Time to Look Toward Home

Today is Wednesday, 4/26/06. This morning Susan Tonon caught the airplane home to Chicago. Linda and Loy got haircuts this morning and saw our friends Dan and Jean, crew of the Viper, from Belmont Harbour, Chicago off as they return to Chicago via Ft. Lauderdale, Mobile and the rivers North. In the week that Susan spent with us we visted areas of the Abacos that have become familiar to us since mid February. We went to Great Guana Cay where we bought homegrown tomatoes from Milo, overlooked the reef from Nipper's and had dinner at Sunset Grill on the beach of Fisher's Bay. We returned to Hope Town where we stayed on a mooring, this time in fair weather, operated by Truman Major, whom we learned is married to Lynn Major, prinicpal of Every Child Counts, the first school for special needs children in the Abacos. We took the dinghy South from Hope Town to Tahitii Beach and snorkeled. In Marsh Harbour we visited Mermaid Reef twice for snorkeling and found that the water is warming and the numbers of tropical fish have increased since our arrival in February. Susan went with us to the Scottish Presbyterian Church in Marsh Harbour which we now count as a home away from home. On the daily reality side we have been challenged by a failed part in the marine toilet for which we had to order parts from Florida. The parts have now arrived and Loy gets to reassemble the "head" for the 5th time. Ann Ringland and Susan Tonon get the "Sandpiper Bucket" award for flexibility and good sportsmanship while awaiting toilet repairs. We are restocking and doing all the things that are needed to cross the gulf stream and return to the US. We are watching the weather carefully and hope to find an opening to cross within the next week. We have loved our time in the Abacos and will miss the people and the culture we have become acquainted with here. We could not have made this work without the help of Loy's sister, Ruth, who from Colorado Springs has kept our bills paid and forwarded our mail. We are very grateful to her. When we get back to the US shores we will be back in cell phone range and will look forward to talking to you.