Silver Maple Blog

Friday, March 17th to Friday, March 31st, 2017

Our last few weeks here in the Bahamas have been busy, busy, busy. Well, okay, not really. Its still pretty low key and laid back. Who are we kidding!

The weather gets nice so we head to Great Guana Cay and the Nipper’s Bar for St. Patrick’s Day Barefoot Man concert. The Barefoot Man is kind of the Bahamas’ answer to Jimmy Buffet. The concert is a lot of fun. We dance and meet up with boat friends from Hope Town and Marsh Harbour.

Sails are up as we head to Great Guana Cay for the St. Patrick’s Day Barefoot Man concert at Nippers

Barefoot Man concert in a great setting

Our friend Sharon (boat Emerald Lady) having a blast at the Barefoot Man concert

Sunrise over Silver Maple in Fisher’s Bay at Great Guana Cay, Bahamas

Then, a few days later Jackson arrives! We have two great days of weather, so we take off to visit Lynyard Cay and anchor there. In the afternoon we go via dinghy to Little Harbour to visit Pete’s Pub. It is a beautiful day! Afterwards we take a swim at the beach and enjoy a gorgeous evening.

Jackson arrives!! Woohoo!

Heading to Lynyard Cay, Bahamas

Jackson enjoying the ride

Silver Maple has her full crew back together!

Parking at Pete’s Pub

Bellying up to the bar

Randy and Jackson enjoying the Pete’s Pub signature drink, the Blaster

Lee and Jackson at Pete’s Pub over looking Little Harbour

View of Little Harbour from Pete’s Pub

Randy and Jackson going for a swim on the beach at Lynyard Cay with forest fires burning on the horizon

Beautiful sunset at Lynyard Cay thanks to those nearby forest fires

The next day, we take the dinghy in search of the Abaco blue holes that are said to be nearby. After some searching, we finally find them. The mangrove lagoon is less than 2 feet deep until you reach the holes then it drops away into darkness. Apparently they connect to the ocean which is about two miles away. Divers have died trying to explore the underwater caves and a memorial is located on shore.

The Lynyard Cay anchorage in the morning

Randy pulling us in the dinghy into the lagoon to search for the blue holes. The entrance is too shallow for the motor.

Lots of turtles in the water

A blue hole!

Cruising the lagoon around a blue hole

Memorial on shore to divers who died exploring the Abaco blue holes

Chilling on our way back to Hope Town. It is too calm to sail. Boo!

Still gorgeous!

Clear Bahamian waters where you can see a star fish at a depth of 15ft

When we get back to Hope Town, the weather turns ugly for the rest of Jackson’s visit, so once again we are stuck at the dock in high winds and intermittent rain. Regardless, we keep busy playing games, biking and catching a few rays at the pool when the sun shows its face.

Back in Hope Town!

Out for dinner at our favourite pizza place in Hope Town called Sip Sip

Stopping to enjoy the view while on a bike ride around Elbow Cay, Bahamas

Lunch break from our bike ride at On Da Beach restaurant

After our bike ride waiting on the dock for our shuttle ride back to the marina

Jackson boarding the ferry to Marsh Harbour to catch his flight. Bye!

And then when Jackson is gone, the weather turns lovely again. Of course! And, it is time to start heading back north to prepare to put Silver Maple to bed for another season and head home, but since the weather is so nice we make a couple of stops along the way. Our friends, Joanne and Toby on their boat Comocean join us on the trip as far as Great Guana’s Fisher’s Bay where we anchor for the night before heading out to do the Whale Cay ocean crossing. Then, we have a lovely night at Manjack and arrive safe and sound at Green Turtle Cay.

Silver Maple on the way to Great Guana Cay. Photo courtesy of Comocean.

Captain gets the big sail out!

Nice to see the gennaker up! It does not happen very often.

Silver Maple looking colourful! Photo courtesy of Comocean.

Heading off towards the Whale Cay ocean passage on a beautiful day

Silver Maple anchored at Manjack Cay

Sunset and moon rise at Manjack Cay

Silver Maple safe and sound on the dock at the Green Turtle Club on Green Turtle Cay

View of sunset off the back of Silver Maple on the dock at the Green Turtle Club

Silver Maple gets pulled out of the water next week and put into storage for another season. Lots of chores to be done to get it ready before then, so it will be a busy week. Its very sad to have another season of sailing wrap up, but we are ready to go home.

