My first day on the island of Abaco, a quiet and friendly place
After my stay at the Miraval Resort in Tucson, Arizona, I traveled to the Abaco Islands, a string of Bahamian islands located about 200 miles east of Palm Beach, Florida. The Bahamas consist of over 700 islands and 2,400 cays – small islands made up of sand and coral. My good friend, Muffin Dowdle and her husband, Jimmy, invited me to stay at their beachfront vacation home. The Abacos were settled by loyalists during the 1700’s, who were fleeing the American Revolution. These original settlers busied themselves with salvaging wrecks, with boat building, and with farming. Today, many Abaconians still work at the traditional occupations of boat building, farming, and fishing. And there are several quaint family-run guest houses and inns in which to stay.
Abaco is a very quiet, nothing-to-do kind of place and I had a surprisingly nice time there. We went deep-sea fishing for grouper and albacore, bone fishing – very fun but hard to do, wild pig hunting – none were taken, visited the agricultural community, swam in the “blue hole†in the ocean, visited Green Turtle Cay, met some interesting locals, cooked a lot of terrific meals, walked a lot, biked a lot, and read a lot. Thank you Muffin and Jimmy for being such good and attentive hosts.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Martha have you ever jumped out of a small plane you know skydiving? I used to skydive back in the 90's just wondered if you have been skydiving since you are quite the adventurous this little plane featured in your blog reminds me of the ones I used to jump out of except we had no seats.
Appears you had a nice visit with your friends and much better weather then AZ.
Last photo on this blog is fab!
Time to crash here on the west coast it's 2.15 AM.
Have a fun weekend everyone.
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam From California | January 9th, 2009 at 12:16 am
Martha, What beautiful pictures! Spectacular view from the airplane and such a lovely location. You've captured it well. They give me some inspiration as I am almost ready to embark on my day and go outside in 19 degree weather and scrape the ice off my car! Thanks!
Posted by: Barbara | January 9th, 2009 at 12:27 am
No Pam, no sky diving for me. I prefer to be sitting and seat belted.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | January 9th, 2009 at 1:42 am
Hi, Martha,
The Abaco Islands are beautiful. Thanks for the post with photographs and descriptions as well as some of the history of the place.
You must have enjoyed the time you spent there with your good friend Muffin Dowdle and her husband Jimmy.
Could you tell us more about the bone fishing and the wild pig hunting, Martha? It sounds interesting.
Your photographs are superb.
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | January 9th, 2009 at 3:00 am
Martha, my husband Meakin and I retired to Abaco and lived there year around for ten years on the tiny private cay of Lubbers Quarters. While we were there I wrote a food column, From the Kitchen of Lazy Days, for the Abaco newspaper, The Abaconian. I am so glad you liked our little paradise and I loved your pictures. You know what the Bahamians say, if you get sand in your shoes, you will return.
I'm in the process of writing a lively memoir of our times there with all of our wonderful friends, the food and the fun of the Abacos. I hope you will share Ruby's cookbook with us. Conch fritters are always better in Abaco. Thanks for your post about one of the most special places in the world.
Sam Hoffer
Posted by: Sam Hoffer | January 9th, 2009 at 3:27 am
Good morning Martha,
Your active lifestyle has great results…very sexy legs. I don’t want to embarrass you so early in the day but I think that I speak for many of your bloggers.
What are on the plate with the conch fritters and coleslaw? Is it a local grown fruit?
~Gloria
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport, Maine | January 9th, 2009 at 3:54 am
Sounds like such a fun getaway. I love that you discovered a little history about your vacation spot and shared it. I think learning about the places I stay adds such depth to the experience. Your blog is a happy find.
Posted by: alina | January 9th, 2009 at 3:56 am
Hi Martha,
What fantastic photos!
Coincidentally, my family and I just returned from celebrating Christmas and New Years on Man O War and many of our sunset pictures looked just like yours. We've gathered in the Abacos to celebrate the holidays for the past 4 years. Last year we were on Elbow Cay, which is a beautiful and quaint island.
I wondered which island you visited and if you were able to climb to the top of the Hope Town Lighthouse to catch a glimpse of the incredible view from there?
-Sarah
Posted by: Sarah | January 9th, 2009 at 4:37 am
Martha,
You managed to be "the only one again". (...passenger in plane, this time.)
I LOVE and WANT that picture (#2) of you.
Posted by: tinay | January 9th, 2009 at 4:51 am
I would have been laughed and enjoyed being a participant on the wild pig hunt, was it at night with flash lights? What a scream you and the pigs!
Hope you share more regarding what you read, what your bike looked like and finally what the agricultural community produces.
