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

On Jun 29, 8:55*pm, 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

Excellent, Wayne!

however I think I'll pass on the caves. After all If I want to go
crawling in the cramped dark and dank. all I have to do is uncap the
crawl space and inch my way under my house and check for termite
advancement.

That does it for me

On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:45:19 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

however I think I'll pass on the caves. After all If I want to go
crawling in the cramped dark and dank. all I have to do is uncap the
crawl space and inch my way under my house and check for termite
advancement.

Been there, done that (but not in a long while). Trust me, the cave
is better.

On Jun 29, 9:55*pm, 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

Very nice, Wayne!

Visited there a couple years ago. Very impressive.
Thanks, Wayne

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.

Thx for posting this pleasant change from some anons accusing another
anon of being a child molester.

What did those shipwrecked do for food & water?

On Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:39:55 -0600, slide
wrote:

What did those shipwrecked do for food & water?

Don't know all the details but Eleuthera has abundant fresh water and
good fishing nearby. The spanish sailing fleets used to stop there
to resupply. The Lucaya indians lived there for many many years
before the arrival of europeans.

Wayne.B wrote:
On Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:39:55 -0600, slide
wrote:

What did those shipwrecked do for food & water?

Don't know all the details but Eleuthera has abundant fresh water and
good fishing nearby. The spanish sailing fleets used to stop there
to resupply. The Lucaya indians lived there for many many years
before the arrival of europeans.

I never got there when I had the chance. I now have it on my 'bucket
list'. Thanks.