Sunday, April 29, 2007 Exuma Sound Crossing

A mixed bag of weather. Left Rock Sound with cloudy skies, had a light rain shower causing the wind to shift directions and be on the nose (not what we wanted). With 29 nm more to go , we had to decide whether to go on or turn back. The skies looked broken and a bit bluer ahead so on we motor sailed. Once the rain ended the wind came back behind us and the sun came out. We had made the right decision.

Entered Waderick Cut on an incoming half tide. Once the current grabbed the boat we were moving along at 7.8 knots. Having received our mooring assignment from the park ranger, Judy, we navigated through the moored boats to the very last mooring ball. The channel is u-shaped and is flanked with sand bars. Beautiful to look at and very narrow. Attached to the mooring, we pinched ourselves to make sure we were still alive. This place is incredibly spectacular !!!

Exumas Land and Sea Park headquarters in Waderick Wells

Monday, 4/30 - 5/2/07

Park Exploring. Awesome Place!

Waderick Wells is located in the middle of The Exumas Land and Sea Park. It is the 1st land and sea park in the world and is owned by the Bahamas National Trust. The park encompasses 176 square miles of land and sea (approximately 22 miles in length and 10 miles wide). This area is a NO-TAKE zone (nothing living or dead can be removed from the park). This is one of 25 national parks in the Bahamas.

The park is well planned out and impeccably maintained. There are 4 miles of hiking trails, a skeleton of a 52 ft sperm whale, snorkeling, blow holes, beautiful beaches, caves, cliffs, spectacular view, folk lore of ghosts, shipwrecks, and the famous
Boo Boo Hill.

A 52 ft. sperm whale that died from eating plastic bags thought to be jellyfish.

There are 4 miles of hiking trails providing all different types of terrain and are very well maintained.

The Causeway trail.

Blow holes. As the waves hit the rocky cliffs it forces air up through the holes

creating a Marilyn Monroe breeze.

The infamous Boo Boo Hill.

Waderick Wells is believed to be haunted from the 3 shipwrecks off it's coast.

Escape's donation to Boo Boo Hill.

Only driftwood items are allowed. Babette carved a piece we had onboard and inlaid green sea glass.

We left the northern anchorage in the park Tuesday afternoon and anchored near Emerald Rock where we went snorkeling over some small coral patches. It was the BEST snorkeling we've ever seen. The park is an incredible place!!