More Exumas!

We spent most of this winter in the Exumas, a chain of low lying limestone cays and islands that extend in a south easterly direction for 100 miles.  The area is very dry and almost every day of the year is sunny and warm.  The foliage on the cays is often grasses, short palms, and bushes or trees with very thick leaves to survive the sun and dry periods.  There are a huge variety of plants below the water as well – we will bring an underwater camera to capture that next winter.   We had the good fortune to experience an unseasonably warm and windy winter so did not need long sleeves, socks, or long pants. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we will definitely be back for January 2015!

Not exactly what your mind pictures as swaying palms!

It may be scrub, but it's beautiful.

Always big sky and water. The shirts are for sun protection not warmth.

  We had the good fortune to meet local fishermen who had speared very large spiny lobsters and we took one home.  The meat was tender, tasty, and fed us for dinner and lunch the next day.  We often drag a fishing line as we sail and so far Calvin has caught the largest barracuda of the season.

Mmmm!

Fighting the barracuda.

After the fight with Calvin this barracuda was tired out. Kim takes care of hook removal.

Kim has practiced diligently on his pole-spear fishing, Hawaiian sling spearing, and trolling.  For a very long time the only thing he had to show were barracuda teeth marks on the lures. They do give a good sporting fight, and we landed six, but unfortunately they are not eating material because of the risk of ciguatera fish poisoning, so they go back to the sea.  Then his time came … he has now speared grunts, snappers, a trigger fish and on our passage from Nassau to Spanish Wells he caught Suzie the Mahi. She was 25 pounds and 44 inches to the fork in her tail. She had already spooled out about 30 yards of line by the time Kim got to the reel to set the hook. The drag is normally set to ten pounds but this was not enough and we continued to loose line. The fight was on. After slowly increasing the drag Kim was now able to start gaining on her. We have a 50lb reel with 50lb line so we were determined not to loose this little battle. We got her to the boat, gaffed her, sprayed our cheap vodka into her gills to put her to sleep, and finally secured her with a line through her gills. With help from our freezer she continues to provide us with delicious dinners.

After two good runs the Mahi was beginning to tire.

The yellow and blue colouring of the Mahi is quite spectacular.

Safely at anchor the Mahi was cleaned and is still being enjoyed.

The dry conditions of the cays limit the species that can survive so in the Exumas we did not hear a lot of bird calls and bugs were a non issue although when the wind dies away the no-seeums can show up. The main creatures we found were lizards, iguanas (on 2 protected habitat cays) and the tiny Bananaquit bird. When one visits iguanas they will walk up to you, then you stare at each other until they tire of you and walk away.

A mature Rock Iguana

These tiny lizards are our only company on most cays.

This Bananaquit flew inside the boat each day to dine on white sugar.

Black Point is one of our regular anchorages because it is a small community that makes you feel welcome. It has a very small grocery store, four restaurants and the best laundry in the Bahamas.  If there are a number of boats in the harbour the community will organize a 'Chat and Chill'. The residents and cruisers drop by the beach for a BBQ - lobster, grouper, chicken, ribs, steak with the fixins - rice and peas, macaroni casserole and cole slaw. There is plenty of music and Bahmaian Kalik beer to keep everyone hydrated.

The Black Point anchorage - yes that is the cemetary!

Dancin' at the 'Chat and Chill'

Cathy gets her kid fix at the BBQ.

 

Looking out to the Atlantic (Exuma Sound) side of the island.

This group of pictures are from our visits with Corinne and Calvin in some of our favourite Exuma spots.

Corinne on top of BooBoo hill overlooking Exuma Banks.

Warderick Wells Sea Park was a favourite spot. The 'Q' is on the far left.
We are anchored in a natural channel and the water to her immediate left is less than a foot at low tide!

Kim's eye view from the top of the mast, Corinne and Cathy on the deck below.

Water temperatures of  85+ degrees make for long soaking times at Warderick Wells.

Lunch at Staniel Cay Yacht Club.

Cal in front of Bell Rock and the Exuma Sound behind.

A girl and her dad at Obriens Cay.