Bahamas - Acklins Island

Acklins Island and Crooked Island lie just below the Tropic of Cancer. Lady Slipper Cay on Acklins was our first stop. Pristine deserted beach, with gentle surf running into Mangrove ponds that wind their way across the entire island. We had to explore. As the depth is only about two feet at low tide we took the kayak and paddled into the mangroves. Birds calling out and fish darting to move out of the way of our paddles. We entered off the east side of the beach and wound our way through until we reached the sea again further west. There we discovered our own little private beach, temptation was too great and we beached the kayak and wallowed in the water watching an Osprey hovering protectively over his nest!

 

That evening we all played Bocci Ball and had a huge bonfire and braai as we watched for a green flash as the sun set!

Crooked Island was a highlight and a delight! We only went there to see the famous light house but we got so much more! The Islanders are mainly Seventh Day Adventists, so us arriving on a Sunday meant everything was open. We were greeted warmly at the dinghy dock by Eugene and he offered to run us to the supermarket in his truck. We declined needing the walk and we wanted to see the town. Every person who drove past us either stopped to offer us a lift or just to greet us and introduce themselves. The pride they take in themselves and their town was evident in the neat gardens and houses, decorated with conch shells. We had heard Gibsons lunch house was the place to eat but it was closed! No problem, one of the people who stopped, Andy, was the owner's brother and he called her up and organized dinner for us.

We feasted on fresh snapper bites, fried chicken pieces, fresh grouper, corn, fresh baked bread, salad and rice n peas! Kendra the owner Wilhelmina's or Willy sister chatted to us about the island. She explained it was a 'family island' and that meant once you were there you were part of the family. Her 8 year old daughter finally overcame her shyness and came over to whisper in my ear that her name was Roshay but she preferred to be called Shay or Shay-Shay! After that it was cuddles and giggles and a request to come play with her again the next day. Sadly that was not possible as the wind was right and we left the next morning. Sorry Shay-Shay!

Walking back to the dinghy we passed the towns dress shop. We had to go in and us girls could not resist trying on the 'Church hats'.

 

On the way out we stopped at the light house. Bird Rock lighthouse is amazing, built in 1876 to guide the ships through the Crooked Island Passage. It stands 115 feet high and although now derelict and mainly the home of hermit crabs and nesting Ospreys one can imagine it in its early splendor!