LIFE: Part 2

Current Location: The Glass Window Bridge, Eleuthra, Bahamas
Current Position: 25 26.11 N 076 36.35 W Click to view map.
Distance sailed since last post: 619 nautical miles. View the map of our voyage track here

As soon as we left Staniel Cay we caught a nice   mutton snapper, that was exciting especially when were about to bring the line in, as we approach the National Park. The seas were smooth and I prepared the fish on the cockpit. With the small bits I made nice fish cakes for lunch. The rest made nice fillets. The bones made a yummy ch0wder.

 

We finally got to see some nice lobsters wile snorkeling. Not that we are very good at catching them, but here fishing is prohibited as we are in Exuma Land and Sea Park area in Warderick Wells. Good snorkeling and a nice walk. Huge wales skeleton

 

 

 

After spending a couple of days here we headed to Norman Cay. We had 16 kts of wind and a nice broad reach. Very big waves through the cut and big waves continued out to sea.

Little Pond Cay

Johnny Depp owns this gorgeous island

Although most privately owned islands around here only have a “Private, No trespassing” sign, Johnny Depp goes way beyond with this sign 0n his beach front.

 Big beautiful island, beautiful beaches but did not see any mansions, just smaller villas spread out. Gorgeous spot too, right next to the Exumas Park. 

The island next to this one is White Bay Cay, owned by Tyler Perry, beautiful beaches backed by palm trees and mansions. Just gorgeous and upscale.

Norman Cay

For years, this small island, South of Nassau served as the headquarters for  the Medellin Cartel s drug smuggling in the 70’s up to around 1982. Planes would land on the tiny man-made runway (which is thought to have been built by Pablo Escobar himself) to refuel before continuing their journeys to the USA to drop off their illegal cargo.

 

 

 

Beautiful Beach in front of Mcduffs restaurant and villas. The first day we anchored near the sunken plane so we could snorkel it. The second day we anchored right in front of this beach and from here we enjoyed a nice long walk through the island.

Pablo Escobar Crashed Plane 

The Curtiss C-46 Commando once owned by Drug King, Pablo Escobar, lies in the beautiful turquoise waters in a sand bank so easy to snorkel.

The WWII-era plane was thought to be carrying cocaine when it landed just shy off the runway in 1980. It came to its final resting place on a sandbar between two outcrops of land on the southern end of Norman’s Cay.

Depending on the tides, the plane usually sits at a depth of around 10 feet below the surface, making it one of the most fascinating and easily accessible snorkel.

It is so impressive! Whats also interesting is that its not really advertised much in the Bahamas as a tourist attraction. so you find yourself anchored in this beautiful place with no one around. I guess the tourists are all gone to see the Exumas swimming pigs instead!

We loved exploring it. It was very cool. there were many colourful fish and marine life.

 

Eleuthera

We loved this island. We set off from Norman Cay expecting light winds but in our favor! well they lied. We had up to 20 kts and are now close hauled but still a fast trip. Anchored in Rock Sound. What a great spot. Well stocked market with fresh vegetables, including Kale. A short walk to the laundromat. Happy Happy

Its Good Friday and we are told by the other cruisers there is food ashore and could hear music. We beached the dinghy.  We enjoyed the  street food, open bar, good music and meeting other people. Good start of the Easter weekend. Next day  filled our water tanks from a tap at the beach, for Free.

In the afternoon we walked to visit these very cool caves. Cathedral Caves

 

On Easter Sunday we did a short sail to Governor harbour. What a beautiful calm bay, and a picturesque little town.

we loved our walk around here, with the beautiful gardens and colonial style homes though out

In the afternoon we adventured into a long walk to the pink sand beach. Walking through town we came across this local  bar Buckeneers Club, with a live band playing really nice music, so we stopped and had a drink, and listened to the band. I even got Noel to Dance…..

It was a great weekend . Loved it here and will be back

Next anchorage, Hachet Point

Smooth sailing , winds behind and jib out. Anchored in very calm bay. As soon as we arrived I saw a few jelly fish here though.

Our friend told us to go snorkel this pond on a protected area to find seahorses. Noel and I set off on a long and hot walk to this Pond.

With some detours into visiting these caves, that had graffiti  all these writings going back to the 60’s. apparently if you take the ladder or steps down, the caves are quite deep. Well, we had no flash light with us, and not feeling that adventurous here.

In all our travels we had never seen seahorses , so we were hoping to finally find at least one. We saw some very different marine life, crab and white shrimps, and we were snorkeling for a long time and about to abandon our search. At last we spotted One

Very cute, not very big, and this one really camouflages in there. So it was very exciting! sure worth the long and hot walk

Next anchorage, Glass Window, Eleuthera

Beautiful sail here, about 9 miles, gliding along beautiful cliffs.

One of nature’s true wonders, The Glass Window Bridge will certainly leave you breathless as you drink in the magnificent panoramic view. It is one of the few places on earth where you can compare the rich blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean on one side of the road and the calm Bight of Eleuthera (often incorrectly called the Caribbean Sea) on the other side, separated by a strip of rock just 30 feet wide.

On the eastern, Atlantic side the highway is flanked by ridges leading up to cliff tops 80 feet above the ocean. The approach is thus blind on this side, until you actually reach the bridge where the deep blue Atlantic heaves into view.

 

 

 

 

Queen’s Baths or Hot Tubs are a collection of natural pools that border the rugged Atlantic Ocean side of the island, a short walk of 0.6 miles south of The Glass Window Bridge. They were formed over the years through erosion of the rocks by the dramatic crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

We went twice to see the difference. It was gorgeous both times. First day at low tide, calm and serene, you can soak in the pools and the next day was totally dramatic with the waves crashing.