April 28-Ma2 Spanish Wells Eleuthra

We are about to say goodbye to the Exuma Islands and head north to Spanish Wells Island which is in the Eleuthra chain of islands.  See my post of March 29th for a map to get the lay of the land.  Every time one sets forth for a new Island the apprehension builds.  This time we must travel some 70 miles across water that ranges from 8' to 20' deep.  In amongst the course we travel are what they call coral heads.  These are patches of coral that rise from the sand bottom of the banks to who knows how close to the surface of the water.  Imagine patches of sparkling clear water over sand which yields indescribable beauty and  these big black patches of coral.  In spots it  is like traveling through a minefield dodging the coral heads. Some people pass right over the top of them saying there is plenty of clearance.  Not us-we are too cautious.  It is windier than forecast.  The wind is out of the east southeast which means we have 3-4' seas on our beam.  The ride was rolly and somewhat uncomfortable. During our travels we hear this boat calling for help.  I answer but their English was not the best and  they could not tell me where they were located or what the nature of  their distress was.  We were not able to help.  Later we surmised it may have been a Haitian boat floundering about.  After traversing Current Cut via what they call navigating by "Visual piloting " (navigating by watching for sandbars on either side of your path) we arrived safely at Spanish Wells Yacht Haven around 4:30pm.  A long day and time to celebrate

The view down the channel from our Marina looking across the bridge which goes to Russell Island

Our next stop is crossing 50 miles of the Atlantic ocean to the Abaco Islands. We will hole up here until we get a favorable wind and wave crossing. It is a beautiful little Island.  Probably the neatest and best kept island you will see in the Bahamas.  Everybody has said you need to visit Harbor Island and Dunmore Town which is some ten miles away.  You can get there by Ferry (similar to the Jet Express going o Put In Bay in Lake Erie) or take your own boat over.  The only problem is with taking your own boat over is that the route is perilous.  So you must hire a pilot to take you there.  We elect to take the Ferry to see if we want to spend time in our own boat there.  Supposedly it is an island where movie stars go to hide.  Didn't see any, if they were there. In a nutshell it is nice island, very impoverished, with lot of very expensive shops, and some not so expensive.  As most anywhere in the small islands, the shops are open on a limited basis.  The local lumberyard and hardware store was open 8-5 weekdays and closed on Saturday and Sunday. We were there on Saturday so our rating of the hardware store did not take place.

The view from the Coral Sands Resort looking at the Atlantic Ocean.  They say the beaches are pink sand but  our take on the view was a dusty sand beach.  Never the less very beautiful

One of the main streets in Dunmore Town on  Harbor Island in the Eleuthras the Bahamas Golf carts prevail here

.The fast ferry takes the same route over Devils Backbone that the pilot boat takes you only at a much higher speed.  After visiting Harbor Island we much prefer the neatness and the beauty of  Spanish Wells. So we have made the derision.  We will be here on Spanish Wells until we cross to the Abacos.  Much more on the beauty and neatness of Spanish wells in the next edition

The straw market in  Harbor Island