April 2, 2015

April 2, 2015

After a visit at the park headquarters this morning we decided to hike out to Pirate's Lair.  We found the trail on the northern ed of the anchorage here and walked through  the narrow palm frond lined path.  Eventually we found an opening in the trees with a fresh water well.  Tall cabbage palms grow here.  It is thought the pirates brought the seeds to these palms to this location because this particular palm is not indigenous to the Bahamas.  Pirates used this lair as a meeting place when they went ashore.  The anchorage can take boats with a draft up to 12 feet.  It is very secluded and one in which we would love to anchor next time we are here.  

We had lunch on the pirate picnic table and headed back.  We wanted to snorkel at slack tide.  The tides are so strong that it is best to snorkel when the tide is slack.  We met Toucanne at Emerald Rock to snorkel and then snorkeled around the big rock.  It was here that our underwater camera died.

After snorkeling, we met with several other boaters in the North Mooring field and shared stories and appetizers.  These informal gatherings are a great part of the trip.  We never know who we may meet.

Joy