Cat Island

We spent a very rolly couple of nights at Little San Salvador – renamed Half Moon Cay by Holland America Line and had a great time exploring by dinghy. 

 

          Holland America Line               Orange Creek Settlement Cat Island

We did not venture ashore at the cruise ship area even though some cruising friends said no one would mind.  Being tired of not getting a good nights sleep we decided to head over to Cat Island.

We have not been here in a few years and have never ventured all the way south & decided this would be a good time to do just that.  We dropped the hook off of Orange Creek and decided to go to town for lunch.  The anchorage is really beautiful & our guide book said there was a dinghy dock inside Orange Creek proper.  If you look at the photo above – you need to take your dink to the far right side to get around a sandbar and then go all the way past the left side to enter the creek.  It was well worth the trip!

The Orange Creek grocery is surprisingly well stocked.  Ms. Clair who runs the place was very helpful too.  When we mentioned that we were looking for a restaurant for lunch she informed us that the Orange Creek ones had closed but she got on the phone to see who was open.  It seems that “Da Hot Spot” was the only game in town but unfortunately it was 7+ miles away.  She knew we were on a boat  so she offered her son Darrington to drive us.  He was a wonderful man who lives in Apopka, FL but was back on island to help his mom with the maintenance on the Orange Creek Inn.  He drove us there and gave us a lot of information about the people of Cat Island and the southerners (up  south in Bahamas' Speak) too. He introduced us to Melany the proprietor of Da Hot Spot  & off he went.

Well, it seems that Monday is a quiet day on Cat Island & since Melany had Karaoke on Friday night & a birthday party on Saturday night & the liquor store was closed on Sunday all she had was 2 Kalik Gold's.  That is the stronger Kalik!  Out of conch, out of fish, out of chicken, out of peas & rice, out of Mac & Cheese out of plantain, so we had to suffer through cracked lobster & salad!  Delicious!  If you ever go to Arthur Town on Cat Island – go to Da Hot Spot!  Darrington told us that “Da Smoke Pot” is even better than De Hot Spot but we never got the chance…… next time!

     Church @ Orange Creek                  Orange Creek Settlement

There is a place called Shana’s cove just south of Orange Creek so we had to take a look to see if we can anchor there.  It has a couple of restaurants & resorts and enough water for us too…… next time!

                               Tallwoods & Shana’s Cove resorts

When you are cruising, weather is always a factor & there was a strong cold front coming so we needed to find protection.  Looking at the chart, Bennett's Harbour seemed reasonable.  Our chart book said that it was narrow with little swinging room and that was an understatement!  We awoke the next morning with the keel bumping off the sandy bottom!  We never got off the boat there even though just outside of the harbor was a beautiful sandy beach with a few resorts & stores…. next time!

Inside  Bennett’s Harbour  looking out            Hurricane boat @ Bennett’s Harbour

  15- 20 feet of water     15 – 20 feet of water & anchor chain both @ Orange Creek

We were going to head to New Bight but got sidetracked to Rokers.

  Church @ Arthur Town                            Another place to try!

                                            Da Hot Spot from the sea

Rob had wanted to walk to the ocean side & unfortunately my feet will still not cooperate so the next morning I took him to shore in the dink and returned to the boat while he went across the island.  He came back with great treasures including lots of floats that we will use as bar decorations should we ever become clods – Cruisers Living On Dirt – for those not familiar with the term. 

Large Lobsters on the beach                        Ocean side Cat Island

We had decided to head to Stevenson Cay but….. next time!  Instead we ended up at Fernandez Bay.  It is a lovely bay with a resort of the same name there.  Very pricey but the people & food were very good too!

                            Part of the resort at Fernandez Bay

We took the dink into the mangroves adjacent to the resort only to find they had “sign posts” to guide the guests!

      Mangrove signpost                                      Hampshire Rose @ Fernandez Bay

It started to rain & home we went.  Today – Monday 1/27 we are off to New Bight….. maybe!  Right now we are fishing.

Later – Holly & Rob

PS Now in New Bight, Cat Island – landed a mackerel, a small tuna, got 2 barracuda to the boat & released them & had 2 hit & take the lures!  Not a bad day!  Tonight is Happy Hour on Kalissa with Wind Rose, Option 3 & Aloha Friday!