Friday, February 24th to Monday, March 16th, 2017

Well, the theme of this year on the boat has been relaxing and hanging out since that is pretty much all we have done. Last week, our friends Ruth and Bruce from Canada came to visit. They are recently retired and have been staying in Florida, so they took the short flight over from there for a few days. So great to have them here!! Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate so we were on the dock most of the visit.

The day before Ruth and Bruce arrive, we take Silver Maple over to Marsh Harbour to meet them. When they get in we chill by the pool and then go to Rib Night at the Jib Room Restaurant at the Marsh Harbour Marina. Afterwards, its dancing and limbo party!

Silver Maple settled at the beautiful Marsh Harbour Marina and Jib Room Restaurant awaiting Ruth and Bruce’s arrival

Relaxing by the pool with Ruth and Bruce after they arrive

Amazing Limbo by Desmond at the Jib Room

Ruth and Lee dancing up a storm at the Jib Room

The next day we hit the water! Its is a perfect day for a sail. We head back to Hope Town because unfortunately, bad weather is moving in and we need to get tied back up to a dock. In Hope Town we show Ruth and Bruce all the sites and play lots of games when the weather is bad.

Captain Randy and Bruce enjoying a perfect day for sailing

Thumbs up from the new sailor. She loves it!

Randy and Bruce checking out the sails

Ruth getting salty

Arriving in Hope Town Harbour

The lovely Hope Town Harbour at Sunset

We head over and climb the Hope Town lighthouse, the only kerosene burning lighthouse left in the world

View of the Hope Town Harbour from the top of the lighthouse

This guy wakes us up VERY early every morning with his crowing. Ugh!

Ruth chases the rooster down as payback for the early morning wake up calls

Ruth at the Hope Town Inn and Marina

We stop for a beverage while out for a bicycle ride on Elbow Cay

Heading out for dinner on a cool evening in Hope Town

Sunrise over Silver Maple at the Hope Town Inn and Marina

Bruce playing Bocce ball with Randy, Ron (Legacy) and Brian (Miss Informed)

Ruth and Lee playing Mahjong with Linda (Fortnight) on a rainy afternoon

Ruth and Bruce heading out to catch the ferry back to Marsh Harbour for their flight back to Florida. Bye!

The day Bruce and Ruth leave the weather turn nice again. Of course! So, we head out for a few days of sailing and anchoring at some of our favourite spots: Tahiti Beach and Lynyard Cay. Shortly after we arrive and anchor at Tahiti Beach, our friends Sharon and Pete arrive on their boat, Emerald Lady. So great to seem them and what a nice surprise! We go for lunch together at Cracker P’s, a bar on a nearby island. In the evening, we meet on Emerald Lady for cocktails and games. Great to be with our old friends!

Heading towards Tahiti Beach

Captain loves to be on the water!

Lunch at Cracker P’s with Sharon and Pete (Emerald Lady)

Lovely view from Cracker P’s at lunchtime

Sharon and Pete (Emerald Lady) at Cracker P’s

Sharon and Pete (Emerald Lady) in their dinghy heading back to our boats after lunch

Moon over Tahiti Beach

The next morning we head to Lynyard Cay. It is dead calm and the weather is supposed to be perfect all day. The weather man neglected to inform mother nature of that though, so when we arrive at the anchorage and a unexpected squall blows in. We anchor in 24 knot winds. Crazy!

Anchor up and heading to Lynyard Cay on a beautiful day

The calm before the storm…

After the rain passes, we go to the beach for a walk and a swim. It is a lovely day on the boat. We head back to Hope Town the next day and we’ve been being dock potatoes since then.

Randy walking the beach at Lynyard Cay

Randy swimming at Lynyard with Silver Maple anchored in the background

Sunset over Little Harbour from Lynyard Cay

Last night we had a Jack and Jill wedding shower for our friends, Cassie and Brian (Miss Informed). They were very surprised. And, since the season is wrapping up it was one of our final ‘get-togethers’ before folks start to head home. What a great group of people and wonderful friends we have met this year.

Sunset over the Hope Town Marina taken from the back of Silver Maple

Surprising Cassie and Brian (Miss Informed)

Toasting to a life of love, happiness and fair winds…

The happy couple!

Great group of fantastic people!

