Sitting in Cruiser Paradise

We got into the Shroud Cay anchorage late on Sunday and after the exciting sail we had we were tired and it was very cool so I really didn’t want to swim out to look at the anchor so we agreed to take a mooring if one was available. We try to patronize the Exumas Land and Sea Park when we can because the mooring fees are reasonable and it is there only source of revenue. When we got close in we saw several open mooring balls so we grabbed one for the night.

A beautiful sunset at anchor.

The night was cool with a nice breeze but we didn’t need heat for the first night in several weeks. The next morning we slept late and enjoyed our usual Sunday morning breakfast of blueberry pancakes with bacon since we didn’t have time to make it on Sunday. Since we were here now there was no schedule so we rested from our journey and all the work we accomplished over the past several months. Just before we sat down to eat the Park Rangers came by and welcomed us to the Park.

After breakfast and cleaning up we dropped off the mooring and anchored not too far away from the mooring with a bright sun shining above. I swam down to check the anchor and found that it had buried itself deeply into the sand bottom. The water was so clear I really didn’t need to go to deep to see it. After getting the anchor set we dropped our inflatable kayak into the water and explored one of the many tidal creeks flowing through this island. Although the wind and water were a little cool we found a beach and I swam a bit until the dropping sun indicated it was time to go.

Tuesday we dinghied up to the northern creek that is passable at high tide with a dinghy and flows all the way out to the ocean and a beautiful beach. After lunch we dinghied to a creek that we had explored last year and on an isolated beach took a refreshing swim.

Wednesday turned out to be the best day we’ve seen in quite a while. It was nearly perfect with lots of sun and warm. Very few clouds cast their shadows and there was no cool wind to chill it off. We used the opportunity to kayak back another creek we had partially explored last year but this time with an incoming tide we paddled several miles back into it. In the clear shallow water we saw lots of fish, some rays and even a small 3’ nurse shark. After lunch we returned to the north beach and this time we saw several turtles, rays lots of fish. We snorkeled around the beach and saw lots of reef fish along the rock ledges under the water.

So we here we are on anchor using solar and wind power to keep our power supplied enjoying the sun and breezes from the trade winds. Tuesday morning a light shower washed the salt off the deck and I went around behind it with recycled water and wiped off the teak and stainless to remove the salt from the trip over. As we are in strict water conservation mode we try to reuse water as often as possible until it’s unusable. More in a later blog about water resources.

This is where we like to be. On our own resources with no schedule whatsoever governed only by the sun, moon and tides. Sun, sand and sea that’s where we plan to be. Truly a cruisers paradise.