On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:55:13 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

Anyone who has ever aspired to explore pristine, nearly deserted
beaches, caves, or follow in the footsteps of real life shipwrecked
Robinson Crusoes should go to northern Eleuthera Island in the
Bahamas. There is a stretch of white sand beach there extending
behind coral reefs amid sparkling tropical water that is simply breath
taking. The area is known as "The Devil's Backbone" because of the
outlying string of coral reefs that have claimed many ships over the
years. When the wind is blowing hard out of the north the breaking
surf on the reefs can be seen from miles away.

Sometime in the 1600s a British sea captain named William Sayles was
wrecked there with two shiploads of settlers. They sought refuge in
a nearby cave and lived there for a time.

We went out exploring along the Devil's Backbone this afternoon in our
inflatable dinghy in the hope of doing some beachcombing and finding
the cave. As luck would have it, we were able to do both.

Here are some picture links from Google Earth (not mine), of both the
beach and the cave:

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/7467461

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/16854726

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3328235

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/18059548

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/6917571

Were you able to notice whether or not there is an small government
installation with a bunch of radars thereon? When I worked there it
was an 'auxilliary air force base', I believe. That's where the Coast
and Geodetic Survey would base us for our work on the island.

Eleuthera is a beautiful island, all the way around. Glad you're
having a good time there. Nice photos too!
--
John H

"A government policy to rob Peter to pay Paul can be assured of the support of Paul."
-- George Bernard Shaw