What a great trip
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Posted by Abacowilly on June 06, 2000 at 23:16:53:
Well, AbacoMaryAnne and I have returned from another memorable trip to paradise.
We were very priveledged to see some of our previous Board Member friends as well as make many new Board Member Friends! We were able to enjoy four Board Meetings over 11 days with 20+ Board Members at each one - sharing experiences and stories at each one. Several Board Members were fortunate enough to be able enjoy all four meetings. Our one "special" meeting at Sappodilly's in MHH gave many of us the chance to meet our very own Bonefishing Hero, Willy Landham - A true Texas gentleman and a great all around guy. He was acompanied by several of his fishing friends from Texas - Aggies, one and all - and he even brought his box of flies to show us!! I guess he had to bring something cause he sure must not have caught any fish. I don't really understand what 4 guys do all day that can explain coming back with no fish to show???? Those attending the Board Meetings were able to see another set of my goofy tee shirts. But the real treasure came to those attending Coco Paradise last Sunday - a decoupaged 4x6" wodden postcard created by AbacoPeach, Jerry S. and Sandra Irish. I was fortunate enough to get mine signed by both Peach and Jerry S. A special treat for those of us who attended all four meetings was the fact that Sinclair and Barabara attended all the meetings and provided us with many stories, local "colour" and much humor. I felt especially honored to have them aboard my boat to share the voyage to all the meetings! What an absolutely wonderful couple they are and we are both glad and fortunate to have them as friends. I'lll have to admit our journey back Sunday night from Coco Paradise turned out to be a little more "eventfull" than I had anticipated. We arrived at dark with no lights in a hard driving rain - ughh. Although a trip I'll not easliy forget, truly one I'll always remember and hope to recollect every year with Sinclair, Barbara, Gary,Jennifer and AM!! It's not often that you arrive at the dock only to find the owner, his wife and daugter and co-owner standing there in the rain with their arms crossed - "just dock it anywhere - we'll handle this tomorrow!!" . . . . . . O O P S!! Well anyway....A special thanks to CoCo Bar at Treasure Cay Beach, Yahoes at Lubbers Qtrs, Sappodilly's in Marsh Harbor and Coco Paradise at Guana for allowing us to gather at their establishements and help us have the gruop picutures taken with probably at LEAST 5 cameras at each place. Also, thanks to Gary Moline and Jennifer as well as Sinclair and Barbara for bringing some really great fish for me to fry last Thursday night. We had a great time as chef "Abacowilly", using "someones" super recipe of eggs and potato flakes, prepared and served some delicious fresh fish. Just so you all will know, Gary Moline may also now go by AG, AbacoGary or EVEN AbacoGrunt (as in Gruntfish). But make no mistake - those were some incredibly delicious fish. We actually had MORE that we could all eat. I guess we were a little spoiled by the homeade nacho dip from Jenn that might have curbed our appetites. This year's tour was named the Rum CocoNuts Tour with a slogan of "...in search of the Abaco Rum CocoNut Tree". It was based on a true story from Polly and Kris' visit last year to Abaco. They discovered that their preferred cold adult beverage in a bottle from the Bahamas had a supply depletion problem at their local store. Not to be deterred, they were quite resourcefull in determining that they could mix the "water" from a coconut and some rum to concoct an pretty neat substitute for the day. During my trip this year, AM and I experimented with several "colors" of Coconuts to determine which ones had the most "water" and which ones had the most coconut. I have to report that we perfected that excercise. I now exactly how to spot the perfect "Rum CoCoNut" coconut tree!! Next year's Abacowilly tour dates are almost set. The themes are being narrowed down and will likely take a little different "perspective" on Abaco than previous years to fall more in line with the type of "groups" I know are already planning to go together next summer, and the general feeling of our local Abaconians....after all, they are the "Family Islands". I am sure that folks like Patrick "The Fireman" will want to participate again next year in full force as he did this year - in the true spirit of Abaco!! My whole crew will be there next summer for sure. FYI...I produced 50% more tee-shirts this year than last year. All the extras I made that were not already "earmarked" were quickly gone as well. Several extras went out at Coco Bar as well as about 4 more at Yahoes. I also passed on 6 extras at Sappodillys and the few remaining extras at Coco Paradise. Now, although Abacowilly is not an accomplished artist by any means, I can assure you his heart is there to find ways to bring Abaco lovers from all over together to enjoy the many fun establishements we are fortunate to have in Abaco. They each provide an very special "island" environment for us all to enjoy. I hope that our many Abaco busineeses will continue to enjoy and welcome our patronage as well as our overall funloving perspective. I hope that each of you will find ways to do the same to encourage visitors to share in the Abaco experience that we all enjoy. Next year's "Abacowilly Tour" list includes Nippers, Yahoes and Coco Paradise and plans for 1 to 2 more. I encourage you all to bring your families to enjoy another week or two of fun and fellowship. My whole crew, kids and all, will be onboard again next summer for all the fun. They are already helping with the plans. Abaco is NOT for sissies but it IS for "kid" in all of us!! See ya'll next year. I could probably write for hours about all the fun we had but this will probably suffice to let folks know that all of Abaco seems to be "alive and kickin" and is still a truly wonderful place to visit, to be alone and to be with friends. Abacowilly and AbacoMaryAnne - back to South Carolina and channel 16 . . . . .
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