The snow now is rather mushy and patchy with slippery and muddy  spots but there is nothing like spring sun, Saturday market and walking dogs to cheer the soul!  Both the dogs are running and occasionally sticking a nose under the snow after foraging mice. Don't remember when I was last on the mountain bike but again got lured out around 6 PM down the ravine and a stop on this walking bridge just as the sun setting over down town....like how the beams frame each view. If March goes out like a lion with more snow as is forecast for next week there will be some happy skiers and snowboarder on this city center hill.

Time went much too quickly and cannot believe it was just a week ago today we packed up and ready to go Saturday morning.  Freeport from the air about noon... note the white beaches and the breakwater near where we were staying.  On Bahamair flight between islands different colors of ocean and islands Nassau airport packed a salad for lunch..last of the sun and finally at about 7 PM Stopover at Toronto airport with my brother with Amelia heading back to university in Montreal and yours truly home to Edmonton.

Continuing trip journal.... the maps here give an idea of the many islands in the Bahamas. We stayed in Free port and took a 1-2 hour drive  to

the extreme east end, the highway JUST ENDED in a curvy gravel path, down which we did not venture further.

The return trip through several small towns and another deserted stunning beach   Both of us took our turns, Amelia doing her open water daily training swim and yours truly with the snorkel and mask.  Amelia was determined to wash her blue jeans in the salt water and of course was hamming up for the camera trying to do cartwheels. A few other tourists stopped and the usual exchange of “ will you take a picture of us together “ resulted in some good ones all round. …how many times do I repeat that word stunning!

Although a slight coolish wind, the ocean was actually much warmer.

25/02/2010

Thursday afternoon we left about 2 PM to drive to the east end of the island, for the most part a long straight paved 2 lane road in forested areas of pine trees and shorter palms, two layers of growth after the hurricanes 5 years ago. Stopped at the Lucayan National park, http://www.bnt.bs/parks_lucayan.php

which had walking paths on both sides of the highway. The first lead to the 3 Lucayan underground freshwater caves, with hanging trees, small fishes, bats, a unique discovery of previously un known crustacean and possibly original burial mound for the local Indians .

A hike through the forest and mango grove including pauses on interesting trees, broke out on the a stunning long white sandy clean beach just coming out of low tide.  Captured this Heron. Grey uprooted long dead tree trunks provided an interesting contrast to the smoothness of the beach and prop for Amelia and various poses, including the warrior here. Walk back to the car over the mango swamp was a boardwalk signs on various fish and bird species with the directions to leave the fishing to the birds!

Last Wednesday evening....Home briefly to change, quick soak in the hot tub as chilled and off to Taino beach just outside of town, planning to catch the 6 PM fish fry. Very windy and just before sunset provided not only a lovely walk but also great photo ops. Walked along the beach with a dock in the distance covered in gulls. Just in barefoot on the sand and footprints soon washed away. Amelia wanting to get some shots on the dock fooling on dock Bonnie on dock Wed. night fish fry line up with a choice of snapper chicken or lobster, with sides of rice, potato salad, or conch fritters. Of course local Sands beer to top it off.

Home by 7:30 PM. ....an evening tropical downpour and thunderstorm where all the power went out for 30 mins....it was actually rather neat!