Land and Sea Park to Georgetown

We left Warwick Wells Wednesday 3/6 and dropped the anchor in Big Major's Spot anchorage just near Staniel Cay where we stayed 2 nights. 

Staniel Cay is known for the Thunderball Grotto, infamous Swimming Pig beach and the Staniel Cay  Yacht Club.  Bill and I explored the beaches the day we got there and explored the grotto and went snorkeling the 2nd day.  For a special treat, we had dinner at the yacht club.  First time eating out since Bimini!

The anchorage is enormous with great holding.  We were in good company with all kinds of boats!

We rode by the pig beach, but never made it back! Lol!

The grotto was very cool.  It has to be entered into at low tide, when you have about a foot of clearance for your head.  It was smaller than we imagined but oh so magical.....so many fish and the light coming in from above and the cracks in the sides, lit up the cavern and the water was an incredible blue!  Unfortunately, we do no have a underwater camera so you'll have to google it......or take my word for it.  Amazing!

We found a really cool snorkeling spot!  It was off a rock point, where there was sandbar with protection from the current.  On the sandbar the water was only about a foot deep then dropped into 10-12 feet which made it easy to put on our gear.  The bottom was covered in sand, rocks and coral.....oh, the fish!  So many!   

Coming in for dinner at the yacht club!

The sharks were there waiting for the fishing charters to come and clean their catch.  These were all nurse sharks and I even got down and petted a couple.  They feel like a bumpily tuff piece of leather. 

 

Headed back to the boat for the evening. 

Friday morning we were up early to begin our 66 mile ride to Georgetown!  The winds were light and we had an excellent ride in open waters.  

The anchorage just before leaving.....like glass! 

The ride to Georgetown was perfect, couldn't have asked for a better crossing...but it was a long ride.  All in all it took about 8 hours, but then took another hour to find a place to anchor.  There are a lot of places to anchor his and there are a lot of boats!  Some stay there for the winter months, then travel back north for the summer.  

This is Dotham Cut near Black Point.  The pictures don't do it justice.....the current here was crazy and old Cheers made it up to 12 knots!  

Once through the cut, the depth dropped to over 1000 feet and the water was the deepest blue we have ever seen.  

Hello Georgetown!!

Nassau to Exuma's Land and Sea Park

Thursday morning 2/29, we left Nassau under cloudy skies.  The ocean was just a little bouncy with 2 footers.  While underway I baked my first ever sourdough bread.  Not awesome, but for my first try.....not too bad! Lol!  I'll keep trying!

We made it to Highbourne Cay West about 1 o'clock where we anchored for two nights.  

We rode the dingy over to the Highbourne Cay Marina to get fuel in the dingy, milk and romaine lettuce.  At the end of the marina pier the sharks were waiting for the fishing charters to return for dinner!

On Saturday we moved to Shroud Cay moorings, which is part of the Exuma's Land and Sea Park.  The islands in the park are considered to be the jewel of the Bahamas and now we know why.....absolutely beautiful! 

From the anchorage we took the river through the middle of the island over to the open ocean side. 

This the entrance to the river.  It is about 5 feet deep, surrounded by mangroves and is home to many sea turtles and sharks.  All the land, water and it's animals are protected by the park.  No hunting or fishing and maximum speed in the river is 3 knots.   

Turtles

Shark in the distance....

The other end of the river opening into the sea. 

This pool of water has been nicknamed "The Washing Machine".    It's almost completely surrounded by water with it being deep in the middle.  On really wavy days the water comes over the sandbar and creates a washing machine like action.  Not a lot of action when we were there but nothing like swimming in mother natures natural pool!

Cooler is empty and it's looking a bit stormy....time to get back to the boat! 

Homemade pizza night!  Yummy!

Roxie loves going to the beach!

Monday morning we moved to Warwick Wells Moorings.  The stops keep getting better and better!

Warwick Wells Moorings is located adjacent to the Land and Sea park ranger station.  In addition there are beaches, walking trails, snorkeling, blow holes, real sperm whale and pilot whale skeletons  (both found on the island) and the famous "Boo Boo Hill" where everyone who visits traditionally will leave something with their names or boat names behind.   

Here is the larger beach.  The park provided beach loungers and picnic tables.  

Picture of us on the mooring ball taken from the beach.  Were the 3rd boat in.  😉

The water in this bay was unbelievable.  

A nurse shark came by both nights to make sure we didn't want to give him a treat.  

We hiked up to Boo Boo hill and the views were amazing!

Cheers is the 3rd boat back.....oh, yea and there are no shortages of super yachts!  

The following pictures were taken while on our hike, looking over the open ocean.  

The open ocean side had waves, but not big enough to come up through the blow holes. 

Back down on the beach!

What a way to end our stay in the Land and Sea Park!