Bahamian Adventures!!!!

Sorry for the delay. We have been so busy and exhausted that we haven't got a chance write about our adventures.

Thursday May 7.

We went snorkeling in the sea grass beds down the road from the research at north point and Dr. Toering collected plants and algae for us to identify later in lab. That night like every other night we played card games in the snack bar.

Friday May 8.

We finally got to take the boat out and went to Green Cay which was inhabited by San Salvador Rock Iguanas. The first four people onto the island got stopped by one in the middle of the path and then another one ran out behind them and they were trapped. It was very enjoyable for the people behind to watch them stuck between iguanas. This island was way cool. Iguanas were everywhere. They would just run out from the rocks and grass when we least expected. Jacob thought one tried to attack him.

After we went to Catto Cay also known as Bird Island. We just drove by because it smells because of all the bird poop. There were two main birds we saw: Frigates and Brown Boobies. Our boat driver was very funny with one liners from those names. As we got closer to the island the Brown Boobies would fly over the boat and everyone would duck and scream because the birds would get so close we thought for sure they were going to poop on us.

We then went snorkeling at Gaulin Reef near these two islands. Right away we saw a ton of Barracudas. Ther was one that was at least 6 feet long. It had the meanest look on its face. The whole time we were swimming the Brown Boobies would land in the water near us. One landed behind Amanda and would stick its head into the water to check us out. This was by far the coolest reef we've been to. There were huge corals sticking out of the water.

Sat. May 9

We drove to Sandy Point which is at the southern tip of the island. We hiked along a trail to the ruins of a plantation. There were only three buildings left be we could easily identify what they once were. This plantation was the second highest point on the island. After the plantation we went a blue hole which is a a vertical cave that is connected to the ocean via underground caves. The blue hole we saw was used by the plantation to keep sea turtles in so they could use them for meat.

That afternoon we drove to Cockburn and walked along a fossilized reef. We identified many fossilized coral.

That night we had some fun and got to meet many of the locals. The Bahamians are very nice people.

Sun. May 10.

A few people went to church and said that was an interesting experience. Apparently no one can sing very well on this island.

That afternoon was a blast. We went a visted the lighthouse that just east of the center. It was built by a shipping company a long time ago because many of their ships were crashing into the Bahamas. So many of the outer islands have lighthouses. We got to climb to the top and the view was amazing! We also got to see the huge lenses the magnify the light at night. During the day these lenses are covered because if the sun hit them they could start a fire and that would not be very good.

After the lighthouse we hiked down a trail and climbed down into a cave. We had to wear jeans and tennisshoes so by the time we got into the cave we were all sweaty. We could only go into the cave at low tide because it is connected to the ocean but no one has figured out where. We climbed down this metal ladder and walked through the cave. At one point the water got up to our chests. We saw a few bats and a couple of cock roaches. The cave was a lot of fun. Afterwards went to Grahams Harbor to clean off our clothes and to cool off a little. Meanwhile some of the locals had just got done hunting Queen Conches and were on the pier breaking them open. We are pretty sure it way have been the illigaly kind they were doing but then again maybe not.

Mon. May 11

TEST DAY!!! First test was this morning. It was by no means easy and yet was not too hard.

Today was also the day the Elmira Group left. We were happy that we were going to have the place alone for a couple of days. Well that actually lasted like an hour. A group from Georgia came. They seemed cool. A little different.

That afternoon we finally did some land stuff. We went to North Point again and walked along a trail and identified a ton of plants. Not much fun but it was windy because we were on the peninsula so we stayed really cool.

That night the last group went night snorkeling. We saw a small lionfish, a spiny lobster, and the biggest crab ever! Night snorkeling is a lot of fun but wierd at the same time. You get all disoriented in the water so Dr. Toering would be standing on the shore with a light so we wouldnt get lost. After the snorkel everyone just went to the snack bar and played more card games.

Tuesday May 12.

Today we went to Pigeon Creek which is a huge tidal creek at the southern end of the island. We collected data for an ongoing research group that was not going to make it to the island this year. We had to count every organism we saw in this grid. It took us about three hours. The only bad thing about this adventure was we all got stung by hydroids. They are not bad stings but they did hurt. Everyones legs were all red when we got out of the water.

After we at lunch near the tidal creek we snorkeled along the mangroves and caught the tide going out to the ocean and pretty much float out to a near by beach. This was a lot of fun. We saw two sting rays both within 5 yards of each other.

When we got back to the research center we met another group from North Caronlina that just arrived but everyone was exhausted so we slept til dinner.

Tonight is Movie Knight! We have chosen the movie TOTAL RECALL!!!! very excited! its my favorite movie!!


Kelsey Kovacevich