Saturday, March 21, 2015
This entire Part Three of our Adventure might just be taken up by this fabulous place called "Warderick Wells" in the Exuma Land and Sea Park.
Without a doubt the most beautiful area in the Bahamas. Or so we think at this time, however, each place we visit seems better that the last.
Here our friends Mary and Howard are coming over to the Ranger Station. I am up on the hill by the Office taking pictures when they arrive.
I really wish I could capture the beauty of this place in pictures but it's a lot like going to Hawaii...you can take all the pics you want but until you see it......you know the rest.
This is the anchorage we are in, I will get better shots later.
"Mystic Lady" at anchorage in the Exuma Land and Sea Park.
This was taken on my way back from "BooBoo Hill".....more on that later.
There are no facilities here, no water, no bath houses, no stores, only an office and Ranger Station.
A few historical pieces, a few stories on the wall, and of course a few Tee Shirts.
Another view from up on BooBoo Hill.
We stayed several days here. Howard and Mary left to go pick up friends flying into Staniel Cay but we just couldn't leave such a peaceful and beautiful location just yet.
Well, here is my contribution to BooBoo Hill.
I'm in the engine room compartment working on our Mystic Lady placard. It must be made of driftwood or the Rangers will dispose of it.
Howard had some paint and I found this piece of wood on a beach somewhere so .............
Our master piece is finished and about to be added to the pile of previous placards from all over the world.
Making the sign was the easy part, bringing it up to BooBoo Hill, well that's a real challenge.
In fact, the sign at the trail head says, No Children, No Dogs, and No Old People should climb this hill.
Good thing I don't feel old.....
We are part of the pile now........
It's pretty hard to get a good picture of "Mystic Lady".....she doesn't sit still very long.
We will be on the move again tomorrow.
Next stop... Staniel Cay........
Here at Warderick, when the tide goes out you can practically step off the back of your boat onto a sand dune.
Annie thought that was really cool.
It's like anchoring beside a giant swimming pool. The water is clear and the sand is pristine.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Heading down to Staniel Cay with Nazdar close behind.
We are anchored up between the "Majors"....
Big Majors and Little Majors are two Cays near Staniel Cay.
We have a weather forecast that doesn't look good so we are looking for the most protection possible.
We are anchored up between the "Majors"....
Big Majors and Little Majors are two Cays near Staniel Cay.
We have a weather forecast that doesn't look good so we are looking for the most protection possible.
The Admiral and I are headed over to Staniel to check out the local grocery store.
I'm about out of eggs again....
As you can see, there just aren't any ugly places over here in the Exumas.
I'm about out of eggs again....
As you can see, there just aren't any ugly places over here in the Exumas.
What a woman, climbing over rock walls, wading thru deep sand, ready to leap onto her dingy and take off to places unknown.
The dingy landing at Staniel Cay....
Looks like she found the groceries...
Here on this Island there are three stores...The blue store, the pink store, and the store up the creek.
We tried the one up the creek but we got there the day before the supply boat came so they were out of goodies.
The next day we chose the Blue Store..Got my eggs....
Thursday, March 26, 2015
This beautiful Mega-Yacht got washed ashore when his anchor broke loose in the night. She is about 150 ft long and sitting on Pig Beach.
I wonder if the Captain still has a job this morning???
A shot from a different angle shows the size of this yacht a little better.
It took a couple of days to get her off the beach. Lots of buzz about this around Staniel Cay for days.
Others in the anchorage had issues also but nothing like this.
We heard several people on the radio during the night. Boats were banging into each other and some dingies got damaged.
Here's a 5 minute video of a Kentucky Hog Farmer calling pigs on an Island in the Exumas......
Who would da thunk it......
Friday, March 27, 2015.
Now that the storm excitement has passed it's time to do some more exploring.
Found this neat beach near Staniel that has a trail from one side to the other of this peninsula. Annie and the Admiral are hiking to the other side.
These girls get a kick out of exploring the brush and rolling in the sand.
A view from the trail that Christine is on looking down at this little cove beach.
The dingy awaits as we head out to explore more of this area.
Howard and Mary have taken their friends up to Warderick Wells for some exploring but I wonder just how they made it through the storms.
This next little beach is more to my liking. It's close enough to the town that one could find a Rum or two to help pass the time.
Annie and the Admiral are out walking the beach so I'll just chill a bit.
Getting a little hungry though, wonder where's a good place to eat?
Looks like there might be something down that way.
Let's mosey on down there and find something to eat.
Staniel Cay Yacht Club is just around the bend.
Found the Yacht Club, nice bar, big fancy restaurant. Another Ritzy place for High-Rollers again.
The restaurant wouldn't allow Annie to dine with us so.........If it's too good for Annie, it's too good for me. Let's move on into town and check out the local dives.
When you order fish and chips in the Islands, that's just what you get.
It's not exactly "Captain D's" or "Long John Silvers" but, hey, it's da Bahamas mon.
Notice the Hot Sauce around the edge of the plate? That's an Island cure to keep the flies off the food.
And it worked.....
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Another great day for exploring, this time we are heading over to "ThunderBall Grotto"...
Now, if you are old enough you will remember "Thunderball Grotto", it's the underwater cave that the movie was film in.
James Bond, "007" movie, you know...If you don't remember, then rent the movie....It was a good one
Looks like several people had the same idea.....
When I dived under the ledge in the above picture and go inside this is what you first see.
An amazing cave with a natural skylite overhead that showers the cave with sunlight.
The rock walls look eerie and take on the appearance of dinosaurs. Christine noticed the eyes, nose, and mouth of this one. But her and Annie waited outside with the dingy while I explored the cave.
Sorry for the poor picture quality of these shots. All pictures were taken with an I-Phone sealed in a plastic water proof bag.
Wish I had used a true underwater camera for this part because the inside of this grotto is spectacular.
Also could have gotten some good underwater shots with the right camera.
Well, she thinks so anyway.
Can you see it???
There are three entrances into the grotto, all underwater. If you wait for low tide it's an easier swim. Once inside there is plenty of room, it's a big grotto.
Several movies filmed in here but "Thunderball" was the most famous.
Staniel Cay has lots of memorabilia from this era in the bars and shops.
Back at Mystic Lady for a shower and dinner.
Appears we have company again, this time a Sting Ray and another Shark hanging out right under our swim platform.
Seems they like the shade of our boat. Lots of sharks in these waters and it's so clear you can see them easily.
Another beautiful sunset in the Islands. This at the anchorage called Big Majors in Staniel Cay, Exumas.
I guess you've figured out by now that I enjoy watching the sun rise and set. At my age it's a sign of another meaningful day.
It's time to pull up the anchor and head to our next adventure. As we depart Staniel we say good bye to the many mega-yachts that frequent this Cay.
Being "Spring Break" there are more than usual anchored here.
We are headed for Shroud Cay next. Rumor has it that there are some real good creeks to explore that go all the way through the Cay and out the other side.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
We found one of the creeks we heard about. Headed up this one as soon as we got our anchors set here at Shroud Cay.
A little too early as the tide has not risen to levels to make the trip easily, but who says it has to be easy.
Where's the challenge if the water is deep?
And the exploration continues in Part Four of OUR ISLAND ADVENTURE II...2015
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