Exuma Islands
We are packed and ready to head out. 200 lbs of gear and food. 70 lb boat and when we get there adding 150 lbs of water and wine. With our weight that rounds out at about 650 lbs in our Kayak. Quite a loa
d. Below is our satellite tracking "OK" message from our Epurb. This will give our position and status. We have a help message and a emergency message that we have people designated to assist us with that in the unlikely event that we need a rescue. We have marine radio as our only other source of communication. You can follow us along on our trip and click on the link to take you to a google earth and our current position in the Caribbean. We are getting better at this with each trip. We have the entire route on the GPS, and satellite maps of island detail so we can locate good beaches to camp on. We discovered a new stove that is perfect for this type of trip. It runs off of 70% rubbing alcohol so it is clean, readily available and we are able to legally pack it in our bags for the flights. 1 teaspoon will boil one liter of water in 9 minutes. We will do some spear fishing with a Hawaiian sling on the out islands, but will leave the spearguns at home as they are outlawed here. We are safety conscious and our kayak is very seaworthy as we found out in the high waves off of Belize.
We leave for the airport at 3am on Sunday and get into Nassau that day. We obtain some supplies and then take a charter plane to a small landing strip on an island called Staniel Cay. From there we will assemble the Kayak and head north eventually paddling over 100 miles around the 176 square mile Exuma Land and Sea National Park. "The waters of Exuma Cays have been managed as a no-take marine fishery reserve since 1986, allowing populations of commercially important species such as queen conch, Nassau grouper and spiny lobster to thrive. Sea turtles swim throughout coral reefs teeming with marine life. The land is a vital refuge for a small mammal called the hutia, several rare and endangered iguana species and marine birds such as terns and the long-tailed tropicbird that nest high in the bluffs. Without a doubt, the rarest living creatures in the Park are the blue-green, reef-forming algae known as "stromatolites". Stromatolite reefs are the oldest living evidence of life on earth, with some fossil stromatolites dating back 3.5 billion years. In 1983 and 1984 stromatolites were found in The Bahamas off Stocking Island, Lee Stocking Island and in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. These stromatolites are estimated to be about 2,000 years old."
Some sights we plan to see along the way include wild swimming pigs on on one island that will swim out to your boat for treats.
We are packed and ready to head out. 200 lbs of gear and food. 70 lb boat and when we get there adding 150 lbs of water and wine. With our weight that rounds out at about 650 lbs in our Kayak. Quite a loa
d. Below is our satellite tracking "OK" message from our Epurb. This will give our position and status. We have a help message and a emergency message that we have people designated to assist us with that in the unlikely event that we need a rescue. We have marine radio as our only other source of communication. You can follow us along on our trip and click on the link to take you to a google earth and our current position in the Caribbean. We are getting better at this with each trip. We have the entire route on the GPS, and satellite maps of island detail so we can locate good beaches to camp on. We discovered a new stove that is perfect for this type of trip. It runs off of 70% rubbing alcohol so it is clean, readily available and we are able to legally pack it in our bags for the flights. 1 teaspoon will boil one liter of water in 9 minutes. We will do some spear fishing with a Hawaiian sling on the out islands, but will leave the spearguns at home as they are outlawed here. We are safety conscious and our kayak is very seaworthy as we found out in the high waves off of Belize.
We leave for the airport at 3am on Sunday and get into Nassau that day. We obtain some supplies and then take a charter plane to a small landing strip on an island called Staniel Cay. From there we will assemble the Kayak and head north eventually paddling over 100 miles around the 176 square mile Exuma Land and Sea National Park. "The waters of Exuma Cays have been managed as a no-take marine fishery reserve since 1986, allowing populations of commercially important species such as queen conch, Nassau grouper and spiny lobster to thrive. Sea turtles swim throughout coral reefs teeming with marine life. The land is a vital refuge for a small mammal called the hutia, several rare and endangered iguana species and marine birds such as terns and the long-tailed tropicbird that nest high in the bluffs. Without a doubt, the rarest living creatures in the Park are the blue-green, reef-forming algae known as "stromatolites". Stromatolite reefs are the oldest living evidence of life on earth, with some fossil stromatolites dating back 3.5 billion years. In 1983 and 1984 stromatolites were found in The Bahamas off Stocking Island, Lee Stocking Island and in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. These stromatolites are estimated to be about 2,000 years old."
Some sights we plan to see along the way include wild swimming pigs on on one island that will swim out to your boat for treats.
Islands with large populations of Hutia's (looks like a cross between a hamster and a rabbit) , Iguana's and dozens of bird species. There are lagoons full of nurse sharks that if you are brave enough you can usually get away swimming with and of coarse tons of sea life. Norman cay an island with a downed commercial plane in the water once the outpost of the infamous cocaine smuggling hub and tropical hideaway for Medellin cartel kingpin Carlos Lehder and associates. Norman's Cay became the stop-over and refueling hub for planes, carrying cocaine for Lehder and other members of the Medellin cartel from Colombia to the U.S. Lehder built a 3,300-foot runway protected by radar, bodyguards and Doberman attack dogs for the fleet of aircraft under his command. The party came to an end in 1982 when the Bahamian government, in response to pressure from U.S. law enforcement, finally began to crack down on the activities on Norman's Cay.The islands and empty beaches are plentiful. Rarely do people camp on them. A couple outfitters run group expeditions out there. Check the link below for more information on kayaking the Exumas:
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/location/carrib/pad_bah.htm
Maybe you will want to join us on an adventure someday?
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