Us and a little piece of Paradise!

We left the beautiful Berry Islands behind and sailed to Nassau for a quick one day stop.

Atlantis on Paradise Island, Nassau

 We got there passing by the famous Atlantis Resort and fueled up and headed to Nassau Harbor Club Marina. It was a whirlwind afternoon to get two loads of laundry done, over to Fresh Market to get needed produce and other forgotten things. Next time I won't forget canned mushrooms, they cost me $3.99 for a small can! We showered and met up with Corbett and Robin for a nice dinner at the East Villa Restaurant which is a nice Chinese Restaurant.

Enjoying our last restaurant meal that isn't Bahamian!

 After dinner I was hoping to do my blog, and when I went to put the hot spot on the Ipad to use our computer, the hot spot button was not there! Frustrated, I went to bed.

The next morning we were planning on leaving but because it was showery it gave me time to go to the Batelco office which opened at 8am and within 10 min. one of the young gurus had the hot spot button back. I then went to Starbucks to work on the blog but could not get connected to their wifi there even though others were on. I gave up went back to the boat and did my blog using the hot spot. The captains were wavering due to the squalls, but finally around 11am we left to cross to the Exumas.

Blue Heaven underway.

 Leaving so late we did see the sunset while out there and got into the anchorage shortly after dark. We had never done that before but we knew at Shroud Cay there were no coral heads and we knew two boats were anchored over there. We headed toward their mast lights and were in for the night.

The next day we decided to move on because there was some swell at Shroud which made it a little uncomfortable. Robin and Corbett on Cookie Monster like to find conch, fish and lobster, so we headed past the Land and Sea Park to Pipe Creek where they could do those things. I was not opposed because this is one of my favorite spots. As we had a great sail down we kept missing the rain squalls. But just as we were getting closer to Pipe Creek it poured raining but the wind only got to 21knots which wasn't bad. Now we had a well washed boat!

Cookie Monster entering Pipe Creek.

It is not on land, but in a slot of water in back of sandbar.

We entered the creek from the bank side and anchored just past the narrow cut of two cays. What a beautiful sight! We were the only boats in the creek other than this powerboat who is always there.  The owners come every once in awhile. We have never seen it this empty. Most people were still in the states waiting for a weather window.

First treasures found

Mid afternoon we went over to the exposed sandbar searching for sand dollars. Eagle-eyed Robin found 12 and I found 8. A pretty good haul for our first day of hunting.



The wind picked up and blew through the night. Then it poured raining. I had taken some Nyquil because of some sinus pain, so I was really out of it but I awoke and said to Al, did he close the hatch over our heads? He said he had, so I went back to sleep, only to awake the next morning to find the end of my pillow soaked and the sheet and mattress as well. He closed it but did not latch it! So it was dry out time for the bedding and the rug on the floor.

We went off with Robin and Corbett to a beach where we knew there were trails to the outside beach. We found some sea glass, 2 heart beans (beans in a shape of a heart from trees in Africa and such) and some shells.

More treasures.

This is how the other half live!

After lunch Robin and Corbett went looking for conch and came back with three. They were exhausted so we just chilled for the afternoon and evening.While sitting in our cockpit, this sea plane comes right by our boat to let off some of the island dwellers to their home on the private island.

The next morning before one of the many showers came, we had a beautiful rainbow.  Usually you get them after the rain, but this one was before it!

A rainbow before the showers, however there were showers all around!

We found the lookout!

Afterward we took off in our dinghies to head to a beach to hike to a former submarine station. The subs did not come in there, but their communications base was there. We found the path and came to a cement wall at the water's edge with huge cleats. Cookie Monster knew a trawler with a couple who stayed here the entire winter last year tied up and they blazed a trail and made a look-out tower. We found it, and I climbed up to get  just another gorgeous view.

My gorgeous view!

No, I meant this was the gorgeous view!

Corbett relaxing from his long walk.

