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NATIONAL NOTES
ABACO TOURIST OFFICE UPDATE
ABACO'S COOKING!
ELECTROCUTION DEATH
GARDENING
HEAVENLY SHADES OF NIGHT
ISLAND PLANTS
OLD GRUMPY
DARTS
BRIGANTINE BAY BITS
NEW ABACO CHART
MANATEE SIGHTINGS
INTERIOR DESIGN
TCPOA PRESENTATION
THE REST OF THE STORY
BAHAMAS BILLFISH TOURNAMENT
ROYAL PALM FRONDS
KRUGER: A SAFARI
WRITE GUD... YOU ARE WHAT YOU WRITE
WRECK SITE
PASSINGS...
NOVEMBER 1996
DECEMBER 1996
JANUARY 1997
FEBRUARY 1997
MARCH 1997
APRIL 1997
MAY 1997
JUNE 1997
JULY 1997
Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, former Leader of the Progressive Liberal Party, retired from the House of Assembly after 41 years of service including 25 years as Premier then Prime Minister of The Bahamas. He led the country to independence from Britain in 1973. In his farewell address to the House on 7th July Sir Lynden said, "I have reached the end of my political journey. I have run my course. I did my best."
The US State Department has issued a public announcement advising American citizens to be careful in The Bahamas because of unspecified acts of potential violence against American interests by Bahamian criminal elements. The Bahamian government claims US authorities received their information from an unreliable source.
The first Bahamas National Bonefishing Championship was held 15th July in Exuma. The winner was Henry Roberts of Grand Bahama. Abaco's Maitland "Bonefish Dundee" Lowe participated but did not place. Mr Roberts will represent The Bahamas in the World Invitational Bonefish Championship to be held in Exuma 19th - 25th October.
by Kendy Anderson & Wynsome Ferguson
Kendy Anderson recently returned from Preview '97 in Houston TX and reported that it was an excellent experience. She recommends that the Abaco Tourist Office staff get to attend and participate in more events like this.
The 16th Annual Green Turtle Club Fishing Tournament was held June 3-7. Participating in this tournament were 14 boats which attracted some 70 to 80 people to Green Turtle Cay.
Burns House Limited held the launching of its Ole Nassau Bahamian Style Rums in Abaco June 6-7. The launch was held in three segments, a luncheon at Bayview Restaurant, cocktail reception on board Marayani and a dinner at the Conch Inn Restaurant. Addressing the events was Mr Garret "Tiger" Finlayson, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Burns House Limited. Also in attendance were Mr Mark Finlayson, Managing Director for Burns House, and Mr Neko Grant, Senior Vice President Northern Bahamas.
Sandy Point Improvement Association held a Home Coming Excursion in Sandy Point, Abaco, June 6-8. This event brought several hundred people to Abaco. In attendance were Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson. They had such events as a swimming competition, a tour of Gorda Cay, powerboat races and a fishing tournament in which the Prime Minister and his Deputy participated. Local Abaconians as well as many of our visitors took part in and enjoyed these events.
Little Abaco held its 4th Annual Home Coming in Fox Town. The event was officially opened by Deputy Island Administrator Jack Thompson and featured a Cultural Explosion. There were additional events held such as volleyball, basketball, fishing tournaments, great food, music and whole lot of fun.
The 4th leg of the Bahamas Billfish Championship held at Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Hoarbour June 8-13 had the largest number of boats ever in a tournament in The Bahamas. A total of 78 boats participated and attracted some 550+ people to Abaco.
Nine persons from American Total, a Spanish language TV programme on TVE2 and also broadcast on TVE International Cable Channel, visited Abaco June 13-14. They will be doing a one hour programme on fauna, flora and ecotourism in The Bahamas. The programme usually has an audience of one million.
The new sign for the Abaco Tourist Office is now in place. As a result of this we have received many phone calls commenting and congratulating us on our new sign.
Whenever sandwiches are made on Abaco you can be sure of the two favourite fillings - tuna and corned beef.
1 6oz can good quality Tuna in oil, drained
1 Egg, hard boiled and grated
1 Tbsp Sweet Pepper, finely chopped
1 Tbsp Onion, finely chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste
Juice of half a lime
Mayonnaise
Mix together all the ingredients with a fork, except for the mayonnaise. Add the mayonnaise little by little and stir until the mixture just binds.
1 can Corned Beef, mashed with a fork
2 Tbsp Onion, finely chopped
Hot sauce to taste
2 Tbsp Tomato Ketchup
Mayonnaise
Mix together the first four ingredients then gradually stir in the mayonnaise until the mixture binds.
There are many variations on these fillings but they are all delicious when served on fresh Bahamian bread. They also make wonderful stuffings for pita bread to provide a tasty and nourishing lunchtime snack.
Popular BaTelCo employee Godfrey 'Nobs' Williams died on 11th July while working on a pole located on Forest Drive, Dundas Town. It is believed his head touched a live high voltage wire.
Mr Williams received CPR from a passer by and was taken to Abaco Medical Clinic where he was attended by Dr Darren Donaldson and Government Medical Officer Dr Hyatali Ameeral.
The son of Mrs Merle Swain of Dundas Town, Mr Williams had assisted his mother for many years in the running of Mother Merle's Fish Net Restaurant. He leaves a widow and seven children.
Dear Sir,
I will miss Godfrey Williams. It always made me feel better when I ran into Godfrey during the course of the day. It was uplifting to be greeted by a smile and a cheerful attitude. He made each day a little brighter.
Godfrey came to my place to repair a telephone cable and expressed interest in the tropical fruit trees. The black sapotes (chocolate pudding fruit) were ripe. I gave him one. The next time I saw him in Marsh Harbour he commented on how much he liked the fruit. I planted a seed of the fruit when I returned home to surprise him with a tree at a later date.
I hope there are lots of chocolate pudding fruits in heaven and there are ripe ones all the time.
Joe Kern,
Sugar Loaf Cay.
by Jack Hardy
August is another summer month when you are best employed relaxing under a shade tree and enjoying your garden, not working in it. The gress has to be mowed, of course, but thereafter - sit back and relax.
For the gardener who must do something, you can take a few hardwood cuttings from your favourite shrubs. Some early vegetables can be started in seed beds though they will need a lot of care and attention. Candidates for an early start are tomatoes, sweet peppers, eggplant and cabbage.
Start you seeds in containers that can be placed to get only a few hours of direct sunshine each day, preferably in the morning and evening. You'll also have to protect them against snails and insects. Putting your seedling containers on a plastic table with the four legs sitting in water will protect against snails. Wire mesh will protect against larger insects. Diatomaceous earth will help deter smaller insects. Copper sprays will help combat damping off. Does this all sound worth while? Of course not. Get under that shade tree and relax!
