| After Wendy and Anita left, we took stock on how much time we had left in the Bahamas (5 weeks!) and what we wanted to do with that time. After saying goodbye to our Bahamian friends on Staniel Cay, we decided to spend a last few days in the Exumas waiting for the right weather to move east to Eleuthera. Our first stop was Pipe Creek – a great, protected anchorage. We relaxed there for a few days waiting out some thunderstorms and high wind. Reed and Eric spearfished and some large remora took up residence under our boat. Once the weather abated, we moved a bit further north to Cambridge Cay. We’d been there before but wanted to get in some last snorkeling at this wonderful place. It's inside the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park so the fish and other underwater creatures and plant life are amazing. The tide was very low that day so we also explored the tidal flats around the island. The next day we departed for Eleuthera. About 40 miles east of the northern Exumas lies the southern tip of Eleuthera. It is a very different experience compared to the Exumas, being that it is one long (100 mile) stretch of land with large hills and varied terrain. This topography means different weather, navigation, and anchoring conditions. Eleuthera is also a lot more populated than the Exumas, with small towns dotting the island from north to south. We decided to cross over to a place called Cape Eleuthera, lying on the whale tale tip of the southernmost part of the island. We had spent several weeks there 15 years ago and wanted to explore and see how much things had changed or stayed the same. It was a beautiful 40 mile sail across Exuma sound, with moderate winds and seas. About an hour out from landfall, Reed hooked another large Mahi Mahi – this one a bull (male) so the head shape was different and the colors more vibrant. Eric cleaned the fish and we anchored in crystal clear water between several sandbars for a calm, starlit night. Incredible! The next day we checked into Cape Eleuthera marina. There were strong winds predicted for several days and it would be a secure place to leave the boat while we explored. Karrie and the kids took the dinghy to nearby sand bore islands at low tide. The crystal clear water and pink tinged sand made for phenomenal swimming, shelling, exploring, and just taking in the beauty of the area. Reed and Eric went spearfishing on nearby coral heads and got a large grouper to add to our stock in our refrigerator. Our next stop was a visit and tour of the nearby Island School. A 100-day program for 50 high school juniors and seniors, the academic focus is on marine ecology, sustainability, and leadership. The students also learn how to scuba, kayak, sail, and other water based activities. In addition, they have a partnership with local middle schools to build Bahamian community relationships. The campus is intent on being self-sustaining including the production of biofuel from cruise ship used cooking oil, large solar banks everywhere for power generation, composting, raising fruits and vegetables as the soil and weather allow, and raising and butchering pigs and chickens. Finally, there is a partnership for research studies with the nearby Cape Eleuthera Institute where graduate students and professors work on research applicable to marine health and local sustainability. We toured a hydroponic facility as well as tilapia research farm. It was a fantastic afternoon and inspired Ava and Reed to think about their future opportunities as students and citizens of the planet. Our last day at Cape Eleuthera was one of housekeeping, taking advantage of inexpensive laundry, water, and free high speed internet! Leaving Cape E we moved 11 miles to the north east to a protected harbor called Rock Sound. That would be our base for over a week in order to explore the island by car. Thanks for following, hope you enjoy the post! |
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AuthorsWe are Karrie, Eric, Ava, and Reed Sanderson. Our house is in Seattle but our home is wherever the four of us are...and for the next two years, our home is Night Music, a Tartan 37 Sailboat. Archives
June 2016
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