Anguilla
We made good speed overnight and arrived off Road Bay, the main port of Anguilla during breakfast. Clearance was quite fast and we were soon admitted into this little piece of the United Kingdom. From here, we made our way to an isolated small island known as Prickly Pear, where we planned to spend the middle part of the day swimming and snorkeling and enjoying a quaint bar on the beach known as Johnno’s. Anguilla gets its name from its long, narrow shape reminiscent of an eel-like shape (anguilla is Spanish for eel). This island is the northernmost of the Leeward Islands and is unique in the region because it is composed of uplifted coral, rather than volcanic rock like the surrounding islands. The photo shows a close-up view of the fossil coralline structure of the island (note the flock of ruddy turnstones). This material is very hard and sharp-edged, which required stout shoes and sure-footedness. Nonetheless, it is a fascinating type of rock that has not only made the island, but is a great repository for flotsam and jetsam. I think everyone must have been impressed by the lushness of the scrub vegetation which covered the central part of the islet.
The coralline structure and surrounding patches of coral reefs of Anguilla and its associated islands and islets have created some beautiful white sand beaches, and one of the most idyllic beaches is at nearby Prickly Pear Island. After an impressive brunch on board the Sea Cloud II, we made a Zodiac landing on that very beach. This is where we based ourselves for much of the rest of the day. Swimming was great right from the beach, but we set up a snorkel Zodiac out near one of the main patches of reef for those who wanted some serious fish-watching. Much of the coral reef has been destroyed by a recent hurricane, but the jumbled masses of coral still are home to myriad small reef fish. Several large, healthy stands of elkhorn coral survived the storm and form isolated oases of living reef. At least two sea turtles were sighted swimming contentedly over the reef and a pair of stingrays were watched feeding in the exposed sand directly below the moored snorkel Zodiac.
Quite a few of us made our way over to Johnno’s Bar on the beach for drinks and shade and a bit of relaxation on his beach chairs set up in the sand. Several people also took advantage of Rocio’s free service with her massage chair, as if more help was needed to relax at this perfect place.
We made good speed overnight and arrived off Road Bay, the main port of Anguilla during breakfast. Clearance was quite fast and we were soon admitted into this little piece of the United Kingdom. From here, we made our way to an isolated small island known as Prickly Pear, where we planned to spend the middle part of the day swimming and snorkeling and enjoying a quaint bar on the beach known as Johnno’s. Anguilla gets its name from its long, narrow shape reminiscent of an eel-like shape (anguilla is Spanish for eel). This island is the northernmost of the Leeward Islands and is unique in the region because it is composed of uplifted coral, rather than volcanic rock like the surrounding islands. The photo shows a close-up view of the fossil coralline structure of the island (note the flock of ruddy turnstones). This material is very hard and sharp-edged, which required stout shoes and sure-footedness. Nonetheless, it is a fascinating type of rock that has not only made the island, but is a great repository for flotsam and jetsam. I think everyone must have been impressed by the lushness of the scrub vegetation which covered the central part of the islet.
The coralline structure and surrounding patches of coral reefs of Anguilla and its associated islands and islets have created some beautiful white sand beaches, and one of the most idyllic beaches is at nearby Prickly Pear Island. After an impressive brunch on board the Sea Cloud II, we made a Zodiac landing on that very beach. This is where we based ourselves for much of the rest of the day. Swimming was great right from the beach, but we set up a snorkel Zodiac out near one of the main patches of reef for those who wanted some serious fish-watching. Much of the coral reef has been destroyed by a recent hurricane, but the jumbled masses of coral still are home to myriad small reef fish. Several large, healthy stands of elkhorn coral survived the storm and form isolated oases of living reef. At least two sea turtles were sighted swimming contentedly over the reef and a pair of stingrays were watched feeding in the exposed sand directly below the moored snorkel Zodiac.
Quite a few of us made our way over to Johnno’s Bar on the beach for drinks and shade and a bit of relaxation on his beach chairs set up in the sand. Several people also took advantage of Rocio’s free service with her massage chair, as if more help was needed to relax at this perfect place.
