Conception/Cat Island

Alright, so the delay in posting at this point is mainly blamed on poor internet  Pirating.  Plus, we have been hiding from some strong wind fronts that have continued for almost a week (sustained 25-30 knot gusts) and on through early next week.   None the less, we have been enjoyed every hidy hole we have found.

We throughly enjoyed Conception Island.  It is as though the island was created just to make you smile with so many reefs to snorkle and mangroves to explore and great cruisers to share the ride.  The island is uninhabited and the Bahamas National Trust (BMT) wants to maintin it's beautiful primitive nature.  The only drawback is to go when the weather is perfect as it does not offer any safe anchorage from any big weather front.  The magnetic pull comes from its remoteness and seculsion as well as the crystalline waters, varities of coral and fish, crescent beaches, mangrove trees and long-tailed tropic birds,  Brandon and Scott went out one day on a mission to bring home dinner and they both suceeded (Tiger Grouper and Snapper)!!! 

But then the weather dictated our next week which was strong winds from the East-North/East with sustained 20knots winds with gusts up to 30knots.  Conception is very exposed to both Exuma Sound, as well as, the Atlantic Ocean which means uncomfortable tidal surges=the boat swirling around to and fro and right to left (not fun).  So we left for Conception Island which has been very cool, thus far.

We landed Cat Island at the bay called The Bight which is the central location of all nearby facildties, and best of all we anchored at the foot of Mount Alvernia, the highest hill in the Bahamas and one of the most intriguing tourist attractions.  The Hermitage is at the top of the hill and is the retirment home of the revered Father Jerome (he was both an architect and a priest).  His given name was John Cecil Hawes very well loved and known in the Bahamas as Father Jerome.  He was born in England in 1876, he first became an architect then an Anglican priest.  After the 1908 hurricane, which devastated parts of the Bahamas, the Angleican Bishop sent this architect/priest to restore the damaged churches.  His unique stamp of the hurricane-proof stonework with its thick walls and barrel-vaulted roofs can bee seen in the seven Anglican churches that he reburilt on Long Island.   On Father Jerome'es first approach to New Bight in 1937, he selected Comer Hill, the highest spot in all Bahamas, as the site for his retirement home and a location in-own for a new church.

As you walk through the archway at the Hermitage's entrance  at the bace of the hill, you will be struck not only with  his gift for architecture and stonework but also with his genuine and humble devtion to God, which carries all the way up the hill through his Stations of the Cross, past the replica of Jesus' tomb with ists rolled-away stone to his spartan living quarters and small chapel for private devotions.  So we hope you enjoy the pictures of such an incredible place.

Best wishes to all.  We are leaving tomorrow, for Lee Stocking Cay for the next few days.  Plan to arrive at Emerald Bay in Gerorge Town Tuesday or Wednesday to greet my Dad for a week stay on SolMate.  It will feel like Christmas for us several months late.  He is bringing us serveral items we have ordered and or asked him to locate all over town.  But having him as our first visitor on our journey is the best gift of all!

So I hope to post pictures because I do know the they send a better message then words (why I am always behind the camera and not in front, I love it as well).  

Happy tax week to everyone, yuck!  We just hope it is was not too painful and perhaps prosperous in terms of a RETURN?????!!!!

  I give up on posting pictures tonigjht b/c it is 11pm and the internet keeps letting me down but hope to post pics in the near future!  However, we still have an active email account and would love to see how you all too.  So please share as well! 

Love to all

Carryn, Brandon and Bella