CONCEPTION ISLAND

TRIP FACTS:  FEBRUARY 22 through  FEBRUARY 25, 2011

Days gone from VA:          127

Days in Bahamas:               66

Miles Travelled:            1,653.5

Toilet Monster:           Struck again….we’re running out of ideas on how to fix it

Things overboard:       Nothing yet again.

Days without internet:      18

February 22 through February 26:   We headed over to Conception Island bright and early the morning of the 25^th.   One of the nice things about cruising the Bahamas is most of the islands are not that far away.  You have to “cross over” from major island chains i.e.,  Abacos to Eleuthera, and those take most of the day but for the most part if you head out in the morning you’ll be anchored by 2 or 3 in the afternoon.

We dropped anchor off Conception Island in beautiful clear water and white long beach.  When we were making our approach I looked over the bow and you could see the bottom in 50 feet of water. 

                                                            GIN CLEAR WATER......

                                                            Beach at anchorage

 There were 17 boats in the anchorage compared to almost 400 in Georgetown.   There were a million stars out at night and watching the sunsets is something I’ll never forget.    “Green flashes” happen at sunset and the sun really turns green….

                   BAREFOOTIN took this since I haven't been able to catch one yet.......

The second day we took the dinghy out and just motored over the coral reefs.  We saw beautiful fish and even got a picture of a stingray through our lookie bucket. 

The 23^rd was Zach’s birthday and it was hard thinking about not talking to him.  As it turned out we went over to another boat for sundowners and Francie brought their satellite phone so I was able to leave him a message since he didn’t answer his phone.  We also got to call Steph but yet again, had to leave a message.  Gosh….you’d think the kids would be sitting by their phones waiting for us to call????  But it was good just hearing their voices.

The 24^th we all hiked to another beach but getting there included going up a rope pull as well as walking along very narrow overhangs.  Once we got to the beach we found a display of hard hats that have been there for several  years.  It’s amazing to think of them staying put when a storm goes through but Francie said they saw them last year. 

                                           The trail was narrow and right on the edge..see that water way down there?

                                      Hard hat display on the beach...the hats used to be set on coconuts
                                             but the wind blew them all down.

We wondered farther on down the beach and found two battered lawn chairs and various jugs to sit on where we enjoyed a snack while the guys had a beer, all the while sitting under the Casuarinas trees, which are also called Australian pine trees. 

Our last day there we were able to take the dinghys around the other side of the island to the Lagoon but not before an encounter with three dolphins.  We watched them ahead of us just laying on top of the water until they heard the dinghy motor.  I was able to get a picture of them with my camera (don’t worry – it’s an underwater camera) by leaning out of the dinghy.  The quality isn’t the best since the boat was moving but if you look closely you can see two of them.

 Way to cool to describe...look to the right and you can see two of the dolphins..... WOW!!!!

But  back to the lagoon.     The lagoon is home to thousands of mangroves as well as conch, clams, sea turtles and fish and is protected by the Bahamian government so you can’t take any live creature. 

 It gets shallow as the tide goes out so you can walk on the flats among the mangroves.   Mangroves have an incredible root system and grow in salt water but those roots trap small conch.  As the conch get bigger they can’t get out from the roots  so eventually die since they need to move around the bottom to feed.    As we wandered along you would see a black spot in the water.  It turned out to be a sea turtle darting out from either under the boat or to the side.  I don’t think you could catch one if you wanted they are so quick.

                                                                  Mangroves in clear water

 After going up the different creeks we anchored the dinghys where the guys went snorkeling by a blue hole  while Francie and I looked for a conch shell so I can make a horn.   Kippen likes the water  and gives us a laugh all the time.

                                                  Kippen the water dog guarding the dinghys while the guys
                                snorkeled on this blue hole by the big mangrove tree......

 It’s a cruiser tradition at sunset if you have a conch horn you blow it marking the end of the day.  I found a really beautiful shell to make mine with and as soon as David cuts off the top I’ll be tooting my horn at sundown.   I was able to find a live conch in shallow water so I used the lookie bucket adn then put my camera next to it so everyone can see a live conch.  The first picture is the outside of the shell,  the second picture is of its claw.  Look to the right of the shell and you can see it. 

They use their claw to move around on the bottom......

What a great way to end the day.

Conception Island is uninhabited and surrounded by coral reefs, white beaches and trails and is now becoming a cruiser draw for people trying to get away from Georgetown.  It will definitely be on our list for next year.    We’ll be headed to Long Island tomorrow which is another short day sail away.   Once we get there we’ll see where the wind takes us. 

More later…..