Kite boarding on Long Bay

Kiteboarding at Long Bay on Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands
A great sign post greets kiteboarders, spectators and beach enthusiasts to the Shore Club beach.

An amazing day on Saturday as we headed to Long Bay beach to take in some beach time as well as to watch the kite boarders. This colourful sign greets visitors as they walk out onto the beach, kites everywhere, in and out of the water. Wow, do these kite boarding enthusiasts know how to have a sensational day….some were skimming and flying across the water, learning techniques, beginners were taking lessons, there were families out enjoying the day and even man’s best friends were there, barking and tail wagging trying to get in on the action.

Kiteboarding at Long Bay on Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands
Kite boards resting on the sands at Long Bay beach.
What a show….jumps and flips high into the air!
Colourful kites and kite boarders skimming across the shallow waters of Long Bay
This youngster was already attempting some jumps as the wind swept him along the shore line.

Take me! Take me! I wanna kite board too!
Kite board traffic jam at Long Bay beach as numerous kite boarders put on a show.
The shallow waters and an easterly wind make for a perfect day of fun for man and his best friend out at Long Bay.
Smooth kiting just skimming the waters edge
Bookend dogs and potcakes were eager to help give their expert woof-advice.
Kiteboarders were doing some awesome tricks.
Colourful sun prisms and kites.

Lessons out in an open shallow bay just ideal for beginners
Beautiful Long Bay beach is the spot for kiteboarding……you too can learn to be this good.
Lift off!
You too can learn to kiteboard………instructors and lessons available.
Come on out and take some lessons
Looks pretty close from this angle
Some huge jumps….these guys know what they’re doing
Spectators taking in the action and it’s a great beach to visit while on Provo
Kites lined up along the beach
Long Bay Beach, the best for kite boarding on Providenciales

On your next trip to Provo, head down to Long Bay beach by the Shore Club and take in the action. Don’t forget that you too can enjoy this popular sport and lessons are readily available with top notch instructors. Email me at Harbour Club Villas or give me a call and I can put you in touch with the right people.

Happy kiteboarding everyone and see you at the beach!

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Provo Beach Tour

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Taylor Bay with its shallow , clear waters and a delight of every child.

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Babalua beach, a lesser know piece of gorgeous beach just made for Harbour Club Villas guests.

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Just across the channel coming into Harbour Club’s Marina are the little Cooper Jack Beaches that are just perfect to while away an afternoon

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Stunning Leeward beach……don’t forget your camera as the colours here are always amazing.

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Kite boarders and horseback riding on Long Bay beach……….great to watch them.

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Malcolm Roads beach with its lovely beach but it takes a little bit of a walk.

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Sapodilla Bay beach on a lazy afternoon just floating away all your cares.

 

Provo Ponies… Riding on the beach

What a treat to see Provo Ponies' Camille and her group out at Long Bay beach.

What a treat to see Provo Ponies' Camille and her group out at Long Bay beach.

We went out to Long Bay beach and started walking from the future site of another hotel. The kite boarders were out in full force and it was fun watching them jumping and twirling and racing across the shallow waters out there. We were fortunate to see Camille from Provo Ponies who had her group out for a leisurely ride along the beach. I caught this great photo as Camille’s horse pranced out of the water and her dog seemed to want to play along.

Meet Cowboy as he heads to cool off in the water

Meet Cowboy as he heads to cool off in the water

Cowboy is a Paso Fino……these horses were originally shipped to Provo from the Dominican Republic and when Camille rescued them, they were showing signs of abuse. Camille and friends nursed them back to health and eventually became Provo Ponies.

Enjoy a horseback ride along an amazingly beautiful stretch of beach when you are next here on Providenciales. The warm sun, the turquoise ocean, true blue skies and miles of deserted beach will make for a horseback ride to remember.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com 

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Long Bay Beach

Long Bay beach today was a simply spectacular sight with such clear calm water

Long Bay beach today was a simply spectacular sight with such clear calm water

I decided to head to Long Bay this morning for a nice long walk on the beach. The day was picture perfect as the ocean was so calm and clear and you could see all the sand ripples in the water.

Long Bay is one of the areas that is loaded with old, discarded conch shells

Long Bay is one of the areas that is loaded with old, discarded conch shells

We walked down to the end of the beach passing by the remnants of several Haitien Sloops that ended up on the shores of the beach. I have some photos of the sloops on this blog. You have to be a little careful when walking as the prongs from old conch shells can do some damage if stepped on.

I saw a school of small fish in the water and was able to get some photos of them since the water was crystal clear

I saw a school of small fish in the water and was able to get some photos of them since the water was crystal clear

See the school of small fish in the foreground?

See the school of small fish in the foreground?

I spotted a nice piece of bamboo which we can use at Harbour Club Villas to drape a bouganvillea over. We’ll place it between the villas and tie bouganvillea  branches to it to form an archway of sorts.

Mike carries home the bamboo I found on the beach

Mike carries home the bamboo I found on the beach

Check out Long Bay as it truly is a wonderful beach for walking and just enjoying a little bit of quiet heaven on our island. Perhaps we’ll see you there.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

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

Long Bay Beach

The eastern end of Long Bay beach is so quiet and peaceful

The eastern end of Long Bay beach is so quiet and peaceful

I can’t believe that it took me this long to discover another little piece of paradise. Several weeks ago when Yogi and Pat were visiting, we stopped to take a look at this area of Long Bay. I had heard that this was where the kite boarders went for lessons because of the shallow nature of the water and also, sadly in my opinion, another new development (5 stories high!!!!) is going to be built.