Brian and Cassie (Miss Informed) enjoying the party

Such fun friends! (from the left) Cassie from Ancaster, ON (Miss Informed), John from Halifax, NS (PrimeraVista), Thomas from Peterborough, ON (Hope), Lee from Boston, MA (Shalaylee), Brian from Michigan (Miss Informed), Lee, Randy and Sheryl from Boston, MA (Shalaylee)

We are now looking forward to Jackson’s arrival next week for a visit. Woohoo! Fingers crossed the weather will cooperate.

Friday, February 10th to Thursday, February 23rd, 2017

When we arrive in Hope Town we spend some time getting back into the Bahamian pace of life… slow! And now that Randy is fully recovered from his cold, we head back out on the water. Woohoo!

We have a great trip over to Great Guana Cay and spend the day strolling on the beach with a stop for lunch at Nippers. Fisher’s Bay at Great Guana Cay is one of our favourite places to spend a quiet day and evening. It is just beautiful.

Silver Maple moored in Fisher’s Bay, Great Guana Cay, Bahamas

Leaving Silver Maple in the dingy and heading to shore for a walk-about

Grabbers Pub on the shore at Fisher’s Bay, Great Guana Cay

Lee on the beach in front of Nipper’s Bar and Grill

Lunch at Nippers

Full moon over Great Guana Cay at Fisher’s Bay anchorage

Morning in Fisher’s Bay with full moon still in the sky

After a day at Guana Cay, we head over to Tahiti Beach just off Elbow Cay. It is another gorgeous day. We walk the beach near Sea Spray Resort and have lunch in the new restaurant at the resort.

Back on the water on our way to Tahiti Beach

Beautiful clear water of the sea of Abaco

Captain checking the anchor is well set

Sunset while anchored off Tahiti Beach on Elbow Cay, Bahamas

A few days later when we are back in Hope Town, it is the annual Hope Town Songwriter’s Festival which hosts the writers of some of country music’s most popular songs. They tell the stories of how the songs originated and play some great music. Fun even for non-country music fans!

Fun group of friends enjoying the cool evening at the Hope Town Songwriters Festival at the Hope Town Inn and Marina

Great music… even for non-country music fans!

Lee and Randy at the Songwriters Festival

This month we also attend the Man-O-War Flee Market which is a big fundraiser for the community of this small island. We take the dingy over. It is a four and a half mile trip and a bit rough. Unfortunately, on the trip back it is even worse. Couple of sore butts for a few days after that trip!

Entering Man-O-War Cay harbour in our dingy

Dingy parking at the Man-O-War Flee Market

Gorgeous day at the Man-O-War Flee Market

Sunrise over the Hope Town Inn and Marina. Photo taken from the back of Silver Maple.

Back in Hope Town, life is good and the weather is fine. Our friends Ruth and Bruce arrive next week to spend a week enjoying the islands with us. Looking forward to that! Stay safe and stay warm everyone!

Sunday, January 21st to Friday, February 9th, 2017

Well, its been a challenging few weeks since we arrived, but we are back on the boat and happy to be here. Nothing serious, just viruses and weather to contend with as well as things on the boat to be repaired.

Lee is sick with the flu before we even leave for the Bahamas and within hours of arriving, Randy comes down with a bad cold too. Nonetheless, we manage to get the boat prepped and into the water. While we are working on the boat we stay in a cute cottage on the ocean called ‘The House on the Point’. Very rustic, but very nice.

Our rental cottage called ‘The House on the Point’ where we are staying while prepping the boat in Green Turtle Cay

View from ‘The House on the Point’

Our wheels while in Green Turtle. Golf carts are the main mode of transportation here.

We spend three days cleaning and putting things together to launch on the Monday, but unfortunately, the weather turns bad and a storm front moves through the Green Turtle area just as we are scheduled to launch. Our Launch is moved to Tuesday and even then, the winds are pretty high. Once Silver Maple is in the water, Randy tries to fire-up the engine. Nothing. Dead battery. The bow-thruster battery is dead too so both are replaced. And, the winds are so high that we don’t move beyond the wall where they put us in the water. We just tie Silver Maple on and spend the night right there.

Silver Maple being moving to the launch area

Lowering her in

Back in the water! Woohoo!

The next day, the winds are calmer so we head over to the Green Turtle Club in White Sound, the next sound over. We spend the day doing final prep and putting sails up.

