This Week: Bahamas Boating Flings and Grand Bahama, baby!

It’s summer time and  the boating season we all have been waiting for is finally here!  Talkin’ Tourism is getting in on the action and heading over to Grand Bahama Island on one of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Boating Flings to bring you this week’s show from Port Lucaya Marina, Grand Bahama.  

The boating flings are organized by the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida  Bahamas Tourism Office to promote boating to the Islands of the Bahamas. The primary purpose of these summer flotillas is to familiarize boaters who have never made the Gulf Stream crossing.  Only 68 nautical miles away from the Treasure Coast, Grand Bahama Island is our nearest island neighbor and this beautiful island is no stranger to Talkin’ Tourism!  Since the inception of the show in 2009, Talkin’ Tourism has broadcast three shows from Grand Bahama. Here comes number four!

Since show co-host Robin Hicks-Connors (aka History Lady) is heading to a wedding this weekend, Gary Guertin (aka Radio Man) has found a wonderful co-host, Cacique Award winner Tony “Macaroni” Hanna, who will be mixing up the show with his great sense of humor, perfect common sense and total commitment to hospitality and tourism.  And, with probably no prompting, he'll be certain to share with our listeners why his roasted conch is one of Radio Man’s favorites.

Here's the guest line-up: 

• Betty Bethel, representative of the Grand Bahama Island Ministry of Tourism Office who will fill us in on upcoming GBI summer events and activities
• Shamine Johnson, manager of the Marina Operators of the Bahamas organization
• Richard Treco, manager of vertical markets-boating and diving with the Ft. Lauderdale Bahamas Tourist Office, and 
• Karen Pinder, manager of Port Lucaya Marina.  

There may be other surprise guests as well, so tune in!

As always, we will explore Treasure Coast/Bahamas connections otherwise known as the “Flahama Connection." You may want to be sipping a Bahama Mama, Goombay Smash or a Gully Wash while listening to this show!  

The fun begins Friday morning at 10:05 a.m. on your radio dial at WPSL 1590 AM or on your computer at www.wpsl.comhttp://www.wpsl.com from Port Lucaya Marina, Grand Bahama Island. Yea, Mon!

Up the Creek to Discover the Tarzan of the Loxahatchee, a Secret Radar Camp and Someone Named Murphy

Park Manager Mark Nelson, Gary Guertin and Robin Hicks-
Connors checking out the scrub jay exhibit at
Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

Last week, Radio Man and History Lady were definitely up the creek but they did have their paddles!  After catching up, (it had been two weeks since they had been together on the air), show host Gary Guertin shared some of his and Misti's Abaco adventures with listeners.  There were many Abaconians to thank and tales to tell about Talkin’ Tourism’s latest trip to the Bahamas. 

Once the chit chat was over, Talkin’ Tourism's dynamic duo jumped right into the topic of the show--Jonathan Dickinson State Park and Trapper Nelson. Ironically, the tour guide show co-host Robin Hicks-Connors hoped to have on the show, who provided her and friend Paul with the tour to Trapper Nelson’s the week before, could not appear.  Why?  He had gone to the Bahamas!  Good choice if you ask Talkin’ Tourism!

Park Manager Mark Nelson started out with the 'big picture' of this Treasure Coast award-winning state park. You may be surprised to learn how big the park really is and the diversity of the habitats to discover there.  Do you know where Hobe Mountain is?  If you download the show, you will not only know where it is, but how high it is!  Secret radar installation during World War II, indeed.  The area was once known as Camp Murphy and housed a literal city.  Get all the facts here on all the park offers for outdoor enthusiasts.

Heading up the Loxahatchee River, Robin could not contain her enthusiasm for her experience of visiting Trapper Nelson’s Camp.  History Lady and Mark delved into some pretty interesting facts about Trapper Nelson, including where was he from, whether or not he was one of the first tourist attractions in the area and who would come up the river to visit him and why?  You will be intrigued and want to learn more about Tarzan of the Loxahatchee, no doubt about it.

With the hour nearly gone, the last minutes were wrapped up with Bahamas Updates, upcoming local fishing tournaments and even a scoop on a local Lionfish derby. 

As always, it was a fun and entertaining show. If you missed it, check it out, then head south on I-95, Florida's Turnpike or U.S. Highway 1 to Jonathan Dickinson State Park and see it all for yourself!

Off to the Jungle: In Jonathan Dickinson State Park

A peninsular cooter turtle. Photo credit: Jonathan DickensonState Park.

With Talkin’ Tourism back on the Treasure Coast after an excursion to Abaco, the challenge for Radio Man was where to do this Friday’s show. Since show host Gary Guertin would be out-of-pocket until Wednesday evening, co-host History Lady (aka Robin Hicks-Connors) turned into producer and pulled this week's show together.