August 1997 will be party time in the heavens. On the nights of 2nd - 4th there will be a rare conjunction of orange coloured Mars with Virgo's bright blue Spica. That should be all the inspiration the Florida Gators need!
Nature will put on its special pyrotechnical show in the form of the Perseid meteor shower. The greatest activity will be on the night of 11th - 12th August. The half moon sets at midnight giving a clear view of the year's most spectacular meteor shower. A great time to arrange an outdoor party. The fireworks are free!
Also in August, Jupiter will be at its brightest since 1988 and continue that way into autumn.
How do you beat a vine that gives stunning flowers and delicious fruit from early summer to late autumn and is so easy to grow that you have to prune it more than fertilize it? That's the Passion Fruit, yet it is not a popular item on Abaco.
The reason for this may lie in the fact that it needs a strong trellis to grow on. Passion Fruit vines (Passiflora edulis) can be trained onto trees because the fruit drops when it is ripe and its thick skin prevents it being injured.
Passion Fruit vines are easily propagated from lower growth cuttings. The one consideration you have to keep in mind is that the vines are rarely self-fruitful. You will need two cuttings, each one from separate plants.
The two most popular vines for both decoration and eating are flavicarpa and quadrangularis. Flavicarpa has purple and white flowers and bears yellow-skinned fruit slightly larger than a chicken egg. The pulp is orange and delicious. Quadrangulis, also called Giant Granadilla, has large bluish flowers and produces huge fruits up to a foot in legth.
There are many other Passion Fruit varieties, some of which do not bear edible fruits. The Red Granadilla has red flowers, as you might expect, but its fruit is inferior.
The flavour of Passion Fruit is intense but the pulp can be eaten out of hand once you have cut through the leathery skin. The Passion Fruit seeds are edible so you can swallow them with the pulp. If you have the patience you can strain the juice and add it to other fruit juices to make a distinctive punch.
[Our Curmudgeon-at-Large]
I love Abaco. But there's something about it I do not like. It has too many thunderstorms. And the thunderstorms it has are too big.
Well, I suppose the point is, I don't like lightning. It terrifies me, my dog and my cats. The Chinese pay particular attention to animals and their behaviour in order to forecast earthquakes. I watch mine - and The Weather Channel - to get early warning of danger.
When I was a boy I set the world record for running uphill and jumping six foot fences. You won't find it in the records but I assure you it happened - just after I picked myself up when lightning struck the tree I was sheltering under. The blast was like a hiccoughing machine gun let off by my ears and knocked me head over tail. I felt electricity pulsing into the ground. Next thing I knew I was heading off at a pace that Michael Johnson would have envied.
After such knowledge, what forgiveness? None apparently. Every distant rumble pricks up my ears and sends me scurrying for shelter. I've read every word about lightning safety and usually end up on my bed with the pillow over my head.
When my bed is not near I feel somewhat safe in my car with all the windows up. I say somewhat because a US television channel a few years ago showed a car in Florida that was struck by lightning. There was a great hole in the roof and all the seats were charred. Thanks, guys.
You want to get rich? Be near me with a helicopter when I get caught out in the open miles from anywhere and a storm brews. I'll give you all my money for a quick escape, plus all the money I'll ever make in the future. I'd probably throw in a few daughters.
The sorry fact is, Abaco is one of the most lightning-struck places on earth. And you don't have to go through an experience like mine to appreciate the awesome destructiveness of lightning. Every nearby crack and flash is a reminder of our mortality and the insignificance of man versus nature.
The 8th Annual National League Champion's Cup dart competition was held at the Conch Inn, Marsh Harbour, on 20th and 21st June. Under the auspices of the Bahamas Darts Federation and sponsored by Lucky Strike, the competition decided the national champions from the top teams of Nassau, Freeport and Abaco.
Participating were the Pit Panthers from Nassau, the Outrigger Outlaws from Freeport and the Rothmans Stars from Casuarina Point, Abaco.
The first competition was a round robin tournament which eliminated the Nassau team. The finals consisted of three matches between the Rothmans Stars and the Outrigger Outlaws which the Stars won 3-6, 6-5, 6-4, making them Bahamian Champions.
Congratulations go to the members of the Rothmans Stars team: Charles Burnside (captain), Earl Smith (current Caribbean Champion), Eddie Smith, Anselm Woodside, Malcolm Spicer (BDF President), Adrienne Spicer, Mark Albury, Lionel Albury, Daron Albury, Kevin McDonald and Lenora Pinder.
by Lee & Natalie Roach
When our daughter Theresa announced that she would like to get married here in Treasure Cay, we thought that was a wonderful idea since she had met her fiance' Billy (William McGough) here during the summer of Hurricane Erin. At that time Billy was captain of the yacht Better Idea , based at the marina. They have since permanently located in Pensacola FL, where they have opened a very successful marine canvas shop. When she said they would like the wedding to be on December 31 (New Years Eve afternoon!) I voiced some concern that many of their friends and relatives could not, or would not, break away from home in the middle of the Christmas holiday season. She then said: "Dad, we have not discussed a wedding present yet. How about blocking off all the villas for our wedding guests and inviting them to come for a free week or so winter holiday in The Bahamas, culminating in a wedding, a reception, and a New Years Eve party at the Tipsy Seagull as a grand finale?" Theresa's idea proved to be very smart since enough people travelled here to fill all the villas plus several nearby rental places. In addition we invited many of our local friends and neighbours to join us for the wedding and reception. In the midst of all of this however, there did appear an unexpected but not necessarily unwelcome guest, but first about the wedding.
The little Catholic Church in Treasure Cay, with the Christmas decorations still in place, proved to be a wonderful place for a wedding. Fr Stan Kolasa had guided us through all the necessary details and was pleasantly surprised when we broke a Bahamian tradition by being ready to go, ahead of time (this after severe scowls for being late for rehearsal the day before!) Limousine service was graciously provided throughout the day by Norman and Donna Claridge with their son Matthew managing the music and our video camera while the father of the bride was ordered to not fiddle with anything. A highlight of the wedding was Theresa's gown (see picture) which was the same wedding gown worn by Natalie in 1958 at our wedding and was still in excellent shape, as were both the ladies! The reception at the Tipsy was staffed by Elliot and his crew and a great success. The escape plan for the bride and groom included Theresa's brother Chris and his lady friend, Lexie Meeson, to bring up the Double Eagle, fully decorated, to the marina dock where Theresa and Billy were to take over and head to Green Turtle Cay to start their honeymoon. Since there were so many family and guests going back to the villas to continue the festivities, the bride and groom decided to divert back there also. Thats when the unexpected guest arrived!
