March 21, 2021 Shark Creek

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I woke up thinking I heard a large fly or bees.  I stalked around the boat with a flyswatter looking for the intruder, then realized someone was flying a drone around the marina.  They are lucky my flyswatter had a short handle, because I'm not always the most clear thinking person early in the morning.

I decided to make a nice breakfast to surprise Brent.  We had a few shrimp in the freezer left from our stop in Winyah Bay, so I made some yummy shrimp & grits. 

Then at 10AM we were to report to the gazebo for our 5 days after arrival covid test.  A very nice (and gentle!) nurse gave us our negative results on the spot, so now we are free to roam whereever we want.  We do still need to report to the government by email for 9 more days that we have no symptoms.

Free to roam, we set off for an adventure.  Running the dinghy south on the west side of the island just far enough off shore to avoid the really shallow stuff we rounded Dragon Rock and then Sheep Cay searching for a small thin estuary headed into the mangroves.  Carefully moving upstream with a rising tide the mangoves closed in with only inches on either side of the dinghy.  The mangroves closed in overhead forming a complete canopy above.   We were hoping we were in the right location because there was no room to turn around!  

In time the narrow channel widened to join Shark River which took us out into the sound on the east side of the island.  We have completely traversed the island in the little tidal slew!  The east side features a beautiful beach and clear clear clear Bahamian water.  The waters are full of small fishes, and a few much bigger ones.  We see a sand shark and numerous very large rays, some as big as our dinghy.  


The beach is notably light on plastic and man made detrius.


Putting on our snorkling gear we set out to explore the bay that features nice grassy flats and much deeper water on the far side of a protective line of rock.  While exploring we are escorted by a damsel fish about an inch long.  This little fish will swim with us for the entire afternoon, usually within inches, and often immediately in front of our face masks.  In deeper waters we dive down to check under rock and coral ledges finding many tropical fish and a notably large grouper.   Sea fans and conch are in abundance here.  We rediscover our old diving skills, long dormant, awakened by this experience, and look forward to much more snorkling and breath hold diving to come.

With the tide on the ebb we return to the dinghy to retrace our route through the mangroves and back to the western side of the island.  When the tide is low the pass through the mangroves will be impassable, so now is the time to move.  

This has been a specracular adventure!  We are in awe, this day being what we came to the Bahamas for!

Back at the marina, word passed among the boats about a potluck at the gazebo around dinner time.  It was almost unimaginable that people could gather, share a meal, sit & talk!  But everyone there had had their two covid tests, and the Berrys are pretty much covid free.  It was a nice event.

The floral arrangements of palm h bouganvillia we made by the marina employee who arranged the event. He obviously put a lot of care into them, as well as taking care of the guests. 

Comments

Lynn and Ed said…
What a great adventure. We tried to go to that marina on our way back the last time but in pre-covid times it was always full. Enjoy!
March 23, 2021 at 9:39 AM
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