Captain is under the weather but glad to be back on the water

Silver Maple safe and sound at the Green Turtle Club

In the morning, we are up early and on the water to do the short ocean crossing through the Whale Cay passage and into the Sea of Abaco. It is a beautiful morning and we have a great sail over to Marsh Harbour where we spend the rest of the day provisioning and stocking the boat with essentials like wine and groceries.

Heading out towards the Whale Cay passage on a beautiful morning

The captain at the helm

Good to be sailing again

Waves hitting Whale Cay as we pass by

Making great time and doing well over 7 knots most of the way to Marsh Harbour

Gorgeous day!

Sunset over Marsh Harbour

Out for dinner at Curly Tails in Marsh Harbour

In the morning, we are off to Hope Town. Randy is still sick so we lie low once we arrive until he gets his health back on track. To make things worse, on the day we arrive, the marina has a power surge and our battery charger blows. Ugh! That was over two weeks ago and Randy has spent every day since trying to arrange to have a new one shipped to us here in the Bahamas. The good news is that it appears to be close now. Last we heard Fedex has it in Nassau. Fingers crossed we will see it next week.

Silver Maple in her slip on the dock at the Hope Town Inn and Marina (in front of Hope)

The beautiful Hope Town Inn and Marina

The flowers are blooming in Hope Town

The first day Randy is feeling up to venturing far from the boat we take the dingy over to Cracker P’s for lunch

Securing the dingy at Tahiti beach for a beach walk after lunch.

Beautiful Tahiti Beach

Lovely Hope Town Harbour

Silver Maple at sunrise at the Hope Town Inn and Marina

It seems that we have been tied to the dock in Hope Town forever, but now that Randy is feeling back to normal, we are planning to take off tomorrow and get back out on the water. Yeah!

January 19th to 20th, 2017

We made it! Sounds easy enough, but our trip to the Bahamas from Toronto wasn’t quite as smooth this year as it has been other years. It started with freezing rain the night before our two hour drive to the Toronto airport. Then, our flight is delayed leaving Toronto. We arrive in Newark in time to catch our connecting flight to Ft. Lauderdale. Whew! Oh, that flight is also delayed for over two hours. When we finally land in Ft. Lauderdale after midnight we find that our hotel reservation has been cancelled. Not surprising that hotels in Ft. Lauderdale in January are pretty much all full. So, we end up in a nasty hotel — and I mean nasty — and manage to get a little sleep before heading back to the airport for our flight to Treasure Cay. And you’ll never guess…yes, delayed too!

When we finally do arrive in the Bahamas, we are exhausted and both of us are sick. But, life gets SO much better. People are smiling. Sun is shining. You can’t help but feel better.

Islands come into view from the plane. Yeah!

On the ferry dock with all of our gear

First view of Green Turtle Cay from the ferry

Happy to be here after a challenging trip

We are now settling in and adjusting to ‘island time’ in this beautiful place. The place we are staying while we prepare the boat for launch is a cute little cabin on the beach. In our spare time, we are enjoying New Plymouth and Green Turtle Cay, as we always do!!

On the beach in front of the cabin we are renting while we prepare Silver Maple for launch and so happy to be back.

Silver Maple is looking good! Just a few days of work and she will be back in the water.

Dinner at Harvey’s in New Plymouth. Great food and friendly people.

During the day while we are here, we are on the boat cleaning and putting things back together. Silver Maple’s launch is scheduled for Monday, but right now the forecast is for heavy winds and thunderstorms so we may get postponed. Fingers crossed!

Saturday, February 6th to Sunday, February 28th, 2016

We spend the first couple of weeks of February at the Green Turtle Club on the Bahamas’ Green Turtle Cay preparing for Silver Maple’s haul-out scheduled for February 8th. Lots of work to do like taking down and folding the sail (jib), waxing, oil changes and cleaning. Unfortunately, the weather doesn’t cooperate much and we are fighting high winds to get things done. Thankfully, on Monday, February 8th, the sun is out and the winds have died down. It is the perfect day for pulling Silver Maple out of the water and ‘putting her on the hard’ for the season.

Dinner at the Green Turtle Club restaurant after a day of working on the boat.

Our favourite hostess at the Green Turtle Club restaurant. She remembers us every year and seats us at the same table. We are regulars!

Getting ready for haul-out.

