Cruising the Central Exumas

Allan's Cay to Emerald Rock at Waderick Wells - Wednesday, January 12
Emerald Rock to Sampson Cay - Saturday, January 15
Sampson Cay to Staniel Cay - Monday, January 24
Staniel Cay to Big Majors Spot - Tuesday, January 25
Big Majors Spot to Cambridge Cay - Wednesday, January 26
Cambridge Cay to Sampson Cay - Saturday, January 29
Sampson Cay to Blackpoint Settlement - Tuesday, February 1
Blackpoint Settlement to Sampson Cay - Thursday, February 3
 
Since January 11, we have spent our time cruising the Central Exumas.  These places are actually very close together in that during this time we have traveled less than 100 miles.  There is just so much to do at each place and so many people to meet and customs to share.  One could literally stay at one location for days even months and still not be bored or lack any number of fun things to do and see!  Often times our stay in one location may be cut short because of weather. There are certain anchorages that offer more protection than others depending on the direction and speed of the wind.  That is why checking the weather forecast every day and sometimes several times a day is a very important part of our day as a cruiser.  It is important to check for the week ahead and then recheck every morning to see if and how it has changed.  We make our travel plans accordingly.

We picked-up a mooring ball at Emerald Rock in Waderick Wells after one night at Allan Cays on January 12. This began a 3 day visit where we explored the many trails this area is known for.  These trails are as advertised very rugged with rocky cliffs that overlook pristine beaches.  These beaches, as well as most of the ones I have seen so far, have the whitest sand I have ever seen.  From the top of one of these cliffs,  you have a spectacular panoramic view of the clearest, most beautiful water anywhere. The water is amazing with its many shades of blues and greens - from light to aqua to medium to dark.
At times when the water is calm and as slick as glass, it acts like a mirror showing your reflection as you look into it.  It is absolutely beautiful!!!  One can even see the shadow of the boat! Buck continues to marvel at being able to see the anchor embedded into the sandy bottom of the anchorage.  Waderick Wells is part of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park which is a Bahamian National Park that was established to preserve and maintain a "delicate ecological balance between native species".  Their motto is: "Take nothing but photographs...leave nothing but footprints".

After getting lots of exercise, we left our mooring on Saturday and headed south to Sampson Cay.  What I didn't know at the time and have come to find out since, Sampson would become my home away from home! We absolutely love it here which probably seems obvious to you all when you see how many times we keep coming back to either the anchorage or the marina.  Its draw is the people who work here and live here. It doesn't hurt that that the island is beautiful and serene offering many walking trails that end in gorgeous beaches with that same pure white sand and spectacular water as well as nice grassy areas that are beautifully landscaped with gazebos that offer respite from a day in the sun and water.  As you might guess, Magic loves Sampson for all the reasons we do. Upon our first visit on land we noticed the "pet stations" that always seem to be filled with bags!  He/we knew immediately that he was welcomed.

We have spent a lot of time snorkeling and swimming the different reefs and beaches.  The sea life is just as spectacular as the land life!  I have become quite enamored with the friendly, harmless nurse sharks that live near the docks at Sampson. They are really beautiful and seem to live for the moment the fishermen come in with their catch.  They lay in wait hoping that while cleaning the catch for the day someone will drop the leftovers overboard so they can have a taste.

As I have shared before, one of the neatest parts of cruising is when you pull into an anchorage and you recognize a boat that you have met along your travels. This happens again and again. We really enjoyed catching up with our new friends, Bob and Penny on Pretty Penny and Rita-Kay and Clay on Carleigh while at Sampson. We have actually spent time with them on two separate visits to Sampson.  The marina at Sampson offers great protection from a strong west wind so that has become our destination when a strong west is predicted.  We have enjoyed sharing lots of laughs, good food, and cruising experiences while hiding from some weather fronts.  The food in the Marina restaurant is some of the best we have had in the Bahamas! Heck, several meals have been as good as any we have eaten even in the finest restaurants in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area.

We left Sampson on January 24 to go to Staniel Cay to wait for our friend, Paul, to arrive from the US.  We were really looking forward to his visit!  We spent 4 days in Cambridge Cay snorkeling, playing on the beaches and just relaxing and reading.  Cambridge is part of the Land and Sea Park and is far enough away that even our Bahamian phones and internet services were not available.  It was kind of nice but after 4 days I think we were all ready for connecting with the outside world.  Again, back home to Sampson for a couple of days to catch up on Internet and family and friends back home.  We were also excited about eating a meal or two out.

Our next stop was Blackpoint Settlement.  This is a place that is more developed than our previous stops.  It has Ida's Beauty Shop where you get your haircut sitting outside overlooking the harbor.  She also has the cleanest, nicest laundry mat I have seen anywhere!  You can't go to Blackpoint without stopping in at Lorraine's cafe (internet too) for a nice, slow, relaxing lunch while catching up on internet.  But the place I was most anxious to visit was the school that I had heard so much about.  So on Thursday morning, my friend Vic, who is one of the best photographers I know and I put on our best pair of shorts and went to meet with Ms. McKenzie, the Principal.  What a neat experience!!!  I was so impressed with her, with the teachers and the students.  The school houses first - ninth grade.  They have 44 students with grades 1-3 in one class, 4-6 in one class, and 7-9 in one class. For my teacher friends, can you imagine the differentiation that goes on when having first, second and third graders in one class!!!  Students leave home for their 10-12th. grades and attend school in Nassau.  They live with extended family while there. The students were so well-behaved and polite.  The school vision incorporates a strong emphasis on character education and it was evident by student behavior.  I will be going back in the next week or two to do some volunteering in the classroom.  The school welcomes cruisers and readily puts them to work - listening to children read, help them with their writing and math.  I may work with one student that I met.  So needless to say, I am very excited about that and am anxiously awaiting the time when we go back to Blackpoint.

That is all for now.
Fair winds to all!
Vicki, Buck, and Magic