Prepared Friday evening, January 18th but published the next day while in Fort Lauderdale due to all the photos.
It was time, today, to do that hike to the southern tip of Eleuthera that we'd postponed from last cruise. When we first woke up, G turned the TV to the Wake Show, and cruise director JJ was saying "73 to 75 degrees today and partly cloudy" and we knew we had a perfect day for a hike.
We didn't dawdle, but had a quick breakfast at the Cafe Caribe, which is the mini-buffet aft of the Horizon Court Buffet just above our cabin. We packed the backpack, removing any extraneous items and filling it with as many water bottles as it could hold. There were so many Elites on board that we were asked to go to Explorers Lounge to be assigned to tender boats, but we didn't even have to slow down there, and were on one of the first tenders over to the island. The wind was coming from the north, and was a bit chilly, but the air was moist. G said it reminded him of mornings on Fort Lewis (everything reminds him of some fort somewhere). It was perfect walking weather.
We timed our walk...15 minutes to the first turn off, 15 minutes to the next turn off, and then 35 minutes or so to reach the beach on the Caribbean side.
Leaving Princess Cays...
...and turning right onto the road that goes past Princess Cays. This is the only decent road on this hike.
Next we turned left onto the first (only) "road" that cuts off. This road starts out decently but quickly turns rough.
This cross road eventually ends into another north-south road. The Lighthouse Beach sign appears immediately on the left, but it's another 30-45 minutes to get there.
On the way we passed two brackish ponds. Each had a sign about the water fowl and birds that could be seen there.
Our favorite is the Kirtland Warbler, which migrates each winter all the way from Michigan!
We were almost to the beach when we were passed by the 4x4 tour returning to the ship. We had mixed feelings about sharing "our" secret place with a ship's tour, but they were gone by the time we got to the beach and lighthouse, so it really wasn't an issue at all, and, in fact, we liked the security that having them there provides. Otherwise, we go 5 hours without seeing...anyone.
The first view of the beach is a thrill second only to the first view of the ship upon our return.
Almost immediately, G spotted a tiny sea biscuit in the sand. This is the same beach where I found a perfect sand dollar lying on the sand two years ago, so we're always on the lookout for treasures.
We walked the length of the beach on the Caribbean side, over the tidal pools on the far end to reach a path to take us up the hill to the lighthouse.
Nothing has changed at the lighthouse...thankfully. I was afraid that, with Princess running the 4x4 tour down there, they might have blocked off the lighthouse or reinforced its rotting floorboards, but that wasn't the case.
We climbed along the rocky cliffs enjoying the amazing views in all directions. How old are we??
Finally, we did see one change, and it was a welcome one. As we climbed down the rocks to the Atlantic beach, there was a rope handrail there to help us along the way.
Those spectacular coral cliffs and caves greeted us on the other side...
...and the oh-so-blue of the Atlantic crashing on the powdered sugar sand of the beach that goes north for miles.
We continued exploring the caves (G was stopping my heart by climbing out on every precipice) before finally having a rest on the beach.
We couldn't rest for long...we have to watch the clock pretty closely to allow us extra time on the return when we're tired and it's mostly uphill. We climbed over the dune and skirted around the back side of the hill the lighthouse is located on to connect back to the road.
Unfortunately, the sun chose that moment to come out, and it was warm on the walk back. I had thought we might for once return with an extra water bottle or two, but no, we drank it all by the time we arrived back at Princess Cays. The happiest moment of the day was our first glimpse of the Emerald Princess as we made the turn into Princess Cays. We had walked around 8 miles and climbed a lots of cliffs, but, thankfully, did it safely and without incident.
We tendered back to the ship and G immediately made his way to a hot tub. I, of course, unpacked and rinsed and washed and generally got things cleaned up. And then I collapsed on the bed, where I stayed until it was time to get cleaned up for the evening.
We started at Skywalkers with friends and a Breeza Marina (I really felt I had earned it). I had to decide: stand up and walk over to the hors doerves table to get some food for the first time since breakfast...or just sit there. I just sat there. I was that tired. Plus I knew that tonight there were mussels on the menu. Darko brought me two orders of them without the French fries, and I had the watermelon and feta appetizer for dessert, and a glass of wine and felt myself relaxing.
Still, we made it to the Princess Theater for the second performance by comedian-magician Ben Seidman. It's not my favorite type of entertainment, but I think he's one of the best I've ever seen. We had hoped to make it to the 10:15 crew talent show, but now know there is NO WAY. G is already asleep at 9pm, and I will be soon.
We are one of seven ships in Fort Lauderdale tomorrow (we saw the Holland America Westerdam 15 miles away at Half Moon Cay today when we were at the lighthouse today, and are following it into Port Everglades). We'll be at Pier 19, which doesn't accommodate our plans for the day at all, but we'll make it work by catching a shuttle back to Pier 2 and then walking down to Great Clips and Starbucks.
Providing, of course, we can even move tomorrow. ;-)