Shroud Cay
25 January 2017 | Shroud Cay
Grinnell / Warm & Clear
In Evan Cottman's book "Out Island Doctor" he tells of surviving a hurricane in the 1940s by securing his Bahamian Sloop deep in the mangroves at Shroud Cay. As we approached our anchorage we noticed another boat waving at us. It was Peggy and Jay on Little Lara, who had ridden out the cold front at Big Major anchored beside us. It wasn't long till we had launched a dinghy expedition into the creeks.
There are four mangrove creeks on Shroud. We entered the northern one on the west side and followed it in a great sweeping S curve through the heart of the island. After initial shoals we found deeper sections up to six feet or more. Then the creek would spread out and I'd be in the water pushing across sandbars and hoping the tide hadn't much further fall.
We needn't have worried. Two "ironshore" outcropings at the creek's terminus create what's known as "The Rapids" and the tide was flowing in. The Rapids is also a swimming hole. With warm water, bordered by unblemished beaches, washing up onto sandbars in both directions, and separated from humanity by a mile of mangroves -- ahhhh, paradise found.