After getting very clean at Rachel’s bubble bath the next morning we headed off to the east side of Warderick Wells Cay which was short 12 mile cruise to an anchorage called Pirates Lair. Lore has it there is hidden treasures in the rocky limestone. Getting into the Lair involved some real pucker time at the wheel to first navigate the inlet and then to wind and weave around a torturous narrow passage past numerous sandbars to finally enter the anchorage where we grabbed a mooring ball. When we entered our jaws just hung agape.
It by far was the most beautiful place we have ever anchored. Sue did a great job catching the ball and getting us secured. We explored the surrounding area by dinghy passing by a very exclusive looking hotel all done in a Bali theme complete with intricate thatched roofs. The Beach was prominently marked, “Private No Landing.”
The area has many sand bars that surface at low tide painting the water with the many hues of blue to the bright white sand that has just a kiss of pink. Funny enough you really can’t walk on the sandbars because you sink in too deep. Almost like quicksand. If you stand and twist your feet you sink in about a foot. After a bit of exploring we went to the beach where the boat was and walked the trails thru the palm scrub.
When we returned to the boat Sue made that statement that always gives me that stress hormone shock, “What’s that noise?” I listened and heard a sound like something was running. When I went into the engine room I found the shafts were turning from the strong current passing under the boat. Phew! Quickly fixed by using a box wrench on bolt that came off the coupler which jammed against the hull to stop them from turning. For once a very easy fix. It was a moonless night giving way to an inky black sky dusted with millions of stars. The Milky Way providing a white stripe across the heavens. Off to the east in the distance was some low clouds that flashed with heat lightning. Who needs tv with that kind of show going on?
On Friday April 21st we slipped off the mooring ball and headed 21 miles north to Shroud Cay. We went on the Exuma sound side hoping to hook a fish but once again we were shut out proving again why they call it fishing. Shroud Cay the last cay north in the Exuma Land and Sea Park. We pulled into the northern anchorage and set the hook.
After lunch we took the dinghy up this narrow track that extends deep into the cay. The gin clear water allowed us to see even the finest details of the many Green turtles we passed. We saw tiny ones to large ones. We ended up at a place called the Washing Machine where the narrow creek communicates with Exuma Sound. There is a deep pool right where the limestone rocks narrow before opening up to the sea.
On an Ebb tide you get into the pool and let the current drag you out to the sandbar where you stand up and repeat. We spent most of the afternoon there enjoying the beautiful surroundings. We had a nice calm night at anchor sleeping very soundly after a full day in the sun.
Sunrise Pirates Lair
No comments:
Post a Comment