Omoo
01-17-2007, 12:56 PM
Monday, January 8, 2007
Left Melbourne airport about 8:15 am. We were the only passengers so the pilots just threw our bags in the back and we took off immediately. The flight was great and we got a good look at Grand Bahama Island as we flew by, we banked around Marsh Harbor on the approach and had an excellent view also. We breezed through customs and walked over to Sea Star Rentals and picked up the car. Karen was a little hungry; we didn’t eat before the flight, so we drove on into Marsh Harbor and had breakfast at Curly Tails, Stew Fish and Johnny Cake. After breakfast it was on to Cherokee Sound were we hung out at the pier for a while. Around lunch time we headed to little Harbor and Pete’s Pub for lunch and Kalik. Checked out the gallery and the lookout over the Atlantic. Since we wanted to be settled into our cottage prior to game time, we broke it off at Pete’s a little earlier than we’d have liked and headed back to Marsh Harbor and Lowtide Cottage. We got to Lowtide and although I had an idea of what to expect, the place blew my expectations away. Located on Eastern Shore with the deck facing south we could see both the sunrise and sunset over the Sea of Abaco from our room. We dropped off the luggage, met Fred and Tammi (who fortunately are Gators) and made a quick trip to Soloman’s for provisions before settling in for the game.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Drove to Green Turtle Ferries and spent the day at New Plymouth. We went to the Albert Lowe Museum first and learned some of New Plymouth’s history. We wandered around visiting the shops, had lunch at Harvey’s and Smashes at Blue Bee Bar where we visited with Violet for a while. We stopped by Sid’s Grocery and bought a loaf of bread (still warm) on the way out. Then it was back to Lowtide where I cooked an anniversary dinner for Karen. After dinner we went to Mangoes for dessert.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Went to Treasure Cay to check out the beach. This did not go well. The temperature was ok but the wind was out of the north at 20 knots. Just before we got to the guard station we saw a sign that said public beach so we turned down one of the worst roads (if you could call it a road) that I’ve seen. After some trepidation we made it to the beach but the wind was so stiff that we turned around. We decided to see if conditions were any better at the windward beach so we drove on into Treasure Cay. We decided not to stick around so headed back to Marsh Harbor and had lunch at Sapadilly’s (I had Dilly Willys and conch chowder; Karen had peas & rice and fried plantains). After lunch we decided to go shopping and Karen’s spirits improved dramatically. I bought a Cohiba. Karen found a really nice sweater and a gold sea horse with its tail wrapped around a conch pearl. Stopped by the fish house and bought a Hog fish for the barbeque. We returned to Lowtide where I made daiquiris, smoked my Cohiba and watched the sunset.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Took a drive down Johnny Cake Lane and stopped at Mermaid reef but did not go in the water. It looked rough and the air temp was only 71 and the wind was still whipping pretty good. Went to Sunset Souvenirs and the Jaimes for lunch (Conch burger). Fred told us the beach to go to at Treasure Cay is the one at the Coco Beach Bar so we headed back to Treasure. Karen was cold and wearing her sweater but the wind and temperature didn’t seem to bother the bikini clad patrons. I can only imagine what the scene must be like during the high season. Good Rum Runners. That evening we headed to Don McKay Blvd. and watched the junior Junkanoo that had been postponed due to weather. Turns out “the” place to go for conch salad is out of the back of this guy’s pickup truck.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Made French toast (using fresh Bahamian bread) for breakfast. Walked down to Albury’s Ferry dock and caught the ferry to Elbow Cay. The Captain was kind enough to drop us at the lighthouse. 101 steps, so not a bad climb, but still a breath taking view. Met Ken and Dale from Minnesota who were touring at the same time and was kind enough to drop us across the harbor in Hope Town. Stopped by Froggies who radioed the Abaco Inn for us to send the van. Lunched on cracked Conch overlooking the Atlantic while drinking Miami Vices. We took the van back to Hope Town and just happened to wander into the annual art festival. Did the sight seeing thing in Hope Town, checked out the beach, and caught the ferry back to Marsh Harbor to get ready for dinner at Wally’s. Dinner was splendid; I drank Wally’s Specials and dined on turtle steak while Karen had chicken stuffed with spinach and cream cheese.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Sunniest and warmest day so far. We spent the day at Lowtide sunbathing and snorkeling (Fred had pointed out the locations of the reefs). The Star Fish are humongous. I found a living Sand Dollar but Karen made me put it back. Saw a ton of fish and sea fans like you just don’t see in the Florida Keys anymore. Grilled my Hog Fish and had it with avocado & cottage cheese. Later in the afternoon we drove into town to pick up some souvenirs.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Caught the ferry to Great Guana Cay. Stopped at Grabbers to try a Grabber before going on to Nippers for the Pig Roast. Grabbers is great and next trip we will certainly plan to spend a couple days there if only to hang at the pool after 10:00 pm. Went snorkeling on the little reef just east of Nippers while Karen sunbathed by Nippers’ pool, it was fabulous. I saw a Sea Turtle (Green I think) and tons of other life. How to describe Nippers? The Pig Roast was phenomenal and sides would almost make you forget the pig. Of course I was drinking Nippers, but not frozen, (starting to get tired of frozen drinks). Pat and Kathy (our waitresses) were great and for being off season there were a lot of people. Of course after lunch I had to get another Cohiba. All in all this was the best day of the trip.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Not much to say in as much as our flight home left at 10:00 am. I do want to thank Fred and Tammi; the proprietors at Lowtide, for the wonderful accommodations and the wealth of insider information that helped make this trip special.
