Little Harbour

February 2-3, 2023

Yesterday, we decided to take a day trip to Little Harbour, about one hour south of our marina. It’s a well-loved spot with a very unusual history: In 1952, Randolph Johnston, a Smith College professor, sailed here with his family in search of escape from the rush of civilization. In true Swiss Family Robinson fashion, the family lived in caves, built thatched huts, and eventually constructed a foundry for Randolph’s work. Johnston died in 1992, having spent the last 40 years of his life pursuing his dream of living free to sculpt in an unspoiled natural environment.

Believed to be one of the caves Johnston lived in

Lynn was immediately smitten with the picturesque harbor, and as soon as we picked up a mooring ball, she exclaimed, “Let’s stay overnight”, which we did!

True to Johnston’s ideals, the island remains “off the grid” in many respects:

– Drinking water comes from rainfall

– Electricity is produced by solar panels

– Access by road is limited

And Randolph Johnston is recognized as one of the great sculptors of the 20th century.

His son Pete carries on Randolph’s tradition, using the 5,000-year-old lost wax process to produce bronze sculptures, most of which capture marine wildlife in dramatic poses.  The life-size pieces sell for tens of thousands of dollars.

We visited the Foundry, and got a tour of the entire process, which is quite time-intensive. And we had lunch and dinner in Pete’s Pub, an open-air, sand-floored masterpiece, and home to their signature rum punch, called “The Blaster” in honor of the Foundry.  (Do you think four apiece was too many?)

The food was fabulous: I had a ginger-spiced ahi tuna gyro.  Decorated with a thousand t-shirts, (found an old Eagles t-shirt – go Birds!) and populated by locals and tourists, along with all their dogs, it is arguably the best little bar in the world!

And a few short steps from the bar is a walkway that takes you to spectacular views of the ocean and breaking waves.

The timing worked out perfectly: we made it over the sand bar into the deep anchorage of Little Harbour as we arrived and left.  High tide came exactly at mid-day.

Now, we are safely home at Abaco Beach Resort. there are Gale Warnings for tonight – 30-knot winds for 36 hours, so we are grateful to be in a protected marina..

Love,

Rod, Lynn and Guinness