ABACOS, June 9 - 21

Since wi-fi has been very spotty and we have been busy enjoying the Abacos, here is a quick overview of our travels.  The Abacos are home to the second largest reef system, Australia being the first, the people are friendly and the islands are beautiful, however since arriving the weather has been very wet with daily thunderstorms.  We plan our days around the daily thunderstorms, snorkeling and touring the beautiful islands.

Monday, June 9th we crossed the Northwest Providence Channel from Eleuthera to the Abacos  and saw one freighter

We arrived at Lynyard Cay, Abacos in the rain.  On Tuesday we moved to Little Harbour where we enjoyed lunch at Pete’s Pub, toured Randolph Johnston’s Gallery, and the old lighthouse. 

The view from our mooring ball in Little Harbour

Wednesday we tried to snorkel at Sandy Cay, but a Thunderstorm interrupted and Tilloo Cay was our evening stay.

Anchored at Sandy Cay to snorkel, instead we enjoyed a thunderstorm

Hope Town had us moored for 2 days with more thunderstorms but we did see the lighthouse, Vernon's for a coconut custard pie and snorkeling.

View of Hopetown from the Lighthouse

Snorkeling in the Atlantic Ocean at Hopetown

Man of War was our next stop and is 2.5 miles long and 10 meters at its narrowest part where you view the Atlantic Ocean and Sea of Abaco.  It is known as the boat building capital of the Abacos and described as a great place to fish and relax.   

Sea of Abaco to Port and Atlantic Ocean to Starboard, oh, Queens Highway down the center

JP and Diane's new way to tour the islands

  

Snorkeling at Fowl Cay

Great Guana Cay was our next stop but on the way we stopped at Fowl Cay, snorkeled and arrived at Orchid Bay Marina just before the skies opened up. Check out was 11:00 AM, and but we made time to stroll the beach on the Atlantic Ocean side.  

Orchid Cay Marina waiting for yet another afternoon Thunderstorm

Our next stop was Green Turtle Cay, 3 miles long by 1 mile wide, we rented a golf cart and toured the island.  We also met another PDQ boat named  Tampa Girl from Tampa, FL.

Green Turtle Cay's work to stop Mother Nature

A short trip to Manjack Cay had us searching for a reef, but again local knowledge is a wonderful thing.  We did not travel out far enough to find a reef, but on our way back we did travel up the estuary and saw many turtles, boy can they swim fast.
Our next stop is Spanish Cay and getting there we passed Whale Cay where you are in the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, did we mention we were trying stay ahead of the T-storm following us? Our plan was for anchor at Big Sale Cay and on Sunday, June 22 we would arrive in West End. 

Traveling to Big Sale Cay and watching the Clouds build