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

Bahamas, Exumas, Shroud Cay – Kayaking up river in search of Camp Driftwood

by |Published |2 Comments

Shroud Cay is actually a group of cays and rocks between which lies an extensive marl of mangrove salina.

There are ‘creeks’ that run through the mangroves and a few actually pass completely through to ‘windward’ beaches on the other side of the Cay.  One of the rivers, just north of our anchorage, is meant to pass through the island and end up on a beach just below a famous Bahamian land mark, Camp Driftwood.

In the 1960’s a man named Ernest Scholtes began building a hill-top fort from driftwood he found on the beaches.  He was a bit of a hermit, living on his sailboat just inside the creek on the Sound side.  Cruisers happening upon the place added their own driftwood mementos and the place continued to grow even after his passing.  Unfortunately the magical landmark was abused and the Park Rangers found it difficult to manage.  They cleared the sight and set up Boo Boo Hill, on Warderick Wells, in its memory.  Their Ranger Station is on Warderick Wells so they can manage a ‘momentos’ site here more easily.

IMG_8307

Even if the Camp Driftwood is gone, it still gave us something to aim for.

So we all shock off our New Years Eve hangovers and decided to spend the first day of the New Year exploring the creeks that run through the Cay.

Off into the mangroves we went
Off into the mangroves we went
Unfortunately the humans picked slack water low tide to explore the creeks. So sometimes there was more waking the kayaks then paddling them.
Unfortunately the humans picked slack water low tide to explore the creeks. So sometimes there was more waking the kayaks then paddling them.
In the open sand/salt flats we would spot lone mangroves trying to get a hold and stabilize the ground against the tides and the currents they create
In the open sand/salt flats we would spot lone mangroves trying to get a hold and stabilize the ground against the tides and the currents they create
After an hour of paddling/walking we made it up the north end of the creek into the windward side of the Cay
After an hour of paddling/walking we made it up the north end of the creek into the windward side of the Cay
We parked the kayaks up on the beach just inside the entrance and went off in search of Camp Driftwood
We parked the kayaks up on the beach just inside the entrance and went off in search of Camp Driftwood
The windward beach here is stunning. At low tide it is protected by an extensive sandbar that runs in a huge loop
The windward beach here is stunning. At low tide it is protected by an extensive sandbar that runs in a huge loop
We hiked up the Camp Driftwood hill for a great view over the creeks, mangroves and sand flats that dominate the interior of Shroud Cay
We hiked up the Camp Driftwood hill for a great view over the creeks, mangroves and sand flats that dominate the interior of Shroud Cay
When Carlos Lehder and his associates operated their thriving cocaine business from Norman's Cay drug agents used the ridge at Camp Driftwood to spy on Lehder's operation. Agents set up a very sophisticated camera on the ridge and aimed it at the runway on Norman's Cay. From this vantage point they were able top take photos of all the planes as they landed and took off, they were even able to capture the numbers off the smugglers fuselages. By the time they closed down Lehder's operation the agents had a fairly complete record of the comings and goings of his fleet of smugglers.
When Carlos Lehder and his associates operated their thriving cocaine business from Norman’s Cay drug agents used the ridge at Camp Driftwood to spy on Lehder’s operation. Agents set up a very sophisticated camera on the ridge and aimed it at the runway on Norman’s Cay. From this vantage point they were able top take photos of all the planes as they landed and took off, they were even able to capture the numbers off the smugglers fuselages. By the time they closed down Lehder’s operation the agents had a fairly complete record of the comings and goings of his fleet of smugglers.

There was one advantage of exploring the creeks at low water.

It meant we could drift back through the creeks to the sound side of the Cay in the flooding tide.
It meant we could drift back through the creeks to the sound side of the Cay in the flooding tide.
We were able to drift up on wildlife and we saw Great Blue Herons, baby sharks and lots of rays.
We were able to drift up on wildlife and we saw Great Blue Herons, baby sharks and lots of rays.
Running away from the big scary shadow of the kayaks
Running away from the big scary shadow of the kayaks

A supper fast trip back to the boat.

A great way to see in the New Year.

Happy Belated New Year to everyone.

If you want to see our review of the year past visit our Happy New Year Page.

You may also like

2 thoughts on “Bahamas, Exumas, Shroud Cay – Kayaking up river in search of Camp Driftwood”

Comments are closed.