Back to our boats for lunch and we decided to sail back to Cambridge Cay which is in the no-take Land and Sea Park. Once again we are the only boats here. Neither couple have ever been here with less than a mooring field full of boats. We hiked once again to the beach where Corbett fixed a hammock left by other cruisers and then decided to take a rest.
 We lucked out with the rain. It seemed to be heading to us and then would break up or head south of us. You can see the rain clouds in back of us in this picture.

Hiking without get rained on!

We also hiked the trails that headed up to a high point. You can see the rocks below which are some of the highest we see in the Exumas.

The high cliffs at Cambridge Cay.

That night we had a wonderful Cracked Conch dinner on Cookie Monster complete with plantains and my pepper cabbage and fudge for dessert. We watched a Hallmark Christmas movie which ended the evening on even a sweeter note!

It dawned a bright sunny day so we headed to the trail near Kiss Cay. Al and Corbett brought their machetes to help trim up the trail that begins to get overgrown. The ladies pick up the fronds and throw them to the side of the trail. It was a long trail so by the time we got to the beach off of the Coral Gardens we were quite warm and went in to cool off. It felt so good!

Enjoying the crystal clear water.

The play side of Johnny Depp's Island

After lunch Corbett and Robin took us to see Johnny Depp's island. It looks quite nice but not ostentatious because he doesn't want to draw attention to it. He really wants his privacy.

Robin said that a lot of the furniture and water toys are new since last year. She thinks his wife of less than a year has perhaps made the difference.  The house was quite ordinary and I did not even take a picture.

Accommodations for the help.

These tents are for Johnny Depp's workers. Our friends know this because they befriended the warden at Warderick Wells Land and Sea Park who was hired to help with the security for the wedding  last year.

You can see part of fuselage and the wing. 

After going around Depp's island we went over a spot where a small plane went down. I don't know the story behind it. We were so close I could only get a section of it at a time in the photo.  The cable you see is tied to a mooring ball to mark the spot.

Another gorgeous beach!

They took us to another gorgeous beach for more exploring. We ended the day on Cookie Monster for Happy Hour and a fill of our water jugs. Cookie Monster has a water maker which makes more water than they can use which is very helpful to us!
 

Al looking for the fish and fans.

We stayed another day at this gorgeous spot and finally one boat came in, but anchored further down the anchorage. We worked on various projects in the morning and after lunch we headed to a spot called the “Aquarium” to do some snorkeling. Another dinghy was there on one of the two mooring balls with seven young people snorkeling. Their boat was anchored on the other side of an island which we could not see. The tide was going out which made for some strong current but once you got into the cove it wasn't too bad. Here are some of the sights.

Sergeant Majors with their stripes.

One of the more colorful fans.

I believe a damsel fish.

We saw lots of Sergeant Majors, male and female parrotfish,, a damsel fish, a moray eel, angel fish, some tiny brilliant blue fish and others that I am not sure of their names. Every time I tried to get a picture, they would always turn away, so you see the tails of most of them!

After snorkeling we headed to do some exploring with the dinghy. 

Neat sand ripples in the empty pond.

 We found this one entrance and went in and anchored. We decided to walk in and find out what was there. It was another pond which was mostly sand due to being low tide.

 Robin enjoyed riding the current going out to our boats. 

Robin enjoying a float down the stream.

We also went to a beach where cruisers often gather for happy hour. There were loads of baby conch empty but it is a no take zone in the park. 

Young conch hoping to survive to adulthood!

While there, we saw stingrays, a small shark and a turtle. 

Who ever said turtles are slow, try catching a picture of one!

We certainly got our fill of nature for the day.

Later, Robin and Corbett came for another game of “Sequence.” Finally the girls had their win. A fine day it was! We are heading to Warderick Wells Land and Sea Park tomorrow to go on a mooring through Christmas. We are headed to just another gorgeous spot but one where internet and phone connection are very minimal!