I was inside our villa, fixing drinks, when I heard a commotion on the dock out front where Tree and Billy had brought the boat back. Many of our guests had found out how good the fishing was there and were in the process of cleaning some of the catch when they suddenly noticed an enormous barracuda come gliding out from under the dock to check things out. They hollered at me to come and look, and there it was! Could it be our friend the Beachmaster? Now I know barracudas don't wear ID tags, and they do pretty much all look alike, plus it's a long swim from the beach around the point to our little bay, but this one was the same size, had the same toothy grin and seemed to be looking up at us! One of the youngsters asked why it was not eating up all of the smaller fish to which Theresa, who had just joined us, answered that when she and Billy had gone for a swim at the beach that morning, they met him, told him about the party, and made him promise to behave if he was to ever come over to the bay side, so he did have enough time to make it around. Was it him, or do we now also have a Baymaster? We all walked off the dock with toothy grins! Later that evening most of the wedding party found their way to the Tipsy for a wonderful New Years Eve party where the father of the bride (a lifetime amateur musician) found himself on stage playing a conchshell horn with the band! They say it sounded OK. I don't remember!
A new large format nautical chart covering all of Abaco has been published by White Sound Press. Measuring two feet by three feet, the chart covers from Walker's Cay to Hole in the Wall and includes a complete waypoint system with suggested courses, headings and distances between waypoints.
There are fifteen separate charts or maps printed in colour on both sides of the sheet. Larger scale blow-ups of harbours and critical areas supplement the two main plans. There is also a Florida to Abaco chart showing waypoints and routes for getting to and from Abaco.
The chart was drawn by Steve Dodge, author of 'The Cruising Guide to Abaco, Bahamas'. It was based on original hydrographic soundings and other sources including aerial photography and Defense Mapping Agency charts. It is the first completely new nautical chart published for Abaco in many years and will provide mariners with an overview of the entire area. The chart is completely waterproof, printed on a thin, foldable polyethylene sheet and is almost impossible to tear.
In the United States the chart is available direct from White Sound Press at (217) 423-0511. In Abaco it is distributed by The Loyalist Shoppe in Marsh Harbour where it is available for $21.95.
A Labour Day outing with their family to North Abaco provided Earl and Noreen Albury of Marsh Harbour with the experience of a lifetime. In the area of the bridge in Little Abaco they spotted a large shape in the water. Closer examination showed it to be a manatee.
"It was over seven feet long," Noreen said, "and had lovely brown eyes. It was a whitish colour and came very close to us." Three days later a manatee (the same one?) was spotted in Man O' War Harbour, swimming about and taking in the scenery.
There is a large manatee population in Florida but sightings are extremely rare in The Bahamas. Ex-Abaco resident Nick Cripps spotted one in Cat island two years ago.
Manatees (also known as dugongs or sea cows) are mammals and it was the appearance of these creatures breast-feeding their young that led to the belief in mermaids.
by Barbara Farnan
Dear Barbara,
I would like to make a wall grouping with a variety of pictures that I have and I am having trouble figuring out how to make everything work together and hand them properly. Can you give me tips on how to get started? Elizabeth Tye.
Dear Elizabeth,
The first thing to consider when starting to create a wall grouping is to have some form of continuity with the variety of pictures that you have. The continuity may be achieved by having the same theme in the pictures such as pictures of the family, different pictures of fish, or one predominant colour in all of them. If all the pictures are the same size, this will provide a common thread. Another alternative, especially if you have a variety of subject matter, is to mat and frame all of them the same.
The next step is to decide what shape the grouping will form. Will it be a rectangle over a sofa, a triangle over a curved headboard, or maybe a cross shape in the hallway? After deciding what form the grouping will take, it's time to start arranging.
To plan out and judge the balance and spaces that you might arrange and create, cut out brown paper or newspaper in the size of each picture. Start with the largest pieces first and then start including the smaller pieces next to them. Tape the cutouts on the wall and rearrange the pieces to create the arangement.
After settling on the proper arrangement, measure the picture hanger on the picture for proper placement of the picture hook. Mark the paper cutout on the wall, put in the picture hook, and remove the paper. Hang the actual pictures.
For answers to your decorating questions, call Barbara Farnan at 242-365-8800.
The Treasure Cay Property Owners' Association has made a donation of coveralls and first aid kits to SC Bootle Secondary School as a first step in the upgrading of the school's woodworking and mechanics shops. The first aid kits were contributed by Pac-Kit Safety Equipment Co of Norwalk CT and presented by TCPOA President Bruce Barth to Principal Leslie Rolle.
by Charlie Lowe (aged 89)
I worked at Treasure Cay for nine years as a customs officer. I bought lobster as far as Crown Haven for two seasons. I owned seven acres of land at Joyless Point, farmed it and made a small grove. Had the trees come from Homestead, Florida. My son and I built a two bedroom house on the property and sold it to a man from the United States. I farmed at Carters Cay for a while and carried most of the produce to West End, Grand Bahama.
I worked at the lumber camp at Pine Ridge, Grand Bahama. My job was to check the lumber that was made at each mill during the day. There were four portable mills in the woods and one near the main town. Some days I would check 35 to 40 thousand feet of lumber per day.
My brother and his wife lived in Homestead and my wife and I spent two months over there with them. I spent one week in Key West fifty years ago. I spent a week in Cherokee Sound with my girl friend (not in the same house). She is the same girl I have been married to for almost 67 years. I stayed in Hope Town for a short time.
I was caught in a hurricane at Man O' War Cay in 1929 and rode out a hurricane in Spanish Cay Harbour. I spent 48 hours under a boat's sail in a terrible storm at Carters Cay in 1932. Ten of us were under the boat sail from Monday night 11 o' clock until the following Wednesday morning, all wet and with nothing to eat. We had our groceries in a small hut near the tent that went down when the storm first started. We had 3,000 lobster in the crawl and lost every one. Our two boats were driven ashore and we spent three days getting them afloat again.
A few years ago I took three ladies and one young man to Treasure Cay. Just as we left the airport the girl that sat to the side of me looked at me and said: "When I saw you I fell in love with you." I thought I would stop her real quick. I said: "Lady, I am a married man. I don't think I can help you out." On our way to Treasure Cay she got so close I was afraid if she came any closer she might knock my hand and cause me to have a wreck. She came back three times and asked me to marry her. She said one day, "If you won't marry me, let me kiss you." I know what's it's like when you are in love so I let her get one kiss. That did not take much from my wife. Puppy love does not last 67 years.
The woman that asked me to marry her only knew me for about thirty minutes when she said, "I need a husband. I've never been married, never had any babies." It seemed like she was trying to make me believe she was brand new. It seemed she was desperate. It was no way I could help her out.
When I worked at the airport I told some of the young men some love stories. One went like this:
Apples in the winter,
Peaches in the fall;
If I can't get the girl I love
I won't have one at all.
They would say you can't tell girls stories like that now. All they want to know is if you have any money.
