The Exumas

We have been heading South through the Exumas, which is another string of islands in the Bahamas.  We haven't had much internet access because the islands are not too inhabited.  We first stopped at Allen's Cay, which I don't think anyone lives on it-at least human.  There are a bunch of Iguana's that live there and are very friendly once they figured out you aren't there to hurt them.  We didn't take the dog's on shore because we thought they might have way too much fun chasing the little creatures.

Our next stop was Warderick Wells, which is the headquarters for the National Park that covers several islands in the Exumas.  There is a trail that goes all over the island, which includes going through the water several times that we took.  It also takes you up to Boo Boo Hill, where its tradition to take a piece of driftwood with your boats name on it and put it in the pile at the top of the hill.  There was a ship that wrecked off the island and there were no bodies recovered and they say that their spirits haunt the island.  That is why it is called Boo Boo hill and supposedly they chant hymns which are heard from the blow holes if you listen very closely.

 a baby ray we saw on the hike

Wednesday we visited Staniel Cay which does have about 100 people living on the island.  The marina was closed for renovations though.  We are finding out that a lot of things are closed this time of year while they try to get repairs done in the down season, before the high season kicks in.  There are not a lot of boats sailing around either.  There is an amazing snorkeling spot called Thunderball Grotto, named after the James Bond movie of the same name that was filmed there.  We snorkeled through the rocks to the inside of a cave that opens up and it has the most beautiful coral and fish and one very large barricuda.  I wish I could have taken pictures but my underwater camera is not working-bummer.
Then we went over to Big Major Cay to see the wild pigs and I tell you what, they were not as cute and nice as the ones on No Name Cay.  These guys were very aggressive and very greedy.  I thought the 300 pound fat one was going to jump into the dinghy