January 21, 2008.

The big front came through last night. We never saw gusts above 33 knots because we are very protected in the lee of the island. The wind is still continuing to blow hard. It’s been between 15 and 22 knots all day at the boat.

This morning on the VHF we heard that there was going to be a guided nature tour on one of the islands trails. One of the other cruisers here is an environmental educator / wilderness survival instructor back in the states. So whenever he’s here he volunteers to take people on guided tours dealing with the environment and the development of the Bahamas.

He starts out by telling us that he could spend the time teaching us the names of thirty different plants on the island. Except that he finds that crap exceptionally boring and he wants us to enjoy the tour. He does point out a few interesting plants, such as the Purslane that goes great in a salad.

He was a treasure trove of information and I have to say I learned more from him in 2 hours than I have on any of the previous guided tours we’ve taken anywhere. On the tour we crossed to the windward side of the island and what a difference it was. It was amazing to watch the angry windblown seas smashing on the rocky shoreline. We stood at the edge of a blow hole that had so much power it literally knocked you off balance as the seas compressed the air and forced it of the hole.

After our walk we were famished so it was back to the boat for lunch and a day spent aboard. After dinner we went over to Unchained to discuss weather and travel routes.

We’re hoping to leave on Wednesday and head less than 10 miles south to Compass Cay. There’s a great snorkel spot nearby that we would like to hit.