Exploring In And Out Of The Water

Lee Stocking Island   

This morning we set out to explore something new to us. We took the dinghy north to the remains of the Perry Institute of Marine Science. John Perry, who was instrumental in the creation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), formed the Caribbean Marine Research Center (CMRC) in 1984. Mr. Perry died in 2006, and the research funding eventually dried up. The Institute closed in 2012, but was not cleaned out. Buildings and equipment remain frozen in time on the island and have become a must-see site for cruisers. We approached near a small waterfront building. The tide was going out so we anchored in the surf. I love it when the water is so clear that the dinghy appears to be hovering as opposed to floating. A short distance from the water is a building full of tanks. I found it even more remarkable that all the fluorescent tubes still reside in the overhead fixtures. We walked the dirt road and were amazed at how many buildings were still standing in good shape. Barry eyed the ladder to the coconuts, but resisted the temptation to climb. Beautiful palm trees swayed in the light breeze.

We headed northeast on the road, passing several more buildings and the overgrown airstrip. The ruins were interesting, but I was focused on the Sound-side beach on the northeast corner of the island. The road led us to a single sea oat stem holding watch over the crescent beach as boats passed on the horizon. Once again, we were treated to a beach unspoiled by footprints. The sand was soft and powdery with no trace of rocks or shells. The waves broke gently on the shore and the leading edge of foam disappeared as it was absorbed into the sand.  

The views both left (north) and right (south) were stunning.

We walked to the far end and paused for a moment as we took in the entirety from one position. We retraced our steps to the dinghy and returned to Crossroads for a late lunch. 

After an hour or so, we cast off with snorkeling in mind. We had good luck here last year, but were disappointed with the conditions today. There was very little fish activity. A few small fish darted around, but were not entertaining.

I did see a few nice coral heads. (There is a fish in that photo, but you'll have to find it on your own.) I hopped back in the dinghy and we continued south. We spotted the small cut that separates Lee Stocking Island and Williams Cay. We circled Windsock Cay, but found no treasure trove of fish activity. As we approached low tide, the large sandbar was rising from the water. I took a nice walk across the bar, never over knee deep. The bottom was pure, clean sand -- no rocks, shells, or grass. The water shimmered in the sunlight. 

On our way back to Crossroads, we heard a familiar screeching sound and stopped to locate the source. Sitting atop the rocks on Windsock Cay was an osprey. Didn't expect that. The final minutes of daylight passed quickly and the sun began to fall in another cloudless, orange sky. As a bonus, we were treated to another green flash. As we returned to the pilothouse to turn on the anchor light, we spotted the full moon rising in the east. As the sky darkened, it became more prominent.