Wednesday morning, 17th.

Just back from a long beach walk.
Elbow Cay is a long, skinny spit of land, set, like all of the Bahamas in the Atlantic Ocean. That was a surprise to me, I'd always thought it was the Caribbean. But no, the Atlantic.
Wihch would in a way explain the topography of the water surrounding us.
There is the Sea of Abaco side, relatively calm and shallow, mostly a sandy bottom with large expanses of coral, all easily viewed from over the side of a boat. One of the best diving spots in the world.
The Atlantic side is a completely different kettle of fish. Always a swell, sometimes really rough, breakers rolling in constantly, and reefs out from shore as far as you can see. Not ideal for boating, and many a vessel has come to grief.
But beaches . . . miles of them, great for walking, for a pedicure, or simply finding a spot out of the wind to contemplate life. Where else in the world can you do this . . .

If you happen to be a wind surfer, like our neighbour and owner of the house we're renting, there's no chance of a collision. He has the surf all to himself.

I'm guessing this is the kind of sport a certain nephew of ours would revel in . . . .

A couple of cool days . . . .

The last couple of days have seen a cold front blow through, and blow it did. Not so conducive for beach walking or sunbathing . . well, there was none.
But it seems to have blown itself out, and the weekend promises to be back up into the 20s.
Down to minus 20 tomorrow back home, so we hear . . .

day's end

I guess it's only when you have a broad horizon, no light pollution, clean air and a sufficiently uncluttered mind to indulge in the overwhelming pleasure of the end of the day.
This island treats us to a different sundown every evening, today being particularly spectacular, from our veranda overlooking the harbour. Makes one ponder just how lucky we are to be on this earth, and share in its magic.

Almost Biblical.

'til the going down of the sun . . . .

a 'cold front' moves in

7 Feb 2016

don't forget to click on the pix for larger images

Well, a big change in climate today, as a cold front moves across the islands, bringing high winds overnight, heavy rain squalls and a 10 degree drop in temperature. But then, as we like to say, we didn't come for the weather . . . . hmmm

Still, brightened up enough after lunch to take a stroll around the town.

Looking back, you can just see the widows-walk of Summer Magic emerging from the tree tops.

A short cut through to the ocean side, and despite the blow, a spectacular stretch of sun kissed sand.

The odd reminder of Abacos Colonial settlers' roots, and miles of unsullied beach. Surely one of the reasons to keep coming back. Apart from the incessant sound of the surf, peace and quiet.

And no thoughts of voodoo . . . .

Up through the hole . . .

4th Feb.

We explored a little more of our accommodation yesterday afternoon. Newer houses on Elbow Cay tend to be built upside down to ours back home. Here, bedrooms and bathrooms are on the ground floor, with kitchen and living room on the second storey.
Summer Magic, the name of the house we’re staying at, has an additional floor, an attic overlooking the second storey living room.
The attic is accessed by a ladder, a space saving device, set against the wall. To reach the attic you must climb through a hatchway.



Once in the attic, a delightful hide-away, you discover a further ladder, this one leading to a hatch in the roof.



Emerging through the hatch, you're suddenly on top of the world.



The house is constructed with a widows-walk crowning the roof, allowing a spectacular panoramic view of Hope town, the harbour, and most of the Cay.

A slower pace.

3 Feb

An early evening stroll around the village yesterday revealed that nothing too much has changed within the past year. A couple of new houses going up, but apart from that much as it was the last time we stayed.













Our ‘home away from home’ . . .



With spectacular sunsets from the upper veranda, overlooking the harbour.

Elbow Cay - 2016

1st / 2nd February

First full day here on Elbow Cay, after a long, full day of travel. Not that it’s that far from home, considering other more distant destinations. But it requires a combination of transportation modes, none of whose schedules easily match.
Still, the internet to the rescue, and although an early morning start, a combination of Air Canada, Sky Bahamas, taxi and Aubrey Ferry services, here we are, tucked away in Elbow Cay.
A little drama on the first of two landing attempts by our AC Airbus pilot into Nassau.
Our arrival coincided with a wicked rainstorm and high winds. We’d almost touched down after a bumpy approach when the Captain decided prudence was best, and powered up through the storm to go around and try again. Nothing like a little excitement to get the adrenalin going . . . .

Nassau’s new terminal was an oasis of calm once we were through immigration – what a friendly, welcoming lot, with a 3 piece reggae band – to wait for our connection, and for someone to spend a bit of time on their new i-toy.

Still raining when we boarded our connection, but at 21ᴼC, no complaints.

No, not ours. But a nostalgic sight to see a Dakota still in service. Must be 70 years old if it’s a day.

Deplaning in Marsh Harbour, then taxi to the ferry via the grocery store for supplies and onto to Hope Town on the last ferry.
A long day, but we’re here!

To wake to this view from the veranda this morning. Not too shabby.