Shroud Cay

We set sail from Allens Cay early Saturday morning for Shroud Cay, which is famous for its extensive network of mangrove creeks that criss cross the interior of the island.

After a short 3-hour sail, we picked up a mooring ball (a permanently set line into the sea floor with a floating ball that a boat can secure to in lieu of anchoring) to guarantee a good night’s rest after the anchoring rodeo last night in Allens Cay. After securing Kaleo, we jumped into the dinghy to explore one of the nearby, uninhabited white sandy beaches (Shroud Cay has many).

We puttered through bright blue waters into an expansive cove and walked the dinghy through clear, shallow tidal flats to a crescent beach. It was just the two of us and we had finally arrived in Bahamian Paradise.

Just over the edge of the beach were small palm trees as far as the eye could see and along it were shells of every shape and color. Walking barefoot through the sand, San Pellegrino Aranaciata in hand, we looked at Kaleo moored just off the beach and thanked her for bringing us all these miles to such an earthly paradise. All the while, thanking the Lord for creating such a place and giving us this dream to pursue.

After checking out a few tidal creeks that ran up past the beach, we headed over to “Storyville” to plan a dinghy trip up the island’s north creek. The chartbook said the creek cuts through the entire island and ends along a gorgeous beach with a trailhead to the highest point on the island, Camp Driftwood. Steve was kind enough to have us aboard his dinghy, which is much faster than ours and a quick twenty minutes later we were at the entrance to the north creek. Accompanied by “Storyville” and some new friends from “Pipe Muh Bligh” we motored into the creek.

The next few hours were simply amazing as we idled through a twisting and turning creek surrounded by low lying mangroves and the occasional conch crabbing along the creek bed. Coming around the last corner, the creek opened up to the wide blue expanse of the Exuma Sound, highlighted by the crashing of waves upon a half-mile long beach. A breath-taking view awaited us as the group made a short hike up to Camp Driftwood for perspective on our newest island home. The current around Camp Driftwood creates a natural whirlpool that spins you right onto the powdery beach.

Returning to the boats, we later met aboard “Pipe Muh Bligh” and were introduced to a new set of friends who sail “Genesis” while watching the sunset and sharing stories as stars grew in the sky.

The morning was kissed by sunshine and a delicious breakfast of mushroom, bacon, egg scramble for Matt and black bean, cheese, egg scramble for Christie. We decided to move off the mooring ball ($15/night) to anchor nearby ($free) as we had time to check out the area for good holding.

With the dinghy packed to gills with chairs, books, towels and a picnic lunch, we headed off to the beach to lounge, kayak, visit with friends and work on our tans. After a hard day spent enjoying the beauty of Shroud Cay, we all returned to our respective boats just before sunset. A few domestic chores were in order, one of which involved ferrying fresh water from our buddy boats to replenish Kaleo’s tanks. “Storyville”, “Pipe Muh Bligh” and “Genesis”, who all have watermakers, were generous in each giving us a few jerry jugs full of fresh water they had made that day. We’ve found it’s these little acts of giving that bind the cruising community together in ways that aren’t as easily found in land life.

This magnificent island was as intriguing and exotic as we had hoped to experience. We went to bed with grateful hearts and answered prayers. Next up, plans to sail for Warderick Wells in the morning.

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N 24° 31.7 / W 76° 47.75