DaGoose is loose in Abaco!

[DaGoose]

A small caveat, we had so much fun this trip (thanks to all the great folks we met!) that we were very lacking in the photography department.

Friday May 2- By the time we boarded the plane we had already spent $200! US Airways charged us $80.00 for the rod holder. Well, that was staying at Beach Walk for sure!

Saturday May 3- Arrived in Marsh Harbour before 11am. Provisioned at Maxwell’s. Saturdays are SO busy! Jay from Waterways met us at the dock then off to MOW to sign the papers. Rick had his traditional “we’re here” special moment on the boat, opening an ice cold Kalik before putting the hammer down on the throttle. Arrived at Elbow a short while later. Our cottage, Sea Loft, was ready so we were unpacking by 2 o’clock! Sea Loft is very cute, kinda funky and it even has a snore box! Actually, I don’t think it’s a traditional snore box because it has a bathroom but it sure was a great place to sleep with a view of the water! The only thing I was disappointed in was that the cottage didn’t have a VHF. But there was an outdoor shower so it’s all good. I had to set up a clothesline for privacy so I used a nearby tree to hang the clothesline. Oops, I think it might have been a poisonwood tree!

Off to the beach. The water was very rough and there was lots of seaweed, but we went swimming anyway! Then I got to thinking about the thread about sea lice being attached to seaweed. Who cares, we were having fun! Until a big wave crashed into me and I snapped my neck against Rick’s hip. So I’ve been in Abaco for 4 hours and I have poisonwood rash, sea lice and a broken neck! No worries tho’, we’re in paradise!

[DaGoose]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Sunday May 4- Our 12th anniversary! I was able to introduce ourselves on the Cruisers Net on the handheld. It was great hearing Pattie’s cheerful voice again. The power was out so we loaded up the boat and headed south. The beach at Tilloo bank was crowded so we went down to our ‘secret spot’. It was beautiful and we swam and looked for shells. After an hour or so we went down to the NBar cut and went outside to troll. Caught what looked to be some sort of mackerel, a jack and a fish with a horn. Threw them back in and headed for home. Had cocktails on the deck (what a view!), yummy burgers and sweet potato fries. It rained

[DaGoose]

Tuesday May 6- Fed the kitties some dolphin scraps and contemplated taking the boat up to Guana to meet everyone at Nippers. Decided against it because of the fuel prices and we were going to meet everyone tomorrow. Plus it was flat calm outside so decided to, guess what? Go trolling outside! It sounded slow for most. No joy for hours until we headed for home and we got a double on dolphin just outside Tilloo! Rick left the second fish hanging and made me catch both. Talk about Groundhog Day.

After cleaning the fish and showers we had cocktails on the deck and listened to IZ. Rick cracked me up dancing to the “PeePee song” (well that’s at least what I call it). Sorry folks, no photos! Both of us crashed right after dinner and slept like logs!

Wednesday May 7- Absolutely gorgeous morning! Jeff on Agur’s Wish did the net, he’s got such a great personality! Vernon’s frogs weren’t talking so it looked like no rain in the future. Went back down to our ‘secret spot’. Had it to ourselves for about 15 minutes. I’ve never seen it so beautiful! Unfortunately our private spot in paradise was not to be. Another boat showed up, darnit. We watched the couple anchor, they looked like pros, and then realized it was Dr Ralph & Bunny! Had a GREAT time in the water talking, they are a hoot! Spent at least a couple of hours with them (sorry I didn’t take any photos) and then we went up to Tahiti Beach for a while. Bunny got mooned by some guy in a thong pulling the anchor! “Thong gone wrong”. Back at the cottage showered and headed down to Seaspray for the Forumpalooza festivities. Saw Patti & Eddie from Summerview, Mark & Patti from Watercolours, Patti & Mark Puzo, PatW, Ken Parrot & Carol, Abakimmy and her husband, Rod, Shea and her husband, and Triton and his folks Frank and Christine, and Joe Sunlover amongst others. Spent some time up at Villa Bonita with Doc & Bunny. We made plans to take Dr Ralph fishing the next morning. I got a bit loopy, sorry folks!

