The Real Beauty in the Bahamas

There is a lot to love about the Bahamas.  The beauty of the locale clearly has God’s handiwork all over it, and I’m not sure how one could take it all in and not be convinced of the existence of a Higher Power.  

But the Bahamas true beauty lies not in her natural resources.  It lies in her citizens.  

The Bahamian people are polite, happy, kind, and a pleasure with which to meet and connect.  The cynic in me would suggest that perhaps their demeanor is because they recognize that a good portion of their economy is based on hospitality.  But I don’t buy it.  The kindness, gentleness, and humorous way (good golly the Bahamian people love a good laugh) the citizens interact with each other and with visitors is something to behold.  

So why are they so kind?  Perhaps this Christian nation is just plain acting like that – being a Christian nation and actually treating each other as we as Christians claim to (despite our efforts otherwise).  

Yes, the pace is slower.  And while that’s a stereotype, I’ll be damned if I claim it to be a negative one.  One conscious thought I had when we were down there – I wonder how many citizens die of heart attacks in the Bahamas.  It can’t be many, as the stress is low, and the happiness high.  What a great combination.  

There’s a phrase back home about folks being “Minnesota Nice;” that Minnesotans are noticeably polite and kind to one another and to strangers.  

Minnesota Nice?  Hogwash.  People who make that claim have never been to the Bahamas.  

Gophers Are Golden Against #1 Indiana

The 2012-13 version of the Golden Gopher basketball team has been a frustrating one for fans.  The team lacks a leader, and particularly lacks a guard that wants the ball in his hands in the clutch. They can go through stretches where they lack any kind of fire, especially in the offensive zone, and multiple times have been caught guilty of five guys standing around and not moving.  They've turned the ball over way too many times, and in way too many high pressure situations.  

But they're also incredibly talented.  

They're beasts on the boards, especially in the offensive zone where they lead the Big Ten  And they have the weapons, that when they're firing on all cylinders, can allow them to go toe to toe with the best team in the land and beat them.  

And that is exactly what happened last night.  

The Indiana Hoosiers are arguably the best team in the nation.  Their depth, scoring, and three point shooting in particular are awesome, and they've held up very well in a tough Big Ten season.  Unfortunately, they happened to arrive at The Barn on a night when the Maroon and Gold were able to put it all together.  Add a rabid crowd to the mix, and Minnesota was able to beat their first #1 since 1989.  

The Gophers greatly helped their post-season prospects, as their season had begun to free-fall.  In fact, in the last polling, Minnesota received zero votes despite an 18-9 record with the #1 toughest schedule ranking in the NCAAs.  Now with a strong ESPN national win against the legit best team in the nation,  they'll receive some due attention.  

But their job is not over.  They'll need to close hard the rest of the season, and thankfully, their schedule should allow them to run the table: they'll be facing Penn State, Nebraska, and Purdue to finish, and all three teams have losing records.  

Now, that doesn't mean that the Gophers can't find a way to screw it up.  They've recently lost to Iowa in terrible fashion, and have lost to a brutal Northwestern team this season as well.  But if they can play like they did last night, March could be a fun one for Minnesota.  

This kind of fun:

Now the Fun Part Starts

My hunting trip with kin and my vacation are now over.  My New Year's resolution time starts about now.  

While I've made it this far into the year in pretty good shape (better than in most years, and given the recent vacation, I'll take it), I still have a log way to go.  Trust me, all of those disgusted looks shot my way on the beach over the past week can't be wrong.  I know what the score is.

So it is a lot of gym time, a lot less booze, and an eye toward better health.  And the struggle begins again.

How are you doing on your New Year's resolutions?  If you happened to slip, I invite you to join in with me, and let's get through this together. 

Last Toast to the Marsh Harbour Crew

We just returned from quite the rejuvenating vacation with friends, and I can’t help but return with a deep sense of humility and gratitude.  

I feel that way as we spent a week well off the beaten path in Marsh Harbour – a place where very few travel.  It is a place currently unspoiled by massive hotels, or chains, or commercialism.  A place, still today in 2013, that is straight out of a Jimmy Buffet song.  The only reason that we vacation down here is because one in our crew has been doing so for years, and knows the secret.  If not for him, we’d likely be on some beach in Jamaica or Mexico or some other place with the rest of the world.  

Instead, we went to paradise, slowed down, and lived life as a vacation should be lived.  

Likewise, another in our party did all of the cooking when we stayed in, and did so in style.  Not only did she cook for six, but was doing so with limited resources around her.  Yet every meal was as good as the first, and rivaled the restaurants we attended.  It was a lot of work, and it was outstanding.  

The bottom line is that not only were Mrs. YDP and I able to get away, but we did so without lifting a finger.  The house, boat, and van were rented without our help, we were chauffeured to and from the airport, the tides (tricky for the uninitiated sailor) were correctly and adequately accounted for, we were sailed to beaches and bars all over Abaco, the meals were all done for us – everything was handled.  All we had to do was show up.  

What loads.

Now, our friends will likely say it wasn't a big deal, but that’s nonsense.  It was a very big deal.  We’re fortunate to be invited to go with them to this incredible place, and more fortunate still that we have to do very little to enjoy it in its entirety.  So to the Marsh Harbour crew – thank you.  You went above and beyond again for us.  We appreciate so much the time we had (even the lost time we had - damn you, Wally), and appreciate so much the laughs, discussions, meals, drinks, adventures, and memory-making with you.  

We hope we’re able to do it again soon.

Last Day Blues

Today marks our last full day of vacation here in the Bahamas.  The weather was not perfect, but given the snowstorms that have plagued back home this past week, they were a hell of a lot better than anything north of the 40th parallel.

Yesterday was downright spectacular.  We spent the day at our favorite island where we hung out, read books, and drank Kalik.  We were also near a wonderful coral reef where we spent a nice time snorkeling and viewing the wildlife.  We got up close to some huge spotted eagle rays and I ran into a nice school of yellowfin tuna.

As for our island, here's of shot of it as we were leaving:


We awoke this morning to a lot of clouds, but things are slowly getting better.  Regardless, it is our last day here, and we'll be sad to leave.  It has been a great trip, and was just what I needed.

Dolphin Scares Fish

Our day yesterday was a mixed bag.  Weather was good early and late, but was kind of a bust in the middle.

We headed south to a favorite beach, and had a nice encounter with dolphin and a very scared fish:


Our stay at the beach was a short one as we ended up having to leave due to impending rain.  We hurried over to Hope Town to have lunch and a cocktail.  It is about the most picturesque place down here, and was a great place to kill an afternoon.

We came home for naps and later did a sunset cruise on the ocean to have a last been and but the sun to bed.  Here's the best picture from our run:

 

We have even better weather on tap for today, so it's another beach, and another bar.  Two days left of vacation.

A Home for Sgt. Dumar

I like Kid Rock.  A lot.  

Now, even more...

Bahamas Bingo

After a tough first two days from a weather perspective, we caught a break yesterday and were able to make the run to Great Guana Kay and Nipper's.  We spent the day at the beach and then at the bar, and while the surf was too much for snorkeling, it was a good day.

Then we awoke to today.  No clouds, no wind.  The perfect Bahamian day.  We're planning a run to a favored small island (about an acre in size) followed by lunch in Hope Town.

In the meantime, the wind chill back home is -9. 

This is why we come here.