Perfect Day on the Great Loop

Crossed the Whale

We crossed the Whale! The Whale is a 5 mile passage between Green Turtle Cay and Great Guana Cay where you leave the protected waters of Abaco Sea and go out into the Atlantic Ocean around a tiny island. We waited 3 days to cross. It's well known for having treacherous waters there, a very short wave period and rough, mixed up waves. This crossing was comparable to what we experienced coming through Grays Reef near Mackinac, MI. (the biggest seas of our 2500 mile trip).
Grabbers Bar

After crossing the Whale we went to Great Guana Key and stayed at Orchid Bay Marina four nights. This is a gorgeous island with beautiful beaches, Nippers, Grabbers and a few little shops.

Orchid Bay Marina

- The weather turned nice, 80 degrees.
- We've snorkeled the reef in front of Nippers the last 2 days.
-There has been a 5 foot nurse shark hanging around our slip the last 2 days.
- Rib night at Orchid Bay, cocktails back and forth between boats with Les, Michael and Kay, Connie and Jim.
-The houses are painted every bright color you can imagine.
-Bring less clothes and more money is the motto here. Diesel is $6.00 gallon here (glad we didn't need any) and it was $2.98 at West End. Beer, any kind, is $77. per case. A small bottle of suntan lotion is $16.50.
-Coconuts are everywhere, all over the ground. There is coconut bowling.
-Orchid Bay is such a deal! It has the best marina slip price in the Abacos. 50 cents/per foot ($20. night for us.)
-The end of the island, Bakers Bay, is private, very elite and closed to the public - basically movie star level.