| s/v Nine of Cups Cruising the Bahamas Winter 2002 |
We left Charleston, SC (at last!) on 17 January, 2002 and headed to West Palm Beach, FL on the "outside" via a short anchorage in St.
Augustine.
The passages were calm and cold, however each degree south brought warmer breezes and dreams of shorts, t-shirts and barefeet.
Augustine.
The passages were calm and cold, however each degree south brought warmer breezes and dreams of shorts, t-shirts and barefeet.
| Our perception of the Bahamas prior to cruising was limited to Freeport and Nassau. Actually there are over 700 islands covering 100,000 square miles with a total population of 305,000. We visited a large number of them but still only a small portion of all the islands as we travelled south. |
| Nassau Harbour is large and beautiful. We anchored just off Club Med across from Prince George Wharf. The photo above, taken from atop the Water Tower, shows the beauty of the harbour with the Atlantis theme hotel in the background. |
Both of us enjoyed seeing the iguanas in Allan's Cay,
Exumas. Though we were a bit timid at first, we found
them curious, but not very aggressive. Any sudden move
or loud noise on our part sent them scurrying. They are an
endangered species and only live on islands not inhabited
by other animals. These are about the size of Jelly.
Exumas. Though we were a bit timid at first, we found
them curious, but not very aggressive. Any sudden move
or loud noise on our part sent them scurrying. They are an
endangered species and only live on islands not inhabited
by other animals. These are about the size of Jelly.
The Exumas Land and Sea Park is part of the Bahamas
National Trust which works to protect natural and
historical resources in the Bahamas. No fishing, shelling
or conching is allowed. This is a view from the
headquarters.
National Trust which works to protect natural and
historical resources in the Bahamas. No fishing, shelling
or conching is allowed. This is a view from the
headquarters.
In return for volunteer work within the park, we were
allowed to anchor for free. After providing resumes of
our engineering, marketing and management
backgrounds, they found tasks for which we were
qualified - David on the rock pile and Marcie babysitting.
allowed to anchor for free. After providing resumes of
our engineering, marketing and management
backgrounds, they found tasks for which we were
qualified - David on the rock pile and Marcie babysitting.
We visited several cays on our trek south through the
Exumas. Each island seemed to have its own charm,
especially Staniel Cay pictured above. This picturesque
cay was the location for many of the scenes in the movies
Splash and Thunderball.
Exumas. Each island seemed to have its own charm,
especially Staniel Cay pictured above. This picturesque
cay was the location for many of the scenes in the movies
Splash and Thunderball.
We left the Bahamas and headed for the
Turks and Caicos Islands. Our favorite stop
here was Grand Turk Island. Pictured left is
the Grand Turk Lighthouse, which was cast
in iron in England and transported and
reassembled in 1852 overlooking Northeast
Reef.
The Bermudian Saltrakers were the first to
commercially produce salt in the Turks and
Caicos by evaporating sea water in a series
of salinas or salt ponds. Since then, salt
played an important part of the economy until
the 1960's. The salinas still occupy a huge
area in Grand Turk and Salt Cay, and are
reminders of this history. Pictured right are
the remains of a windmill used to pump water
between salinas.
Turks and Caicos Islands. Our favorite stop
here was Grand Turk Island. Pictured left is
the Grand Turk Lighthouse, which was cast
in iron in England and transported and
reassembled in 1852 overlooking Northeast
Reef.
The Bermudian Saltrakers were the first to
commercially produce salt in the Turks and
Caicos by evaporating sea water in a series
of salinas or salt ponds. Since then, salt
played an important part of the economy until
the 1960's. The salinas still occupy a huge
area in Grand Turk and Salt Cay, and are
reminders of this history. Pictured right are
the remains of a windmill used to pump water
between salinas.
Every island has its own unique species of lizards or anoles. The
two males pictured here are indigenous to Grand Turk and are
fighting over territory. They extend the area beneath the mouth,
called dewlaps, to appear bigger amd more ferocious.
two males pictured here are indigenous to Grand Turk and are
fighting over territory. They extend the area beneath the mouth,
called dewlaps, to appear bigger amd more ferocious.