Posted by: Margie | January 9th, 2009 at 5:22 am
Dear Martha,
Now this looks like a vacation! I would much rather bring home sea shells than post nasal drip from hikes in desert monsoons. Glad you got some R & R!
Linda
Posted by: Linda Crispell | January 9th, 2009 at 5:53 am
The pictures are gorgeous! It reminds me a lot of the Cayman Islands which was the one time I've been out of the country. I was in heaven!
Posted by: Kari | January 9th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Hi Martha, I've been following a while and had wondered if you take the photos yourself but now that I see you were the only passanger I have my answer. Anyway, I think you are a great inspiration and woman and enjoy visiting you blog.
Clara Serrano
Albuquerque, NM
Posted by: Clara | January 9th, 2009 at 6:30 am
The nature that you capture in your photos for this blog in one week - the desert of Arizona, the ice of Bedford, New York and the warmth of the sun and sea of the Caribbean/South Florida.
Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Teresa Touey | January 9th, 2009 at 6:39 am
Al I can say is "WOW" - Thank you for sharing the great photos!!!
Posted by: Pierre | January 9th, 2009 at 7:01 am
Oh Martha, I didn't want the pictures to end.
It was so beautiful.
You must be "part Wonder Woman", for the pace you keep. Makes me know I need to get in shape. We are the same age. (66)
You are still "hot", I am "not"
Posted by: Kathy H | January 9th, 2009 at 7:54 am
Hi Martha, I absolutely love these wonderful tours you take us on! Your Abaco photos are so superb and absolutely stunning! The beautiful blue sky and azure water just warm my heart and soul. It is so great to see photos like these after the horrific weather we have had here in the Puget Sound area. You look so cute as the co-pilot and so relaxed in the other photos. You have such wonderful friends all over the world and it's so nice to meet them through your blog. I am so proud to be a fan/friend and hope some day to actually meet you. Thanks so much for sharing. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | January 9th, 2009 at 8:35 am
I loved the photos and they helped me relive some sailing trips I took there in my college and post-college days. Fresh conch fritters.... paradise!
Posted by: Lindy | January 9th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Location Location Location. your friend must be in real estate --- next time bring Laura with you for some R & R.
Posted by: hardboiledegg | January 9th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Those little boys were just darling. I'm glad you posted their photos.
Posted by: suemare | January 9th, 2009 at 9:23 am
What a cute nickname Muffin is! And I love where her home is situated, that beach, the sky with the beautiful sunsets, the boats passing by....way prettier than Florida but I'm inland about 4 miles so that makes a difference. I love nothing-to-do kinds of places; Harsens’s Island in Michigan is one of my favorite quiet places.
I hope you had calm waters when you went deep-sea fishing. The last and final time I went, the water was so rough almost everyone on board got sick. I'll never forget that day! Ugh.
Just before Christmas I was watching a show from October 2006 I believe when Suzanne Somers was a guest. She brought up thighs and you told her you had nice thighs. Her comment was something like oh really and you said something like I can't show you here but maybe after the show. She said she wouldn't miss seeing that! You both were so cute so maybe she is one who reads your blog and will see these pictures because you do have nice thighs. And I don’t mind saying so! Trish
Posted by: Trish | January 9th, 2009 at 9:47 am
(...forewarning: this will be long post, as I've been out of commission a couple days due to the flu... [NO grin or giggle here!])
The Bahamas vacation, Martha, was my most favorite, of your holiday "holiday"! Those sunsets, those daytime blue hues in the skies and seas, the white sand - what wonders of God's creation! I know you like to stay busy and motivated, but you've got to sit still SOMETIME! I'm glad to have read while catching up on the last several blogs that you got to read a little, which is true down-time in my book. [giggle] [yes, now I feel like giggling]
As others have commented this week, you looked FABULOUS on Tuesday's show! You came thru those doors looking refreshed and rejuvenated, and have never (except for your Macy's commercials) looked better! That belt! Very chic! Great outfit (and look!) on you!
Now. Wednesday! You, Martha, woke up to ice, I, to ice-covered trees but thankfully rainy streets and sidewalks AND...the FLUUUUUU! It's too bad that your white pines suffered so. One post tho't that mother nature shaped her broken trees so nicely, where I conjure that the broken limbs usually misshapeen what was once a lovely tree! Jagged snags, off the main trunk, are usually left behind and need cut back to the branch collar, etc...such a shame, but I know you have trusted arborists that will give yours proper care to restore/preserve their vigor.
