A Journal, with Pictures

On January 17, Joyce and I left Hilton Head a day earlier than planned due to weather moving into our departure point. We originally planned to fly to Fort Lauderdale, refuel and fly on to Cat Island in the Bahamas. We instead would spend the afternoon with our Florida family and leave the next morning to start our four day stay at the Fernandez Beach resort before flying to the Turks and Caicos. We had lunch and then met our daughter Jennifer to pick up our grand daughter Alexandra from school. That evening Mike our son-in-law joined us for dinner at a fund raiser for Alexandra’s school. One thirty AM food poisoning struck and I was afraid I would die and then afraid I wouldn’t. The next morning a pre-flight of the pilot indicated we were not going to fly so I slept until two in the afternoon. Jennifer prepared home made soup, which stayed down and I started to regain strength, but still didn’t meet pilot pre-flight requirements on Thursday morning so we pushed back our departure to Friday. We communicated with Fernandez Bay Resort, who was very understanding and did not charge us for the delay. Friday we were ready to go and it was a great day to fly.

On Friday January 20, I was back to full strength and ready to fly to Cat Island. We took off at 10:00 AM and landed around noon. Our route of flight took us by Bimini, over Nassau, South of Abaco to Cat Island then to New Bight, MYCB, mostly within sight of an island. New Bight is un-towered and without a FBO, so one of the fireman directed us to a parking spot. We cleared customs and the fireman, John, took us in his personal car to Fernandez Beach Village. It turned out that everyone on Cat Island couldn’t do enough to make our stay pleasant. Tony the owner is a pilot and he and his wife Pam,were always on hand and very gracious hosts. Donna the manager, made sure our every need was fulfilled. Fernandez Bay Village defines laid back. Beautiful beach, very casual (rustic) accommodations and main resort, with classical Bahamian atmosphere.

Our cottage was called the Hummingbird House which was a short walk down the beach from the main resort. At night the clear skies gave us a spectacular view of the milky way on the walk back from dinner.

On Saturday Donna the resort manager drove Joyce and I to the Hermitage, which is a tiny chapel and hermit quarters built by Father Jerome atop the highest hill in The Bahamas. This Franciscan monk ministered to the people of Cat Island until 1956 from his Heritage, which affords a great view of Cat Island.

Our stay at Fernandez Bay Village was too short and we will return. It is a great place to relax and experience Bahamian hospitality at its best.

On January 22, we departed Cat Island for the short twenty minute flight to Stella Maris, MYLS, to refuel and clear customs out of the Bahamas. We were in the air in forty five minuets and on our way to the Providenciales, in the Turks and Caicos. We arrived after the one hour and twenty minuet flight and landed with the aid of the RNAV approach into runway ten. Provo Air, the FBO, helped us secure the aircraft, whisked us through customs and took us to our hotel, the Grace Bay Club. This property is absolutely fabulous. We had a great suite, the grounds were perfect, the location is in the middle of Grace Bay beach, the service was extraordinary and they have a five star restaurant to boot. Only complaint is that we watched our beloved 49ers defeat themselves in the NFC playoff game the night of our arrival.

We spent four great days and nights at the Grace Bay Club. We dined at three very good restaurants including the Anacona at the resort. The weather was perfect, warm but not humid with a nice breeze, and the beach as well as the pool were beautiful. The evening were warm and in all it was a great stay.

On January 26 we departed a 9:00 AM for Fort Lauderdale, KFXE and with a nice tail wind were on the ground in Florida, in 3 hours. The flight was back up the Bahamas chain over Stella Maris, Nassau and Bimini, rarely out of sight of land.

The islands and water were beautiful.

We landed, cleared customs, refueled, picked up a box lunch and were in the air in an hour. We again enjoyed a tail wind and arrived in Hilton Head before 4:00 P.M.

It was another great trip to the magical waters and islands of the Bahamas and tropical Atlantic.

Our friends the Yanofskys sent us a card with the “Just Relax” advice, which was so appropriate for the Christmas holiday.

The Montgomerys arrived the Thursday before Christmas from Fort Lauderdale. Friday was spent doing the final preparation and Alexandra visited Santa Claus.

Saturday the Prados otherwise known as the traveling circus arrived. Heidi drove and Gary came over on his boat. The Montgomerys and Prados enjoyed a boat ride which included a up close dolphin encounter.

Heidi helped Jennifer with the annual ginger bread house project. Jennifer then captured some images of her helpers.

Grandma prepared Christmas Eve dinner and then the children made reindeer food and put out cookies and milk for Santa. This year it was decided that the two traveling families would stay at a Villa in near by Shipyard Plantation so the children would all have a real bed and a chance to sleep. Everyone left with great anticipation that Saint Nick would soon be here.

