Showing posts with label Cat Island. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cat Island. Show all posts
Monday, July 9, 2012
More on Cat Island and Hawk's Nest
On Monday morning, we went in to the grocery store at New Bight for potatoes and fresh homemade bread.
About 1030 we got underway for the "boot" of Cat Island. The forecast 10-15 kt SE wind was about 18-20 out of the NE, and though we anchored north of the bar for a little bit, we decided to go into Hawk's Nest Marina for the night. This marina and its accompying airstrip were busted for being an integral part to Noriega's drug smuggling operation years ago, and the General's house here was torn apart.
This area is now more famous for its big game fishing, and Tartar Banks that comes up to 45' from thousands of feet. The wall along the southern coast of Cat has a great deal of current, and evidentally the fishing is spectacular.
We explored up Hawk's Nest Creek a little ways by skiff, but had decided not to anchor there due to the narrowness of the creek, and the current from the tidal flow running both directions. Oh yeah, and I could envision closing the doors on the no-see-ums and cranking up the air conditioner.
Satellite internet service cost me $15, and though we received email, couldn't send any. I don't know if the blog posted or not. I did manage to download the weather.
BTW, for friends who follow, almost every day I can pick up SSB weather from Chris Parker, a metereorologist who makes his living forecasting specifically for boaters cruising the Bahamas/Caribbean/ and east coast US. Before my next trip over here, I'll subscribe to his service, which will enable me to ask him about weather where am at and want to go. There is usually someone who is asking about the general areas we are cruising in. The USCG also broadcasts multiple times daily. I sure like this SSB.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
The Hermitage, above New Bight, Cat Island
Today, Sunday, I could find no church in walking distance, aside from a Catholic church. Maybe I didn't walk far enough.
The reason we had anchored off New Bight, however, was to go see the Hermitage, which was built on the highest mountain in the Bahamas, at 206 feet of elevation. I told Allen that he could write on his "what did I do this summer?" that he climbed the highest mountain in the country, and visited an old monastary!
John Hawes, aka Father Jerome, 1876-1956 was born in England and schooled as an architect, before studying theology. He became a missionary, and went through the Bahamas rebuilding storm ravaged churches, replacing the wooden structures with stone ones. I may be shortening history to the point of inaccuracy, but, he then went to Australia as a bush missionary, before returning to the Bahamas.
At some point after a heart attack, at age 62, he retired to Cat Island and built The Hermitage. I have read several differing reports about it being a scaled down monastary, but I believe it was his place, built after the architecture of some famous monastary I'd never heard of. Most importantly, it was built by one man, out of hand hewn rock. You can see it as you enter the coast.
Visiting the place today was a GREAT experience for me. I was impressed on several levels.
Firstly, as you climb the mountainside, Father Jerome had built the Stations of the Cross. Not coming from the Catholic faith, I can not explain the symbolism of each, but, being a Christian, I pondered each station. The stations were hand carved in stone, and every visitor to the place finds reason to pause at each. (You are climbing up the side of a steep hill, and ready to pause for any reason!) At the station where Christ fell, you are standing at the bottom of steep steps, already a little weary, and looking upward to the cross before you. It touched my spirit.
Secondly, as you arrive at his "Hermitage", I marvel at the thoughtfulness of the practicality of the architecture. The buildings consist of a place to sleep, a place to eat, a place to bathe, a place to worship and pray, and I think, a place to work. The roofs on the structures were all designed to deflect rain water to a circular drainage, hewn in the rock, and a routed to a cistern.
The ventilation through the small buildings was fantastic, so that I believe a breeze from any direction, (and you would normally have one at this highest point) flowed through the buildings.
The buildings consisted of a bell tower, a chapel, small living quarters, a separate kitchen/bread oven.
The chapel and bell tower are prominent from offshore, as well as a cross I suspect used to be, before the hurricane last year broke off the huge wooden cross at its cemented into the rock base.
From the vantage point of the chapel, I believe the man must have prayed for the town below, and now, long after his death, everyone who looks in that direction should be reminded of one man's love for the people, and God's magnificant love for them.
If you are ever in Cat Island, take the trip to see the structures, and the stations of the cross. But, plan on spending enough time there for meditation as you ponder God's love, and pray for the people of this area that Father Jerome loved.