Left Melbourne airport about 8:15 am. We were the only passengers so the pilots just threw our bags in the back and we took off immediately. The flight was great and we got a good look at Grand Bahama Island as we flew by, we banked around Marsh Harbor on the approach and had an excellent view also. We breezed through customs and walked over to Sea Star Rentals and picked up the car. Karen was a little hungry; we didn’t eat before the flight, so we drove on into Marsh Harbor and had breakfast at Curly Tails, Stew Fish and Johnny Cake. After breakfast it was on to Cherokee Sound were we hung out at the pier for a while. Around lunch time we headed to little Harbor and Pete’s Pub for lunch and Kalik. Checked out the gallery and the lookout over the Atlantic. Since we wanted to be settled into our cottage prior to game time, we broke it off at Pete’s a little earlier than we’d have liked and headed back to Marsh Harbor and Lowtide Cottage. We got to Lowtide and although I had an idea of what to expect, the place blew my expectations away. Located on Eastern Shore with the deck facing south we could see both the sunrise and sunset over the Sea of Abaco from our room. We dropped off the luggage, met Fred and Tammi (who fortunately are Gators) and made a quick trip to Soloman’s for provisions before settling in for the game.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Drove to Green Turtle Ferries and spent the day at New Plymouth. We went to the Albert Lowe Museum first and learned some of New Plymouth’s history. We wandered around visiting the shops, had lunch at Harvey’s and Smashes at Blue Bee Bar where we visited with Violet for a while. We stopped by Sid’s Grocery and bought a loaf of bread (still warm) on the way out. Then it was back to Lowtide where I cooked an anniversary dinner for Karen. After dinner we went to Mangoes for dessert.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Went to Treasure Cay to check out the beach. This did not go well. The temperature was ok but the wind was out of the north at 20 knots. Just before we got to the guard station we saw a sign that said public beach so we turned down one of the worst roads (if you could call it a road) that I’ve seen. After some trepidation we made it to the beach but the wind was so stiff that we turned around. We decided to see if conditions were any better at the windward beach so we drove on into Treasure Cay. We decided not to stick around so headed back to Marsh Harbor and had lunch at Sapadilly’s (I had Dilly Willys and conch chowder; Karen had peas & rice and fried plantains). After lunch we decided to go shopping and Karen’s spirits improved dramatically. I bought a Cohiba. Karen found a really nice sweater and a gold sea horse with its tail wrapped around a conch pearl. Stopped by the fish house and bought a Hog fish for the barbeque. We returned to Lowtide where I made daiquiris, smoked my Cohiba and watched the sunset.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Took a drive down Johnny Cake Lane and stopped at Mermaid reef but did not go in the water. It looked rough and the air temp was only 71 and the wind was still whipping pretty good. Went to Sunset Souvenirs and the Jaimes for lunch (Conch burger). Fred told us the beach to go to at Treasure Cay is the one at the Coco Beach Bar so we headed back to Treasure. Karen was cold and wearing her sweater but the wind and temperature didn’t seem to bother the bikini clad patrons. I can only imagine what the scene must be like during the high season. Good Rum Runners. That evening we headed to Don McKay Blvd. and watched the junior Junkanoo that had been postponed due to weather. Turns out “the” place to go for conch salad is out of the back of this guy’s pickup truck.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Made French toast (using fresh Bahamian bread) for breakfast. Walked down to Albury’s Ferry dock and caught the ferry to Elbow Cay. The Captain was kind enough to drop us at the lighthouse. 101 steps, so not a bad climb, but still a breath taking view. Met Ken and Dale from Minnesota who were touring at the same time and was kind enough to drop us across the harbor in Hope Town. Stopped by Froggies who radioed the Abaco Inn for us to send the van. Lunched on cracked Conch overlooking the Atlantic while drinking Miami Vices. We took the van back to Hope Town and just happened to wander into the annual art festival. Did the sight seeing thing in Hope Town, checked out the beach, and caught the ferry back to Marsh Harbor to get ready for dinner at Wally’s. Dinner was splendid; I drank Wally’s Specials and dined on turtle steak while Karen had chicken stuffed with spinach and cream cheese.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Sunniest and warmest day so far. We spent the day at Lowtide sunbathing and snorkeling (Fred had pointed out the locations of the reefs). The Star Fish are humongous. I found a living Sand Dollar but Karen made me put it back. Saw a ton of fish and sea fans like you just don’t see in the Florida Keys anymore. Grilled my Hog Fish and had it with avocado & cottage cheese. Later in the afternoon we drove into town to pick up some souvenirs.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Caught the ferry to Great Guana Cay. Stopped at Grabbers to try a Grabber before going on to Nippers for the Pig Roast. Grabbers is great and next trip we will certainly plan to spend a couple days there if only to hang at the pool after 10:00 pm. Went snorkeling on the little reef just east of Nippers while Karen sunbathed by Nippers’ pool, it was fabulous. I saw a Sea Turtle (Green I think) and tons of other life. How to describe Nippers? The Pig Roast was phenomenal and sides would almost make you forget the pig. Of course I was drinking Nippers, but not frozen, (starting to get tired of frozen drinks). Pat and Kathy (our waitresses) were great and for being off season there were a lot of people. Of course after lunch I had to get another Cohiba. All in all this was the best day of the trip.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Not much to say in as much as our flight home left at 10:00 am. I do want to thank Fred and Tammi; the proprietors at Lowtide, for the wonderful accommodations and the wealth of insider information that helped make this trip special.