Exuma Land and Sea Park

After Norman's Cay we were fortunate to be given a mooring ball inside at the Exuma Land and Sea Park at Waderwick Wick Wells.  The Park as everyone calls it is the crown jewel of the Bahamas National Trust which is their national park service.  There is no fishing, shelling, or conching allowed and unusual for the Bahamas these regulations are strictly enforced.  One new wrinkle that may interest old veterans of the Park is that the old practice of trading free mooring for volunteer work is being discouraged.  Almost everybody pays now.  Since there are three new Bahamian employees, the money has to come from somewhere.  Someone told me that the Exuma Park supplies 95% of the budget for the entire system of 23 parks in the Bahamas.  But for those who have on been here, trust me the fees are worthwhile.  I think that pictures can tell the story better than I can.

This is a pic of a Poisonwood tree.  Note the orange blotches on the trunk.  The poison wood tree was featured in the best seller the "Poisonwood Bible."

The slogan of the Park is "take only pictures and leave only foot prints."

A time honored tradition at the Park is to inscribe your boat's name on a piece of driftwood and leave in the pile at the top of Boo Boo Hill.  The boo boo name comes from the haunting sound made by the nearby blow holes.