Island Tour

Yesterday was a tour of the island (30 miles around) and a history lesson. We visited an Anglican church that was built in 1750’s. It was falling apart and even the stone (limestone) it had been built with was eroding. It was a bit unnerving to drive around because in the Bahamas they drive on the other (notice I did not say wrong) side of the road. Each time a car (and there are not many of them) would come towards us I would hold my breath thinking we were about to be in a head-on crash. We also visited Watling’s “Castle”. This house was built in the 1780’s after the American Revolution. Some of the Loyalists left the newly founded country for the Bahamas to continue to be under British rule. They brought their knowledge of plantations and crops to the island but found it difficult to grow anything here. After a decade or so they abandoned not only their plantations but also the slaves they had brought with them. These people are the ancestors of most of the present day Bahamans.

In the afternoon we were back in the water but not until many failed attempts. One area was too windy which made it very dangerous. The next area was along Pigeon Creek. I was in the water when John (the PI-principal investigator) loudly said, “Get out of the water…I mean get out of the water PLEASE”. As I backed up I saw a large Bull Shark (known for being unpredictable and aggressive…two traits one does not desire in a shark you are swimming with!)just off shore. There was no telltale dorsal fin us Great White Shark folk know to look for just a beautiful sinuous body moving through the water. Well, after that it was decided we did not want to participate in feeding time and we moved on to another site.

We arrived at our last site and quickly got on our masks and snorkels. Notice, I have very carefully NOT given you a description of me getting into a wetsuit. All I can say is -it is great none of you were there to see it. I am sure Conner or Sam would find something funny to say! Once in the water I was surrounded by many types of parrot fish, angel fish, hard coral, fan coral, flounder, blue tangs, puffer fish, spotted trigger fish, and more .It was incredible to be underwater listening to the rhythm my breathing and watching a world I am unfamiliar with (though less so by now)unfold.