RANDOM

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW ABACO

Michael Albury’s great aerial video

[youtube http://youtu.be/pyJebieKn20]

THE BATTLE OF NASSAUNew Providence Raid, March 1776

Oil painting on canvas by V. Zveg, 1973, depicting Continental Sailors and Marines landing on New Providence Island, Bahamas, on 3 March 1776. Their initial objective, Fort Montagu, is in the left distance. Close off shore are the small vessels used to transport the landing force to the vicinity of the beach. They are (from left to right): two captured sloops, schooner Wasp and sloop Providence. The other ships of the American squadron are visible in the distance.

BAHAMA BLUE

Check this out!

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/73345624]

BAHAMAS ISLANDS BONEFISH COIN

This pre-Independence coin from 1968 turned up on eBay. It depicts the head of QE II (obviously), and more unexpectedly it features a pair of bonefish on the reverse. That side is commonly known as ‘tails’ when tossing a coin, however the designer unfortunately didn’t show these bones tailing…

SEA GLASS ON ABACO

There’s plenty of lovely sea glass to be found on the beaches of Abaco. You can find out all about it – including the relative rarity of the different colours – HERE

A random collection of sea glass picked up over one weekend by Rhonda Pearce

MARSH HARBOUR AIRPORT TIMELINE

STOP PRESS: OPENED AT LAST IN MAY 2014

Written by: Timothy Roberts of the Abaconian 01 Nov, 2013

A graphic showing the development of the new Marsh Harbour Airport Terminal from the germ of an idea 14 years ago through the troubled development of the project. Someone allegedly forgot to wire up the control tower. Someone else allegedly forgot to include adequate fire escapes in the design. And so on. It is due to open this month, January 2014…

POST FROM SANDY POINT (eBay sale)

Orders, Decorations and Medals of the Bahamas

Ribbon Chart

(Source: “WORLD MEDALS”)

SANDY ESTABROOK’S EXCELLENT LINKS

Sandy’s website contains a mass of useful Abaco information and interesting facts. There are also links to good Abaco-based sites, most of which are name-checked and linked somewhere on these pages as well. However, I notice that Sandy has helpfully appended a list of links at the end of his emails, so I am putting it here to encourage readers to explore further…

AbacoEscape.com (abbrev version)Abaco Weather NowAbaco Off the Beaten Path AbacoAirlines.com

Bahamian Music Sampler

ConchSalad (TV)

BAHAMAS SEA DEPTH MAP

MAP CREDIT

THE CONCH IN ART

There is a long tradition of using conchs and other shells in arts and crafts. In the c17 the Dutch used large shells – often conchs and nautilus – in elaborate and exotic paintings known as ‘pronk’ still lifes, meaning (roughly) ‘luxury’. The painting below is by de Heem, from the late 1640s, and is a very good illustration of the style.

Such paintings contained shells, fruits, wine jugs and so forth to represent plenty. The parrot, however, is there not merely for his beauty but as a symbol of gluttony and greed. This device is a moralising reminder of the consequences of excess.

Here’s another example of a conch in a painting by de Heem now in Stockholm

In the c18 painters continued to use shells, but not in the same way – not figuratively to represent luxury but as objects of study in themselves. Here’s a good example from 1765 by German artist Nikolaus Christopher Matthes, that would double rather well as a ‘spot the shell’ competition…

In the late c19 there was a fashion for using the conch as a form for decorative vases – Coalport and Royal Worcester in particular, with the latter often being highly colourful. Below is an excellent example of a white c19 Coalport conch vase, where the shell is elegantly set on a pillar of staghorn coral – the perfect receptacle for Victorian ladies’ flower-arrangements.

And a rather less elaborate white porcelain conch vase from the early c20

SANDY ESTABROOK’S BAHAMIAN MUSIC PLAYER

Sandy’s outstanding Abaco website is a treasure chest, highly recommended for the sheer comprehensiveness of its coverage of all things Abaconian. It is the place of first resort for information of any description about the Island and Cays

CLICK LOGO

Sandy has recently upgraded his Bahamian Music Player to play complete tunes rather than samples – and to be accessible from blogs (which ‘flash players’ generally are not). To hear some cheerful music – there’s a lot of choice –

CLICK BUTTON ===>>>

ABACO and 21st CENTURY IMPRESSIONISM

With a giant box of Lego™ and a free week, it is possible to create a passable image of an Abaco parrot. Best if viewed with eyes narrowed (as with Monet & co). Or indeed, if you have had enough of that whole school of painting, shut. CLICK on the image to appreciate the delicate intricacy of the construction

SPORTING NEWS

WORLD DARTS FEDERATION WORLD CUP 2011

The Bahamas Team for the forthcoming World Darts Federation World Cup 2011 at Castlebar, Republic of Ireland on 20 – 24 September, has just been confirmed. It includes 2 Abaconians – Robin Albury and Shane Sawyer. Robin will be familiar to Delphi Club fishermen (as a top-class guide) and guests – as will his wife Keisha, also a member of the Abaco ADA team, winners of last year’s federation cup in Nassau. Details below are extracted from the official website. For full details CLICK===>>> WDF WORLD CUP 2011

Congratulations to all those selected, and very best of luck next month.

Delphi on the Cliffs

Delphi front view

ABACO’S DISTRICTS

JULY’S WORDLE

AN ABACO ACROSTIC

CAR REGISTRATION ON ABACO

‘500 years’ Commemoration

STATUS: One of the islands in the Bahamas

PRINCIPAL TOWN: Marsh Harbor

FIRST LICENSE PLATES IN USE: 1976

MOTOR VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED: Approx. 900

CURRENT SLOGAN: None

FORMER SLOGANS: “It’s Better in the Bahamas” – 1977 only

PLATES: Officially issued by the Bahamas government

SINGLE PLATES OR PAIRS: Pairs

CARS DRIVE ON:Left

A rare 1977 plate, with slogan

(http://www.pl8s.com)

Now the property of a certain ‘sad’ person… oh all right, RH himself

MINE!

