trip report
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Posted by Kristen on September 08, 1999 at 17:41:15:
Ok, this is gonna be short and sweet! First off, we had a WONDERFUL time and yes, we will be back!! We came in on Sunday the 29th. The day after 'Dennis'. Fortunately, there was not much damage to the Abacos. By the time we got our room and got settled there was not much time left in the day, but we got our first taste of the beauty by walking down to the beach from our Abaco Towns Villa. On Monday we took the ferry to Hopetown and visited Vernon's (which still had the electricity out - so no bread or pie) and ate and drank at Harbour's Edge, went up the lighthouse, slowly, especially as this was after the drinks. Spent some time at the point with the chair that overlooks the area coming into Hopetown. Made it back just in time before it started storming. Tuesday we picked up the 21' boat we rented for 3 days and started on our absolutely astounding tour of the outer cays. First we went to Mermaid reef? or beach and tryed our hand at snorkeling - we saw a few neat fish - still kind of murky because of the Hurricane. This day we also went to Guana Cay and ate and drank at Nippers - and swam. We went down to the beach and as the waves were still coming in about 5 feet high - we could not snorkel, but we spashed in the water and got whipped on our butts a few times, from the current and strong waves. - So, yes, we were the idiots risking our lives in the water if you saw us. But it sure was a lot of fun. We were so wiped out that we came back to Marsh Harbour and zonked out till early Wed. Wed 6:00am we met Curtis Sands and went on the Parrot - Safari - Hole in the Wall Tour. I have to say it was GREAT. It took a while to spot some birds, but we finally did and then we headed out to the long and bumpy trip to the Hole in The Wall Lighthouse - Beautiful sight. We walked down to the tip and were in awe at the hole in the wall and how awesome the waves were still coming in. Then he brought us to a beach were we ate lunch and swam and then to Casaurina Point - also beautiful and swam some more. Then went into a cave and visited the bats. We went to another beach (I'm not sure where) and of course, swam some more. This beach had a wonderful huge sandbar, were we picked up a few little shells. Thursday we were back on the boat and off to Hopetown to Vernon's for some excellent Key Lime Pie. We spent most of the day behind the Lodge snorkeling and ooing and aahhing over the cool fish and coral, etc. On our way out we went to Johnny's cay and swam and ran into a huge stingray. I wish I had my camera for that. But he was between me and the boat and you can guess I stayed right were I was. Friday was probably our best day yet. We boated around looking at the now clearer water and stopped near Garden Cay and saw several huge starfish. Went to Tahiti beach to eat lunch which included another Vernons key lime pie. WOW - Talk about picture postcard. We diddled around there for a couple of hours and then headed to Sandy Cay. We were a little bit leary about snorkeling here because the swells were still high/big (whatever the terminology is). But we decided to jump in and try and I am so glad we did - This was the neatest thing I have seen. The fish and reef were breathtaking. We wished we had come earlier in the day so as to spend more time, but we had to have the boat back to the rental place. So we spent every second we could before we had to leave. - Again, I tell you, we will be back!! Well, I guess that is pretty much it. Ok, it wasn't short, but it was sweet. We left Saturday and have never felt so sad about going home. We were already trying to plan when we would come back. I have been thinking about getting our Diving liscense to be able to enjoy the underwater world even more. That will be our goal before our next visit. Hopefully it won't be to far into the future. Thank you everyone for all the comments and suggestions on this board - we had a wonderful time and did most of it by the suggestions we found here. We also would have been lost if not for the 'Cruising Guide to the Abaco's'. It helped us tremendously - especially since we are not ultra experienced in boating.
So thank you again for everything and to anyone who is thinking of visiting - You should!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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