[DaGoose]

Thursday May 8- Whoa, I never saw the train that hit me last night! It was rough outside so we decided not to go fishing…my head was very thankful! Just hung out at the cottage, feeding the kitties and listening to the VHF. Heard Patti Puzo say that she was going out on the boat and then Troy (Dive Guana ) hailed the Hopetown Harbour Lodge saying he was bringing in a group. We figured it might be Patti & Mark so we went over to see. (Sea Loft is about 5 houses south of the Lodge.) It wasn’t them so we decided to have a couple of frou frou drinks at the bar. Gary was bartending. He is SO funny! We asked him if he knew that Sunday was Mother’s Day and he went into a routine about his mother just wanting money from him! We were cracking up! Back at Sea Loft Rick took a nap and I went for a walk down the beach. Found a great area for sea glass! Got about 40 pieces mostly small but there were some really interesting ones, including a large pink piece, a couple of cobalt blues, and what looked like a piece of vintage jadeite. Rick decided to come join me and we had fun searching for glass. Later, we had a really good time………

Friday May 9- Another gorgeous day but too windy outside so we headed back south to our ‘secret spot’. Met Dr Ralph and Mark Gonsalves on the way. They had been out fishing with no joy. Down at our favorite spot there were 2 large Bertrams anchored and a smaller boat with 5 guys in matching yellow tees. Then 2 or 3 girls in skimpy bikinis and big floppy hats emerged from the big boat and the guys in the smaller boat started shooting their photos. It was a Bertram photo shoot, nice gig huh? It was fun to watch and I guess they can photoshop us out of the background. Went swimming for a while and then made our way back up to Tahiti Beach to meet Dr Ralph and Bunny. Joe (Sunlover) came by. He’s such a nice guy. Had some beers and lots of laughs. Ended up going over to Cracker P’s for some fish dip. Joe was there and we met Patrick, Terry, her daughter Avalee and their friend Durwood. Got in some major doggy hugs. I think Bigfoot remembered me! Rick played with the cats on the Cracker P’s dock. Back at Sea Loft had dinner and then went down to the deck to look at the stars.

Sorry folks, no photos of the models!

[DaGoose]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]Saturday May 10- I walked down to the deck to check the water, and found my bathingsuit bottom, a wine glass and a flashlight. I guess we had fun last night! Took the boat down to Tahiti Beach to meet the gang. Dr Ralph & Bunny, Abakimmy and Rod, Triton and his folks Frank & Christine, Mark from Watercolours, Pellucid, Dan (Gummy 67) and his wife, Celina and their friend Colyn and Terry and Joe were there. It was a great way to spend the afternoon! Back at Seaspray, Troy and Maria had brought Patti & Mark and Pat & Sidney down from Guana. Patti brought some Aquaman tees for a fashion photo shoot (cute guys!) Joe brought Buddy over for everyone to meet. He has to be the most gorgeous cat I have ever seen! Had some

[DaGoose]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]Monday May 12- Such an adventure that when Jeana hailed us in the morning, she said

[DaGoose]

Tuesday May 13- Took the boat up to Spoil Bank Cay and did some beachcombing. It was beautiful. Hung out on the boat drinking beers and then took the boat over to the waters off Gumelemi. It was so gorgeous that Jeana and I had to jump in. While we were floating around the guys say that they see a shark. Well, that was the end of that! (Angie, they were just kidding!)

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Had dinner at Grabbers. I had the seared ahi and it was excellent! Nora was there with her daughter Emily. She was having so much fun playing with the waitress

[DaGoose]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]Wednesday May 14- Painted the rocks and driftwood that I found at Spoil Bank and Rick worked on the satellite dish and a lot of other things that had to be done at our cottage. Spent most of the day hanging there, it felt good to get some things done. Made dinner up at Shorecrest and after that

[DaGoose]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]Friday May 16- Boo hoo, our last day. Talk about Groundhog Day. Didn

[BahamaAngie]

Great, more, more!

[DaGoose]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]Saturday May 17- Up early to pack and clean and then load the boat. Had lots of frozen ballyhoo so we gave it to Milo & Edmund. Had another nice talk with Milo and Edmund told us that he was opening a fish market soon! At the dock we met Amy and took off for MOW. She

[BahamaAngie]

Tina! You MUST really be recuperataing. How is the rest of your gang doing? Did they get back to work and reality????

[big ed]

Tina and Rick,

YOU WIN!!!!!

Best Trip Report of all time!!!!!!

NO MAS!!!!!!!!!