STOP PRESS MAY 2013

This unique number plate (motorcycle) is currently on eBay… for $350

ABACOBUZZ.COM

This is the direct link to the Calendar, Events and Things to Do page of this Abaco-based website. I mention it in case anyone is wondering something like “when is Junkanoo time?” And if you are wondering what THAT is, clicking on the word will help… Or “where can we hire cycles in Marsh Harbour?” Or even “can we hire a sailing boat for when we are bored with bonefishing?” (as if)…

ROYAL WEDDING S ARE SOOOOO LAST MONTH
TIME TO PUSH WILL AND KATE DOWN THE BATTING ORDER

Here’s another Abaco-based Wordle instead (click on it to enlarge)

TO WILL & KATE – CONGRATULATIONS!

The Royal King Fisher – she cast, she hooked, she played, she landed…

(Photos: Kevin Cole – Wikimedia Commons; Tower of London Archive)

SPORTING TRIUMPH AND DELPHI

Unexpectedly, it turns out that there are things in life more important than mere bonefishing. Darts, for example. Delphi is fortunate to be directly associated with two of the leading arrow-persons in the Bahamas – Keisha and Robin Albury, both members of the triumphant Abaco Darts Association team, winners of the Federation Cup 2010 in Nassau. And here is the team weighed down by their impressive collection of assorted trophies:

The winners photo from The Bahamas Darts Federation Cup hostedby the Nassau Darts Association. Standing L-R are Lloyd Deveaux, Keisha Albury, Robin Albury and Donald ‘Stinger’ Burrows. Kneeling L-R are Roscoe Thompson, Mark Albury and Shane Sawyer. Abaco won the team title. (Photo Christian Knowles)

ROLLING HARBOUR “where it’s safe to dip your toes in the water…”

‘International Shark Attack File’

1749-2010 Map of the Bahamas and the Antilles Confirmed Unprovoked Shark Attacks


Territory	Total Attacks	Fatal Attacks	Last Fatality	Territory	Total Attacks	Fatal Attacks	Last Fatality
Grand Bahama Is.	5	0		Cuba	11	7	1931
Exuma	2	0		Puerto Rico	6	2	1924
Andros	3	0		Virgin Is.	4	2	1972
Bimini	3	0		Haiti	4	1	1921
Abaco Is.	6	0		Dominican Republic	3	2	1963
New Providence	2	0		Jamaica	1	1	1922
Cay Sal Bank	1	0		Cayman Is.	2	0
San Salvador	1	0		Netherland Antilles	2	0
Turks and Caicos	1	0		Martinique	1	0
Rum Cay Island	1	0		St. Martin	1	0
Unspecified	1	0
BAHAMAS	26	0		ANTILLES	35	15	1972

5 and above

3 – 4

1 – 2

Last updated: January 6, 2011 – © International Shark Attack File, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida

ABACO COCKTAIL

2 satsumas
third of a cup orange juice
5 cubes ice
1 to 2 shots Bacardi Gold
a splash of Grenadine

Instructions: Peel 2 satsumas. Throw them into a blender add a third of a cup orange juice and then 5 ice cubes. Add 1 to 2 shots barcardi gold. Blend till ice has broken down into a slush. Pour into glass. Add a splash of raspberry grenadine. (To http://www.cocktailmaking.co.uk – Cheers!)

ABACO FACTS

1 highway (130 miles long)

1 roundabout (near Marsh Harbour airport)

1 set of traffic lights (in Marsh Harbour)

1 airfield (Sandy Point)

2 international airports (Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay)

2 main lighthouses (Hole-in-the-Wall, Hope Town)

5 National Parks (terrestrial and marine)

5 main inhabited Cays (Walker’s, Green Turtle, Great Guana, Man-o-War, Elbow)

5 wild horses (only one stallion and 4 mares left)

5 the number of known species of marine turtles (out of 7) found in Bahamas
waters (Green, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Leatherback and Olive Ridley turtles)

101 steps to climb inside Hope Town lighthouse

106 miles north of Nassau

134 feet – the highest point above sea level

175 miles east of Palm Beach Fl.

200 square miles covered by The Marls

900 – approximate number of Abaco-registered vehicles

776 square miles total area

1973 the year of Independence

3000 Abaco parrots

BAHAMAS NATIONAL ANTHEM

Lift up your head to the rising sun, Bahama Land;

March on to glory, your bright banners waving high,

See how the world marks the manner of your bearing

Pledge to excel, through love and unity.

Pressing onward, march together to a common loftier goal;

Steady sunward, though’ the weather hide the wide and treacherous shoal.

Lift up your head to the rising sun, Bahama Land;

‘Til the road you’ve trod leads unto your God,

March on, Bahama Land. (officially adopted 1973)

BAHAMAS TARTAN

According to the Scottish Register of Tartans*, this pattern was “designed by Gordon Rees of the Scottish Shop in Nassau… It was intended to commemorate the early Scottish settlers in the Bahamas including Thompson, Sands, Forsythe, Munroe, Johnston, Russell, Christie, Roberts, Kelly, MacKinney, Saunders, Malcolm, Crawford, MacPherson, Clark and Rae. The tartan was formally approved by the Bahamas Government in 1966”. *Tip o’ the Tam o’ Shanter!

THE ABACO CREST