Paradise on Hold!

So no sooner do I get their first post up, then I get a call from our wandering Bill and my caller ID says NEW YORK!! Ha! I knew he couldn't leave us so long. So I said "Bill, if you need some R&R you don't need to make up a trip to the islands, just don't answer the phone for a few days." It turns out the project hit a snag and he had to come back without even using up any of that SPF 95, but not before getting a great tour of the Island. So here's his report and some pictures that suggest he was either some place a lot warmer and bluer and greener than the holler, or he's better with photoshop than I suspected.
--CMC

Well Barb, Laredo and I did make it to the Island, toured it for several days, visited the proposed project site and were very impressed. Sometimes we walked for miles on the beach without seeing any sign of civization other than a few footprints. What a paradise!

This little beach bar has nothing on our Pollywogg Holler bar . . . except maybe the view. Wow!

Where we come from, gardening is hard work. But here the nooks and crannies in the swiss-cheese limestone are filled with some of the most fertile soil you can imagine. Just plant your seeds and stand back! No cultivating or weeding or bugs. Didn't see much garlic though. I gess nothing is perfect.
But look at them peppers!!
A week before we arrived, we were informed that there was a land ownership dispute affecting the project site but not to worry cause there was a plan "B" in place. Well we arrived to find that plan "B" was more of a dream and the details were not even close to move on, so we were on sort of a hold.

We considered finding some affordable housing and continue working at doing the necessary research but the key here was "affordable housing". But a good part of the reason we were sent for is that there is no affordable housing here because everything is imported.
One enterprising fellow thought he would solve the problem by making cement blocks from local beach sand and imported portland cement. Sadly his experiment (less than 15 years old) is already beyond repair.


Interestingly enough, there are some houses on the island over 200 years old built without cement or other imported materials. They have been largely neglected, so the roofs and woodwork are nearly gone, but the walls of native limestone plastered with a mixture of sand and burnt shells seem to be waiting as one old timer puts it "for someone to come along and breathe new life into them."
It looks like the wind and salt-resistant bamboo we want to plant go a long way toward making these places like this old church livable again without much expense. Some of the old-timers tell us a lot of these buildings used to be thatched, as the materials are plentiful and easily renewable after a "big blow".
In touring the Island we found everyone to be kind and helpful. Old-timers like this fellow seemed to hold a wealth of knowledge important to our goal of building with natural materials.

We were informed that the matter of our project would be settled in court on Jan. 15th. But with dwindling funds and knowing very well that issues don't get settled in a timely manner anywhere in the Caribbean, we made the painful decision to return home.

Not willing to sit around with our hands on our (cold) asses, we are off to visit possible project sites in Mexico, Ecuador and Chili. To all of you that were making plans to visit us on the Island, we extend our most humble apologies and hope that you haven't purchased tickets. If you have and are still going, take lots of cash. On the brighter site, the natives are wonderful people, very polite, eager with friendly greetings, helping hands and there is a very low crime rate.

Meanwhile, we are still finalizing our new plans and you can still follow our travels on our Blog. There is a place for comments, please do so. You can still continue to E-mail us and Call us here at the Holler. Everything is forwarded to this magical little Laptop, no matter where in this vast World that we may be.

And, who knows the issues on Exuma could be resolved and we will be back on Plan "A".

To all of you, we wish you the most wonderful Christmas and a prosperous New Year, May God Bless You. If any of you are offended by the word Christmas and God, Tough. You get wished a double wonderful Christmas and God Bless You!

With warm hearted regards, Bill, Barb and Laredo