Day 44-45. May 5-6. On to Shroud Cay in the Exuma Land and Sea Park. MIles 16.2 Total Miles 695.9
Day 44
Had a lazy morning and left the anchorage at 9:15. As we were preparing to leave the first tour boat, "Pieces of Eight" from Nassau, entered the harbor. All the iguanas came out to greet the new tourists!
Bill also took some drone shots of this beautiful anchorage.
We pulled anchor and headed out of the harbor heading west to avoid numerous sandbars. The sea had a slight swell and winds are 10-15 knots.
Our plan is to take this week to get to Georgetown, our southern most point and then begin our return trip north stopping at the cays we missed on our way down.
Beyond the sand bars we turn south and pass Highbourne Cay with its big marina, then the smaller rock cays of Lobster, Long and Saddle. We then pass the larger Norman's Cay which we will hit on the way back.
We then enter the Exuma Land and Sea Park, which was established in 1958 and is the first marine reserve in the Bahamas and the wider Caribbean. The park is a no catch, no take zone. Leave only your footprints, read the sign!!! The park is known for its beautiful beaches, scenery and varied wildlife.
Along the north shore of Shroud Cay are a few boats anchored.
We took a mooring ball just past the point along with 8 other boats. Here are some shots of our anchorage.
Such gorgeous water color here. Shroud Cay is known for its mangrove creeks which we will explore. These creeks are habitats for turtles, fish and shore birds. We have already been greet by the Forster's tern with it long tail feathers flying over our boat.
Also heard the Bahamian Mockingbird and a Red Eyed Vireo in the Shrubs of Allen's Cay.
Bill took the drone up at Shroud also and got some great shots. The first ones are of the shore line and anchorage.
These last shots are of the island interior with its mangrove creeks.
We put the dinghy in the water so we can explore the creeks. Bill did make a map so we would not get too lost!
Going around the point which protects our mooring field, we head into the mangrove creek which winds its way through the island and ends up at a beach affectionately called The Washing Machine.
This is what the creek looked like.
You have to travel the creek at a rising tide as some areas are quite shallow. We slowed several times in our one mile journey inside the island to watch for depths.
Arriving at the beach area, we found it crowded with dinghies and people! Everyone was jumping and wading into the pass and floating out to the Atlantic where a convenient sand bar allows you to wade back to shore.
We walked the rocky beach and, of course, Bill had to climb on the rocks.
We then found a trail which took us to the top of the bluff for some great views.
Returning to the dinghy, we headed further north to exit the mangrove creek into Exuma Bank and make our way south, back to the boat.
Along the way we stopped to try to photograph a turtle swimming with us in the creek. Well I tried!!
Day 45 Lay day in Shroud Cay
We took a deserved rest from travel to stay in this beautiful location one more day. Slept in and at rising tide traveled along the Shroud Cay's shore line to discover a beautiful cove and rocky limestone walls.
We were in the company of some might big boats in this anchorage!
We then went into the mangrove river again to enjoy the beach. We took some extra shots of the beach and its rocky walls. Along the way we saw 6 turtles swimming in the creek.
We met some fellow travelers on the beach, who have lived on their boat for 15 years and seen the world!! Was interesting to hears their stories. as the tide began to change we then made our way back to the boat for a leisurely dinner and evening.
As we prepare for our Bahamian Adventure, we are making lists upon lists of things to do and provisions to buy for our upcoming trip to the Bahamas. Bill has spent much time readying the boat for the cruise, checking engines, batteries and all the systems on the boat - electrical, plumbing, navigation, refrigeration and air conditioning. Sure kept Bill busy!!! We took the boat out to check all the systems and to get fuel. We had to re-remember all the navigation and auto pilot workings and surprisingly we did remember!! We have spent the last two days loading the boat with provisions- water, food, tools, clothes, toiletries and cleaning supplies, and our pantry and cabinets are full. We are sitting a bit heavier in the water now that we are fully loaded. Also Bill has finally gotten his TO DO list down to the few remaining items so he sees the light at the end of the tunnel!! We have researched the charts and guide books and have a tentative pla...
Day 12 We left our anchorage at sunrise to head out of Great Sale Cay Harbor. Turning west and then north, we will cruise around Great Sale Cay toward Abaco's barrier islands, eventually reaching the eastern edge of the Little Bahama Bank today. As we turn Northeast, we get some spray. Crustacean is quite salty now! Winds are out of the east 10-15 knots with waves at one foot. We cruise past Little Sale Cay we see a steady stream of sailboats going both east and west. I counted 15 total. Nice wind for sailing. Halfway through our trip, you begin to see the outer barrier islands on the horizon to the north. Five miles later you can see Little Abaco Island to our south. Here is a chart of the area we traveled from Great Sale to Allan's-Pensacola Cay today. The further we travel east, the Little Bahama Bank narrows, The winds pick up and seas run 1-2 feet. Crustacean got even saltier! As we approached Allan's-Pensacola the wind and sea...
Day 24 We had a change of plans. Our friends who we met cruising the Loop, Trisha and Mike, are traveling north through the Bahamas and are close, so we will join then in Hope Town. We will then back track a bit to visit Man-o-War Cay and Marsh Harbor after visiting with them. It is a bright sunny day with light winds as we weigh anchor to leave Great Guana. There is lots of freight and commercial traffic today- tugs and barges, large freighters and flat bed delivery boats. It takes all these to handle the shipping needs and construction on the islands. We trip today took along the north east side of Great Guana and then past Scotland Cay, which is all privately owned. Next we passed Fowl Cay which is a nature preserve known for its diving. Following Fowl Cay is Man-o-War Channel with its deep water access to the Atlantic and Man-o-War Cay, known for its ship building and maintenance. Sorry, pictures of the passes and islands did not turn out too well...
