Let me start off by saying, I absolutely LOVE kayaking! If I could paddle everyday, I would…and most days, I do. I’ve always been a fan of kayaking because of the independence it provides and the unique point of view you see in nature. It’s a relaxing, yet strenuous activity at times and will always be something I enjoy. Whether it’s paddling down the Rogue River with friends, exploring the ins and outs of a new island, or just rowing around to fish, I am always happy to be kayaking.
Double Breasted Cay
This will not be your favorite island in the Bahamas, but it is mine. Sandy Cay beside Double Breasted Cay provides a fabulous anchorage for protection from all directions besides Southeast winds. The depths are not meant for deeper drafts but we waited till high tide so that we could sneak in to the gunk hole these two cays provide. There is an outer anchorage but we prefer the inner anchorage for protection and proximity to the beach. If you need to make a quick exit though, the outside is better because you don’t need to worry about the tide to get in or out.
The beauty of this island is indescribable but I’ll try. As the tide leaves the Sea of Abaco, Sandy Cay becomes double the size in white sand beach to run around. It is the perfect island to walk around (approximately 1 mile at low tide/.5 mile at high tide) with plenty of wildlife to see along the way. On the other side of us, is a barrier of little rock islands before getting to Double Breasted Cay which provides coral reefs and plenty of fish. The water in this entire area is made up every blue you’ve ever seen constantly changing with the rays of sunlight. Double Breasted Cay is made up of mangroves and rocky terrain turning into sandy beaches where it meets the ocean. Overall, it is a gorgeous area to stay while boating around the Bahamas.
Kayaking the Mangroves
This year, we were anchored here for an entire week. Although we were getting a bit stir-crazy at the end, this island has so many great features to enjoy. There are great places to snorkel or spearfish, a beautiful beach to explore, and Grand Cay is nearby to dinghy to. My activity of choice though, was kayaking. It wasn’t all day, everyday, like I would have wanted to but still made time during the crazy winds we had.
Kayaking around this area was a thrill because Google Maps DOES NOT show up well to show you the way. There are barely any satellite images of this island which is difficult to find nowadays. I packed an adventure bag for my trip and let Tharon know the path I’d plan on. As I kayaked away from the safety of others, I made note of my path through the mangroves. I visualized the turns I made down each different branch of the mangrove maze and backtracked to always know how to navigate the way.
Relaxing in Nature
Listening to The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway and paddling forward I felt at ease in nature. With no one else around, I undressed and lathered up with sunscreen and laid back in the warm sun. While visualizing this iconic story, it soon became my mission to make it to the end of the island. I paddled hard into the wind at times and rested in the bends protected from the wind. Around every turn, I wondered if I had made it yet or if I should just turn back. Continuing forward, the winds seemed stronger and gave me adrenaline to get through. Then around a rocky bend, I finally saw the end of the mangrove forest and an opening to the wild waters of the Sea of Abaco.
That was not the end of my adventure but it was a much quicker kayak back. At first I was nervous to know if I could navigate back alright but with the wind and current behind me, it was a breeze. My arms were a bit sore and my belly was feeling hungry, but my heart was happy.
Cheers and thanks for reading!
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Read our post from last year –> Bahamas Cruising – Exploring the Northern Abaco Cays
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