Lifting Silver Maple out of the water at Abaco Yacht Services on Green Turtle Cay.

Cleaning and moving Silver Maple to her storage place.

When the boat is settled in the storage yard, we move into our usual apartment for three nights in New Plymouth while we finish up getting her ready for storage. All goes well and we are finished all the storage prep work with a day to spare.

View of sunrise from our apartment in the town of New Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay.

Captain coming out for the last time this season.

Silver Maple is put to bed for this year.

On February 11th, we fly home with an over night lay-over in Chicago. When we get home it is really cold, but it is still nice to be back.

Home sweet home!

The lake is well frozen now.

What?!! Okay, that is cold!

It doesn’t take much of the cold Canadian winter to move us on to our next adventure. We hit the road after two days at home and start on our five day drive to Scottsdale, Arizona. We stop along the way to break up the trip for a visit with our friends, Stacia, Paul and their kids, Celia and Andrew in Ann Arbor, and then again for a few days skiing in Breckenridge, Colorado. Jackson and his girlfriend, Laura, fly down and join us. We have perfect skiing weather — sunny and not too cold.

Laura, Jackson and Lee on hill in Breckenridge, CO.

Out for Mexican food in Breckenridge with Laura and Jackson.

Driving in New Mexico…nice!

When we arrive in Scottsdale on February 24th it is 80 degrees F and lovely. Good to be back and we are still recovering from all the travel with lots of down time at the pool.

Recuperating by the pool in Scottsdale. Good to be back in warm weather. It is 80 degrees F. today.

That wraps up the blogging for this season. Have a great year everyone! Cheers!

With love — Lee and Randy

Sunday, January 17th to Friday, February 5th, 2016

Even though the weather has been mixed this year, it has been a really great trip. We have met lots of fun new people and reconnected with wonderful old friends. And, since the weather rarely has been nice for two days in a row, we fully embraced the ‘dock potato’ label. Silver Maple will definitely need a bottom cleaning job done when she gets pulled out of the water this year. No doubt there is plenty of plant growth on the hull from sitting in one place so long.

Silver Maple at sunrise on the dock at Hope Town Inn and Marina.

Cocktail night with great friends, Pam and Ron (Legacy), Cass and Brian (Miss Informed), Vince (Fortnight). Photo courtesy of Mandalay.

Flowers always seem to be in bloom in the Bahamas.

Silver Maple on the dock for another sunrise.

As usual, the weather in January and February is a bit cool, but we bundle up and get out and about to the beach and bicycling. There never seems to be a lack of things to do.

Heading out to an afternoon at Lubber’s Landing and Tahiti Beach.

Cass and Brian playing ‘ring-toss’ at Lubber’s Landing. Free tequila shot if you hook the ring!

A winner!

Ron (Legacy) gives it a try and wins too!

Another winner! Woohoo!

Fun at Lubber’s Landing. Cass prepares to do her tequila shot prize.

Lee and Missie (Tenacious) with her dog, Lovie.

Warmth on the beach! Randy with Cass (Miss Informed) and Pam (Legacy).

Randy with John (Tenacious) playing Frisbee on the beach.

Group enjoying the day on the beach while Lovey tries to dig to China.

On Tahiti Beach.

Debra (Mandalay) waiting for the shuttle back to the marina after a walk on the beach in Hope Town.

Heron walking the shore in Hope Town.

Hope Town harbour as the sailboat ‘Abaco Rage’ returns from winning the local sailing race.

Bicycling to White Sound on Elbow Cay with our good friends John and Debra (Mandalay). Photo courtesy of Mandalay.

Lunch on our bicycle trip at the Abaco Inn with Debra and John (Mandalay).

Bahamian Lime Pie complete with meringue and whip cream at the Abaco Inn.

Lunch on our last day in Hope Town with Debra and John (Mandalay) and Gloria and Jim (Jimandi).

Last chance for Randy’s favourite burger in the Bahamas at the Hope Town Inn and Marina.

Great group of new friends on Miss Informed on our last day in Hope Town.

On Saturday, January 30th, we leave Hope Town for the journey to Green Turtle Cay. Yes, the season is coming to an end again.

Back on the water again! Woohoo!

On our way towards Green Turtle Cay leaving Hope Town and the lighthouse in the distance.

Silver Maple safe and sound at the Green Turtle Club.