I would say to the young men that if you decide to get married there are two things you should never marry for - beauty and money. If you marry for beauty, when she gets old and her face gets wrinkled - what are you going to do about it? And if you marry for money, when the money is gone you are in trouble. Marry for love and when the other two fail you, you will still be OK.
From when I was a boy I stood in fear of God. We had Christian parents. I don't remember my parents saying one bad word. When we were children they would read the Bible to us. As far as I know, two of my sisters were saved through our mother talking to them about their souls. I was under conviction a long time before I accepted the Lord. I was always afraid of the scripture which says: "Two shall be in the field. One shall be taken and the other left." When I was a boy that scripture rang in my ears. Suppose the Lord came while my daddy and I were in the field? What would I do? Sometimes there was no-one else on the island to call on.
I was not a bad boy. I did not drink or smoke. But I still felt there was something else I needed. One night my cousin Osbourne Roberts was having an open meeting and while he was speaking the Lord's spirit spoke to me. When I went home I said the the Lord: "It is tonight or never!" I undressed and got into bed and it was just like the Lord himself came into the bed and that was when I accepted him.
The next morning when I got up I went into the kitchen and told my mother. I was saved when I got married. My wife was saved shortly after we got married. Since that time we have proved the Lord in so many ways. During our almost 67 years of marriage we have hard times, some bad times of sickness, but the Lord has promised not to put more on us than we can bear.
by Isobel Sherman
The 4th leg of the Bahamas Bill Fish Tournament was held June 8th - 13th at Abaco Beach Hotel and Boat Harbour. Extremely heavy rain was experienced the first two days of fishing. However, it seems this type of weather is excellent for fishing .
The rules of the tournament were again the rules of the International Game Fish Association. Lines were in at 8.30 am and out at 4.30 pm. A boat with a fish had until midnight to reach the weigh-in dock.
On the first day of fishing four fish were boated and 24 marlin were released. The first boat to bring in a fish to the weigh-in dock was Robin Hood from York, PA. Angler Sam Sheffer caught a 378 blue marlin. The second blue marlin, weighing 249 pounds, was caught by Rick Tuten onSuperstition out of Coral Gables, FL. Vic Starling angling from Fishinhoff of Palm Beach, FL, caught a 256 pound blue marlin. The last boated fish for the first day was caught by Rick Baretto, a 389 pound blue marlin. The boat was theWahoo out of Miami Beach, FL.
On the 10th, the second day of fishing in the pouring rain, five fish were boated and 21 released. Among those boated was a 349 pound blue marlin caught by George Pisula off the Grand Slam II from New Smyrna Beach, FL. Other boats catching blue marlins wereReel Tight,, Prime Time, Sea Lover and Therapy. The boat "No 1 Deal" caught a 616 pound tuna.
Wednesday the 11th June was the lay day. A Bloody Mary contest was held for all boats and crews in the tournament. Among the judges were Mrs Terry Curry of Abaco Beach Hotel and Boat Harbour and Ms Donna Darville, Manageress of Little Switzerland, Marsh Harbour. Two boats ended up tied for first place in making the best Bloody Marys, Freebie from Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Hatt Box out of Isle of Palms, SC.
Day 4 the 12th June brought sunny skies until weigh in time when severe lightning, thunder and heavy rain pelted the weigh-in dock. Six fish were boated that day and 30 fish were released. Vic Starling angling off Fishinhoff from Palm Beach boated his second blue marlin of the tournament, a 413 pound blue marlin, and had two releases. Carl Lorton angling off Therapy from Davis Island, FL, caught a 334 pound blue marlin. Lady Angler Joan Walker fishing off Hatt Box caught A 257 pound blue marlin. She was the only lady angler to boat a fish in this tournament and the only lady angler to boat a fish in the three fishing tournaments held at Abaco Beach Hotel and Boat Harbour these past six weeks. Angler Bernie Boniface fishing off Bumper from Vail, CO, caught a 557 pound blue marlin which up to day 4 was the largest marlin boated. Bobby Sheffield fishing off Escape Hatch II from Ponce Inlet, FL, boated a 352 pound blue marlin. The final fish for the day was a 280 pound blue marlin caught by Tom Essaye off Impulse from Vero beach FL.
The final day of the tournament, the 13th of June, brought the best weather, sunny and hot; but the leanest day for boated fish. On the other hand, the final fish at the weigh-in dock was the largest fish of the tournament. Frank Wicker fishing off Sound Machine from Atlanta, GA, caught a 276 pound blue marlin but the last fish at the weigh-in dock was a 577 pound blue marlin caught by Bob Osbourne, a major shareholder in Gulfstream Airlines. He was angling off the boat Bob Along from Miami. Osbourne took the top prize for the largest marlin caught in this leg of the tournament. In addition, 22 marlins were released on the final day.
This leg of the Bahamas Bill Fish Tournament had a record number of boats entered, 80, and 450 anglers. According to Al Behrendt, Tournament Director, each boat spent about $10.000 for the week. Also on hand for this leg of the tournament and every other leg was Michael Judge, a Marine Biologist with the National Fisheries Service, Miami, and Bailey Bobbit, the official photographer of the tournament.
This week 59 boats are in Harbour Island for the final leg of the Bahamas Bill Fish Championship. When leg 4 was over here at Abaco Beach Hotel and Boat Harbour, Fonda Fishin from Fort Lauderdale was in the lead with 11 releases and also point totals. Going into the fourth leg Robin Hood had 1429 points.
The 4th leg of the Bahamas Bill Fish Championship had the most boats, the most anglers, most boated fish and releases than any other tournament held so far this year at Abaco Beach Hotel and Boat Harbour. Apparently the bill fish like rain, thunder and lightning - with a couple of waterspouts thrown in!
by Betsy Sutherland
Many of our owners never spend summers in Abaco which is too bad for they miss a delightful stretch of calm water, sunny skies and great fishing. But there are always the few who know that the best time of the year for water sports is now.
Jorge and Consuelo Latour spend each summer in Treasure Cay and many of their extended family memebers join them renting throughout Royal Palm. Marco Perez, Consuelo's brother, is also occupying his recently acquired condo along with several of his cousins. Another couple who spend their summers on the island are Freda and David Janney. They keep their boats here from early spring until fall and spend endless hours fishing and entertaining grandchildren which isn't hard to do on such beautiful boats in such lovely weather with fish jumping. David caught and released a blue marlin in the range of 300 pounds recently. Lots of kingfish, dolphin, wahoo and even tuna are just waiting to be caught. Don't forget to buy your fishing licences!