Everyone arrived at Grandma and Grandpa’s house at 8:30 Christmas morning filled with excitement. It was apparent that Santa had stopped and left lots of gifts during the night. What then ensued could best be described as a childrens gift frenzy. Packages were ripped open, paper was flying, gifts of clothes were quickly tossed aside with everything accompanied by much screaming. As I watched I could only think is this the true meaning of Christmas? Once the children’s gifts were opened, they began to play with and examine what Santa had brought them, while the parents and grand parents exchanged gifts.

 

Grandma then prepared brunch for us all before everyone started to either play with or set up their gifts.

Grandma then prepared Christmas Dinner, while the playing and entertainment continued at a high level. There was time for a few more Christmas pictures when the children were ready for dinner, then we all enjoyed our Christmas feast.

After dinner more playing and family time then the children got into their Christmas PJ’s for one last photo and they were off to their Villa’s. Grandma and Grandpa relaxed and enjoyed desert and the sound of silence alone, then went to bed exhausted from a very active day.

Monday everyone played and enjoyed family. Gil and Brenn went to the airport Grandson learned about Grandpa’s airplane. They had lunch and went to a movie. The rest of the family had lunch and went to The Sand Box a children’s activity center. Pizza for dinner and of course lots of time on the new computers and playing with other toys. Tuesday the Prados left early and Wednesday the Montgomerys headed back for Florida. It was a great Christmas family holiday.

The Prado’s celebrated Thanksgiving with Gary’s family so Joyce and I flew from Hilton Head to Fort Lauderdale on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Except for head winds, it was a great flying day and we arrived by noon. We met Jennifer for lunch and picked Alexandra up from school. Mike came home form his office and we enjoyed grilled steaks in perfect Florida weather.

Wednesday was a relaxed day of shopping, preparation for tomorrows feast and more family time. We got to know the newest member of the family, Max, Alexandra’s new black kitten. Max is a piece of work, constantly at play.

We went out to the Weston Bone fish restaurant, which was packed, and had a very nice dinner.

Thursday, Thanksgiving day, the serious cooking got started. Alexandra showed off her skills with her Wi, beating everyone at bowling, tennis and hitting a few home runs. Thank goodness she has gotten tired of golf, since I don’t need to be defeated by a 7 year old. We watched football while the cooking continued and then enjoyed a great Thanksgiving feast. It was a perfect day, accept that evening our beloved 49ers took it on the chin from the Ravens.

Friday we visited the Everglades and Saturday we flew back to Hilton Head. Our flight was great, with a tail wind this time, so we got back in a little over two hours. We had lunch with our friends the Turrisi’s who had spent Thanksgiving on the Island. It was a great Thanksgiving week.

Friday after Thanksgiving Jennifer and Mike organized a trip to the Everglades. We drove to the Shark Valley entrance to the Everglades National Park and had reservations on the guided tram out into the park.

Jose was our guide, who educated us on the flora and fona of the Everglades. We observed creatures and learned how this giant river works. The tram proceeded out to a observation tower that gave us a good view of the vast expanses of this unique place. Alexandra soaked it all in and that evening was spouting facts, including the fact that alligators have 80 teeth. It was a fun and interesting day.

On November fifth, Joyce and I traveled to Savannah to watch Brenn Prado play in the last game of the season. Brenn played offense and defense and was in the mix. The Pirates came from behind to win.

Taking after her mother Alexandra finished her horse show season with a strong performance.

Brother Mike, from Oregon, Joyce and I ( known by Joyce as the three musketeers) planned our almost annual flying vacation to New England and Canada. The primary objective is to help reduce the lobster, shellfish and seafood population. The plan was to fly to New Hampshire first to visit our friends the Yanofsky’s. Harold flies both fixed wing and helicopter, we looked forward to exploring New England from the air. We then planned to spend a day in Portland, Maine sight seeing and lobster eating, before heading to Canada.

On Thursday, September 22nd. our planned departure day the weather between Dayton and New Hampshire was thunderstorms, rain and low ceilings. Worse, the Maine coast was forecasting bad weather on Saturday our planned departure day from New Hampshire. We decided to wait and develop a plan B, which was to fly to Burlington, Vermont if New Hampshire didn’t improve. On Friday the weather had not changed, so plan C was to fly to Burlington on Saturday. The weather improved Saturday, with a forecast of ceilings getting better in Burlington during our flight. As we flew toward Vermont, we had a nice tail wind, but the ceilings stayed at 400 feet, with mist and rain at our destination. When we got to Syracuse, New York, we decided to land and did an instrument approach in to Syracuse to wait for the weather to improve. It never did, so we stayed overnight in Syracuse and developed plan D. Weather permitting we would fly to Bangor, Maine refuel and proceed on to Sydney, Nova Scotia which would put us back on our original schedule.