Green Turtle Club looking lovely on a calm morning.

Out for a ride in the dinghy to take a break from chores, we find some dolphins feeding and playing.

Hard to catch with the camera, but we love these guys. In her next life Lee wants to come back as a dolphin.

Heron watches over our boat from the other side of the dock every morning.

We will spend two weeks on Green Turtle wrapping things up and getting Silver Maple put away for the season. Haul-out is Monday morning, weather permitting. Very sad but looking forward to being back home.

Friday, December 25th to Saturday, January 16, 2016

Having Christmas back in Canada in December was great, so it might be something we consider for Christmas 2016 also. Christmas day at home is more like a cool fall day in October than Christmas. Crazy weather!  But by the next day (Boxing Day), the snow comes, and from what we’ve heard… it hasn’t left since.

Christmas morning with Jackson. Leo enjoying his new raccoon toy.

Jackson and Randy outside on Christmas Day trying out our new lawn game called Mölkky.

Leo having fun in the fresh new snow.

Now it looks like Christmas! Just a day late…

On January 7th, we arrive back in the Bahamas. It is good to be back (again!). And, the weather is lovely. Apparently they had some stormy weather the day before we arrive, but when we get to the boat, it is paradise. Shortly after we arrive, Lee is walking on the deck and runs into Debra and John from Annapolis, MD on Mandalay. They have just arrived after doing Gulf Stream crossing from Florida in the last few days. They made it! We met them in Hope Town two years ago and have stayed in touch since. Great to see them again!

The morning after we arrive the sky is pink around the Hope Town lighthouse.

Silver Maple on the dock at sunrise.

Quite a few of the boaters went home for the holidays, so it is a nice reunion getting back. Although it seems to rain every other day, we manage to get out and about for beach walks and patio time.

The group at Lubbers Landing: Cassy, Brian and his parents who are visiting from Michigan (Miss Informed), Missy and John (Tenacious) with Randy.

Cassy (Miss Informed) and Missy (Tenacious) walking along the beach after lunch and our favourite margaritas at Lubbers Landing.

Randy enjoying the beach.

Freshly varnished wood in Silver Maples cockpit. Nice!

We catch a ride with Missy and John (Tenacious) in their fishing boat in Marsh Harbour along with Cassy (and Brian not in the picture) from Miss Informed.

Lunch at Curly Tails in Marsh Harbour with our good friends Carolyn and Peter (Summer Tilt).

Unfortunately, the weather hasn’t been good enough to take Silver Maple off the dock since we’ve been back, but hopefully soon. Apparently tomorrow we are going to get 30 – 40 knot winds so no plans to go anywhere. We will be staying put and holding on to our hats!  Take care, everyone… and stay warm!

Wednesday, December 16 to Thursday, December 24, 2015

Before we head home for Christmas, we organize a holiday cocktail hour and potluck with the other boaters, and we get out for one more snorkeling trip with Brian and Cassy (Miss Informed). In the morning, we take the dinghies just outside of the Hope Town harbour where the Sea of Abaco meets the ocean. Great snorkeling! There is some nice coral there and lots of fish. Lovely!

Hope Town is decked out for the holidays! Photo by Miss Informed.

Silver Maple with her Christmas lights on.

Cocktail hour with other boaters at the Hope Town Inn and Marina.

Brian and Randy swimming above the reef. Photo courtesy of Miss Informed.

Beautiful coral and fish snorkeling just outside the Hope Town harbour. Photo taken by Miss Informed.

Our ferry ready to leave Hope Town for Marsh Harbour. From there we take a taxi to Treasure Cay Airport to catch our flight to Ft. Lauderdale.

Randy on the ferry and ready to go!

The bar at the Treasure Cay Airport must be one of the best airport bars in the world.

When we arrive home in Canada, we have a snowy drive home. Normally, this isn’t anything to write about, but this year everyone had been telling us how warm its been and that there was no snow. We think they were pulling our leg!!

Snowy drive home when we reach Canada.

What we wake up to the morning after we arrive.

Leo loves the snow and is happy to be home.

Lake looks cold, but not frozen over. Very unusual.

We are all ready for Christmas!

Leo wants to open his presents now!

Since we’ve been home, we have had lots of rain so the snow is all gone. Today, Christmas Eve, it is sunny and warm. Randy and Jackson took Leo out for a hike through the bush for an hour. Definitely the nicest Christmas Eve weather any of us can remember.

