24 18.09, 076 32.40

Patty's comments:

What a great day we had today! We started the day early with swimming in the crystal clear turquoise waters, had breakfast and took the dinghy onto the Hawksbill Cay beach. We anchored the dinghy in the shallow water and took a hike through the rock and vegetation to the "Loyalist" dwellings on the island. The hike was about a mile. We saw prickly pears, palms, what looked like mountain laurel, and an interesting palm growing in a pothole in the rocks. The pothole was about twenty feet across and fifteen feet deep. The loyalists were those individuals and families living in the colonies during the American Revolution that remained loyal to the British Crown. When the colonists succeeded in separating from the British Empire, the loyalist were given small dwellings on the Exuma Cays. We spent about an hour or two combing the beaches for shells, sea beans and sponges. Found a beautiful shell for Mom and several different sponges for John Paul's salt water aquarium. It looks like a butterfly! Also found some sea sponges for your salt water aquarium. Found a "hamburger" sea bean for Madi. Didn't find what I'm looking for for Rob but may try tomorrow. All in all a GREAT day.

Danne's Comments

What a wonderful day we had beginning at 0500 reading followed by a swim at daybreak. We had a delicious French-toast breakfast and then boarded the dinghy to head for Hawksbill Cay and a visit to the Loyalist ruins. Can you imagine living in the beautiful Carolina hills and then being given a rocky island as a gift from the British Crown as a thank you for your "loyalty" during the Revolutionary War. The houses are primitive and constructed of concrete made from conch shells crushed and then applied to the walls. We kept walking to the Sound side of the island and walked along what I have dubbed, "Sea Bean Beach." When I first met Phyl and Charlie in the Fort Myers airport on the way to Cancun, Phyl was wearing her sea bean and I asked her about it immediately. It was 12 years old and beautifully shiny and the raccoon in me admired it so much. So, today, I was extremely motivated to find one of my own. Charlie found one, Phyl directed me to it and I picked up a Sea Heart, the largest of the typical sea beans. Shortly thereafter, I found a hamburger bean, and it looks exactly like a mini burger. I was thrilled. Shortly after, Phyl found another on which she gave to Patty. We collected several items from the beach for the boat, things that had gone over the side of other boats and been floating for no one knows how long. We found about 10' of stainless cable with a buoy on it and two clips that would have cost $10 each at West Marine! Amazing! A nautical warehouse courtesy of your fellow boaters! Then we returned to Wyvern for the trip to Cambridge Cay about 14 miles south of our previous anchorage. Motoring was the operative word for the day! We arrived and took a mooring ball next to Marilyn and John Jorgensen from the Peace River Sail and Power Squadron. Come to find out, 75% of the boats in this anchorage tonight are from Punta Gorda - come to the Bahamas and meet your neighbors! John and Marilyn came by for Sundowners and we spent about an hour swapping stories. After their departure, Phyl made a delicious stir fry for dinner. Yum! So, now it's off to bed early so we can begin another busy day tomorrow. Tune in again for the continuing saga, "Sisters at Sea."