DH

[Patti Puzo]

Always a great job Tina! And, I love the comment about "Viagra Guy", I'm still laughing! How does somebody so hammered sneak up on people and manage a pelvic thrust while staying vertical?
Mark calls him Guana's version of "Ernest T. Bass".
I think Mikey, Anthony, and Darwin had a good time watching his trolling.

[DaGoose]

Actually I can't take credit for "Viagra Guy", it was Culp who came up with it. Too funny, huh?

Angie, I think Jeana had a bit of a hard time yesterday going back to work. You sort of have to ease into reality slowly...hope she's better today!

Thanks Big Ed! Even tho' the reports take so much time, I always love going back and reading them and reminiscing about what a great time we had. Since I didn't take the time to write in my journal while on Guana, it was interesting, to say the least, to try to reenact what happened. I'm sure Jeana will be able to tell me if I forgot something

Tina

[Abacoparrott]

Great reports Tina! Sounds like you got "the 'ol man" to boogie a bit......proper inspiration will do that for ya.......Ken

[South Pause]

Well, our one day lap-over with you guys did not happen. We had hoped to be there on the 16th, but my husband's business trip got in the way...again...
We are headed over Saturday and look forward to picking up where you left off!
By the way, that pink piece of sea glass is very rare. Nice find.

[BahamaAngie]

Tina. I gotta say it again, I love your tan. That is how I usually tan but have not the past couple of years. Fantastic tan! Cute picture of you and your hubby.

[DaGoose]

Originally Posted by Abacoparrott

Great reports Tina! Sounds like you got "the 'ol man" to boogie a bit......proper inspiration will do that for ya.......Ken

#1. Jaegermeister, makin' da white mon dance....funny
#2. Larry, Moe & Curly
#3. Ed and his Big A** Mug

Great trip report Tina! You and Patti did great. I wish I could be that creative and descriptive. I REALLY need to keep a journal on our trips,all the days seem to turn into one foggy one. Very nice to meet you and Rick! When will you be back?

[DaGoose]

Originally Posted by gummy67

Great trip report Tina! You and Patti did great. I wish I could be that creative and descriptive. I REALLY need to keep a journal on our trips,all the days seem to turn into one foggy one. Very nice to meet you and Rick! When will you be back?

Thanks Dan! Keeping a journal is the key however, for me, if I don't write in it in the morning during the Cruiser's Net, it's a lost cause.

I'm sure we won't be back before you and Celina (please feel free to do the neener neener) but we're working on a new countdown.

Norvel, I was so hoping to meet you and Mark. Next time for sure!

Angie, thanks but I got too much sun this trip. I think I've finally learned my lesson!

Tina

[culp]

And another great trip report! Thanks for including us!
I don't think I can take credit for The Viagra Man moniker either, Tina. I think maybe it was Nora's mom that came up with it?

I am cracking up over Big Ed's Big A** Mug!!! So many fun moments.

Has anyone heard from Joe Sun Lover, by the way?

[Patti Puzo]

I sent him an email, Jeana. But nothing so far. He may still be recovering! LOL!

[DaGoose]

Or in stealth mode, we seem to have that affect on people

Tina

[culp]

Bummer. Another one we horrified. Do you think maybe the sleeping pill was a clue?

[TurtleDreams]

Great report Tina! Fantastic photos! For someone who starts their report saying something about lacking in photography skills, you certainly did not support that claim. It's so hard for someone still stuck in the 20th century with a modem to know I'll just have to walk away from the computer for an hour if I want to read the report with the accompanying photos. But as I said to Patti, it may be slow, but it was worth the wait!
Glad you all had so much fun!
Susan

[DaGoose]

Thanks Susan, we really did have a good time. It seems like ages ago that were in Abaco but it hasn't been a week since we've been back! We came home to some very hot weather and now it's raining and very cold (in the low 50's!). Crazy weather, there were even a couple of tornados in So Cal yesterday! Nothing like the folks in Colorado had tho'.

Need to start planning our next trip!

Tina

[BahamaAngie]

Tina, how do you compare your Guana trip to Poipu?

[DaGoose]

Originally Posted by BahamaAngie

Tina, how do you compare your Guana trip to Poipu?

It's gooder on Guana!

Tina

[LarryT]

Hey Tina and Rick,Fantastic trip report and photosReally made me feel like I was there againVery nice that you were able to experience the trip with old friendsLarry25 days and counting!