BTW, bow as you enter the chapel... I know, its not a Protestant thing, but you'll about knock yourself out in the doorway if you don't. I have a huge lump in the top of my head, and the blow brought me to my knees. The stone arch is worm with other folks making the same mistake.
The reason we had anchored off New Bight, however, was to go see the Hermitage, which was built on the highest mountain in the Bahamas, at 206 feet of elevation. I told Allen that he could write on his "what did I do this summer?" that he climbed the highest mountain in the country, and visited an old monastary!
John Hawes, aka Father Jerome, 1876-1956 was born in England and schooled as an architect, before studying theology. He became a missionary, and went through the Bahamas rebuilding storm ravaged churches, replacing the wooden structures with stone ones. I may be shortening history to the point of inaccuracy, but, he then went to Australia as a bush missionary, before returning to the Bahamas.
At some point after a heart attack, at age 62, he retired to Cat Island and built The Hermitage. I have read several differing reports about it being a scaled down monastary, but I believe it was his place, built after the architecture of some famous monastary I'd never heard of. Most importantly, it was built by one man, out of hand hewn rock. You can see it as you enter the coast.
Firstly, as you climb the mountainside, Father Jerome had built the Stations of the Cross. Not coming from the Catholic faith, I can not explain the symbolism of each, but, being a Christian, I pondered each station. The stations were hand carved in stone, and every visitor to the place finds reason to pause at each. (You are climbing up the side of a steep hill, and ready to pause for any reason!) At the station where Christ fell, you are standing at the bottom of steep steps, already a little weary, and looking upward to the cross before you. It touched my spirit.
The ventilation through the small buildings was fantastic, so that I believe a breeze from any direction, (and you would normally have one at this highest point) flowed through the buildings.
The buildings consisted of a bell tower, a chapel, small living quarters, a separate kitchen/bread oven.
The chapel and bell tower are prominent from offshore, as well as a cross I suspect used to be, before the hurricane last year broke off the huge wooden cross at its cemented into the rock base.
From the vantage point of the chapel, I believe the man must have prayed for the town below, and now, long after his death, everyone who looks in that direction should be reminded of one man's love for the people, and God's magnificant love for them.
BTW, bow as you enter the chapel... I know, its not a Protestant thing, but you'll about knock yourself out in the doorway if you don't. I have a huge lump in the top of my head, and the blow brought me to my knees. The stone arch is worm with other folks making the same mistake.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
The West Coast of Cat Island
We took the Whaler along the coast to the north, all the way up to Orange Creek. Didn't see anything I'd cruise that direction for. That is pathetic to say when we are in crystal clear water, and gorgeous coral reefs!
We came back to the boat, and proceded with the MERCY to the south, around Alligator Point, to eventually anchor in New Bight, towards the southern end of Cat Island. There were a few caves along the coast that we HAD to anchor the MERCY and go explore by Whaler.
We had to go into Culbert's Creek Harbour, and into Fernandez Bay, just to check them out. The boat we were travelling with ran over the tow line to his dinghy, and wrapped the line in his wheel enough it killed the engine. Allen and I swung by, picked up the drifting inflatable, and dove the line out of his wheel. Allen and I are getting our teamwork down pretty good! We did a mighty professional looking job!
We anchored for the night off a gorgeous sandy beach, after idling the coast looking for unlocked wifi. We managed to download emails, which we have been unable to answer, as we have not been able to connect for more than a few seconds. By the time this blog posts, we may be in Exumas! (unless we stumble across wifi somewhere)
We came back to the boat, and proceded with the MERCY to the south, around Alligator Point, to eventually anchor in New Bight, towards the southern end of Cat Island. There were a few caves along the coast that we HAD to anchor the MERCY and go explore by Whaler.
We had to go into Culbert's Creek Harbour, and into Fernandez Bay, just to check them out. The boat we were travelling with ran over the tow line to his dinghy, and wrapped the line in his wheel enough it killed the engine. Allen and I swung by, picked up the drifting inflatable, and dove the line out of his wheel. Allen and I are getting our teamwork down pretty good! We did a mighty professional looking job!
We anchored for the night off a gorgeous sandy beach, after idling the coast looking for unlocked wifi. We managed to download emails, which we have been unable to answer, as we have not been able to connect for more than a few seconds. By the time this blog posts, we may be in Exumas! (unless we stumble across wifi somewhere)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)