Day 23: Sailing on a Tall Ship to Rose Island Bahamas; part of my 6 month solo road trip adventure.
It’s the last full day of the sailboat cruise and we are sailing to Rose’s Island near Nassau. It’s an interesting trip, plague with plumbing issues. One of the couples can’t take it anymore and demand to be shuttled off the boat. Not having a working toilet and sewer fumes in their cabin did them in. Rose Island is less than an hour from the Nassau Marina by boat. The Captain makes arrangements to get them off and back to port. The rest of us chill.
The path to the beach Rose Island
A few hours later the we explore Rose Island. From where we are anchored, there is no beach, just jagged rocks. Hmm. The Captain reassures us there this a beautiful beach so we bring our beach/snorkeling gear. The rubber boat makes several trips to get us all there. We climb up the ladder and walk over a wooden bridge through the jungle to a beautiful site. Turquoise blue water as far as the eye can see and a small sandy white beach. Apparently this is where all the commercial excursions come to picnic and play. There are tables and remnants of camp fires. Sandals are left on trees.
The small beach on Rose Island
It looks familiar. I think I came here with my husband on our honeymoon in 1998. Oh yes. It is. Dan and I were snorkeling about 150′ off shore when I saw a 6′ shark hanging out on the sea floor. I freaked and turned high tail towards the beach yelling shark! I left Danny behind. It reminded me of the Seinfeld episode where George is at a kid’s birthday party and he smells smoke and runs for his life not caring about anyone else but himself. Here I leave my poor groom to fend for himself. The shark was harmless, but to me a shark is a shark.
Back to the present. We stay on the island for the entire day, sunbathing, snorkeling, swimming, and exploring. It’s a long thin island where in parts not even 100′ wide. Julie tells us that the remote island we see in the distance is the island from the opening scene of Gilligan’s Island. Hmm.
Gilligan’s Island in the distance?
It’s sunny but cool in the low to mid 70’s and breezy. After sunbathing for a bit I dive in. Aah, refreshing. I can feel the water tugging at me. As afternoon approaches the wind picks up. I try to snorkel but the waves are too rough and I don’t want to scrape myself on the coral. That would not be pleasant. I’m not looking to be shark bait. I should have gone earlier when the waves were calm. Should have, could have, would have, didn’t. Oh well.
As the sunsets the air turns cool.
As the late afternoon approaches it drops to the 60’s. Sue bundles up in her sweat jacket. She looks cold as she walks along the beach.
The sky is on fire
As the sun sets over New Providence Island
We watch the sun set. The sky is on fire with gold and orange as the sun casts its rays behind the clouds. As it slowly fades into the horizon the colors turn a deep orange bestowing beautiful artwork before us. To watch the sun rise and sun set is peace. What a wonderful way to enjoy the beginning and end of the day.
The crew has prepared a bonfire on the beach for the evening after dinner. Exhausted, I head back to the boat to enjoy the peace and quiet while the rest head to the beach.
Day 24:
I wake up a little after 5:30am and head up to the deck. There are a few early birds milling around. We watch the sunrise. What a beautiful sight against the water. I’m not a morning person but this is worth getting up for. The colors are vibrant. What a wonderful way to end the sailing adventure.
Sunrise
After breakfast around 9am we pull up anchor and head back to Nassau Marina completing our 7 day Tall Ship sailing adventure. Many of us exchange information, hoping to stay in touch. We came as strangers but left as friends.
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