January

I can’t believe I haven’t written since New Years. I’ve taken loads of photos that I hope will become a table top book when we get home. We continue to enjoy the Hopetown Sailing Club activities which include racing and wonderful stand ups. A stand up is the cocktail party on Saturday nights and after racing. The nibbles are wonderful from sushi to incredible assortments of appetizers. I’ve learned several different hot dips (crabmeat is one of my favorites). We have been invited to several members homes that are quite lovely and designed to fit into the colorful environment of beach, sand, water and sun. We have made pizza on the boat for friends and have had sundowner gatherings that usually last from 5-7 and then we are on board for dinner ( of course we are usually not very hungry after drinking a little !!! and eating snacks). We have had evenings where we lit our propane heater but mostly the temperatures are bearable to delightfully warm in the sun. Of course we still feel the effects of winter but I manage to get in the pool for water aerobics 3 mornings during the week.

I surprised my sister by flying in to NY for her 70th birthday. We had a nostalgic dinner at one of my father’s favorite restaurants, the Jolly Fisherman, in Roslyn. Lots of love, laughter and good food. It was a short trip but I loved seeing friends and family. Everyone was so supportive and special thanks to Tony and Nora for nourishing me in both body and mind, the Newgaards who lent me a cellphone, a much needed visit with the Block family and a night out for a wonderful Sushi dinner with Jan. But seeing my little grand-niece was the highlight of the trip. She is adorable and thriving beautifully.
The traveling between NY and the Bahamas was also uneventful but terribly long.

So what have we been doing during the month of January. Well, meeting new people is always at the top of the list. There are so many wonderful, bright, funny, helpful people who live on their boats as well as those that have homes on Elbow Cay. Many who are living on land also have skiffs or some other type of boat to get around the Sea of Abaco. In addition many of the people we have met had boats but have, for many different reasons, ended that part of their life but all love to tell stories of past adventures. We have met people from as far away as Finland and others who have traveled the globe who also regale us with fascinating stories.

We have walked the beaches many times and each time seems so very different depending upon the weather and tides. We have had gorgeous days where we snorkel and kayak and explore. Bill has been called upon for fixing lots of boat stuff as well as helping Brad reattach broken shards of glass as a temporary fix for several windows at the top of the lighthouse.

We gather in groups for meals onshore and just this past Wednesday there were over 25 people from the Sailing Club who ate at the Jib Room for rib night. Bill was very happy with the meal but there was also dancing – check out the photos on the Web Page.

‘Interim’ was the committee boat for the race on Jan. 21. A gorgeous day and the racing was exciting. We also played Trivia at ‘Captain Jack’s’ restaurant with Bill and Di. We were good but didn’t win – there’s always next week!!! And on Jan. 22 I had a wonderful birthday. I was serenaded in the pool by the water aerobic gang, had lobster salad for lunch and went to the Abaco Inn for dinner with Neil and Phyllis.

February is looming as is a gorgeous full moon. We have been invited to a super bowl party, will go on a mini cruise with the Hoptown Sailing Club to Treasure Cay and look forward to a visit with the Goldbergs. Of course every day brings new adventures. Yesterday Bill went out to search for more Conch with our friends on 'ChrisDeke' and he brought in a fabulous shell.

So keep on looking and I'll keep on taking photos and writing in the blog.