Cannons at Ft. St. George Cay

Ania snorkels to try and find the canons lying in shallow water.

Ania snorkels to try and find the cannons lying in shallow water.

In 1798 the work on Ft St George was begun. A detachment of 2oo men was sent from Jamaica and they brought with them cannon and other equipment. The unit was from the 67th Royal Hampshire Regiment and when supplies failed to arrive from Nassau, these men experienced real hardship. They had to depend on fish and locally grown corn and as a result some 30 were lost through illness and death.

A marker lies buried in the sand on Ft St George Cay

A marker lies buried in the sand on Ft St George Cay

Ensign Neil Campbell was the commander and he persisted in erecting the fort on St. George’s Cay, guns were mounted and barracks and storeroom finished.

Two cannons lie in a few feet of water and are covered with marine growth

Two cannons lie in a few feet of water and are covered with marine growth

It is thought that there are five or six cannons lying in the water in an arc pointing out to sea.  Whenwe were there, we saw two that were pretty much buried in the sand and overgrown with marine growth. It is possible that the cannons were originally mounted on land and that erosion and undermining of the land over the past 200 years has caused the cannons to fall into the sea.

Closer view of one of the cannons in the waters off Ft St George

Closer view of one of the cannons in the waters off Ft St George

Many years ago when we first came to take a look at the cannons, there were several snorkelers out in the waters. One of them excitedly found something lying in the sand. It was a silver coin. We always wondered what other treasures might be lying there covered by the sand and even how many other artifacts have been found and taken away from the islands. Let’s hope that somehow, sometime this will be a protected area and that it will become an heritage site/ historic park for future generations to enjoy.

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

Water Therapy

Blue skies, turquoise water ........... floating your cares away. It doesn't get any better than this.
Blue skies, turquoise water ……….. floating your cares away. It doesn’t get any better than this.

Bonefish Point on a brilliantly sunny afternoon. The water was calm, the colours were unbelievable. Wayne looks like he’s fallen asleep while floating a few inches off the sand on the sandbar. You too could be enjoying our soft sandy beaches and crystal clear, turquoise seas.

Marta

Tiny shells

A south side beach offers thousands of tiny little shells lying on the sand in a large pile.

A south side beach offers thousands of tiny little shells lying on the sand in a large pile.

A beach walk on one of the south side beaches and a beautiful discovery………….thousands of tiny shells deposited in a large pile on the sand by the ocean. 

Here's a closeup of the shells that were different colours and shapes and sizes.

Here's a closeup of the shells that were different colours and shapes and sizes.

Loads of shells washed up in a large pile on the beach.

Loads of shells washed up in a large pile on the beach.

 

Happy shelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Leeward Beach

Early afternoon  and the unbelieveable turquoise colours of our waters fringed with white, lacey sea foam.

Early afternoon and the unbelieveable turquoise colours of our waters fringed with white, lacey sea foam.

I simply love Leeward beach. It is always a postcard of stunning shades of blue and turquoise and always makes for a picture perfect photo. You’ll never be disappointed as the colours are breathtaking, always vivid and contrasting with the white powdery sand and sea foam.

 

Visit the beaches at Leeward on your next vacation to Providenciales.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Kayaking

Faith, a Weimerammer, was not going to be left behind!

Faith, a Weimaraner, was not going to be left behind!

Kayaking is a fun way to see the south side of Providenciales where Harbour Club Villas are located. Kayaks can be put into the water off our Marina docks and you can have great fun exploring the little beaches and coves. On this flat calm day, we were out in a Boston Whaler and just had to snap this photo of friends down the road who were out for a paddle with their dog Faith.

 

Keep on kayaking!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

End of the day

Coming home this evening we were treated to a spectacular sunset

Coming home this evening we were treated to a spectacular sunset

The end of a relaxing day on the water and another island sunset. This one had some amazing cloud formations over the southern shoreline from Osprey Rock, Taylor Bay and Sapodilla Bay.

The sun dancing on the water of the canal that runs past the Marine Biology School.

The sun dancing on the water of the canal that runs past the Marine Biology School.

We had a lovely afternoon on the water and as we turned into Harbour Club’s marina , the sun was just disappearing over Cooper Jack hills. The photo is taken just by the Marine Biology School where the canal leads off towards Turtle Lake. A great place to watch the sun go down into the ocean and perhaps see “the green flash” is at Sapodilla Bay.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Lazy afternoon at Taylor Bay

Yesterday was so spectacular I dropped everything and drove up the hill to a friend's house to get this photo.

Yesterday was so spectacular I dropped everything and drove up the hill to a friend's house to get this photo.

