What’s better than exploring a new place? Exploring a new place with old friends.
The Exuma Cays are a crescent of islands in the central Bahamas. Mostly uninhabited, the island chain stretches nearly 100 nm from near Long Island in the southeast before petering out on the approach to New Providence Island in the northwest. The islands are generally low, rocky outcroppings with scrub bushes and a few palm trees sprouting towards the sky.
To the northeast of the Exumas lies the deep water of Exuma Sound, and the southwest side of the islands is the shallow Bahamas Bank. There is very little upwelling in the Bahamas, and the result is that the water is fabulously clear. This crystal-clear water, when combined with the white sand around the islands, results in a stunning rainbow of turquoise blue hues. The color is so intense that it turns the bottoms of the puffy white clouds turquoise, as well.
Our friends John, Jessie, and Rylee flew in from Colorado to join Oso for a week or so of exploring. From petting manta rays in the warm shallow waters near George Town, to feeding Bahamas rock iguanas, to marveling at the natural blowholes carved out of soft limestone along the edges of the islands, it was a great time. And for folks used to living on land, it’s also a good introduction to how weather decides where we can go, when we can get there, and when we have to leave.
A good reminder that good times are always better with friends.
