The Conchquistador

One of the ways to get out in the water is to dive for conch, or be the one driving the dinghy as Ben dives for conch.  We went out from Man O War Cay with Chris and Deke and their poodle, Penny, who likes to supervise.
Way to go, Ben!

And another one!

The shells are all sandy and sea weedy, I don't know how Ben could see them on the bottom.

OK, how do we get these critters out?

We get a lesson  from Chris and Deke at the fish cleaning station.

Trimming the meat from the other "stuff" ...

...for tasty meals of conch salad, cracked conch, conch fritters, conch chowder...I'm going to be busy!

 After a little sanding and cutting with the dremmel tool, and voila!

We have our very own conch horn to celebrate the setting of the sun in the Abacos.

Scenes of Great Guana Cay

We motored across the Sea of Abaco and visited Guana a couple times- it's on the east side of the island of Abaco and is the longest of all the cays.  The first time we were on a mooring ball in Settlement Harbour.  Old Rosie looks pretty peaceful out there.

These sailing dinghies were sitting on the bottom at low tide.  There is often 2 to 3 feet difference between low and high tide.

The guide books warn about various things to look out for in the Abacos, but along the sandy road that crosses the cay there is a sign posted right on the tree!

We checked out Nippers Bar and Grill on the Atlantic side of the cay with our friends on Clairvoyant, Brian and Jeanne.

Note the colourful, multilevel decks. the bar to the right, and behind that fence there are a couple swimming pools.

Back at the harbour, it was music time.  Brian has a ukelele, mandolin and guitar on board.

I wonder how many tropical songs we can think of...

Our second visit to Guana was with Chris and Ed on Freedom.  The reason for the visit was to go to the Barefoot Man Concert at Nippers. Ben and Ed look ready to party!
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From the upper deck, if you looked one way you could see the beautiful beach and the Atlantic.

Look the other way, and there is the Barefoot Man himself and his back up band.
"...down in Abaco....I want to see...Conchy Joe down in Abaco..."

Chris and Jane enjoying the sunshine...

 This weekend event is known as "March Break for Geeezers", I guess I can see why they would say that..., present company excluded!

"...oo-oo-oo I love this bar!"

Later that day, around dusk, we were back at the dock of the Orchid Bay Marina, and noticed this dark shadow go by the boat.  Divers are advised to be out of the water by 4-  that's dinner time for sharks.

Beach party at Tahiti Beach

Terry - busy gathering brush

A lovely sunset after a busy day of swimming, kayaking,
searching for shells and sea glass, hunting for fish and lobster

Terry definitely holds the record 

Way to go Kim

Keep practising, Jane!

Even squeezed in a singsong!