IT'S A DOGS LIFE
SAILING AROUND THE WORLD WITH SPIRIT OF ARGO
IT'S A DOGS LIFE
SAILING AROUND THE WORLD WITH SPIRIT OF ARGO
Bahamas

Conception Island, West Bay – Wild bird reserve

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So where did I leave you off on the last blog.  Oh yes, the humans Sh***ing themselves.

They got themselves anchored up amongst the shallow coral heads of Flamingo Bay, Rum Cay and now needed to get their anchor up, the boat turned round (in a tight circle) and find a way back out.

Do not attempt this with out a horse shoe up your a***.
Do not attempt this without a horse shoe up your a*se.

An extraction I would not recommend without good light and a back up pair of pants.

Something smells bad
Something smells bad

Someone ‘up there’ likes us, because they managed to get back out without hitting anything.   Just a little ‘laundry’ to take care of!

Goodbye Rum Island
Goodbye Rum Cay

No sooner did we leave Rum Cay in the distance then spot the shores of Conception Island on the horizon.

A horizon filled with early squalls.

Cirrounded by heavy squalls

Approach to Conception Island
Approach to Conception Island

Thankfully we were able to get to Conception Island and anchor up in the North East corner of West Bay before the rain hit.

Got in with time to spare. Time to put up all the rain covers to collect water for the tanks...that is.
Got in with time to spare. Time to put up all the rain covers to collect water for the tanks…that is.

The weather forecast, for the next few days, was little wind and lots of cloud cover and rain.  Time to stop sailing and hide inside?

Not for us!  Cloud cover makes great shade for a hike in the Caribbean!

My favourite beach in the Bahamas
My favourite beach, so far, in the Bahamas.

The cloud cover offered a reprieve from the scorching sun and we decided to take advantage of it and go exploring the island with a ‘bit of shade’ for a change.

Beaches of the North Coast of Conception Island
Beaches of the North Coast of Conception Island

We crossed over the short Northern peninsula and headed along the coast to the east.

The north coast is a combination of beaches and sand stone cliffs
The north coast is a combination of beaches and sand stone cliffs

Conception Island is a National Park.  The land and sea are protected as a wildlife sanctuary.  To help visitors enjoy the island a clear hiking trail has been set up down the North coast from the anchorage at West Bay to Babbie’s Bay, on the East Coast.

Walk-accending sand stone cliffs

They have even added ropes to help hikers climb the more difficult sections of the path.

The wind and sea have carved the sand stone cliffs of the North Coast into art.
The trail follows the sand stone cliffs of the North Coast.  The wind and sea have managed to carve these cliffs into artistic shapes.
From the high coastal cliffs you get a great view into the mangrove forest of the interior of the island.
From the high coastal cliffs you get a great view into the mangrove forest of the interior of the island.  More of which we will talk about later.
Babbie's Bay on the East Coast of the island
Our intended destination, Babbie’s Bay on the East Coast of the island
Before getting there we have a little 'jungle bashing' to do.
Before getting there we have a little ‘jungle bashing’ to do.
Do not worry, as the trail through the forest is clearly marked with flotsam.
Do not worry, as the trail through the forest is clearly marked with flotsam.
Unfortunately we found Babbie's Bay a disappointment
Babbie’s Bay

It was a great hike, but unfortunately we found Babbie’s Bay a bit of a disappointment.  We had heard the East facing bay was a ‘beach comber’s haven, but when it said that we thought of shells and not plastic flotsam.  Some trick of current and wind has brought in every form flotsam from fishing nets, plastic chairs,  flip-flops and plastic buckets to glass bottles, refrigerator parts, and aluminium roofing.  Not exactly a nature lovers haven!

Snorkelling

Even the snorkelling here was a bit ‘average’.

So the next day we decided to do something completely different.

The island is a protected sanctuary for breeding tropical birds.  You will find the shore line dotted with mating pairs of Terns, Tropicbirds. Bahamian Mockingbirds and American Oyster Catchers.  But if you travel into the interior mangrove forest you will find more exotic birds.

About two nautical miles south of the anchorage is a river entrance into the mangroves of the interior.

You can take your dingy in, but you will need to paddle over the entrance’s sandbar and the shallower areas.

Perfect kayaking territory
Perfect kayaking territory
We are not exactly ornithologists, but we were able to identify a few Heron species, including the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron and the Green Heron.
We are not exactly ornithologists, but we were able to identify a few Heron species, including the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron and the Green Heron.

 

We think this was a Great Blue Heron, in it's white phase, but it could also be a large Egret.
We think this was a Great Blue Heron, in it’s white phase, but it could also be a large Egret.

The mangrove sea interphase was also a great area to see juvenile hawks bill and green turtles.  I would definitely recommend coming here to admire the wildlife…even on a rainy day.

It looks like we will have to leave tomorrow.  The wind is meant to return, for one day only, so we will need to use that to sail to the next island…Cat Island.

See you there.

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