Director Mike Meyer and Karen are still with us and Directors Bill Glasgow and Jerry Hill just arrived. Molly Winblad's parents have returned for their second visit and came by to say hello and were very complimentary about our complex. That, of course, is always nice to hear. Debbie Hewitt arrived with younger children in tow and Peter and Nickie came over a week later. We understand young Nick is about to become a Merchant Seaman. Hard to believe time flies this fast. Nora and Denny Parker arrived for a last hurrah. They've sold their unit and we will miss them but wish them well in their next venture. Ralph Eckler has been seen, usually headed out on his boat. Carol and Bob Young flew down from Canada for a brief visit and Virginia Peterson came in from Pennsylvania. Tom Seward stopped by and said he plans to spend the month in Treasure Cay but he'll have to get by without a captain as Florence took Forty on a cruise! Never fear, however, Tempe is in charge of the cafe and the morning gatherings seem to run like clockwork.
Dinners at Guana Seaside Village, lunches at Hope Town's Sea Spray and champagne brunches at Club Soleil are all on schedule. Folks usually buy in Royal Palm because of our excellent dock facilities and these boats certainly do get a workout. But why wouldn't everyone want a boat in this, the most perfect boating locale in any paradise.
by Betsy Bracey
Kruger National Park is a highly acclaimed game park which covers 8000 square miles (comparable to New Jersey in size) and is located in Northern Mpumalanga, the northeastern sector of South Africa. It shares its eastern border with Mozambique and its northern with Zimbabwe. Within this sun-drenched remnant of primitive Africa there is evidence of continuous presence of humans identifiable to the Stone Age not only through implements but also by the San's (Bushmen) intricate rock paintings which are a treasure to find and a wonder to behold. Iron Age inhabitants displaced these early dwellers and evidence of molten copper and gold have been found dated as early as 850 AD. It wasn't until 1652 with the establishment of a permanent colony by the Dutch that man began to have a deleterious effect on the animal life of the region. The Dutch were enthusiastic hunters and virtually eliminated elephant, hippo, lion and any other animal which threatened livestock. The establishment of Kruger National Park - as well as other game parks such as Umfolozi in Natal and Sabie in the Transvaal - are the reason for the continued existence of vast game herds and predators that we can see today.
My husband, Woody Bracey, timed a holiday from his surgical practice in Cape Town to allow us to go on safari throughout Kruger Park, continuing through Swaziland and south to the Natal Game Parks to our eventual destination, Durban, where we would board The Symphony to cruise the Mozambique Channel on a pelagic bird quest. We entered Kruger at the northernmost entrance, Parfuri Gate and began our 'walk on the wild side' in the most remote section of the park. Two guides met us at Punda Maria where, after a night's sleep, we boarded an open Land Rover and began the drive through remote bush country to our base, 3 hours from the nearest human, on the Nyalaland Trail. Here we found a primitive camp nestled in Mopani veld, set up for 8 guests, 2 guides and a cook who announced each meal with the beating of African drums. An age old ritual which put the stamp on being in the wilderness. And heaven bless the cook! With October temperatures soaring the very thought of standing over an open fire was impossible to contemplate. I would rather have survived on water and the South African's idea of a snack, rusks, which taste like last week's toast.
The trip in through tropical dry forest gave us wonderful views of birds and tantalizing glimpses of animal life but nothing to compare with what we were to see in the following days on foot. Up at 4:00 AM with nothing but coffee and a rusk!, dressed in heavy boots, long sleeves and pants, wide brimmed hats, full water bottles, backpacks laden with breakfast fare, binoculars, doused with tick and mosquito cream and full of malaria medication we not only looked the part but felt like the early Boer Trekkers. A one hour ride put us so far into the bush that we suffered no doubts about obeying our well armed guides who were solemnly teaching us hand signals and warning us not even to whisper. Oh my! Too late to turn about. My husband was so enthusiastic that I simply smiled and thought that it was much like boarding an aeroplane ... What can you do once you're off the runway ... You might as well enjoy the ride!
After trekking single file through flat land for two hours with grass high as our hats, the terrain began to rise and then we found ourselves scrambling over boulders as big as cars and eventually topping out on a high mount overlooking miles of bush in every direction. The scene was so ancient that words were not the way to express our reactions. Simply being there and watching the game move about on the plain was enough. As we drank breakfast juices, munched cheese and brai meat a very large bull elephant meandered out of the bush just below our perch and proceeded to eat leaves from a large old tree. He was close enough to see his wrinkles and the light in his eye. No one moved and within 10 minutes he lowered his bulk to the ground, huffed a huge huff , closed his eyes and took a nap in the shade. Who says elephants never lie down to sleep! Obviously our guides chose another way off the mount but it was a magical thing to share.
This northern part of the Park is bordered by the Limpopo River which runs through beautiful terrain and gives refuge to Crocodile, Hippopotamus and many water birds common to the region. Klipspringers perch high on the peaks of hills bordering these flat lands and seem to fly from one point to another landing on four feet in an area no larger than a dinner plate. Amazing display. Nyala, a not common antelope, is frequently seen in this region and the male of the species is magnificent. The Luvuhu River branches from the Limpopo and transects the park creates pools where hippopotamus cavort as though they were weightless. The buoyant water allows them freedom that they are denied on land and when not feeding on the river bottom they can be quite boisterous. But on land or in water one must give them wide berth as they are responsible for more human deaths in Africa than any other animal. They have serious tempers.
From 11:30 AM until 4:00 PM we stayed in camp, ate a welcome lunch , doused ourselves under a cold water shower, fully clothed, and stretched out on narrow cots trying to avoid the slightest movement which, by the way, is exactly what the animals and birds were doing. By 4:30 PM we were off for another three hours of bush walking until it was time for Sundowners. This wonderful African tradition allows everyone the opportunity to relax and enjoy the spectacular sunsets which silhouette both animals seeking their resting spots and flocks of birds winging their way to roosts. Driving back to camp in the dark we directed beams of light and caught intriguing sights of predators; civet, serval, genet, jackal and even lion. A delicious dinner including fresh fruit and salad awaited and an early bedtime. Four bells comes around very quickly.
Our adventure was not over, however, as on our 4th day while driving back to Punda Maria we rounded a bend and drove to within 15 feet of a buffalo bull drinking from a roadside pool. He was not pleased and I was too startled to reach for the camera, nevertheless the mental picture is as breathtaking today as it was then. These creatures are massive and their boss, horns and glowering face seem to cover the horizon when one is this close.
Travelling in a southerly direction we passed Baobab Hill where these ancient succulents have trunks that can measure more than 35' in girth and are recorded at over 2800 years of age. They are tree-like to be sure but with their stubby branches not like any other tree and seem to be more of a huge plant gone awry.
