It’s been a while since we had bars for any uploading of photos or posts, so hold on to yer hats while I plaster you with a photographic rundown of our last week or so.
Since Staniel we have been to Cambridge Cay, through the incredible Pipe Creek (absolutely stunning trip winding through the islands flanking it), Compass Cay (NOT the most welcoming of places), a beach day on the northern end of Pipe Cay, the southern anchorage of Warderick Wells, Hawksbill Cay, and now we are at Highborne Cay, which is almost the northern tip of the Exumas chain.
We’ve done a lot of snorkeling on this trip, which is such a treat, and so much easier to swallow as an activity now that we’ve honed our pre-snorkel routine (i.e. get wetsuits on before piling massive amounts of gear and all four of us into our overstuffed dinghy). Violet is a crazy diving fish, and is the first one in and the last one out every time, and Lily is gaining confidence that there probably won’t be a shark around every corner. We’re adding more to our mental reef fish catalogs every trip, and my marine biology dorkditude is coming on full strength. What’s known as the Sea Aquarium near Cambridge Cay was insanity- huge schools of fish everywhere we turned, and the diversity in coral was like nothing we’ve seen yet.
The kids’ beach play has morphed a bit every time we go ashore- one day a house, one day a bakery, and most lately, a farm. ‘Crops’ are planted and tours are given, and their imaginative play continues to blow my mind and warm my heart. Goes to show what happens without screens!
Every Exumas Land & Sea Park island has a mini guide map indicating snorkel sites and trails ashore, which often lead to ruins of various settlements. We’ve done a bit of hiking, and while we cower from a potential poisonwood thwack along the overgrown trails, I’ve learned that a) I need a machete, and b)… I just really need a machete. I’d be okay with the flora trying to grab onto me as I walked IF I was 100% that it wouldn’t result in blisters (see Andy’s poisonwood experience from last year for detail), but… I’d feel safer with a machete.
Today we split from Ruach, and we’re all a bit down this morning as we consider the days ahead without them. Our routine together grows fairly tight, especially as the girls are concerned, and their every minute hangs on the next ‘Martin and Maeve’ meet-up, so I imagine that today and tomorrow are going to be a bear.
We DO have distractions though. We’re currently on the lovely Highborne Cay, living it up at their marina for the moment. As it’s a private island, access to it is as a marina guest only (though they have day pass/landing fees as well), but wow, they have rolled out the red carpet. The island is pristine, and has bikes to use, kayaks and paddle boards on every beach for use, a swing in the middle of a swimming lagoon, a well-stocked store, a restaurant, showers, a playground, grill decks on every turn of the marina docks, and Lou, a giant macaw, who doesn’t say too much, but the girls are hooked on finding out what exactly it might be.
Today we’ll head back to Nassau to do a final Bahamian provision, laundry session, etc. Then up to the Berries, and possibly Bimini, on our way back west. The countdown to the end is upon us, really, but to have so much fun on our plate until then is exciting. We’ve never been to the Berries, or Bimini for that matter, and with light winds from the east, we’ll have great weather for long slow sails, or slightly faster motor sails, comfortable either way. We’ll also have more snorkeling on the docket, more island exploration, and a few more games of Uno in there as well, if we’re lucky.
Until then!