Day 277 -280, March 24 - 27, 2023

 Day 277 Friday, March 24, 2023

Highbourne Cay Marina, Highbourne Cay Exuma to Spanish Wells, Eleuthera

We were underway at 7:15; 73 degrees and calm, traveling with Call Me Curly. We had an uneventful crossing to the Eleuthera's.  The Eleuthera's are another group of islands in the Bahamas; we are headed to Spanish Wells at the northern tip.  Waves were only 1-2 footers, comfortable.  Our friends Danny and Susan on Phil-N-Wild, did this same passage already and warned us about Fleeming Channel. They traveled in not so great conditions and then spent a terrible 20 minutes (even more rough and confused seas) going through the cut. 

  

                                                                                                 Deserted

 Eric's Inheritance tucked in.

Our experience was VERY different.  Rough conditions can occur when tides, currents and winds are all working against each other, especially through a cut.   We managed a day with relative calm and had good timing.  WE had a very smooth passage through Fleeming.  Danny showed us a video of his rough experience; Susan was holding on tight and wanting to go home!  

Once in our slip we joined other Loopers at the marina restaurant, Wreckers.  Phil-N-Wild, Anna Dee and Donna Lynn had a lot to share about their crossing.  John and Susan from Eagle Heart, Gold Loopers, came as well.  

Of course, we ended the evening with a reunion card game of 7's.

Day 278 Saturday, March 25, 2023

Spanish Wells Yacht Haven

Nice, warm day; the boat is COVERED with salt but fresh water is metered so we won't be washing it.  Instead we rented a golf cart with Sharon and Grant and explored the town.  We were immediately impressed by the quaint, colorful houses and friendly people. 

    Lots of quaint houses.   "Cape Express" in port at Spanish Wells.

Spanish Wells contrasts quite a bit from other places we have visited.  Most areas have recovered from hurricane damage; we didn't see trash lining the streets.  First stop was the Farmer's Market where we scored some fresh blueberry muffins and cinnamon bread.  From there we got groceries at the well stocked Food Fair Market. 

 There was a "feeding frenzy" in the produce department by the locals.  We also checked out the famous Budda's Restaurant and Liquor Store. 

Spanish Wells is connected to Russell Island by a short bridge.  The homes are farther apart with lots of undeveloped land.  After exploring we found ourselves at The Shipyard Restaurant for lunch.   

 

Lunch at The Shipyard.

We had an ocean view and spent some time looking for the resident octopus.  It lives in the waters close to the restaurant deck.  I saw some fish, a crab and a starfish,  but no octopus....

After time spent at the pool we headed to Eagles Landing for some ice cream and a golf cart ride to check out the pink sand beach and sunset.  We ended the day with Wizards against Call Me Curly and Phil-N-Wild. 

 

  

Day 279 Saturday, March 26, 2023

Today was spent doing laundry.  With only 2 washers and dryers and a line ahead of me, it took a while.  Each machine takes $6 worth of tokens and of course 1 of the dryers (of two) was out of order. 

  

Laundry finally done we headed to the pool where we met a couple who vacation in Long Lake every year!  We visited with several other boaters and even sampled some Apple Pie moonshine from Tennessee.  Very smooth.  We were gifted some fresh Wahoo by a Platinum Looper (boater who has done the loop more than twice) who had just come back from fishing.  Danny and Grant also scored some fish.  All of the fishermen are very generous.  They don't want to see fish wasted/spoil so gladly share.  

Day 280 Sunday, March 27, 2023

Spanish Wells to Eleuthera Island

Today we took the commuter ferry (filled with locals heading to work) from Gene's Dock to Eleuthera to some of the sights.  The ferry is only about a 15 minute crossing at $6/person.  

 

We prearranged for a rental car once on the island so that we could check out the sights  from one end of the island to the other.  Our expedition brought us along some paved and some VERY rough roads.  It felt like we had gone 4 wheeling, off road.

We visited Preacher's Cave; the first permanent settlers were ship wrecked on the island of Eleuthera in 1647 seeking religious freedom and used the cave for shelter.  The cave was later used as a church and town hall.  Hard to believe people actually lived in there.

Preachers Cave entrance

  

From Preacher's Cave we visited the Sapphire Blue Hole.  Blue holes are large caverns open to the sky that have been naturally carved out of the limestone. The sapphire color is from the limestone.   The thrill is jumping down from the ledge wall, swimming and snorkeling.  After working up your nerve to jump then you have to crawl your way out.  There was a rope ladder and then some branches to help you scramble up the side.  The blues were stunning!!

When we arrived there was a family from Chicago enjoying the blue hole. Surprisingly, the woman's parents had grown up in Buffalo and Rochester and her grandmother had lived in Plattsburgh!!  We have met so many people along the Loop that know good old Plattsburgh.  What a coincidence to meet at the Sapphire Blue Hole in the Bahamas.

 

The father jumped in to check it out before allowing his children (10 and 6 years old) to jump.  Those kids were braver than we were!  Henry jumped in multiple times.  Mom was unsure that daughter Simone would be able to climb out but once she worked up the nerve dad helped her climb out.

 

 

We couldn't believe that they were brave enough to jump and strong enough to climb out! 

Our next stops were the Glass Window Bridge.  The Atlantic Ocean lies on the east and the Exuma Sound on the west.  The contrast of colors between the 2 sides is amazing along with the rush of the water as the current and tides move through the cut in the island. 

Right down the road we found a blow hole.

 

The Queen's Baths -- exposed at low tides.  It was fun to watch the crashing waves but the rock terrain is very rough and can be a bit treacherous. 

 

   Grant and Sharon in the Queen's Bath

Lunch at The Buccaneer Club and then a visit to the pink sands of French Leave Beach.

Once back at the ferry dock we parked our rental car and caught the ferry back to Spanish Wells.  Our instructions were to meet the wife for the car rental in Spanish Wells to pay and return the keys!  She met us in her golf cart as we walked back to the marina.  Time for the pool -- with Anna Dee, Call Me Curly, Phil-N-Wild and Donna Lynn, then Wizards.

It was a busy last day in Spanish Wells.  Tomorrow we travel on to Schooner Bay on Great Abaco Island.