Yesterday (Thursday) was a Martha-fest later on in the day, as I had been so sick on Wednesday, I was unable to even view your show at all that day. (It's a good thing, as you and Sarah Carey were steaming fish!...ai yai yai...not good for an upset digestive system! [hearty giggle!] ) I was able to see Wednesday's and Thursday's episodes, being able to catch up MUCH more comfortably than the day before! So now I'm ready to see today's show...tonight! (I'm back at my business, feeling MUCH better today!) Tonite?...Edgar-n-me... =^..^=
To my friends, Trish and Jan: Trish, DO take a walk on the beach for me and think of me - I'm sure all of this talk of ice and show is hard to comprehend! It creates WORK...that's how I view it! (It IS beautiful, when you can stay home and look out your windows.) Jan, I've been worried about you and the flooding in your home state while I was off. I'm a weather-channel-junkie (I'm a gardener-girl, you know), and when I learned of Washington's plight, I immediately tho't of you, just as if we were family! I'm glad to read your recent posts and their information they contain (AND you're presumably okay!)
Martha, your blog makes kindred spirits of sorts out of all of us! It's truly one more good thing!
=^..^=
"Gardeners, I think, dream bigger dreams than emperors."--Mary Cantwell
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | January 9th, 2009 at 10:44 am
To answer Gloria question regarding the 'fruit' on the plate with the fritters and coleslaw - it's not fruit at all but chunks of parmesan cheese.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | January 9th, 2009 at 11:41 am
(My spelling today is abominable! I HAVE been sick!)
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | January 9th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
To Cindy Bricker: I was sorry to hear you had the flu but I'm happy to know you are feeling better. I have never had the flu, knock, knock, knock, but it sounds like something horrible. I can't remember the last time I was sick; actually I never really get sick, maybe a sore throat once in awhile. It must be the Florida weather and I'm always outside doing something. I'll take that walk along the beach and try to picture you and Edgar cuddled up and watching the latest Martha show! Trish
Posted by: Trish | January 9th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Well, Martha, I've wondered if you really have time in your hectic life to read the posted blog comments--especially those from the "regulars" who seem to write personal notes to you every day. And guess what!! Today you commented, too.
So, Martha (in case you're reading this. . .), Happy New Year and greetings to all those who comment regularly and now are even chatting with each other. . .
PS. Love your blog and all the interesting details about your crazy life you share with us.
Posted by: MMC in San Diego | January 9th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
This post is to wish Cindy Bricker a quick recovery. The flu is a terrible way to start the New Year. I don’t get sick very much (like Trish) but I did get the flu about 15 years ago and I still remember feeling “lifeless”.
Trish, please take a walk for me, too!
Have a great weekend to All!
~Gloria
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport, Maine | January 9th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I love the sunset photos! I love the Bahamas too!
Posted by: michelle | January 9th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Now THAT's what I call a vacation! Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos. I also really liked your self-portrait on the plane, and laughed at the boats that go here and there.
Great legs Martha!
Posted by: Rowena | January 9th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
I was staying on the same island as you in the Abacos with friends at the Purple Porpoise. You walked by on New Year's Eve when we were sitting around outside. Sorry about those crazy boys that went by on the boat! Hope you had a great time there, we always do!
Posted by: Debbie Hammond | January 9th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Hi again Martha, Thank you so much for letting us communicate with other blogers as well as yourself. I would like to let Cindy Bricker know how sorry I am that she had that awful flu and how glad I am that she is feeling better. As usual, we wake up each day and never know what to expect. All we can do is to hope things will get better, such as the weather, the economy and most of all our friends who are ill. Take care everyone and may all of your days be the best that they can be. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | January 9th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Hi Martha!
Wow! it shows how much you enjoyed your stay, love the sunset photos!
God Bless
Rowaida Flayhan
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | January 9th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
i like the photo
Posted by: wow power leveling | January 10th, 2009 at 3:12 am
Great photos, very calming. You looked healthy, happy and relaxed.
Posted by: sushi2 | January 10th, 2009 at 6:46 am
Hi! You and your friend found a plant somewhere in your travels and it is called "Foxglove" it is for rapid heart beat and I was wondering about it. That is what I have. I'm just curious about it. Thank You.
Posted by: Tara | January 10th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Nice legs Martha!
Posted by: Sean Milton | January 10th, 2009 at 8:23 am
Great pics, as per usual! Nice gams!
Lxo
Posted by: Leah from Toronto | January 10th, 2009 at 9:40 am
To Cindy Bricker:
I hope that you are feeling much better and that Edgar is curled up alongside you.
