Big Major Spot

Big Major Spot is a large Cay with a very large, well protected harbor. The winds have been from the east and south east. It just so happens that this is the direction we have been heading. We sailed and motor sailed a number of days to get down here...directly into the wind and waves. Our boat is thoroughly salted! This is a popular place. Crystal clear waters, a pig beach, dinghy access to Staniel Cay and its town and restaurants......what more could you ask for.

The beach here is home to some free range chickens and a couple pig families










Feeding the pigs creates a frenzy




Hey! You got any food?




The crystal clear waters allow you to see the sharks swimming around.





Great spot, another great sunset

The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park

The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park (ECLSP) has more than 100,000 acres of beaches, mangroves, reefs, and ocean. It was established in the 1950's to protect the unique marine and terrestrial ecosystems. We spent a couple of nights in the park to enjoy the beauty.

Freedom on a park mooring at Warderick Wells








Lots of beautiful hiking trails.




The trail to the famous Boo Boo Hill takes you across this shallow salt creek.






Boo Boo Hill, the highest point on Warderick Wells. Boaters have been leaving plaques with their boat names for decades.




The view back to the mooring field from Boo Boo Hill





Not far from the hill are blow holes. You can hear them "breathing". On days when the waves on the open ocean are big and the tide is high water will spray from them.








It is an incredible place, one you just need to see for yourself.

Endangered Species

We finally left the Eleuthera chain of islands and headed to the Exumas. We have been looking forward to this, lots of uninhabited islands, crystal clear water, white sand beaches and even some endangered species. Yes, our first stop was Allen's Cay. This grouping of cays and rocks is generally reffered to as Allens Cay after its largest island. These islands are uninhabited......by humans but home to the endangered Bahamas iguana.

Signs on the beaches tell the story.









A nice, well protected anchorage.




We got the anchor down and headed to the sandy beach on Leaf Cay.


Look at the welcoming committee





Look at the distinctive tracks they make on the beach.




What a handsome dude!




Wow, they are everywhere.








We even saw a turf war.








This area is a quick day trip from Nassau so ther is a lot of boat traffic. Lots of power boats and their wake. We enjoyed our time here but it is time to move on.

A Port in the Storm

The settlement of Spanish Wells is off the northwest tip of the island of Eleuthera. The settlement is on St Georges Cay and is surrounded by Russell Island and Charles Island. The fishing fleet of Spanish Wells supplies over half the Bahamas crop of lobster. It is a great little town full of friendly people and it is a well protected port in a storm. We have been watching the possible formation of a tropical low/storm. Predictions had the time and place of the low and the accompanying squalls in varying places/time/severity. We found a great group of cruisers and decided to hang out in this protected spot for a while to wait out the weathef.

Spanish Wells




Here is Freedom on her mooring with a group of our friends




A great happy hour at the Shipyard




Wow, what a sunset!




We got a larger group together to take the 2 mile dinghy ride to the Sand Bar on Russell Island, SW of Spanish Wells proper.




Our dinghies on the beach in front of the Sand Bar.




One of the moored boats is a "kid boat". Three of the cutest kids! Well behaved and industrious.





We had a great time. We had two pot lucks including a Cinco de Mayo celebration. Luckily the low formed well northwest of the Bahamas. We got a ton of rain and one day of strong winds but nothing really out of the ordinary. We are glad we made the decision to stay. We made great friends and had a lot of fun. Most of the boats are headed north. We're marching to our own drummer and heading south.

On to Eleuthera

From Little Harbour to the Eleuthera chain of islands is the Northeast Providence Channel. We headed out early in the morning guessing that we would be motoring or at best motor sailing. It was flat calm with no wind for us as we went out the cut. We knew there were going to be some squalls possible in the area. As we got into the NE Providence Channel the wind picked up and we could track on radar a squall coming up behind us.


Squall approaching





We skirted the squall but took advantage of the accompanying winds and sailed on a broad reach, downwind. We later discussed the day with a couple that left an hour after we did. They got totally drenched in a downpour where we only experienced a few sprinkles. The wind clocked around and we where sailing on a beam reach. As we approached Egg and Royal Islands the wind died again. We anchored in a beautiful, protected harbor at Royal Island.



Royal Island approach




There is a former 1950's estate in ruins on the island. You cannot see much from the water but we landed the dinghy and took stone stairs to explore.

Little Harbour, Abacos

Little Harbour is famous, it is home to Petes Pub and the Johnson gallery. We did a blog post about the gallery and it's history the last time we were here. If you are interested...look back at the archives, winter of 2013. The harbor is very well protected from wind and ocean surge and there are not many well protected anchorages in the area. We must go into the harbor at high tide because the entrance channel is only 4 ' at low tide.


We anchored off Blackpoint Cay the night before to wait for high tide to go into Little Harbour.


Rain squalls stayed north of us while anchored by Blackpoint




We even got a nice rainbow



And another great Bahamas sunset




The famous Petes Pub. It has a roof, no walls, sand floor and is run 100% from solar power. They collect rain water, exclusively. A true beach bar.




Here is Freedom on her mooring. Looking out from Petes.




The posts holding the roof and the sides of the bar are covered in graffiti. We added ours.




Next stop..Eleuthra Island...new grounds for us.

Eye Candy

Here's some of the sites of Hopetown.



The Abaco Rage is a popular Bahamian sail craft



Anchored out in the Sea of Abaco after a squall passed us.



And of course...



Another beautiful calm night.