Iguana at Leaf Cay

Wednesday 20 March 2013

As wind veered and died about 20 NM from destination a magnificent sail morphed into a pretty decent motor (must be going soft). Except for a tricky entrance at North Eleuthera might have flopped along a bit longer. Thar be dragons at the Devil's Backbone. Turns out it was way scarier last time in the dark. After scarfing leftover pizza and a couple of Yuenglings each, surveyed the delights of Spanish Wells so we wouldn't have to do it next day (despite a deficiency of pubs it's a very pretty and prosperous place), freeing us for the ultimately unrealized potential to head out early toward Allen's Cay, Exuma, and its resident iguanas (lamentable falsehood as they are, in fact, only accessible on adjacent Leaf Cay).

Thursday

Belatedly afoot, we prepared brekky underway ('we' in this case may only be considered accurate if ingestion is a constituent of preparation). With wind and pointy end against the flow at Current Cut, entry was slow and bouncy, but admirable perseverance was rewarded with the continuation of a second day of idyllic beam reaching. So happy it's not like this all the time else everyone would be out here pooping in our ocean. "Selfish" you say? I'm OK with that.

Arriving at Allen's first was key to finding good holding with acceptable swing room and gave us a sufficiency of time to unship dinghy. Iguana flooded onto the small beach as dink approached, no doubt trained to expect a feed. Given their size and girth don't think these guys have missed a meal in years. Besides cruisers who, as a rule, like ugly (but beautiful) local fauna, marina at Highborne Cay, next island south, also brings in guests who can afford the tariff.

Regrettably, we ran out of propane (someone, who shall remain nameless, didn't check second tank when recharge was accessible) so couldn't cook the lizard... chill out there animal lovers (they have no sense of humor). Besides, even if we had apprehended a protected species, wouldn't advertise like others (who shall also remain nameless) did. Canned chicken salad.

Jack