Influenced by a very cool trip last weekend up the Loxahatchee River (a federally designated Wild and Scenic River) in northern Jupiter, Florida to visit the jungle home of Trapper Nelson, Robin thought that listeners would enjoy learning about this unique site located within Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Leave it to History Lady to come up with a historical (and wild) perspective!

Trapper Nelson came to the area in the 1930s and lived off the land by trapping and selling furs. He was a loner for the most part, who found security in this area and a way of life that was suited to his skills and temperament. He quickly became famous as the "Wildman of the Loxahatchee." Yet, with his limited education, he managed to make a living, built a much-visited wildlife zoo and acquired large land interests. After his death in 1968, the state acquired his land, preserving his home and grounds for future generations to enjoy.

You just may put a trip to Jonathan Dickinson State Park on your summer travel bucket list after listening to this week's show. This Martin County based state park offers lots of activities for the outdoor enthusiast and nature lover. Park Manager Mark Nelson will join us as we take you on a radio tour of the park outlining all it has to offer.

And, after a busy week in Abaco, Bahamas, Radio Man has many adventures to share with our listeners. Who did he meet? Where is the hometown of the current Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham? How many lionfish were caught last weekend in the Lionfish Derby in Marsh Harbour? How easy is it to get to Abaco? Will there be an Abaco/Treasure Coast Meet and Greet coming to a marina or restaurant near you?

All this and more on this week’s show for your listening and learning pleasure.

'See you' at 10:05 a.m. from Jonathan Dickinson State Park!

Been, been, been to Abaco! (And ready to return!)

You could be here at the Abaco Inn, Elbow Cay, Abaco Bahamas.

Another great road and sea trip, this time featuring the fun and adventure of Abaco, Bahamas. If you missed this show, you missed one of the best.

Sitting in for co-host Robin Hicks-Connors, Michael Albury, the president of the Abaco Chamber of Commerce and Abaco Community Tourism Foundation, jumped right into the groove in the co-host seat and was right at home even before the show began.

The conversation was fast and flowing. Judy Fortenberry, manager of the Abaco Inn, our host venue for the show, shared all the details of this fabulous property focusing in on the “Barefoot Excellence” the resort is known for. What is "Barefoot Ellegance?" If you tuned into the show, you heard. If you didn't turn into the show, you can find out by listening to the recorded audio file.


Judy Fortenberry, Michael Albury, Olivia Patterson,
Lindsey McCoy, Gary Guertin and Michelle Mikula
in a post-show, relaxed photo poolside at the Abaco Inn.

Besides providing "Barefoot Ellegance" every day, raising funds to restore a vintage 1965 Land Rover fire truck on Elbow Cay is one of Judy’s current community efforts. Can you help? Glad you asked and YES you can!! Make your $20 Hope Town Fire Truck restoration donation here!

Moving on, the conversation headed into the realm of current tourism efforts in Abaco. Michelle Mikula, from the Abaco Tourist Office, gave us a great update on her involvement on assisting wedding and other group tourism activity in Abaco. Thinking of a Bahamas wedding ceremony? Learn how long you have to be in the country and other necessary requirements you need to be aware of to make your dream wedding come true. Want to know what’s happening in Abaco over the next couple months? From the Summer Junkanoo Festival to the world famed Abaco Regatta, there is truly something for everyone.

Michael Albury outlined some of the concepts unfolding to launch a collaborative effort among the private sector to market Abaco as a tourism destination. Radio Man (aka Gary Guertin) and Michael share many same beliefs that destination development is a community-wide effort.

In most non-urban tourism destinations, the environment plays a huge role in developing and sustaining the tourism industry. The Bahamas, comprised of over 700 islands and cays with offshore, near-shore and inshore eco-systems, has a huge stake in ensuring that these precious habitats remain intact. Meet Olivia Patterson, the program coordinator for Friends of the Environment, an Abaco based conservation and education organization. This non-profit's efforts are extremely important in educating both Bahamians and visitors to respect, understand and appreciate the value of these resources for generations to come. Olivia’s comments are relevant to tourism destinations around the world.

Are you hungry yet? Lindsey McCoy, producer of Conch Salad TV, was next on the show menu. What she and her director partner Matt are doing is awesome. Want to experience the Bahamas like a local? Then dial in Conch Salad TV at http://www.conchsaladtv.com/. Some t'ings we learned from Lindsay include: who is Gary the Explorer, where are cave shrimp found, are they sightless and how many does it take for a Cave Shrimp Cocktail, how long does it take for an experienced “conch cracker” to clean a conch, and much more. Thanks for all the great cocktail party conversation Lindsey!

Before we knew it, the hour was over. What does that mean? It means we definitely have to go, go, go back to Abaco for Part II of Talkin’ Tourism’s Abaco Adventures. So many cays, so much rum and so little time…island time that is.

Here's the link to the Abaco show's audio file. Pour yourself a nice fruity tropical cocktail, sit back, and enjoy the show! We certainly did.

Show Album



Abaco Album



Friends of the Environment 2011 Lionfish Derby