Hawksbill, Shroud, Norman, Allen and Highborne Cays - The Conclusion of our Exumas Adventure

On Monday we visited a beautiful cay called Hawksbill, where we rode our dinghy to visit a small beach with a marked trail to the Russell Ruins. The ruins date back to the 1780s when a group of Loyalists (after the American Revolution) received a grant from the British Crown to establish a new colony. It was just amazing to see the remains of their homes and to think how they must have struggled to exist in such a harsh sandy rocky environment. Apparently, they lived there until 1900 when the community was abandoned. Hawksbill has a stark beauty with pretty vegetation and rock formations. We spent an enjoyable night moored next to the beach while we listed to the music of the waves lopping onto the shoreline.

Click Hawksbill Pictures

On Tuesday we moved north to Shroud Cay. Its name comes from the island's topography resemblance to a long narrow sheet, or shroud. We explored the shoreline by dinghy and walked the mud flats at low tide – very pretty! On Wednesday morning at mid rising high tide, we explored a winding tidal creek lined with mangroves that reminded us of a Florida shoreline. The creek led to the ocean and a magnificent white-sanded beach. We climbed a hillside path to view the gorgeous landscape below.

Click Shroud Cay Pictures 
 

We then decided to travel to Norman Cay just about an hour sail away. This cay gained notoriety during the late 1970's when it was used for a base for a cocaine smuggling operation. As a result of the illegal activity a DC-3 airplane is sunk in the anchorage. We explored it in a dinghy ride and looked through our “lookey bucket” to view it. It was pretty disintegrated with algae and a few fish surrounding it. If it could only talk! We lunched at McDuff's, a highly talked about place hidden away in paradise grounds, and feasted upon cracked conch and a cheeseburger. We repositioned Eagle's Wings to the outside anchorage because we felt the anchoring was safer. It was a windy night on the anchor and the boat rocked all sorts of ways and interesting motions throughout the night. We kept waking up – the stars in the sky were gorgeous as we went up & down!

On Thursday, the anchor was pulled up and we set our autopilot to go to Allen's Cay. It was a boisterous sail on a close reach in 15 knots of wind and by 11:30 AM we had traversed the cut and anchored in a magnificent pond-type area. On one side was Leaf Cay and this cay is the home of an endangered rock iguanas colony. They greeted us on the shore probably looking for food. What strange looking creatures they were! Check out the pictures! After spending some “quality” time with them, we up-anchored and sailed over to Highborne Cay. This place has a pretty little marina where we refueled and checked out their food/gift shop. They even had some strawberry ice cream, my favorite. We are anchored outside the marina because “there is no room left in the inn (AKA marina)” and tomorrow we will sail the 30 miles to Nassau Harbour Club to await a “weather window” for our trip back to Florida. Our friends on s/v Blue Goose and s/v Cantagree are behind us. They are taking their time touring the cays. We hope to meet up with them in Nassau for the trek back home.

Click Allens Cay Pictures
In summary, what a great trip! We talked about our favorite moments. Some of them in no particular order are...

- Snorkeling in Thunderball Cave

- The friendly Bahamian people and cruisers

Meeting Ernestine of Ocean Cabin and the woodcarver on Farmer's Key

Lorraine's coconut bread on Black Point

Going to the Holy Bible Church with our friends and meeting Rev. Kevin Rolle on Black Point

Sampson Key's beautiful beaches and views – a terrific place!

The awesome view from Warderick Well's headquarters

Putting our boat plaque on Boo Boo Hill, Warderick Wells and hiking there with our friends, Marilyn & John

Conch Salad on the beach at Georgetown – a real treat

Traveling with Gina (a Texas friends from our sailing club, TMCA) & Bruce – lunch on their boat s/v DreamCatcher

Traveling with Marilyn & John on s/v Blue Goose and Maureen & Tom on s/v Cantagree – playing Hand & Foot (card game) in Nassau and sharing our adventures. We are lucky to have such wonderful friends!

And many, many more - GREAT TRIP. Now, for the long journey home ...