The water was like a mirror and storm clouds were threatening.

The water was like a mirror and storm clouds were threatening.

It was late in the afternoon so the water was warm and so very calm with not a breath of wind. We just lazed in the shallows enjoying the last few rays of the sun as storm clouds brewed out at sea.

Footprints outlined in the sand along the shoreline

Footprints outlined in the sand along the shoreline

Yogi took a walk and I snapped this photo of the footprints he left behind and the deepening shadows. I just love this time of day for picture taking. He called us to come and see what he had found…………a blue crab in the water. I took several photos and then realized that my digital takes photos under the water……….it just goes against the grain to put a camera into the water and friends tease me as I always hold it up high trying not to get it wet. When we got home and I put the photos up onto the computer, I was again surprised as the photos showed not one but two crabs who were mating.

A blue crab mating pair is called a "doubler"

A blue crab mating pair is called a "doubler"

The male cradle carries the female for two to seven days until molting is imminent. This serves two purposes: the male protects the female from predators and it assures that the male will be present when the female’s shell is soft and she is able to mate.

The male blue crab defends his mate as my camera came closer

The male blue crab defends his mate as my camera came closer

Once the female molts, the male releases her. She’ll only mate this one time in her life while her shell is soft. The male turns her upside down so that their abdomens are touching and copulation will last some five to twelve hours. Once again the female is clasped and cradle carried until her shell has had a chance to harden. The male will continue to mate with others while the female won’t release any eggs until 2 to 9 months after mating.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Haitien Sloop

Last night another Haitien Sloop made landfall at Long Bay beach

Last night another Haitien Sloop made landfall at Long Bay beach

We went out to Long Bay today as we were told that another Haitien Sloop had landed up on the shore. It must have come in under the cover of night with probably over 100 illegal Haitiens. We’ve had such calm seas which makes for an easier crossing.

The sails were still up as we wandered up to it along the beach

The handmade sails were still up as we wandered up to it along the beach

The beach and trail to the road is littered with discarded clothing, backpacks, shoes and even a cooking pot.  

The sloop was listing badly with the a sail dragging in the water

The sloop was listing badly with the a sail dragging in the water

The waves were quite strong when we were out at Long Bay today and I’m sure the sloop will get quite a pounding.

One last look as we head up the rocks and the trail out to the road

One last look as we head up the rocks and the trail out to the road

 

Illegal Hatiens arrive on our southern shores all too frequently……….some are caught and sent back home. Their boats are left on the beaches wherever they make landfall. These sloops are left to the elements and gradually are broken up by the wind and waves.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Provo Ponies on the beach

Riding with Provo Ponies out at Long Bay beach

Riding with Provo Ponies out at Long Bay beach

Imagine riding horses along a tropical beach on a perfect day with blue skies and the gorgeous backdrop of the turquoise waters out at Long Bay Beach. We were out for a long walk along the beach a week ago and met this group of horses and riders. Provo Ponies with Camille Slattery will take you for an idyllic ride along this quiet stretch of beach and since it is quite shallow you can take your horse out into the water.

You can trot and canter along a beautiful stretch of Long Bay Beach

You can trot and canter along a beautiful stretch of Long Bay Beach

What I find quite unique is that Provo Ponies started as a rescue operation for horses and ponies in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Many of the ponies and horses are from Grand Turk and the original ones were Paso Finos that had come to the TCI from the Dominican Republic and sadly were showing signs of abuse. These fine animals have been given a second chance and are loving their lives now and giving pleasure to so many people coming here to ride on the beaches of Provo.

If you would love to ride on the beach, contact me and I’ll put you in touch with Camille at Provo Ponies.

Happy trails!

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Long Bay beach

Long Bay.......great for those long walks, beach combing, horse back riding and the best beach for kite boarding.

Long Bay.......great for those long walks, beach combing, horse back riding and the best beach for kite boarding.

How the weather changes here on Provo……………flat calm without a breath of wind early this morning then the wind picked up and really started to blow by the afternoon. A perfect day for walking the beach at Long Bay and I would imagine with the wind being up, that the kiteboarders would have been out taking advantage of the winds. We’ve had guests at Harbour Club that have come here specifically to kiteboard. I’ve watched them on numerous occasions out at the Bight beach which is a favourite as well as at Sapodilla Bay.

But back to Long Bay. It is what I call a wild beach, wind swept and strewn with conch shells as there are many conch out in the waters off the beach. There’s even a Haitien sloop (boat) up on the shore. Albert shows us how to find conch at Long Bay and then to crack the conch.

Finding conch in the waters at Long Bay.

Finding conch in the waters at Long Bay.

There’s lots of conch in the water out at Long Bay. We were shown all the ins and outs of crackin’ conch and how to serve up ” a fresh from the ocean” feast!

 

We didn't forget the limes....conch, fresh from the sea.

We didn't forget the limes....conch, fresh from the sea.

Albert used to do lots of fishing and knows exactly where to find conch. He showed us how to prepare the conch meat and served it to us out on the Long Bay beach.
Yum.....that conch with a squirt of lime is as fresh as it gets!
Yum…..that conch with a squirt of lime is as fresh as it gets!

Join us for a taste of Conch on your visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Hope to see you soon.

Marta