The bird life in Kruger is varied and prolific with 484 different species located in riverine terrain, semi-desert, mountainous terrain and scrubby dry forest. Vultures, however, are everywhere. There are more species of vulture in Africa than anywhere in the world and most of them appear here. These birds, unlike our turkey vultures, are predators as well as scavengers and grow to immense sizes with 7' wing spans. A vast number of hawks are found in all types of terrain and are beautiful to watch as they soar and dive. In fact, predators of all types enjoy a successful existence in Kruger where large Tawny Eagles are plentiful and the majestic Martial Eagle can be found. Along river banks Fish Eagles, which resemble our Bald Eagle, are frequently seen perched on overhanging branches. One of the most colourful of the predator species is the Bateleur with bright red on both head and feet.
But it is the smaller sunbirds, rollers, bee-eaters and orioles that add flamboyant colour to the bush. And they are as bountiful as they are beautiful. My favourite was the Lilac breasted Roller whose preference for perching on tree tops made him an easy photo subject. Yellowbilled, Saddlebilled and Marabou stork stand so tall that they are hard to miss. Hornbills abound and are certainly one of the most easily recognizable. We saw an occasional Ostrich and discovered many species of owl which are difficult to spot during daylight. Brightly trimmed oxpeckers are easily found congregating on backs of the large mammals while the Kori Bustard, world's heaviest flying bird, is usually seen with his mate, head held high, slowly stalking through grass lands. The Goliath Heron, colorful in rust and black, leaps out of stream beds at the car's approach and casts a tremendous shadow with his 6 foot wing span yet the regal Secretary Bird, 4' tall, dressed in black and light grey with red on it's face and a golden beak, is my love. These long legged, high stepping beauties walk with leisurely disdain across open plains without evidencing a concern in the world. Woody increased his bird list by several hundred species and for all bird lovers, Kruger is a magnet and a sure reward.
Our next camp, Shingwedzi, sits on a river of the same name and is near the Kanniedood and Biesiesvlei Dams which offer good views of water birds and game. The camps in Kruger provide the traveller with a variety of choices for accommodation. Many have air conditioned cabins, generally circular in structure, with high pointed thatched roofs. They are attractive and for the American traveller, inexpensive. One must be within the camp fences before dark or pay a stiff fine. They allow open air cooking fires or simple restaurant fare which frequently presents local game on the menu. The food is not memorable, generally overcooked and it is wise to pack in much of your own. Sitting about a brai fire after dark, if you're properly clothed and covered with repellent, is lovely, for African nights are ablaze with stars and the cries of night hunters and the hunted, too, I'm afraid. But this is part of the experience. A nearby lion's roar certainly creates a reflective moment.
Rivers like Letaba, Oliphants and Sabie criss cross Kruger and as you drive there are loops descending to the either the river's rim or to views overlooking the banks. It is here that one sees crocodile. These beasts are not the size of our Everglade alligators. Doing our best to be conservative we estimated the large fellows at 5 feet across their backs and over 20 foot long. They lie in groups on sand spits seemingly dead for they do not move for hours on end. They 'gape' to lower their temperature which reveals a pale yellow lining to their cavernous mouths ringed by sets of most alarming looking teeth. Between hippos and crocodiles you never get the urge to take a dip no matter how unbelievably hot it becomes.
Our next camp site, Mopani, the newest of the camps, is modern and comfortable. It is built on the course of the Tsende River and fronts the Pioneer Dam, all good game viewing spots. Driving through this park is a slow affair because each bend in the road can bring a surprise. Sometimes it's a herd of impala which scatter but sometimes it's a huge bull elephant who does not scatter. This is sobering and lessens the need for speed limit signs. We continued to travel south to Letaba camp located on a bend in the Letaba River where herds of elephant, buffalo, blue wildebeest and zebra are common. Letaba offers the opportunity to go through Elephant Hall housing a pictorial history of all the famous park elephants, some of whom are among the largest ever photographed.
From north to south in Kruger the landscape changes from Mopani veld to rolling grasslands in the central part to a rich mix of flora dominated by Acacia (fever tree) and Marula trees in the southern sector which affects the animal concentrations. But along all the routes between camps game viewing is splendid. The main roads are paved and fairly straight so it is far better to take dirt roads which meander around clumps of forest and trace the river's edge. Some animal species are always difficult to see but on these soft roads the regal Kudu and tiny Steenbock as well as an occasional Tsessebe or Bushbuck can be spotted for they avoid the tarmack. Chacma baboon survive in profusion in Kruger and can be pesky. While parked on a bridge watching graceful swallows dart, a baboon troop descended to scrambled over our car trying to get in. As a camper drove past they leaped from our car and from the bridge railings to it's roof. Then, as a second car passed the camper they sprang from it to the newly arrived opportunity. All this amazing activity happened in the space of 10 minutes and then they were off with babies clinging and old males barking, displaying incredibly large teeth and their brilliantly coloured rumps. Just as strangely designed, the Warthog are easily spotted and offer a comical moment when they dash off with three or four babies trailing in a straight line with stiff tails pointed skyward. Black-backed jackal peer furtively from low scrub but can sometimes be caught feeding in the open . Giraffe find it difficult to hide. Their unusually tall profiles make them easy to enjoy and we were especially tickled to see babies peeking from behind mother's back or around her long neck. These are babies but not little. They arrive in this world 6 foot tall.
Olifants rest camp, near the Lebombo Mountains, is perched on a cliff overlooking the northern bank of the Olifants River and offers views of the park which cannot be topped. It offers an excellent bird hide and it was near here that I had the most dramatic experience of this venture. My husband had gone birding before sunrise and when I woke I heard dishes being moved about on our open air porch which housed our kitchen. I called a "Good morning, Woody" but receiving no answer I just went on asking about his morning excursion when the crash of a plate on tile propelled me to the door remarking that he sounded like a grizzly bear out there. No bear! No husband! Instead I had a troop of more than a dozen baboons occupying our kitchen, scattering food everywhere with one adolescent holding an entire mango in his jaws. He scrambled off with his prize but his elders were not about to vacate. The screened door next to my bed was no more that 5 feet from this increasingly angry mob but I was angrier still and took to shouting and door banging and throwing sneakers. This mel*e went on for half an hour with Kilroy-Was-Here fingers and eyes peeping over the porch wall constantly attempting to get back to the food if I quieted down for even a split minute. Before the last great male left he bounded up the wall, rushed the door with jaws agape screeching his most thunderous screech which certainly ended my door banging. Fortunately, it was just his last hurrah and suddenly they were gone. That ended my staying alone in camp, I promise you.
While driving the next morning we had the great fortune to witness a solitary male leopard meander out of dense cover, saunter down the river bank and leisurely drink. He filled imaginations and our camera lenses for many thrilling moments before he sinuously weaved his way back through the bush which closed about him so compleely that seeing him, just seconds before, seemed like a dream. As rare as it is to sight leopard during daylight hours, hippo and crocodile are commonly visible in these river settings.
