January 29, 2009 - Exuma Park

In the morning, we traveled four miles via dinghy to the park headquarters to register. We decided to provide some additional support for the park and took a membership in the Exuma’s Park Support Fleet. Since we live in a national marine park in the summer, this seemed appropriate!

Headquarters is adjacent to the larger north mooring field, where boats line the clearly visible deep and narrow channels. We had fun “shooting” a very narrow approach to the dinghy dock, through a roiling pass that looked impassable. Jerry navigated it with no problem.

In the 1950s, wardens were difficult to hire, due to the very small salary the park paid. So, the recruiting effort focused on women, as it is common knowledge they will work for less than men! Several of the wardens were women, and work they did! Volunteers and the wardens built the park headquarters in 1989, and miles of hiking trails were cut through the brush.

At the park office, we were welcomed by bananaquits, bold little black and yellow birds who will eat sugar right from the palm of your hand.
In 1995, a sperm whale washed ashore, and its skeleton is preserved here. It is the same length as Monarch at 52 feet.

We hiked to the top of Boo Boo Hill, the highest hill on Warderick Wells. Many years ago, lore has it, a schooner of missionaries was wrecked off the coast with all hands lost. The hill is named for the cry of these ghosts, which can be heard on moonlit nights. At the top of the hill, some boaters leave driftwood souvenirs painted with the name of their boats. It has become quite a pile, and we declined to add to the assortment!