WOW! The Exumas

Described by many as "gin clear"

On the Atlantic side of Shroud

There really are no words to describe the clarity and color of the water in the Exumas.  My camera does not do it justice, but here goes.  The Exumas Land and Sea Park covers several cays and about 40 miles in the chain of islands.  The first we visited was Shroud Cay.  At the northern end there is a stream that runs through the mangroves from the banks side (west) to the Atlantic (east). It was a short dinghy ride from our mooring. We happened to go on a beautiful sunny day and when we came to the Atlantic opening we were amazed at the view.  It is absolutely breathtaking.  The white "sugar sand" beaches extend  as sand bars out into the ocean.  No reefs here, just gorgeous water and sand.

Entrance to mangrove stream

Entering Atlantic from mangrove stream

We were joined at the mooring field the next day by Cupcake and Alchemy.  That night we all enjoyed popcorn and a movie aboard the Raydiance.    Leaving Shroud Cay we traveled about 20 miles to Warderick Wells which is the park headquarters.  There we again moored and snorkeled and hiked for two days.

Blow holes on Warderick Wells. These did not blow water, just air and sound.  Could do the Marilyn thing here!

Boo Boo Hill where boaters leave wooden  reminders of their visit.

Good-bye Tom

Ranger stations and Raydiance on mooring

fellow hiker posing

Hiking on sharp coral path

Loyalist ruins on Warderick Wells

Hutia

Another hike on the far end of the island features loyalist ruins from the 1700's.  Following the Revolutionary War, several British sympathizers left the US and came to the islands.  Although the scenery is gorgeous, it must have been a tough, lonely life trying to eek crops from this soil.  The furry fellow to the right is the only mammal native to the island.  According to the ranger,  hutia are becoming a real nuisance as there is no predator and they reproduce every three months.  They are about the size of a small groundhog.