The mail boat arrived late last night and began unloading a literal boat-load of goods. Most everything that arrives on island comes via the boat (some comes by airplane). It was fun to watch the pallets come ashore carrying sodas, air conditioners, snack chips, styrofoam containers, laser printers, and tires. We also saw a fishing boat (approx. 30-foot) and a car.
We had a big day planned and were almost deterred by a lack of water at low tide. Knowing that the tide would be back in this afternoon when we were done, we needed to get the dinghy close to the steps by dragging it across the sandbar and up to the "beach." The bottom two steps would be underwater upon our return. Off we headed to the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve. The sign at the corner said two miles and Google Maps said "mostly flat." We knew both were somewhat off in their predictions, as was the one mile to go sign along the way. The trek was mostly uphill and it was a warm day. Knowing that Tippy's was just a bit past the entrance to the Preserve, we elected to go have a nice lunch and celebrate our climb up the mountain.
The view from Tippy's was incredible and with full sunshine we could even see the pink tint to the sand. A frozen drink hit the spot as we awaited our lunch. Afterwards we jumped in line to have one of the waitstaff take our photos in front of the gorgeous backdrop. We arrived at the Levy Preserve and were treated to a nice overview by a staffer before we set out on the 1.5 miles of well-manicured trails. There were up close opportunities with many species of palms. Most specimens were labeled with nice tags and large information displays lined the trails. This is a top-notch park operated by the Bahamian National Trust.
We saw humming birds, turtles, butterflies, and honeybees; but the plants were definitely the highlight. Orchids and what we call "air plants" back home were everywhere. These epiphytes are organisms that grow on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rainwater. Their clingy root structure was a work of art A highlight in the edible garden was this bunch of plantains ripening high in the sky. We climbed Ethan's Tower to the observation deck and could see out over the canopy to the ocean. The cool breeze was very refreshing. Returning to the welcome center the replica Lucayan hut caught our attention. The way the palm fronds are woven together and attached to the "rafters" was very interesting. A staff member at the park graciously offered to drive us back down the hill to the harbor. That was a welcomed offer that we could not refuse.
We got back to the dingy and the tide had indeed rolled in. All our staging worked out as planned. We returned to Crossroads and took a little nap. Tonight was Fish Fry night here in Governor's Harbour, an event not to be missed. We dinghied back to shore around 7:00 and made the short walk over to the library where metal lizards decorated by school children were being sold as a fundraiser. We stopped at food stations and got some conch fritters, conch salad, and a pineapple tart for dinner.
A gorgeous sunset developed behind the harbor and we walked down the street to catch as much as we could. At 7:30 the jazz musicians began their jam session on the blocked-off street which was illuminated by streetlights. It was a happening place and as I write this, the party is still going on. I, however, have run out of battery. It is well past boaters' midnight.
We had a big day planned and were almost deterred by a lack of water at low tide. Knowing that the tide would be back in this afternoon when we were done, we needed to get the dinghy close to the steps by dragging it across the sandbar and up to the "beach." The bottom two steps would be underwater upon our return. Off we headed to the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve. The sign at the corner said two miles and Google Maps said "mostly flat." We knew both were somewhat off in their predictions, as was the one mile to go sign along the way. The trek was mostly uphill and it was a warm day. Knowing that Tippy's was just a bit past the entrance to the Preserve, we elected to go have a nice lunch and celebrate our climb up the mountain.
The view from Tippy's was incredible and with full sunshine we could even see the pink tint to the sand. A frozen drink hit the spot as we awaited our lunch. Afterwards we jumped in line to have one of the waitstaff take our photos in front of the gorgeous backdrop. We arrived at the Levy Preserve and were treated to a nice overview by a staffer before we set out on the 1.5 miles of well-manicured trails. There were up close opportunities with many species of palms. Most specimens were labeled with nice tags and large information displays lined the trails. This is a top-notch park operated by the Bahamian National Trust.
We saw humming birds, turtles, butterflies, and honeybees; but the plants were definitely the highlight. Orchids and what we call "air plants" back home were everywhere. These epiphytes are organisms that grow on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rainwater. Their clingy root structure was a work of art A highlight in the edible garden was this bunch of plantains ripening high in the sky. We climbed Ethan's Tower to the observation deck and could see out over the canopy to the ocean. The cool breeze was very refreshing. Returning to the welcome center the replica Lucayan hut caught our attention. The way the palm fronds are woven together and attached to the "rafters" was very interesting. A staff member at the park graciously offered to drive us back down the hill to the harbor. That was a welcomed offer that we could not refuse.
We got back to the dingy and the tide had indeed rolled in. All our staging worked out as planned. We returned to Crossroads and took a little nap. Tonight was Fish Fry night here in Governor's Harbour, an event not to be missed. We dinghied back to shore around 7:00 and made the short walk over to the library where metal lizards decorated by school children were being sold as a fundraiser. We stopped at food stations and got some conch fritters, conch salad, and a pineapple tart for dinner.
A gorgeous sunset developed behind the harbor and we walked down the street to catch as much as we could. At 7:30 the jazz musicians began their jam session on the blocked-off street which was illuminated by streetlights. It was a happening place and as I write this, the party is still going on. I, however, have run out of battery. It is well past boaters' midnight.
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