Blown In

Weather reports indicated a big blow was headed for the Bahamas, so we decided that Warderick Wells in the Exumas would be a good place to ride it out because or guidebook stated, “During the Storm of the Century, March 13, 1993, Warderick Wells experienced 70+ knot winds and every vessel (21) in the anchorage rode out the storm in comfort and safety.”  Besides, we like the Exuma Land and Sea Park.

So we slipped our mooring at Spanish Wells went through Current Cut picking up and extra 3 knots of boat speed through the cut.  Just past Current Cut, something hit my lure breaking my reel before parting the 40# test line.  Pollie says it was for the best because I didn’t want to try boating that large of a fish.  Reel parts are on order.

Before Warderick Wells, we stopped at Allans Cay for the night.  On nearby Leaf Cay there is a large colony of iguanas that run to the beach expecting to be feed when they hear a dinghy approaching. 

We were able to slip right in and get a mooring in the well protected north mooring field.

Two five foot nurse sharks greeted us at our mooring.  Pollie declined my offer to let her dive on mooring to make sure it was in good repair.  The next day we did snorkel on the nearby rocks letting reef fish swim right up to our masks.

Because the ELSP is a no take zone the wildlife show no fear.  This little Bananaquit found our galley window.

There is a reason the rangers warn against feeding the wildlife.  They move in.  We had a Bananaquit visit every day.

The Bahamas is not as litigious as the U.S. and the hiking trails around the ELSP are better for it.  In this tidal pond, two small rays swam over to watch us.

Large ray are a common sight.  The black spot in the water is a ray moving over the sand bottom, or a large moving rock.

The wind was blowing and the surf was pounding when we made our pilgrimage to Boo Boo Hill.