Covering the people, places and t’ings of the “Family” Bahamas Out Islands.
A bit of “sip sip” for July…
The temperature is rising, and days have gotten longer; the beauty, luminosity, and warmth of the Bahamian Out Island waters beckon with their sirens’ song…
With the US 4th of July, and the 40th Anniversary of the Bahamas Independence, July 10th, on the calendar this month, you’ll find plenty of activity throughout the Out islands: boating flings, Junkanoo Jump Up’s, Flag raising ceremonies, Bahamas Royal Police Band concerts, Fish Fries and, parties with local vocalists and bands. A fun month. To check out what festivities will be happening on your favorite island, go to www.Bahamas.com.
THE ABACOS
Marsh Harbour
Put the Goombay Summer Festival, held in Abaco through August 1, on your calendar. You won’t want to miss all the music, food, a Junkanoo rush-out and local crafts: http://bit.ly/1bzEDsc.♦
For northeastern Florida visitors, Silver Airways has started once-a-week service from Jacksonville (JAX) to Marsh Harbour (MHH). The service will depart Jacksonville on Saturdays at 10:31 a.m., arriving in Marsh Harbour Airport at 12:16 p.m. The return flight will depart Marsh Harbour on Saturdays at 12:46, arriving in Jacksonville at 2:54 p.m. Craig Air Center, a charter air flight business based at Jacksonville Executive Airport at Craig Field (CRG), also offers flights to Marsh Harbor:(800) 818-5351. ♦
Airgate Aviation offers flights from Daytona Beach to Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay (TCB): (386) 478-0600. ♦
Here’s a handy helper for visitors…convenient cell phone rentals, with daily, weekly monthly rates available through Out Island Inter.Net, Ltd., with offices based in Marsh Harbour. If you have a cottage rental in mind amongst the Abaco Cays, this company—since 1979—also offers new mach speed broadband Internet to locations in Abaco where the traditional cable, DSL or phone lines are not accessible, or feasible. Contact Out Island Inter.Net through their FaceBook page, website or 242-367-3006 (ext: 103 for pricing). ♦
Rolling Harbour
There’s a delightful new book on the publishing horizon. After nearly two years of fieldwork, the Delphi Lodge Club’s photographic guide to the bird life of Abaco will roll off the presses in coming months, possibly in time for Christmas. With amazing photography contributed by many club guests, the book is written in lively style by club member Keith Salvesen (aka Rolling Harbour) with the most exalted production values overseen by experienced art publisher Sally Salvesen. The print run will be just 600, so this is going to be a collector’s item – with a price tag to match. You can register your interest through their contact form on the Delphi website, or call Tel: (242) 366-2222 to let them know now. They will then keep you posted as publication looms. ♦
ANDROS
Small Hope Bay Lodge is hosting four students from Duke University for the summer. The “Green Tream” are working as interns for three months at Small Hope and will be designing and building a solar thermal system (solar hot water) and exploring the feasibility of solar photovoltaic to help offset the energy use of the resort. The majority of the all inclusive resort’s energy use is used for heating water. Given the location in the Bahamas and SHB’s environmentally oriented culture, there is tremendous solar potential. The property gets around 250 days of sun out of the year and receives about 3.5-5 kw per square meter at a latitude of 24° 42′ 0″ N. In addition to installing solar hot water, the team will also be helping Small Hope create a sustainable environmental management plan, along with energy, waste and water monitoring programs, as Small Hope continues to make their little piece of paradise more eco-friendly, and more sustainable. Go Green Team! ♦
BIMINI
BIMININorth Bimini
…Is in full swing-high-boating season, which began with Memorial Day celebrations, and fishing tournaments. During July 4th festivities, both islands were jumping with partying folks—airline seats were full, so were the hotels, marinas, restaurants, and watering holes. The Junkanoo Summer Festival began Fri, July 5, 2013—which runs through Fri, July 26, 2013. Performances by local and other Bahamian musicians are the highlight of activities including games, where visitors can also compete, plaiting of the Maypole, fashion shows, local food and drinks for sale, and Junkanoo rush-outs. The event takes place every Friday in July at the Bimini Craft Center in Alice Town, North Bimini. Contact: Bimini Tourist Office at (242) 347-3529. ♦
Sir Sean Connery, 007 himself, long time resident of the Bahamas, has lent his powerful voice of concern to the Protect Clifton Bay Initiative, this campaign has spread throughout the Out Islands and now includes the misguided cruise ship terminal proposal at Bimini Bay Resort on North Bimini, which, if brought to fruition, would destroy a number of natural marine habitats. ♦
Listen up! Catchy tune, excellent message…spreading fast…Check out this new song, written, arranged, and produced in May of this year by Bahamian entertainer, Kirkland Bodie, (K.B.). The song “Let’s Save the Bays” was inspired by the Save The Bays (Protect Clifton Bay) Coalition, and serves as a call to action concerning environmental issues around the country. You’ll hear specific bays mentioned repeatedly in the lyrics, Clifton Bay (New Providence), Bakers Bay (Abaco), and Bimini. Share this You Tube song with all your friends, and Let’s Save the Bays! ♦
Bimini’s natural beauty inspired the late Dr. Martin Luther King’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech, adding to the Islands’ rich & distinct history. Here’s a recent interview given by Martin Luther King III, to “Rolling Out E-Zine-The Urban Voice” on the impact the island had on his father. ♦
South Bimini
July 4th at Bimini Sands Resort and Marina brought forth the most amazing firework display you’ll ever see on such a tiny island. This incredible show ran for a solid 35 minutes and included the impressive IN THE WATER fireworks—quite an amazing sight. Stay tuned for my review on Bimini Sands Resort and Marina soon. In the meantime, take a peek at Bimini Sands web site and FaceBook page for new photos and packages. ♦
ELEUTHERA
Roy Schmidt, original owner of the Ramora Bay Club, has published a new book, Living the Harbour Island Dream: “Tryin’ t’make it” A New Yorker’s weekend visit to a small Bahamian Out Island becomes an eighteen-year sojourn of romance, humor, and challenge.
“
Across the two-mile stretch of the pristine water of the harbor, sat the jewel that is Harbour Island. It was hilly with an array of houses and quaint cottages clustered along the waterfront, painted in bright pastel colors with contrasting shutters, with a profusion of white roofs gleaming in the sunlight. As the small ferry drew closer, an unexpected feeling came over me. Could this be where I was meant to be?”– Amazon.com (Print & Kindle Edition) A true-life, humorous glimpse into the challenges of early days of ‘Brilands’ then tiny hotel industry–SD. ♦
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
MOB: The Marina Operators of The Bahamas in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism is preparing the expansion of the 2013-2014 edition of Bahamas Chart Map — based on growing popularity; with availability set for the start of the boat show season this coming fall. ♦
Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe, recently led a tourism industry delegation to New York City’s Caribbean Week, a major promotional event for Caribbean destinations; while there the minister announced many developments taking place in the Islands of The Bahamas, including the addition of gaming on Bimini this summer. ♦
‘Til next time, more islands, and new discoveries…may all good things be yours.
She reach… ~Sandra