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June 21, 2005
Bahamas Learnings, Bad Weather & Attempt Number Three
Two things have amazed (and surprised) us about the Bahamas: shallow water, and HUGE tidal currents. We are used to setting our anchor into the wind, with the wind driving us back off the anchor. No, no, no. In the Bahamas, you set your anchor into the current, and hope that when the tide changes, you don’t wrap the chain around the keel. Better still, you set one anchor down-current, then another anchor up-current, and swing slightly on the two.
We had planned to leave today, changing our plans to head across the Exuma Bank to Nassau, rather than north to Eleuthra. As part of his early morning, pre-Chis routine, Dave checked weather to discover rain, thunderstorms and a ridge stalling over us. We decided to stay put and take one last chance getting to the ranger station.
We left at 10am, expecting a grueling hike, and walked along the windward east side of the island before turning inland. An hour and a half later, we were there, checked email, donated to the Park, (updated the website), bought a t-shirt, and moved on. We returned at 3pm. We were exhausted, sunburned, and thirsty.
This is a place that has touched our hearts. Tranquil, protected, beautiful, outstanding snorkeling, protection from virtually any wind. Highly recommended. The cays are covered in mocking birds, lizards, iguanas, and laughing gulls. The waters are littered with fish, lobster, sharks, octopi, grouper, conch, etc. This is a place to be seen. By the way, you can only see it by boat. We count this on the short list of places on the planet to see again before we die.
Posted by dave at June 21, 2005 07:24 AM