Harbour Club Villas (six red roofs) sit overlooking Flamingo Lake. It was a perfect day to get some new photos of our villas from a vantage point up at a friend’s house on Ocean Drive. It was one of those flat calm days and definitely a must to take off on the boat for the afternoon.
I love the water when it's like this, shimmering patterns glint in the late afternoon sun at Taylor Bay

I love the water when it's like this, shimmering patterns glint in the late afternoon sun at Taylor Bay

It was after 3 pm when we got onboard and headed out to Taylor Bay. I’ve mentioned before that this is an idyllic spot especially when you have kids and we had friends with a baby who came out with us. The water was warm as we moored in two feet of water quite a ways from the shore. The baby absolutely loved it.
Baby's hungry and so it's time to get on board and nurse her.

Baby's hungry and so it's time to wade back to the boat for a feeding.

Barry shows us all how to relax, put your feet up and float your cares away!!

Barry shows us all how to relax, put your feet up and float your cares away!!

 Harbour Club Villas are a great place to stay when on Provo and Taylor Bay is one of those soft powdery sand beaches where kids will have the time of their lives playing in the sand and shallow water. Come and see us soon.

Marta

Beaching and Shopping

Just love the colours on the beach bag and the ocean at Long Bay
Just love the colours on the beach bag and the ocean at Long Bay

My sister Eve found this gem of a beach bag while shopping on Grace Bay. Of course, this shot was just waiting to be snapped………a beautiful blonde, the colourful sea horses and stylized seaweed and our ever graduating turquoise hues of Providenciales ocean out at Long Bay beach. Of course, not only are the beaches spectacular but the shopping is always full of interesting things. Come to the Turks and Caicos Islands and enjoy all we have to offer. See you soon!

Marta

Ghost Crab at Malcolm Roads Beach

This little Ghost Crab put on quite an aggressive display as I photographed him

This little Ghost Crab put on quite an aggressive display as I photographed him

Malcolm Roads beach and little Ghost Crab. I photographed it for at least twenty minutes. I wanted to capture the ocean turquoise background and the beach.

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

Chalk Sound

My favourite photo of Chalk Sound taken from the road infront of this private home with its' own Juliet balcony

My favourite photo of Chalk Sound taken from the road infront of this private home with its' own Juliet balcony

Many peoples introduction to Chalk Sound is from the air coming into the airport. It has the most spectacular turquoise colourations dotted with mini cays or islands. For those of you familiar with our second home in Banff, Alberta, Canada…..we have Peyto Lake which has similar turquoise colour that is due to glacial rock particles that are suspended in the water.

We were lunching at Las Brisas Restaurant one day and I happened to catch some photos of this gentleman going for a swim

We were lunching at Las Brisas Restaurant one day and I happened to catch some photos of this gentleman going for a swim

Chalk Sound is variously referred to as a large lake, a land locked lagoon, a large natural creek , a bay or sound as well as an inland waterway. Take your pick. It is shallow and silty and you can see the clouds of fine sand particles kicked up by the above swimmer. That’s what gives the water its stunning turquoise colour.

View of the water looking towards Silly Creek and the residential area of beautiful private homes

View of the water looking towards Silly Creek and the residential area of beautiful private homes

Chalk Sound is a national park and is approximately three miles long (5 km) and lies in the south west part of Providenciales. At one time in the early 1900’s it was leased for raising and canning turtles, lobster and shellfish. Mr George Silly ( a part of Chalk Sound called Silly Creek still retains his name ) lived on a barren bluff between the two entrances to Chalk Sound in a thatched roofed cottage and he had a small shop and a cannery there.

Clouds reflecting in the turquoise waters of Chalk Sound

Clouds reflecting in the turquoise waters of Chalk Sound

The history of Chalk Sound revolves around various commercial enterprises such as mentioned above. George Silly also leased Chalk Sound and tried to rejuvenate the sponge industry. He had 250,000 cuttings of reef sponges sown. He continued this experiment of planting sponge beds but the operation died out after his death in 1917 and was abandonned after the war.

Chalk Sound private home with a million dollar view

Chalk Sound private home with a million dollar view

Today Chalk Sound is lined with spectacular homes but you can rent kayaks from Las Brisas Restaurant or perhaps be lucky enough to see the kids learning how to sail a Caicos Sloop. Stop in at Las Brisas Restaurant for a delicious lunch or dinner with one of the best views on Provo. Their Paella is really good………Pina Coladas too!!

An Old Man Cactus stands tall against the panoramic blue turquoise background of Chalk Sound

An Old Man Cactus stands tall against the panoramic blue turquoise background of Chalk Sound

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com