This was my first meeting with a barracuda, on my FIRST scuba dive. As you can see, it is at least six feet long! My father had told me, prior to my first scuba dive, "Don't worry about sharks and barracuda. The books says they don't bother people." To which I retorted, my luck, I'll meet one that hasn't read the book!




Peterson's Cay, a tiny island just east of the Grand Lucayan Waterway and a half mile off shore. Great spot for a picnic. Photographed by Sharon in 1996.




The conch shell collection you saw earlier was taken by her as well.





Gold Rock Beach. One of the countless magnificent deserted beaches within 30 minutes of anywhere. To get to this one, you walk along the path and bridges of a mangrove swamp, carefully maintained by the Bahamas National Trust. This beach is our favorite for the grand kids to play.





Early morning calm. This is the same canal wall across from us which was barely visible in the hurricane shot of our dock with the water creeping up. The stillness is intoxicating. The holes seen in the wall are the result of Bahamians' and tourists' penchant for disregarding boat speed and wake regulations.




Gazelle II, the family "yacht." My kind of boat: lots of fun, little maintenance.





Shortly after we moved here there were two potcakes that really didn't have a home. Sandy (mother) and Yoko (son) liked what we had to offer and moved in. Being "street" dogs, and especially Sandy, an "alpha" dog, they felt the need for freedom and would want to take a stroll once in a while, usually returning the next morning for breakfast. Yoko was poisoned and Sandy escaped from a kennel while we were in Montreal and was never seen again. This is them with us and Jeff, 1997.





Three generations and N4334L. Marion frequently comments that my facial expression is that of "the cat that's got the cream," to which I always reply, "that's because I do!" That most certainly applies here.
March 2004




Adam, Lia and Allison at Bishop's Beach, where the greatest, freshest crack' conch and steam' snapper is served.
January 2001





At the end of another fishing tournament in the winter, it's lines out at 4pm and race to the weigh in before 5. Occasionally it's a beautiful ride home.




Those who don't believe in Santa Claus must never have been to Port Lucaya Marketplace a week before before Christmas. As one adorable little Bahamian boy said, sitting on Santa's lap when he pulled on Santa's beard, "Oh, Santa, you real!!!" His eyes went as wide as saucers. So what if Santa sweats a little in his suit.





Our own "biologically balanced" aquarium, about 20 feet deep at this point, a thousand yards from the house. And we NEVER have to change the water or feed the fish!




An early evening shot of our house, taken from the dock





Same shot at night. Our centre column light acts as an unofficial navigation aid for the fishermen coming in at night





This was taken from Deep Water Cay, looking west, about 60 miles east of Freeport. The radio mast is at Maclean's Town, at the eastern tip of Grand Bahama Island.




In shallow water, probably 10 feet, a few miles off the extreme northwestern tip of the island (West End) on a windless summer day. This is probably 50 nautical miles due east of West Palm Beach.





Lots of action building over Dover Sound, a frequent occurrence during the summer.





Another summer afternoon, looking northwest on our street. It's interesting to watch which of the towering cumulous clouds will mature into nasty thunderstorms.





The new, improved family chariot is a Cessna 182RG. It is a dream to fly, has lots of capacity, is fast and its range is approximately three times that of my bladder! It is also the most docile high performance aircraft that I know of.





The panel, showing all the bells, whistles and toys a pilot could ask for. Some of the goodies: electric trim, 3 axis autopilot, Stormscope, GPS and Loran, plus the usual IFR redundant navigational equipment.





Before too long the ground crew became accustomed to our "heavy" arrivals from Ft Lauderdale shopping trips. This time the fellow came out to us with the baggage conveyor belt truck!





Out fishing one summer day, a serious small build up occurred about 3 miles south of the Freeport harbour. This dramatic shot, a classic example of the summer phenomena, shows all the characteristics of a summer thunderstorm, taken from a safe vantage point about 10 miles away and 5 miles off shore.





Showtime! Twice a day they bring out the dolphins to the reef to entertain the divers before their dive. We we lucky enough to be there at the same time. Well, a little bit of planning and timing may have contributed to the luck.




In 2000, my friend Len was out for a walk and spotted this recently fallen coconut that had begun rooting by the side of the road. He came back to the house, got a shovel and recovered the nut, to replant it in our yard. When our expert Haitian gardener saw it the following week, he laughed and told us it would never grow. Here it is, in February 2001.





Here it is, in July, 2002. The gardener? Long gone!





After two hurricanes, still going strong.
August 2005





A special treat for us was to be able to celebrate Passover here with some of the kids April, 2003. Elisabeth is saying the blessing over lighting the candles.





I think Ilana was getting a little impatient for the part where we actually start eating!





Marion, Connie, Jeff and Don at Bishops; steam fish and crack' conch in the foreground.
March 2003




Mitch and Kristen at Gold Rock; so-named because at sunset the rock in the background turns to a gold colour.
April 2004





Mitch and Kristen plus friends for Passover.
April 2004




Adele and Marion at the Garden of the Groves.
April 2004




Breakfast on the patio.
April 2004




Three generations, again, but this is the marine version.
December 2004





Lone Palm, Lone Tower, a few of the things left standing at the airport after the hurricanes of 2004. These are now both gone, levelled for safety purposes.





Everyone knows that after a hurricane there is an incredible increase of flies, constantly swarming everywhere. Each time, I've heard some explanation about the dump on the north side of the airport being flooded and therefore they have to go elsewhere for food. My quick action with my camera seems to suggest another reason for the population explosion.




Ladies' lunch on the patio, January 2005.




Mitch chillin' after lunch at Bishops.
March 2005