Friday 14 April 2017

Exumas -Lots of wind and fish fish fish!

The Exuma area of the Bahamas is still our favourite place down here.  This area consists of 365 islands or cays that extend over 130 miles. We spend a lot of the winter island hopping these largely deserted places. This year we had plenty of company for exploring the islands and more importantly what is under the water. Along with “Lady A” we had Acadia(Tim and Diane) and Erben Renewal (Steve and Julia), both trawlers (power boats) to keep us company. Tim, Diane and Michel are all former US military sorts so our walks were always at least four miles long.

P1030318 The half way point on a six mile walk on Guana Cay. Kim and Steve opted out to go and spear fish.

P1030312 A windy day on the the Exuma Sound (Tom Wood of NYC on the far left,Tim and Kim)

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Another windy day (there have been many) at Cambridge Cay

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Not a good day for swimming

In the Exumas we spend a lot of our time under the water, that is where the treasures lie.  For some of us it is beautiful tropical fish and for others it is all about dinner! With four boats together snorkeling time becomes quite social and in this group fish spearing was the priority. We have had many appetizer times and shared dinners with the fish that were speared. It is always open season on Lionfish (an invasive species) and the meat is delicious so we have had many. Michel and Kim both speared their first lobsters although they were somewhat under the legal size (we now know that you tease them out of their hole and have a look before spearing them). Kim is getting better at fish spearing and has brought home a number of grunts, a grouper and snappers to grace our table, yum!

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One of Kim’s Lionfish, quite beautiful really (be careful of the poisonous spines).

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Kim and Michel with their catch. I love the expression on their faces, little boys again.

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Snapper, Lionfish, two Grunts, a Grouper, and two Spiny Lobster!

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Another good day of spearing

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A Slipper lobster (rare) and two Spiny ones. Kim wishes he had speared these guys, I traded a fellow cruiser two bottles of juice for the spiny guys. Kim is looking forward to spending time with him next year!

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A close up and yes those are horns…and they were delicious in butter and white wine.

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Enough of the fish, there are some really sweet children (and adults) on the cays. I bring books along to give away and they are always thrilled.

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A fun night on Diane and Tim’s trawler…yes you get REAL lights on those boats!

Just a few classic shots to close out…

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The sun setting beside Acadia

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A nightly show from the  cockpit of the Q.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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