We’re leaving all our chores to do when we are under curfew and making the most of the hire car. Rowan had read up about Smith’s reef, one end of Grace Bay, that we did a very long walk to yesterday but were unaware of it’s reef. Getting there is not obvious at all, no signage as it’s a best kept secret of ‘Grace’s Bay’. Also I suspect the locals don’t want loads of people going there as it is at the end of a road, amongst all the most smartest homes. These places look seriously expensive and have the most beautiful lush gardens. Apparently a lot of offshore money and IT tech entrepreneurs. So chuffed to have found the spot and with only parking space for 3 cars we were happily the only car there.
We had to walk a couple of hundred yards along the beach and there we could see interesting looking coral. It was fantastic, so clear and well lit in the sunshine, easy swimming with no current. It was teaming with fish and very pretty live coral. We saw quite a few turtles, one which had wedged itself in between some coral heads, that I assume was so it could sleep/rest. And then we saw the most enormous ray, we now know it was a Spotted Eagle Ray, with the longest sting, must have been at least 6ft long. Then another one joined in and they just swam round and around. They move so elegantly, but I was pretty scared of the size of the sting, and spent most of the time hovering behind Rowan so he could be zapped first! So sad R forgot to bring the GoPro but will come back tomorrow as we have extended the car hire until Friday, when the curfew starts.
We had a lovely day at the beach there, we had taken a picnic sandwich and just enjoyed being there, with books to read. The colour of the water is spectacular and there is always something going on. We had an enormous Osprey sitting on a pole behind us, we reckon he was eyeing out our lunch. There seem to be a number of nests on poles and we are wondering if they are for the Osprey. The place is well known for them. He is magnificent when he flies over.
Talking of flying over, when we got home late afternoon, I heard the noisiest plane coming in to land at the airport not that far away. I went to look at the noise and it was a BA plane! We know they fly direct here, I guess that was the last flight out as it was here for about an hour and took off again. Maybe that was our last chance of getting home! We are thinking this is a magical Christmas/winter get away, so easy and direct. Wonderful weather with fantastic swimming and snorkelling on great beaches. We spotted some gorgeous little house rentals made out of limestone bricks, so understated compared to the mega mansions around.
A quiet evening with lots of catching up with everyone back home. So grateful to this internet world of connection. By the way we heard back from Predict Wind and it was our boat’s Navionics system that was calling for a weather report every 10 secs. We have switched it off, but as we are out of airtime on the satellite system and we don’t need it until we start moving again, which may be a few weeks away, we will only buy time then.
It was a steamy evening as the wind has almost died completely, and then the darn mozzies were out feasting.
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