svcharm: 2022-04-17 Pau Pau Bay, Goveners Harbor and Alabaster Bay, Eleuthera.

We left Rock Sound, sailing north, up to Pau Pau Bay, just north of the Pineapple Cays on Eleuthera Island. Nice sail, with flat seas.

Nice sail with flat seas

View from anchorage at Pau Pau Bay

Sojourn and Charm at anchor at Pau Pau Bay

We walked up to a unique store with Karen and Duane off Sojourn and bought some fresh veggies.

After one night in Pau Pau, we moved further north, as the anchorage was getting a little rolly. Sailed up to Goveners Harbor with Sojourn. Were able to sail close to shore, and always interesting to see how the water shapes the shoreline with lots of coves and caves

Coastline, with many coves and caves

Next stop Governors Harbor. Small town, but good grocery stores. Also close to the Leon Levy Nature Preserve, which was place we wanted to see. Nice sail up, with just a jib, doing 5+ knots in 15 knot wind.

Welcome sign

Charm and Sojourn in background. Shallow shore, so quite a walk from dinghy to shore.

We rented a taxi for the 2.5 mile trip to Leon Levy Preserve with Sojourn. Had a nice visit there. https://www.levypreserve.org/home

"The Preserve is operated by the Bahamas National Trust. The Preserve is a living part of Bahamian history. It is the first national park on the island of Eleuthera. It is an environmental educational centre as well as a facility for the propagation of native plants and trees."

The Preserve is spread over 30 acres.

Nice pond and waterfall at entrance

Nice boardwalk path through mangrove area. Mangroves are very important in the Bahamas ecosystem

Lucayan native hut (re-creation)

Feeding turtles in the pond

Pretty walk by pond

Found this guy in the path, was not afraid of us at all.

Gave this spider a wide berth as well. Unfortunately had to ruin the web to get by on the path.

After the visit to the Preserve, we walked about a mile down the road to the Atlantic side beach, with pink sand.

Atlantic ocean side beach - beautiful

After a nice beach walk, we headed back to the main road, by way of the abandoned old Club Med resort. It is unfortunately quite common in the Bahamas to find abandoned homes, buildings half finished, and big resorts and other complexes abandoned, with buildings falling down, and metal rusting everywhere.

At one time, probably a nice pool area.

Looked like maybe a lap pool at one time

Dean, with Karen and Duane off Sojourn

We also went out for a nice lunch out when back to town. There was a very pregnant black cat at the outdoor seating of the restaurant. Kris made quick friends, and probably gave the cat at least 1/4 of her cheeseburger.

Cat went straight to Kris - could spot a soft touch from a mile away.

After a couple of enjoyable days in Goveners Harbor, we moved again up to Alabaster Bay. Sojourn came with.

This time the shore adventure was to explore an abandoned Naval facility.

"One of the many underwater listening stations that were part of the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) and the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS), which were used to track Soviet submarines.

Naval Facility Eleuthera, Bahamas was commissioned on 1 September 1957, with a compliment of 150 officers and enlisted men. Approximately twenty Pan-American Airway, RCA and Western Electric personnel and 45 Bohemian employees also supported the base. Eleuthera made history June 30, 1970; it was the first facility to employ women in oceanographic research. As for recreation, Eleuthera is surrounded by warm, crystal clear water filled with fresh fish, making water sports a most popular pursuit. Other entertainment included golfing, spelunking, beach combing, nightly movies, and the “Carib Club.” NAVFAC Eleuthera was decommissioned 31 March 1980 after 23 years of dedicated service."