A few days this week we have had overcast skies with
afternoon rain. Most of the rain has
been light and refreshing, with one evening of heavy rainfall which provided a
nice bath for the boat. Once the rain was over we were blessed with a beautiful double rainbow.
Despite the overcast skies the pigs came out to play and we joined other cruisers on the beach for a lovely evening cookout.
After leaving Big Major we sailed to Pipe Cay to explore
these shallow waters. The Bahamas are not known for having channel
markers but we were able to spot a few...sort of.
Tendered to a small local marina to see what it had to
offer. It is generous to say Compass Cay
Marina is a “small” Marina. Tiny is more
like it but the boats who are docked are anything but small. The Marina has resident nurse sharks who
await the fishermen cleaning their catch.
The Marina walls boast pictures of some celebrity visitors such as
Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Johnny Depp and the likes.
From Compass Cay to Warderick Wells we had a leisurely sail
and secured our assigned mooring ball before rain arrived. The next day provided excellent weather for
hiking the Loyalist ruins and Boo Boo Hill (named for resident ghosts). A memento of Victoria (Denis’ Beneteau) was left on Boo Boo Hill.
After a leisurely starboard broad reach sail to Hawsbill Cay we explored the island. While at the northern end during low tide we witnessed Nurse sharks birthing. What an amazing site. Unfortunately the pictures are not posted because our underwater camera decided to fog up so only mental pictures are clear. Throughout Exuma Land and Sea Park we have explored numerous Loyalist ruin sites and isolated beaches.
At Shroud Cay we took the tender through Sanctuary Creek and
thought we were seeing some of the same scenery shot on location for the film
African Queen (per local guide book).
After watching clips from African Queen we thought surely this was not
so since we saw no rapids, crocodiles, natives with spears or snakes.
Progressing north to Norman’s Cay we snorkeled a 1950’s vintage DC3. This plane is all that is left of the 1970's drug running days of Norman’s. Simon would watch the tender for us and taking this photo was interesting since a sailboat in the background gave the appearance that Simon was captain of a small rig.
Leaving Norman’s we went through the cut to the Sound side. Denis and Steve put out a line and caught a 54” King Mackeral. It was and remains good eats. We shared some of the fish with neighbors who provided a beach cook out at Allen’s Cay along with a playmate for Simon.
Allen’s Cay is known for large prehistoric iguanas.
I failed to mention the beautiful coral heads at Highbourne. It is hard to capture all the colors in this living aquarium.
We have also seen a variety indigenous creatures such as this Bananaquit and curly tail lizard.
It has been nice having Denis along for this leg of the trip and easier for me since he helped Steve with some of the heavier duty boat projects. Denis is a racing sailor and has been having fun with sail trim squeezing out every bit of boat speed from the wind.
Did I mention he is allergic to dogs? Simon seems to be the exception and they have become best friends.
We are currently in Nassau at the Atlantis Resort Marina and will post more once we arrive in Abaco Islands.
Leaving now to watch the NBA finals, Go Heat!
