Exploring Lee Stocking Island and vicinity

1/31 - Based on the information given to us by the CMRC concerning the trails on the island, we set out around 10:00 a.m. for a hike to Perry’s Peak, the highest point in the Exumas at around 120 feet. The trail proved to be pretty easy, but offered a spectacular view of the surrounding area. Another trail the Center told us about supposedly led through the Island to the beach on the Sound side. We took what we thought was the right trail, but it seemed to be taking us to the northern end of the Island. Eventually we were able to cut through to the beach. We followed the beach south for what seemed like many miles, but couldn’t find a trail leading back to the other side. There were either limestone or coral cliffs, or if we did find something that looked like a trail, it abruptly ended in thick brush and trees. Finally after much effort we found a trail, but it brought us out at Williams Cay. Oops, we’d left our dinghy at Coconut Beach, a mile or so further north and there was no clear cut way to get from Williams to Coconut. Gerry and Michael started walking through the shallow water along the shore, but eventually we hailed a boat anchored in the bay and asked if they’d be willing to dinghy Gerry over to Coconut Beach to get our dinghy. They happily obliged. The guy was from Maine and taught at the Wooden Boat School in Brooklin, Maine. We had visited there once and Gerry, at one point, had serious thoughts about attending one of the classes. Anyway, we did eventually make it back to the boat, but our trip took much longer than anticipated.

In the evening we were invited for happy hour aboard Fandango, a sailing cat owned by Mark and Debbie. We had originally met this couple at the Marina at Emerald Bay. After drinks, appetizers and lots of conversation, we returned to the boat. It had been a very full day and we were tired and ready for bed.

2/1 – At 10:00 we dinghied over to the Caribbean Marine Research Center for a tour of the facilities. The Center is one of NOAA’s National Undersea Research agencies and offers scientists a complete marine field laboratory for research projects that include studies of coral reefs, shoals, mangrove swamps and the lifestyles of lobster, tilapia, grouper and conch. Unfortunately, this research has been curtailed somewhat with Federal Government funding cuts.

After the tour we took the dinghy for a short run around the area and went ashore on Leaf Cay where we walked the beach while being watched by curious Red Iguana. After a quick lunch we decided to head out for our next destination. The winds and seas seemed to be a lot calmer today so we went outside in the Sound for the short 9 mile run to Rudder Cut Cay. We couldn’t have made it on the inside today without waiting for high tide because of the shallow depths. By 4:30 we were anchored at Rudder and enjoyed happy hour and the sunset with Michael and Jana aboard Monk’s Vineyard.

A shot of Gerry heading up the Perry's Peak Trail

Looking back down the trail you can make out
Michael and Jana working their way up

The view from the top. Although only 123 feet high,
the view was spectacular

Back at Coconut Beach, Michael took a quick rest
before heading out on the next trail

Along the trail, we found a Fiddler Crab

The beach and cliffs along the Sound

More of the shoreline -- sand falling down in
big chunks

We made our way around the point - fortunately
it was low tide

Gerry standing on the ledge (once we'd found a way up)

Looking down at the water from the top of the ledge (this was
looking straight down)

The trail opened up into Williams Cay. The boat on the
left (built and owned by Ed and Lizbeth Davis) was the one
that gave Gerry a dinghy ride back to Coconut Beach
where we had parked our dinghy