NO NAME CAY

Nice set of tails

We moved to No Name Cay the next afternoon after the wind had settled down.  We enjoy being at No Name Cay because you can find lobster on the inside (Sea of Abaco side) and if the weather cooperates you can get to the outside (Atlantic Ocean side) for some beautiful reefs close to shore, lobster, fish, and seaglass.  That first day we hunted the inside and got 4 lobster. 

On Monday we were joined by our friends on Second Sojourn and Annabella.  We went hunting with Gary from Second Sojourn but were unable to get to the outside because the seas were still stirred up from the previous windy days.  Gary found a nice lobster hole and we took back 6 lobster.  That evening Annabella hosted everyone for cocktails.  We’ve decided to stay at No Name Cay for a couple more days because the weather is suppose to turn very calm and we want to get to the outside to look for seaglass and enjoy the offshore reefs.  Second Sojourn and Annabella have decided to continue south, through the Whale Cay passage to get to the Central Abacos.  We know we’ll see them again once we head further south.  

The Whale Cay passage, everyone just says “Going through the Whale,” separates the northern Abacos from the Central Abacos.  The passage is only a couple of miles long but entails leaving the typically calm Sea of Abaco, going out to the Atlantic Ocean, passing around Whale Cay, then reentering the Sea of Abaco.  In nice weather the trip is easy but if the winds and waves pick up getting through the cuts can be potentially dangerous with breaking waves.  Everyone waits for decent weather to go through and at times that can take several days or a week to get the right conditions.

The next three days were perfect weather, very little wind and calm seas.  Kathi and I got to the outside reefs and enjoyed hunting, the scenery and finding seaglass.  Friday morning was particularly calm; the sea was like a mirror and the sunrise reflected off the water.

Beautiful sunrise at No Name Cay

No Name Cay is also becoming known for pigs.  When we first came here years ago, we took our cat, Indi, for a walk on the beach.  To our surprise, a rather large boar came trotting up to say hello.  Indi cowered down by a tree while the pig put its large muzzle down and sniffed her.  Fortunately she did not react and the pig soon moved on to asking us if we had any food.  We were unsure how wild the pig was so we moved quickly down the beach and the pig went in search of food elsewhere.  Well, the locals have turned the island into a pig and chicken retreat.  The year after we noted about 5 pigs on the island, the next after that we saw 7 pigs and 9 or 10 piglets on the beach.  This year the herd has grown some more.  A large water silo has been put in place and is kept filled with fresh water by the locals.  Even though signs say the “Swimming Pigs of Abaco” are protected by law, we wonder how often a pig roast occurs.

Kathi is always good, lucky, fortunate, in finding lost items under the water.  I remember when we were in Highborne Cay in the Exumas a few years ago, she snorkeled around our boat and found three, 3/4 inch dock lines that were in excellent shape.  Some mega yacht either lost them or decided they were no longer needed and dropped them overboard.  Another time, also in the Exumas, Kathi found 2 serving bowls that had been lost, or dropped, overboard.  They had slight chips in them which I polished out and use them to this day.  Today, Kathi found a dinghy anchor just sitting in the sand.  Pays to spend so much time in the water.

Best of the Seaglass

Looking for seaglass is probably our second most enjoyed activity in the Bahamas, hunting for dinner being the first.  Most people walk along a sandy beach looking for the seaglass; we find most of ours snorkeling along the oceanside coastline.  We typically have to wait for a calm day so the waves don't push us into the jagged rocks along the shore.  No Name Cay is the first place with seaglass that we've been to this year. We got to the outside 3 days and found some beautiful glass.

On Saturday we decided it was time to move on.  We headed through the Whale for the Central Abacos.  Next stop, Guana Cay.