CODA STILL HERE IN THE BAHAMAS 2025 (34)

 CODA : exploring the Exuma Islands, Bahamas.

13 February 2025 

Monument Beach, Elizabeth Harbour, Georgetown, Great Exuma Cay, Bahamas 

There is a Honda 2000i generator under that new seat. I do complete projects from time to time.

Marc-  Well I started the day off with completing projects after breakfast.  Here are a few, finishing the cockpit seat / generator cover (the original boat design expected you to stand behind the wheel or sit on the curved seats on either side of the cockpit).  Second project was to install a cell phone holder at the Pilot House steering station.  Third project was to strip and refinish the flag pole (I discovered the US flag needs to be replaced).  Fourth project was to re-glue the dinghy attachment hook on the forward port side.  

Then we set off on our daily exploration.  We found more trails to walk on Stocking Island.  First we tied up at Queen's Dock on the northern end of Monument Harbour.  The trail map and what you actually see are sometimes two different things.  Once again, signage was lacking.  One trail wandered about the center of the wooded island.  At least we were in the shade for while.  At one point we heard a bird singing quite clearly near the trail.  We stopped to listen and watch.  The bird never flew away but seemed to drop down, maybe to where his nest was.  We have seen precious few birds in The Bahamas.  Another trail led us north to another great bay for anchoring:  Powder Beach.  The trail then led us uphill and over to the ocean side.  It is amazing how different the two coasts are.  We walked down the ocean beach for awhile and then turned inland to go over the rocky headlands in this part of the island.  Despite a few rocky trails most of the trails were quite nice and sandy, especially the trails in the high dunes covered in sea grapes.  Later we followed a path next to a coral stone wall, perhaps built when agriculture was attempted on this island.  We took a break under an Australian Pine tree with benches set around its base.  We stopped for a quick taco lunch at Coconut Club.  We continued our exploration southward first to Honeymoon Beach, then over some densely forested hills to Blue Hole #3 (There are 4 Blue Holes on Stocking Island and all are navigable from the bay side to some extent).  All of these holes are filled with moorings.

  

I really like this seat but need to find a way to route the wire.

The trail signs on this end of the Island need to be refreshed.

The singing bird.  Sue has an app for birds called Merlin, but it does not have all Bahamian birds songs, and did not have this one.

An overview of Powder Beach.

Arrival at Ocean beach.

Sue really captured the nature of this beach.

Sue enjoying the trail through the high sand dunes and sea grapes.

A coral stone wall trail.

A nicely wooded trail going back across the island.

At the Coconut Club for a light lunch.

You can do more than just have lunch here.

No lying around in the sun for us.  Back to the trail.

The end of this particular trail is at Blue Hole #3 (a boat storage area).

On our way back to the dinghy.  Note the darker green water coming up to the beach.  This is used to beach the almost continuous water taxis bringing patrons to the Coconut Club.

Sue:  You work hard to get mileage in here.  The trails are narrow, have a lot of loose coral and roots to keep you on your toes.  Lots of ankle twisting potential here.  You can't move very fast on the trails, and not on the beach, either.  Though some areas of the beach near the water have nice hard packed sand.  But we can't be walking the beach, only, as the sun is intense.  It is sunny everyday, the water is beautiful everyday, the temperature varies 1-3 degrees all day everyday, and there is always a breeze.  It's pretty nice!