Continually travelling south, the next overnight area was Satara, second largest rest camp, which overlooks a water hole that has a large concentration of game, including lion. Water holes make for excellent viewing of many species. It is about the only place one can glimpse waterbuck which sport a greyish hide with a large white ring around their aft end. It resembles a large target and whatever nature had in mind with this camouflage, eludes me. All viewing is best during dry seasons and water holes provide excellent photo opportunities. A small but very attractive rest camp, Orpen, is nearby, somewhat off the main route and is a particularly nice place to visit. Satara offers visitors night drives, which like drives in Nyalaland, provide an opportunity to see the nocturnal animal life and enjoy sundowners.
We stopped at Skukuza Camp for a cool drink and to stretch our legs and visited the Memorial Library and a bird hide but chose to travel down 'The Lion Drive' and picnic at Nkuhlu on our way to spend our last evening in Kruger at Lower Sabi. We took a hour to drive to nearby Crocodile Bridge and Hippo Pools where we climbed huge rocks and found not only the elusive African finfoot (bird) but also a very large lizard nestled in a fault of the rock face. He was too big to investigate further.
It is estimated that half the park's population of cheetah are found in the area of Lower Sabi. There are walking trails within this camp and it's good to get out of the confinement of your car once in a while. This is the locale of the famous Jock of the Bushveld story book. The most southerly rest camp is Berg-En-Dal which has a swimming pool! But we opted for the Bushman Trail primitive camp where, once again, we took to a three day walking safari with our ever present armed guides. It was here that we crossed the trail of two rhinoceros who got bigger with each step until I decided to put a tree between us. When they caught our scent the young male spun about and took a run at us which just about did me in. However, Woody thought this was a perfect Kodak moment and from my somewhat hidden stand I nearly fainted. Suddenly, our guides tossed small branches no bigger that my arm, in front of the rhino whereupon he stopped in his tracks, turned and lumbered off. I could scarcely believe my eyes. The guides had not even unshouldered their rifles and seemed quite unperturbed.
Such is life in this wilderness. I must say, however, that they were not at all casual an hour later when we came upon a herd of elephant with nursing babes. Guns came off shoulders and stern looks alerted us to keep absolutely quiet. We were across a stream about 250 feet away which really is quite close and there we stayed until we were signaled to back away as noiselessly as possible. They did not catch our scent and we were not in danger but we were properly impressed with the damage they could wreak when shown a photo of what had once been a car and now resembled something metal, flattened out of recognition. Even the most experienced do not fool with elephants.
While on foot one discovers interesting things. For instance, the Marula tree which bears two inch long, very sweet fruit containing a one inch nut. With so little nourishment it was surprising to find that elephants adore them. There are tales that they eat so many the fruit ferments in their stomachs and they get drunk. Our guides dismissed this but assured us that elephants did follow trails to trees as their fruit ripened. Of course, we tasted them and from then on filled our pockets, not only for the sweetness but for their thirst quenching properties on long bush walks.
Now it was time to leave the park and head for the Swaziland border. We passed through immigration easily after paying our road tax and were enjoying views of beautiful mountains and prosperous looking plantations of banana and sugar cane when we came upon a road block. Armed and serious soldiers asked us to open the car and trunk and thoroughly inspected everything. After they dismissed us we questioned the search and were told it was for guns and drugs. We thought no more about it until, four hours later, we reached the southern border. Again we passed through immigration easily but when we entered the small South African border hut directly next door the lady assured us we were very lucky to get out. It seems that a government coup had begun and ended during the four hours we were travelling. Next time we'll drive the long way around and stay within South Africa's borders.
Next stop, a Natal Game park, Mkuzi. (In order to pronounce the many African names that begin with M followed by a consonant, one simply hums the M and then pronounces the rest of the word.) Here we were given a marvellous, roomy tent. Fully screened with raised wooden flooring, a refrigerator and large compartmentalized bath and a huge fan to keep us cool, made it so enjoyable we decided to stay for three days. The walking trails were well designed and the camp personnel unusually pleasant. We by-passed Umfolozi and Hluluwe camps but Woody, having stayed in those years ago, assured me they were very good. We drove instead to Mtunzini which is a lovely town on the Indian Ocean with an endless beach, beautiful residential sections, golf and tennis clubs and a proper downtown area where I saw a display of Clinique, Jones of New York and Bally shoes. The Park is near the best place to find the Palm Nut Vulture, a highlight for birders. We spent an hour watching a large, white feathered mother feeding her gray baby who was very nearly as her size. Palm nuts are as big as tennis balls and solid as bowling balls but Mama seemed up to the job of wrenching it into baby sized bites.
The coastal drive to Durban was a joy but seeing the big city well up in our windscreen seemed strange and not altogether welcome. Not to worry! Within two hours we were aboard a beautiful cruise ship and off on another birding adventure up the Mozambique Channel with five days of good food and a marvellous cabin. A fitting end to a very special month of adventure. Next safari, Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls in September.
by Neal Doten
Commas - These rules aren't made to be broken!
Let's take a look at some of the rules you may (...or may not) remember about commas. We're going to talk about items in series, introductory modifiers, and two special cases involving the names of people and businesses. There are numerous other rules, but we'll save them for later.
Carefully consider the use of commas whenever you list a series of items in a sentence. If you list three (or more) things and don't connect them with the word 'and,' then you should set them apart with commas. Here are two examplas - the first uses 'and' ... the second uses commas:
"Running a business successfully takes knowledge and skill and hard work."
"Running a business successfully takes knowledge, skill and hard work."
Either one is correct, but the second example is more commonly used. Also, don't get carried away and list too many things in a sentence - more than four makes the sentence hard to read and possibly confusing.
A compound sentence requires a comma before the connector such as 'and, but, or...' Here are two examples that show when to use the comma - and when not to:
"Ralph sprayed the fire with water, but he just made things worse."
"The wind whipped the water and formed whitecaps across the bay."
In the first sentence, you should use a comma before the word 'but' because the two parts of the sentence could be separate sentences. In the second sentence, don't use a comma before the word 'and.' The rest of the sentence can't stand on its own - "formed whitecaps across the bay" is not a sentence - it's a fragment (the subject of the sentence is missing).
Introductory modifiers (...remember, we agreed to use 'modifiers' as a term to cover a whole raft of things) need commas too. Anytime you begin a sentence with a phrase - there are all kinds - you should use a comma to set it off from the rest of the sentence. Here are some examples:
"Grabbing the bull by the horns, I suddenly found myself tossed in the air."
"To get away from smoke, you should move upwind from the fire."
"In addition, the winter rains are a blessing."
There are some special considerations when using commas with the names of people and businesses. These are important to know when you write business letters or cover letters for resume's.
