Our second day at Exuma Park, we had a bit of snorkelling and trekking planned. Visitors are provided with maps for both snorkel sites and the many marked trails on the island. We caught up on the blog and couple of other jobs first so that we managed to time our walk as per usual during the heat of the day.
View from the dingy dock – note the people walking on the sand bar in the centre of the anchorage
Our walk today took us to the top of the highest point of the island only about 30m above sea level but still giving spectacular views. The trail takes you along the beach where the skeleton of a sperm whale has been reconstructed as a monument and learning tool, the whale was washed up locally with a stomach full of plastic waste. The tour then winds across the moonscape interior of lava bordered on each side by mangroves. There are actually many different types of vegetation and each are sign posted with detailed information, the ones such as mosquito and sandfly bushes I personally thought they could do without but I suppose you have to maintain the local ecosystem.
When you are at the top of Boo Hill you can see the amazing blue crescent shaped channel of the northern anchorage. There is also an area where you can leave you boat name. Kevin had decorated the board that we got with Invincible when we picked her up, marking her as hull #86. However there was yet another sign saying that drift wood only could be left in case it blows away in a storm. We decided that was a fair point so didn’t leave our board as we didn’t find any drift wood to substitute. The legend goes that the hill is named Boo after the ghosts which can be heard singing hymns up there at night following the loss of a vessel with all hands over a hundred years before. There were some quite elaborate signs and it did make it feel like quite a special place.
Boat Names at the top of Boo Hill
We took a seat on the small makeshift bench up there to enjoy the view and acclimatise to the altitude. We were joined by a lizard who was very bold and I think would have eaten from our hands if we had food to offer. As it was he surveyed each of us in turn and posed for a few photos with his splendid curly tail.
Kevin and our lizard friend
Friendly Boo Hill lizard
Invincible – Warderick Wells
We returned to the boat for some lunch before venturing out to Rangers Park a small reef at the north of the anchorage for a snorkel. There was a good selection of fish and coral on display and a couple of small rays. However, nothing as large as the eaglerays we had seen the night before. The current was beginning to pick up so we headed back to the boat for the rest of the afternoon.
Small ray at Ranger Park reef
Overnight there were some spectacular lightening and thunder again and a heavy downpour. The anchorage is extremely peaceful though and was again fully subscribed.
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