By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C, April 8, 2024. — I recently joined the ABACO BAHAMAS Facebook Group because of my insatiable commitment to promoting The Bahamas as one of the world’s leading tourist destinations. Many potential visitors to The Bahamas are generally lured to our country by the pleasurable touristic amenities offered in New Providence, where the capital city of Nassau is located, and Grand Bahama, where Freeport is located.
However, the natural beauty of the other Bahama islands that extend like a string of pearls from just off the coast of Florida to off the eastern shores of Cuba is a magnet for many nature lovers, like Greg Frucci, who lives in Jacksonville, Florida. I ran across a post by Mr. Frucci in the ABACO BAHAMAS Group that I absolutely had to share with readers of my Washington, D.C. – based online publication, BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among the Bahamian diaspora across the United States as well as in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean.
Here’s the narrative that accompanied the remarkable photos posted by Mr. Frucci:
Powell Cay in the Abacos is a special place and my favorite island in the Abacos. I was here last year mostly alone on my old sailboat, the SV Longtail. I’m here again now as I write these words.
Thank you, Nuria DelosSantos of the SV Tomcat, for grabbing the shot of me on the edge of the cliffs on Powell Cay. This is how I’m able to photograph the Longtails (White-tailed Tropic birds) with the water below them and the SV Longtail from above on Powell Cay.
Yesterday afternoon, Brandon and I cruised back over to Powell from Cooper’s Town. My friends from last year, Rick and Cheryl of SV Oddessy followed soon after.
While the four of us were on the beach at Powell, two Canadians kayaked to the same beach. David and Nuria of the SV Tomcat. The Canadians had never been to Powell and were asking about the trails. Brandon, Rick, Cheryl and I were about to go on a hike to explore some new trails recently created. David and Nuria wanted to go on the first part of the hike on the old trail to the cliff top, so the six of us set off. The old trail was also new for Brandon and it blew his mind.
Moments like that are one of the many aspects of cruising that I both love and miss after selling the SV to Brandon and his wife, Janelle. Being here once again is a blessing from the Unknown and I receive it.
~ Pic of me on the cliff top edge by Nuria DelosSantos with her smartphone.
~ Pics of the Longtails and the SV Longtail by me a few days ago with my Canon R5 using a 100-500mm zoom lens.
