Conception Island, paying back, cuttlefish, a cooking trick, and A MAHI!!!

 Ahhh…Conception Island. About 40 miles east of the Exuma chain of islands, Conception is part of the Bahamian Land and Sea Park system. That means no fishing, no taking of conch, no fires on the island, etc. It’s a beautiful island and not as frequented as many of the islands. That makes it all the more special! Here is the view from the westward facing shore. The boats are anchored on this side to protect them from the easterly winds right now.

A short path across the island leads to the ocean. Rugged and starkly beautiful.

First things first, everyone set off in search of various “treasures”, be it sea beans, shells, or man-made items that have floated to shore, or just pictures. Search and we did find treasures! Dorothy and I both found a couple of sea bean “hamburgers” each.

Up the big rope to the top of the ironshore for a view of the ocean, seen in the picture above. It’s really neither as steep or high as it looks…

Ah ha! Even I made it!

The beach on the ocean side is quite nice, full of the colors of the sand and waters.

Luke had the opportunity to pay back some of the generous help we had when our starter was broken. One of the boats in the anchorage called earlier with an offer of fresh fish (they caught FOUR mahi-mahi on their way to Conception! We caught one fat Bar Jack, often associated with cigeratia, a nerve disease gotten from large reef fish that eat smaller reef fish. He was tossed back into the briny). Anyway, we traded some beers for fish. The boater (Les) was generous and gave us enough fish for 5 meals. We gave some of it away also. Anyway, later that day, Les called, asking if Luke might know something about an electrical issue with his stove/oven. Of course, Luke went over and helped analyze the problem – a dead propane solenoid. As it turns out, the couple we shared Les’s fish with just happened to have a spare of the type that Les needed. Les is buying the spare from them instead of having to go back to a town and try to get one in from the States. Luke and Win went over, helping Les install it.

Luke went snorkeling with two other boats, but I stayed and made chocolate chip cookies…yum.. The best part of staying behind was watching cuttlefish around the boat. A school of at least 100 of them, each about 8 inches long, swam slowly around the boat for several hours. They look like just black fish from the boat, but looking at them through our “lookie bucket” (plastic bottomed pail), you can see the frills flutter softly and beautifully in the water as they swim. I was fascinated! Couldn’t catch a picture of course, but here is one from the internet.





I have also learned one fantastic cooking tip this trip. Cruisers stock up on “stores”, or non-perishable foods. But you can’t stock up on enough fresh food. Eggs are generally plentiful here, but not always. Dorothy showed me how to use organic flax powder instead of eggs! Just 1 tablespoon of flax plus 3 tablespoons of water equal one egg. And you know what? It works!!! I have made muffins and cornbread and cookies with it so far and you will never know real eggs aren’t in there. Flax is also really good for you, so even if you have eggs, try it as a healthy option. I swear – it does work!!! 

On Thursday we hiked to a large beach on the ocean side. The path started with a climb, aided by a rope, up to the top of the ironshore rocks.

Then across the ironshore and scrub bushes.

 Finally, after an hour hike, our goal is in sight! Success Unfortunately, as this is the ocean facing beach, it is littered with all sorts of trash, blown onshore by the prevalent eastward winds. Folks toss stuff overboard in the ocean, thinking it will sink. It doesn’t – this happens instead.

Weather – we could see this weather front in the sky. Very interesting to be able to SEE the weather change as it approaches.

At the end of the day, we took a dinghy ride to a large, shallow creek, full of lazy rays, warp speed turtles, small sharks, and small fishes.

Didn’t get many pictures of the sea creatures, except this big ray who decided to simply swim under our dinghy.

Healthy mangroves, blue water.

 On Friday we went to Salt Pond, Long Island. Our friend Les gave me the lure he used to catch those 4 mahi (!!!!) so we fished along the ledges of the water. These are places where the water depth changes, for example, from 5000 feet to 200 feet or from 200 feet to 40 feet. Fish seem to like to patrol the ledges.   WOO HOO!!!   We caught a beauty!  45 inches long, we got 6 meals out of it, including a meal for 10 last night.

Renting a car tomorrow to explore the island with Martha and Bill.