shark reports?

[JerseyJulia]

Happy Independence Day everyone!! i went in to NY today and saw the sights... I wish i was there to see the fireworks though!
Love, JUlia

[Abacobrad]

Bo and Suzzane arrived and we went to Guana for the day. Had a typical Nippers day- came home at sunset and stopped by Sundowners, then the power went out so we had to stay there a while longer... Of course we had to reload Kalik for an Ambergris day today. Gotta go.

[Abacobrad]

However, for the first time in years we got skunked fishing. Hit school of Cero Mackeral and had only one line with Steel leader and they snapped that too. Ended up catching a large bull shark- for a while I thought it was a kingfish.

Had another nice day at Ambergris sandbar. Batelnet still down- which has made connecting and posting very random.

[JerseyJulia]

i am glad you finally got some more pictures out there dad!! i have been jonesing! looks like you guys are finishing up the summer with a bang while i study for exams, give debates every night, and am writing a 15 page term paper!! Love to everyone! (i promise i am eating mom)

[Abacobrad]

Ft. Lauderdale has Internet throughout the airport-certainly helps on the layover to ATL. Green Turtle was great this past week. After a crowded and crazy fourth of July- things calmed down to a normal slow and friendly pace. Great to see everyone and can't wait to come back again soon. Susan had a wonderful birthday. In a couple of years I'll have to do T-shirts again...

Brad

[Abacobrad]

My two weeks went in a kalik of an eye! We had some great friends join us and we were able to spend most of our days on the water. It was one of those vacations with lots of guests and entertaining. Everyone chips in for beer and kitchen duty so it never feels like work! We had several dinner parties of 10-15 people and the mix was always fun and eclectic...

Green Turtle sure was busy this year. The fourth of July week actually felt crowded. Its sure nice to visit around town and catch up with everyone and share such a special place with our friends.

As I went through my photos I came across a few others that deserve posting and it is kind of therepy putting a few last pictures up. Susan and the kids flew out this morning and are in route driving up from Florida. SO I've been cleaning house all day...

My best to all our friends and the wonderful people of Abaco!

Pic 1- Pre-snorkle Kalik- the reef off of Pelican Cay is really coming back- lovely young fantail and elkhorn
Pic 2 The Gang at Amergris Sandbar
Pic 3 Strolling the streets of Guana
Pic 4 Natalie- in high style and baiting her own hook!

[Abacobrad]

A few more scenic shots...

1. Sunset with Big Clouds
2. Early morning squall offshore
3. Will's profile in the sun
4. Natalie painting on Ambergris sandbar

Back to cleaning up the house!

Brad

[Myra]

Thanks again Brad. We will be seeing those shots first hand beginning Friday. Glad you trip went well and you were able to spend so much time on the water. I am hoping for the same. Did you rent a boat?

[Abacobrad]

Yes, we rent from Rich's in Treasure Cay. They have several 24' Dusky's with 200 Yamaha on them. Very efficient and seaworthy and good with larger groups. We snorkled, fished and hopped beaches and "only" spent $450 in gas for the two weeks. We did a good amount of running up and down from Ambergris to Guana...

Its also nice to park the boat in front during calm days- but never at night or during rougher weather.

Have a great trip and hope you get some lobsters right out front of Tranquility House!

[Myra]

Thanks Brad. Does Rich's deliver? Where do you dock the boat?
We looked for those lobsters last year but with no luck. Maybe they will be bigger and easier to spot this year.

[Abacobrad]

Its an easy run from Treasure Cay to Green Turtle- just stay wide of Don't Rock coming out of Treasure Cay and then head north. You can see Green Turtle as soon as you get past Don't Rock.

As far as docking. The public dock where the Ferry Drops you- the dock next to Key Lime House is where we leave it. You may want to rent Marcel's Boombastic (17's Whaler for a few days). Wait for the lobster frenzy to die down and then get out there!

Brad

[Myra]

Hey Brad. We have made that Treasure run many times. Benson dock sounds good to me. Very close. Is Bita Bay rented these next few weeks. If so tell you tenants to watch out for their new crazy neighbors.

[Abacobrad]

And leave it to Suzzane to Google Miss Emily's Goombay and come up with a couple of 'close' recipes. Needless to say Violet will never be equaled, but often imiatated!

Bo had the best shirt and made his girl dance! AND He was so busted with all the photos shared with his dropped trousers antics. I wanted to keep the board PG so I have spared you'all that.