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
Lots of lizards or Anoles at Harbour Club Villas
I’m constantly tripping over these lizards and they are so interesting to watch. Anoles found in the Turks and Caicos Islands are from a group called Anolis Scriptus and there is quite a variety of them. The Turks and Caicos Islands are home to four species of lizards in addition to iguanas: one species each of anole, gecko, skink and curly-tail lizard.
These two anoles were having a heated discussion as to which one of them should leave the tree branch
Male anoles are very territorial and will often engage a rival with threatening displays. They open their mouths to show off their bright colours. Anoles are tree dwellers and are highly agressive.
This one looked like he was posing as he cocked his head to the side and looked at the camera with one eye.
Handsome anole lizard in our gardens at Harbour Club Villas
In future posts, I will add photos of our curly-tail lizard. Some of these guys found on the grounds of Harbour Club are getting quite large.
Marta
My small Turks Head Cactus is blooming and throwing off seed pods like crazy!
I can’t believe all the seed pods on my Turks Head Cactus……all shaped like peppers but in a rosy pink colour. This little Anole lizard was looking to eat a few. I believe they do eat them along with the birds. Actually, I ate one and they are quite tasty.
Marta
Olique is fascinated by a baby Boa but Barry couldn't quite convince him to hold it.
The Turks and Caicos Islands have no venomous snakes……..thank goodness!! What we do have so far is three species of snakes, the largest is the Bahama Rainbow Boa or Bahama Cat Boa, the Caicos Islands Pygmy Boa known locally as the Chicken Snake and the rarely seen Richard’s Worm Snake that burrows in the earth and looks very much like a pink earthworm.
Note the orange tip of the Pygmy Boa's tail.
The Caicos Islands Pygmy Boa is endemic to the Turks and Caicos Islands. In other words, it’s not found any where else in the world. This snake has a range of colourations from gray and black speckled to a deeper reddish brown. The tip of the tail is a bright orange which they use as a form of defense. The boa will curl up in a ball when threatened and wave the orange tipped tail to protect their heads which are quite vulnerable.
Barry shows Olique that Pygmy Boas are harmless and very unique to these islands
I found this little Boa curled up under a bunch of dead leaves in one of our planters and since Barry loves snakes, he kept it to show Olique. We’ve had several Pygmy Boas here at Harbour Club Villas and one time years ago when we were building, Barry rescued one that was about to be killed by the workers. He patiently showed the workmen that it was harmless and actually got them to handle and hold this unique little creature. All our snakes were released and we would hope are around here somewhere.
Olique is fascinated by the way this snake curled around Barry's finger
Check out the orange tail tip in the above photo. This Pygmy Boa will eat ants, termites, mice, rats and small lizards and geckos so they are great to have around. They grow to less than a foot long and are the smallest Boa Constrictor in the world and as such, this fact has made them famous. Make sure you don’t harm these beautiful and rare snakes should you happen to find one.
Marta
An injured juvenile heron at Harbour Club Villas
Barry found this injured juvenile Yellow-crowned night heron wandering around at the back of our villas at Harbour Club. His wing was definitely broken and the poor thing was unable to fly.
Every time we tried to approach it, it would run away.
We tried to corner him and catch him but he was too fast and scurried away into the bushes. Nature will take its course I’m sure as it was unable to fly.
Marta
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
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
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
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
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
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
Marta
Jodi adjusts Barry's weight belt before taking them on their first underwater experience
Tina finally persuaded Barry and husband Sheldon to do a Snuba dive with Jodi. Barry was a little nervous and apprehensive about going down under!! Sheldon was cool and calm and ready for an adventure.
Sheldon holds onto the raft that carries the air tanks and floats above the divers
The snuba raft floats above the divers who breathe with a regulator attached to a long hose. Jodi has full scuba gear and takes you through the preparation and then leads the dive on the Bight Reef (also known locally as the White House Reef or Coral Gardens Reef.)
Ready to go under just to the right of the reef markers
Jodi gives the last few words of encouragement and a run through of signals before going down.
Here's Sheldon and Tina's underwater photo taken by Jodi.
No turtles today but the guys saw Atlantic Spade Fish, Grouper and Lionfish along with lots of other fish and corals.
Here's Barry having a great time and first experience with underwater......... close up and personal
Jodi takes a photo of each Snuba diver that they can keep as a lasting memory. Thanks for the photos Jodi!
Everyone comes up smiling after a great Snuba experience
Remember to phone Jodi to book a time to go out and Snuba. She’ll show you around the reef and point out so many great things as she knows this reef like the back of her hand. Come Snuba with Jodi in the Turks and Caicos Islands on your next vacation.
Marta
A grasshopper sits posing on a pretty, pale pink Sea Purslane flower
Sea Purslane grows abundantly in salty and dry habitats such as on the tiny cays just out from Harbour Club Villas and Marina. We decided to explore one day and stopped on a little cay with a spectacular view of the Five Cays shoreline.
View of Five Cays shoreline from one of the tiny cays where Rock Iguanas have been introduced
We spotted some Rock Iguanas but they scurried away quickly as we approached. I did manage to get a photos of one though!
This rock iguana was very wary and was ready to take flight if I came any closer
On one of the slopes of this little cay, a carpet of sea purslane cascaded over the rocks. Some had star shaped pink flowers that bloom throughout the year.
Sea Purslane carpets the rocks on this little cay
Sea Purslane is a succulent herb that makes for a great ground cover. It grows along beaches and along the edges of salinas and has smooth, fleshy leaves. The leaves are edible and have a salty taste. I’ll have to find out if iguanas eat the leaves as this island seemed pretty limited in the way of food.
Sea Purslane is also know as Sea Pickle and can be used medicinally for treatment of scurvy and kidney disorders
What a great plant and useful for so many things!
Marta
A perfect afternoon on and in the water with the boys pulling us up to the sandbar..........it simply was the best
We both had family visiting so it was an opportunity to take a leisurely run out to the sand bar at Bonefish Point. We took off from our marina at Harbour Club Villas. There’s a deep water channel ( 12 feet deep or so ) to the right of the sandbar and all of a sudden you’re in a foot of water. The guys put the anchor out and then decided to walk it into the shallows.
Barry floats along in the clear water and enjoys the best view in the world
We saw some beautiful sea cushions ( see my previous post) and some smaller white starfish. Laura explored some rocks in the shallows and found numerous hermit crabs.
Laura shows me her find.............tiny little shells with crabs in them
Here's a small hermit crab just walking along the edge of the water
Barry, Tina and Sheldon stayed in the water pretty much all afternoon.
We all cooled off by staying in the water beer in hand. The Bonefish Point sandbar is on the south west tip of the island and accessible by road now. It never used to be……….the only way of getting here a few years ago was by boat or doing an excursion with Capt. Bill of Ocean Outback. This trip by the way is a great way of seeing the south shoreline. Hope you get to see this part of our island too.
Marta