When writing people's names, it helps to know if they prefer the use of commas with a Junior (Jr.) or Senior (Sr.) designation at the end of their full name. The rule is... leave out the comma unless you know it is preferred. Here are some examples:
No comma
"Raymond C. Jones Jr."
Comma preferred
"Michael J. Fox, Sr."
If you place the abbreviation at the end of a name (e.g., academic degree, title, or Esquire), be sure to set it off with two commas when the name appears within a sentence. Here are three examples:
Academic degree
"I will call Dr. Kent Paxton, Ph.D., to obtain a second opinion."
Title
"Sir Lance Allot, K.O.T.R.T., was one of the jousting competitors."
(K.O.T.R.T. = Knight of the Round Table... just kidding with this one!)
Esquire
"For legal advice, I suggest you contact James Smith, Esq., with the firm Dewey, Cheatem and Howe."
Using commas to set off 'Inc.' or 'Ltd.' following a business name follows the same rule that you use for 'Jr.' and 'Sr.' Only use commas if you know they are preferred in a business name. These two examples will help:
No comma - not used in a sentence
"Abaco Flight Services Ltd."
Comma used in the business name - used in a sentence
"Florida Yacht Charters and Sales, Inc., offers power and sail boats."
That's enough for commas! Time to lighten things up a bit. Enjoy the humour created by these ill-fated attempts at writing...
(From Richard Lederer's More Anguished English)
"The bride was wearing a gorgeous old lace gown that fell to the floor as she walked down the aisle."
"Colorado's wildlife officers are investigating the second death of a bull moose."
"Reverend Hawley was congratulated on being able to get his parish plastered."
The old mail boat MV Deborah K II was laid to rest two miles east of Foul Cay, between Man O' War Cay and Scotland Cay, where it will become a diving attraction for generations to come.
The vessel plied between Nassau, Marsh Harbour and North Abaco for many years under the captaincy of Garnet Archer and his mate Donnie Moss, giving sterling service to the communities it served. It was one of the largest Out Island mail boats in its day.
According to Louis Schneider of Marsh Harbour, who made himself responsible for the stringent cleaning of the boat before its submersion, the vessel lies upright on top of two large rocks. This means divers will be able to pass underneath the boat - an unusual feature in wreck sites. The vessel lies in 19 fathoms of water and the main mast is 30-35 feet below the surface.
The actual sinking of the vessel required cutting a hole in its side. The location of the site was deliberately chosen outside the limits of protected undersea parks. The GPS reading for the site is available from the Central Abaco Port Authority and all dive shops in the area. Louis Schneider and divemaster Skeet LaChance will be establishing buoys for dive boats in the very near future.
Steel ships like the Deborah K II make excellent refuges for fish. When sunk in a depth of water 9 to 10 times greater than the height of the vessel an up-current of water is generated that provides a more favourable environment for all varieties of sea life.
In addition, the salt water acts upon the steel and makes it give up iron ions (Fe+++). Iron is a necessary part of photosynthesis in plants and this release of ions encourages the growth of seaweed and phytoplankton, which in turn provide food for small fish. The small fish attract larger predatory species.
The sinking of the Deborah K II was not merely a matter of disposing of a derelict vessel. It was an investment in our environment and our tourism future.
Dear Sir,
In a splendid effort to support tourism, the Marsh Harbour Port Authority celebrated Independence Day by creating our first artificial reef. The Bahamian mail boat and light cargo transport ship Deborah K II was recently deemed no longer seaworthy. This 165 foot steel vessel was denuded of hazards to the environment and towed just outside of Fowl Cay. Here she was scuttled. In a few days she made her way to the ocean floor. The Deborah K II sank to a beautiful final resting place in about 100 feet of water. She is perched in a perfectly upright position with the bow facing due east, into the open sea. Multiple scuba diving trips by the staff of Abaco Beach resort Dive Centre have allowed us to Ôtouch upÕ her delightful pose. Within days we started to see her new friends come to welcome her.
Current residents include a one hundred pound grouper, six huge parrotfish, a swarm of horse-eye jacks and their guardian, several French angelfish, barracuda and the ever-present yellowtails. One can start to imagine what a month will bring.
At midship the keel is at one hundred and five feet. The ship slopes slightly down and at the bow it touches one hundred and ten feet. The main deck lies in ninety feet of water, while the top of the mast peeks up to thirty-five feet. The forward cargo holds are open and can be explored by an experienced diver. These depths are compatible with recreational scuba diving standards for all major certifying agencies. The azure water allows over one hundred feet of visibility and makes this an excellent training site as well as a magnificent dive site.
A few of the guests at Abaco Beach Resort Dive Centre have been privileged to accompany us to the Deborah K II and the exclamations of praise and excitement are unanimous. We have invited a diver with experience in the field of underwater ship documentation to accompany us to the site. He will be at the Abaco Beach Resort for three weeks in July and August. His goal is to document, photograph and sketch our lady in her new surroundings. We feel that non-divers should be able to enjoy this new addition along with us.
Danny Holcomb,
Abaco Beach Resort Dive Centre.
Funeral services for Demetrius Roberts, 36, were held on 12th July at Mount Zion Baptist Church, Sandy Point. Officiating was Rev Napoleon Roberts and interment followed in Sandy Point Public Cemetery.
Mr Roberts was survived by his wife, Janet; parents Lillian and Wilba Roberts; four sisters, Stephanie Fox, Marsha Swain, Marinett Walker and Eliza Mae Bain; four brothers, Edney Gaitor, Derek Gaitor, Patrick Roberts, Wilba Roberts Jr, Peter Roberts, Angelo Roberts, John Roberts and Stephen Pinder; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Ellen Dames, 81, were held at Mount Zion Baptist Church, Sandy Point, on 19th July. Rev Napoleon Roberts officiated and interment was in the Public Cemetery, Sandy Point. Mrs Dames never had children of her own but raised many adopted children including Lowell and Emery Burrows; Angie Roberts; and Cynthia, Eric and Shadell McKinney. She is also survived by a daughter-in-law, Arnette Burrows, and a great granddaughter, Lanette Burrows, as well as many nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Godfrey Williams, 32, were held on 20th July at St Andrews Methodist Church, Dundas Town. Rev Carla Culmer officiated and interment was in the Public Cemetery, Dundas Town.
Mr Williams is survived by his wife, Sharon; parents, Daniel and Merle Williams; three sons, Kareem, Alonzo and Godfrey Jr; three daughters, Tanya, Shandra, Catherine and Gardenia; ten brothers, Stevenson Jay Swain, Sydney, Ewith, Wayde, Hillt, Barrington, John, Phillip, Franklyn and Alfred Williams; six sisters, Bethsheba Rigby, Lenora Black, Shirley Lockhart, Angela Neely, Debbie King and Linda Huyler; and many other relatives and friends.