Merry Christmas to all and all the best in 2016!   Cheers!

Monday, December 7th, 2015 to Tuesday, December 15th, 2015

To say we are tired of the rain would be an understatement. Some days it rains all day, and on others it comes and goes. It always seems to be around, so everything is always wet. Until today!  Today feels like the first day without rain in weeks. And, it was a beautiful sunny day in the 80s. Gorgeous! Great for getting things dried out.

Regardless of the rain the last few weeks, we get out and about and enjoy ourselves. The Hope Town Song Writer’s Festival event at the Hope Town Marina was very lucky and manages to take place during a few hours of dry weather without howling winds. And, the next morning the sunrise is breathtaking.

Hope Town Music Festival was really good!

Performers are the writers of many of the current hit country songs.

Our table at the festival’s Hope Town Marina event, from left to right, Randy, Cassy and Brian (Miss Informed), Susan and Brian (Good Morning Vietnam), and Lee.

Sunrise over Hope Town harbour the day following the Song Writers concert.

Beautiful sunrise deserves two photos.

On Thursday the rains stop in the morning, so we take the opportunity to sneak out of Hope Town and head down to Lynyard Cay. We anchor there and dinghy in to see Pete’s Pub in Little Harbour. Unfortunately, Silver Maple needs more depth than what this harbour offers, so we can’t bring her in. Pete’s Pub is a cute beach bar with sand floor and picnic tables. Next door they have a great art gallery displaying bronze sculptures made at the on the premises foundry. We eat lunch at the bar, visit the gallery, explore the ocean side beach, and tour the harbour.

Calm day heading to Lynyard Cay to visit Pete’s Pub.

Water so clear you can see starfish on the bottom at 15 feet. Amazing!

Sails up but not much wind.

First Mate enjoying the view.

Randy on the dock heading towards Pete’s Pub.

Dinghies parked at the Pete’s Pub dock. The transportation we all use from our boats at anchor.

Lee and Randy with Cassy and Brian (Miss Informed) at Pete’s Pub.

Pete’s Pub is a funky, fun place.

Lee and Randy at Pete’s Pub. Photo courtesy of Miss Informed.

Needles are washing up on the shore around the Abaco Islands from the debris of the El Faro container ship disaster. Photo courtesy of Miss Informed.

The guys examine an interesting beach find. Photo courtesy of Miss Informed.

Foam and metal from a container of El Faro, the ship that sank during hurricane Joaquin. Photo courtesy of Miss Informed.

Lee and Randy exploring Little Harbour where Pete’s Pub is located. Photo courtesy of Miss Informed.

The caves in Little Harbour. Apparently the first settlers to this area lived in these until they were able to build other shelter.

The next day, it is pouring rain when we wake up. To be expected these days. Thankfully, it stops in a couple of hours so we head to Snake Cay to explore the mangrove waterways and do some snorkeling. It is overcast, but trying hard to clear. Bad weather with very high winds are forecast for the next day, so our plan is to get back to Hope Town before night fall. We have a great day and see an amazing amount of sea life.

On our way from Lynyard Cay to Snake Cay. Wind on the nose, so no sailing. Boo! Photo courtesy of Miss Informed.

Lee and Randy enjoying the trip. Photo taken by Miss Informed.

Exploring the Snake Cay mangrove waterways required constant checking of the depth with the hand held depth meter, as well as a map so we didn’t get lost.

The mangroves have lots of roots and are able to survive in salt water. They make great homes for wildlife and apparently help to clean the water.

Lee and Randy exploring the mangrove waterways at Snake Cay before we jump in for some snorkeling. Photo taken by Miss Informed.

The waters behind Snake Cay are full of turtles. They swim really fast, but Lee managed to catch a photo of this guy.

We see Eagle Rays where we are snorkeling. Beautiful! Photo taken by Miss Informed.

Back in Hope Town, it is a rainy weekend but thankfully the sun has now finally won out, so we are enjoying a few days of some good weather before we head home.

Finally, a day of nice weather in Hope Town.

The Hope Town lighthouse is decked out for the holidays.

Randy out cleaning Silver Maple now that the weather is nice. Always lots of work to be done!

We leave on Friday for Canada for the holidays. Really looking forward to seeing Jackson, Leo and the house again.