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | January 10th, 2009 at 11:40 am
My husband was just at treasure cay and said you came up to florence's when he was having coffee with the men, I didn't beleive him because the men at coffee always talk. They are worse than women, Ha! Any other time I would have been there, it would have been a treat to just see you. We have a place there and love it because of it's like a second home and not really a tourist site. It looks to me like you stayed on windward beach, I hope you saw more than you mentioned because there is a lot of little things to see for you to appreciate it there. Well I hope you make it back there to enjoy it like we do and maybe I will run into you!/Users/angelaholmes/Desktop/P8140446.jpg
Posted by: Angela Holmes | January 10th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I love the photos. This is the only way I see different places if from experiencing it through others eyes. Thanks for sharing them with us. Great photos. Love the sunset.
Posted by: cheri c | January 11th, 2009 at 8:47 am
dear martha, so beautiful! I am going on my first cruise of my life{& I am 60} to the western caribbean from puerto rico & now I can imagine what I'll see . thanks so much for sharing your life.
Posted by: Patti Pupa | January 11th, 2009 at 9:37 am
HI Martha, I was seeing those beautiful pictures of Abaco, and I think you enjoyed too much of it. I would like, if it is posible, to get the Ruby´s creamy coleslaw please .... It looks yummy¡ ...Thanks so much.....
Posted by: carmen gloria | January 11th, 2009 at 11:48 am
That looks like such a lovely place and a very relaxing time. The pictures are gorgeous!
Posted by: Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates | January 11th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Hi Martha! Beautiful photos. I was on Abaco island and staying in Treasure Cay the same time as well. I overheard a woman tell her friend on the phone you were on the island and bought 2 of everything at the bakery. I loved the cinnamon rolls and craved them every morning! Florence and Capt. Fourty said you were delightful. I had a magical time with my husband and our 5 year old daughter and it sounds like you did too. Happy New Year to you and you look fantastic!
Posted by: Melanie | January 11th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
As I type this, it is minus 30 degrees Celsius outside, here in Ottawa, Canada, but your photos provided the perfect escape, and the perfect imagery to look at before going to bed: dream fodder! And it was all free.
Your legs appear to be very popular among your readers (and, yes, they are nice) but I'm partial to the photo of you in the plane: intrepid and outreaching!
I expect to see photos of you in space before this blog sees its final post. Deal?
Posted by: Andrew Ritchie | January 11th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Gosh did everyone on the planet go to this island New Year's except ME lol? Martha seen on the beach, Martha at the bakery, Martha in the bar, Martha shows her legs off sounds like FUN!
Martha you can't hide from your bloggers can you what a kick!
Still smiling & a giggle here and there ~
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam From California | January 11th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Dear Martha, We were in Treasure Cay for New Years and just returned yesterday. You were the hit of the island. We go to Treasure Cay several times and year and it is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Last July the fourth Andy Garia was at the Bahamas Beach Club and we all had a great time with the Junkanooe band. We were told by "those who know" Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Cher were in Treasure Cay in the last couple of months. I had my photo taken with you on New Years, I was the "pirate". You were so friendly and fun. Thank you for my great memories. Your Friend, Mary Ladd
Posted by: Mary Ladd Tait | January 12th, 2009 at 5:35 am
What's not to love about the Bahamas. The people are friendly. The weather is beautiful and the snorkeling is amazing! We plan on going back next winter.
Posted by: jai carney | January 12th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Oh Martha what are you doing to me!!!!! I can't wait to tell my husband "Martha went pig hunting". I'm sure to hear him say now,"Martha goes 'pigging', (as is referded to in Aust)you can too." And as i know that you love to learn something new each day i thought i would add this. In Australia, a portion of the wild pigs (which are a major pest)is exported to Germany and outher EU nations for "Human Consumption". This makes me feel better about the whole killing thing, because as a girl that grew up in the country "I was told by my father that their must always be a reason for the end". Love to send you some photos.
Posted by: Nicole Nicholls | January 13th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Martha, Sounds like you had a wonderful time! I laugh now knowing where you were headed every day when you passed me running - I wish I had hitched a ride to Florence's with you. Hope you have an opportunity to visit again soon.
Posted by: Your Running Friend | January 13th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Hi Martha, I'm so sorry we missed meeting you on your stay in Treasure Cay. I saw Jimmy at the grocery store the day before you left, and he invited us to come up and say hi, but we were unable to get there before you had to go. I'm glad you had a good time and hope you will come back soon!
Herbie and Clint
Posted by: Herbie Foster | January 13th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Martha,
I had lunch at the table next to yours at the Green Turtle Club. I just love that view of the harbor! The next time we find ourselves there at the same time, I would love to buy your lunch.
We are planning a trip back to the Abaco's this December.
Kellie
Posted by: Kellie Tucker | September 24th, 2010 at 5:00 pm