We have had a wonderful Christmas in the Bahamas with our many new friends. And, we are very happy to have Jackson back as part of the crew while he visits during his Christmas break from University of Guelph. He will be here to ring in the New Year with us. Yeah!
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23rd to MONDAY, DECEMBER 24th — DAY 124 to 125 (Great Guana Cay to Marsh Harbour)
On Sunday, we head to Great Guana Cay with two other boats, ‘Dawn Treader’ (Dawn and Ron) and ‘Kankita’ (Sharon and Pete) to go to the pig roast at the world-famous Nippers Bar and Grill. We moor Silver Maple in Fisher’s Bay. It’s a popular spot! And, a lovely day and evening.
Lee and Randy at Nippers
Our new friends, Sharon and Pete (from the boat ‘Kankita’) at Nippers
Sunset at Great Guana Cay, with water that looks like liquid metal
Heading back to Marsh Harbour for Christmas
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25th to WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26th — DAY 126 to 127 (Marsh Harbour)
For Christmas we are back at the beautiful Marsh Harbour Marina. We have a quiet day. It’s 80 degrees F. For Christmas dinner, the owners of the marina cook a turkey and all the people on boats bring side dishes for a great pot-luck, Christmas dinner.
Leo opening his Christmas gift
Christmas festivities at the Marsh Harbour Marina
On December 26th (Boxing Day), Jackson arrives! He spends some time resting by the pool and then joins in the sunset conch horn blowing. Great to have him back!
Jackson resting up after trip here
Jackson joins in blowing the conch horn at sunset
It’s a beautiful sunset
Leo with his doggie friends, Lucy and Eli at the sunset conch horn blowing festivities
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27th to FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28th— DAY 128 to 129 (Lynyard Cay and Tahiti Beach)
The next day we head down to one of our favourite places, Lynyard Cay. We anchor with ‘Promises Kept’ (Debbie, Dennis, Tara, Tessa and Eli) for the evening.
The full Silver Maple crew is back together!
Debbie and Dennis (from ‘Promises Kept’) come by for a visit on Silver Maple the evening before they leave for the Exuma Islands
On Friday, Debbie, Dennis and family leave us for the Exuma Islands further south. Very sad to see them go, and we sincerely hope to run into them again during our travels. We head back north with Silver Maple and do some snorkeling at beautiful Pelican Cay on our way to Tahiti Beach.
Jackson snorkeling
Beautiful Pelican Cay
When we arrive in Tahiti Beach, Sharon and Pete on ‘Kankita’ meet us. We go to the Junkanoo parade together at Seaspray, the local marina and restaurant. To get there we have to take the dinghy a mile and a half in the dark. The parade is really fun and colourful.
Junkanoo parade is part of holiday celebration
This young fellow is very good!
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29th to SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30 — DAY 130 to 131 (Hope Town)
On Saturday, we head to Hope Town and leave ‘Kankita.’ Sharon and Pete are heading back to Marsh Harbour for New Years, and we plan to spend it in Hope Town with our friends Ellen and Doug and their daughters, Emma and Sarah, from Southport, SC. They are bringing their boat ‘Trillium’ across to the Bahamas and we are expecting to see them on the 30th, but they show up on Saturday! Great to see them again. Sunday we spend at the beach and relaxing.
Sunrise at Tahiti Beach
‘Trillium’ arrives a day before we expect her and docks next to ‘Silver Maple’ in Hope Town
Jackson with Sarah and Emma at Captain Jack’s for dinner
Another gorgeous Bahamian sunset in Hope Town
Ellen, Doug, Emma and Sarah with Lee and Jackson on the beach near Hope Town
Tomorrow is New Years Eve. We will be celebrating the arrival of 2013 here in Hope Town. Should be fun!
All the best for the coming year to everyone! Cheers!
Silver Maple Blog 
December 31, 2012 at 3:34 pm
thank you for all your great pictures , it is almost like being there HAPPY NEW YEAR
December 31, 2012 at 7:51 pm
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY ALL THE BEST IN 2013. WHAT A LOVELY WAY TO SPEND NEW YEAR EVE’S. THANKS AGAIN FOR THE LOVELY PICTURES ESPECIALLY THE SUNSETS. BEAUTIFUL LOVE JOAN AND JOE.
LOOKING GREAT JACKSON!!