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.
Here's the Beluga moored off shore at Half Moon Bay last weekend
Captain Tim Ainley and the Beluga were moored off shore at Half Moon Bay. The Beluga is a 36 foot (10.97) catamaran sailing boat, very unique and distinctive looking and built in 1980 in Canada. It now does sailing charters out of Provo. As I took photos I saw Capt. Tim’s trusty companion Schooner taking a swim for shore.
Schooner swims for shore...........you can just make him out. He's the black speck close to the rock.
Evidently, Schooner had had enough of being on board and wanted to cool off while the others snorkeled………….yes, apparently they sighted JoJo. How lucky can you be???
Schooner takes a rest on the rocks after his long swim.
I’m not sure if you can see but there’s a speck off to the right of the Beluga and I think that’s JoJo. I zoomed in and cropped the photo and it does look like a dolphin.
Here's a close up of the Beluga and to the right of the person in the water almost at the edge of the photo is JoJo.
Schooner gets ready to swim back to the Beluga
There are several sailing charters available from Providenciales so just let me know and I’ll point you in the right direction.
Wow........flat calm at the Bight Reef also known as the White House Reef.
Provo has two great snorkel areas close to the shore line……….The Bight Reef or the White House Reef at Coral Gardens and Smith’s Reef just outside the entrance to Turtle Cove Marina. Usually you’ll see turtles, lots of fish such as parrot fish, angel fish, blue tangs and sometimes spotted eagle rays along with beautiful coral formations.
Look at the clarity of the water as Alexis prepares to head out snorkeling
We have some of the best snorkeling ever here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Come and see us soon and enjoy snorkeling on our reefs.
Happy snorkeling,
Marta
Two pelicans were on the sand bar in Leeward Channel as we motored past.
We were invited out on a friend’s boat but this time on the north side. It was the first time in quite a while and an opportunity to see the huge changes……….empty docks at Leeward Marina, Nikki Beach resort (recently closed) from the water, the remnants of Star Island and the build up of sand at Emerald Point. We were lucky to see two pelicans on the sand bar on our way through the channel and then on to Half Moon Bay.
Local boats were out in full force as the Minx pulled in and thunderclouds rolled in.
Half Moon Bay is a heavenly spot with its distinctive out cropping of rocks with tall Silver Palms. It’s a favourite place to sail to for weddings and fun gatherings for locals and visitors alike. I spotted a couple of Caicos Sloops out for a sail and the Beluga anchored off the beach as they snorkeled with JoJo the dolphin. I missed seeing JoJo but some of our friends saw him. The Minx was there too and even the dogs had fun today.
Silver Palms on top of the rocks made for a great photo taken from the water.
As the clouds rolled in, we heard thunder and saw lightning………..rain too. The Minx and Beluga sailed off before the rain but we stayed and sure enough it cleared off a little.
It was so beautiful in this spot amongst the rocks.
This is a great place for a barbeque, lots of swimming and snorkeling too.
You can see why this is such a favourite beach to sail to.
If you’re looking to have a wedding here in the Turks and Caicos Islands, keep this jewel of a beach in mind. There are boat charters that can sail right up to the beach for a special wedding ceremony.
We had such a lovely day and hope that you too will be able to enjoy Half Moon Bay and beach on your visit to Providenciales.
Marta
One of the most unique looking flowers that I've seen here in the Turks and Caicos
Yesterday was a rainy and over cast day and in the late afternoon the skies cleared a little. I took my camera and headed out into the bush to see what I could find. The rains had made all the difference and wildflowers were blooming all over. I found this strange looking bush with the most unique flowers and seed pods and with an even more curious name………… Blind Eye Bush.
The creamy flower of the Blind Eye Bush has a long, elongated column that curls back up into the flower.
This bush had flowers in different stages of development along with unusual screw like seed pods a little like cones.
Here are the brown twisted seed pods.
This was a shrub about 5 foot tall and it grows throughout the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands in coastal and marshy areas. The leaves are in an elongated heart shape often with jagged edges. The reproductive parts of the flowers are at the end of the elongated column.
The long column coming from the centre of the flower, carries the reproductive parts.
I must say that this Blind Eye Bush is one of the most unusual plants I’ve seen. I also saw some beautiful flowering vines…..Jaquemontia, Cynanchum, Wild Alamanda, Milk Pea and Urechites or Devil’s Potato along with Jamaican Trash, Jack Switch, Mosquito Bush, Wild Senna and I also managed to get some close up photos of a Gulf Fritillary butterfly.
Blind Eye Bush with it's showy flowers.
How lucky we are to be surrounded with all this natural beauty. Everywhere I go there’s a photo just waiting to be taken or in my case, hundreds of potential shots!
Marta
Barry found this night visitor down by one of our villas
As Barry was making the rounds this evening, he heard a loud noise and couldn’t imagine what it could be until he spotted this huge land crab.
This one was super aggressive as he waved his formidable claw at the camera
Barry yelled at me to bring my camera…………I was in the shower and didn’t even have time to rinse off.
Close up of one impressively lethal looking claw.
It moved really fast and we were nervous about getting too close but of course, the photo opportunity was too hard to pass up.
This Land Crab brings up his massive claw ready to attack.
We quite often see these large crabs here at Harbour Club Villas. This one gave me lots of great photos for my collection.
Hope you enjoy seeing them!
Marta
Here we are once again floating around at Taylor Bay........those noodles are quite the invention.
Sand and more sand everywhere as munchkin plays at the water's edge.
The sand was so soft that she just couldn’t get enough of it and as you can see, it almost covered all of her. So much sand all over and then it was time to rinse off and cool off in the late afternoon.
Rinsing off all that sand.
Yes, this was the last beer as the sun started getting lower in the sky.
Time to get onboard and head for home before dusk. We just made it in time, pulling into Harbour Club Marina just as it was getting quite dark.
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.
Loads of shells washed up in a large pile on the beach.
Happy shelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands!
Marta
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
An amazing sunset view of Flamingo Lake in the foreground looking towards Turtle Lake.