Tag Archives: Lucayan

Middle Caicos Part 1

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Ahhhhhh........what a heavenly piece of paradise on Middle Caicos

Ahhhhhh........stunning...what a heavenly piece of paradise on Middle Caicos at Mudjin Bay

As a special birthday celebration for my two sisters, Anna and Eve, we headed off to North and Middle Caicos for the day.  A short ferry ride and an open jeep waiting at Sandy Point and we were off.

Our first stop was a visit to the Indian Cave on Middle Caicos

Our first stop was a visit to the Indian Cave on Middle Caicos

We hopped into our jeep and headed along the coastal road past the amazing aqua blue waters of Bottle Creek and across the crumbling causeway. What a sad sight to see all the rubble and rebar sticking up and it sure gives you an bird’s eye view of what a hurricane Cat 4 can do. We first went to see Indian Cave which is just past Conch Bar and is a large cavern with skylight holes through the ceiling.

The Indian Cave was once inhabited by the Lucayan Indians.

The Indian Cave was once inhabited by the Lucayan Indians.

We were in awe as we took in the breathtaking view from the bluff overlooking Mudjin Harbour and Dragon Cay. One more stop before heading onto the beach where I wanted to find a beautiful rock pool a friend had told me about. I was hoping it was still there.

View from the bluff looking along the coast line towards the hidden beach.

View from the bluff looking along the coast line towards the hidden beach.

I made Anna and Eve go down the hand chiselled steps carved into a hole that tunnelled down and opened up at this wonderful little gem of a beach.

I made Anna and Eve go down the hand chiselled steps carved into a hole that tunnelled down and opened up at this wonderful little gem of a beach.

A flight of cement stairs opened out into a hidden little beach.

A flight of cement stairs opened out into a hidden little beach.

Our wonderful day on Middle Caicos will be continued as we try to find the pool that was there by Dragon Cay in early December. I was sure hoping the wave action hadn’t filled it all in with sand.

It is difficult to describe the natural and awesome beauty of Middle Caicos.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Chitons

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Chitons are unusual creatures that cling to the rocks

Chitons are unusual creatures that cling to the rocks

Have you ever wandered through the water at low tide and checked out the rocks? For sure you’ll see these interesting looking things attached to the rocks. They are called Chitons, Coat of Mail shells or more locally by the colourful name of “suck rock”. Chitons are armoured, oval shaped creatures that live on the rocks around the tide line and basically are almost impossible to pry off the rocks.
A common resident of the Turks and Caicos Islands is the Fuzzy Chiton and this one had star barnacles living on its' plates

A common resident of the Turks and Caicos Islands is the Fuzzy Chiton and this one had star barnacles living on its' plates

  These animals or mollusks are characterised by eight armoured plates. The West Indian Fuzzy Chiton is medium sized and you don’t often notice them because their colour and texture is similar to the rocks on which they live and therefore they blend in. I thought the above photo was unusual because of the tiny star barnacles (also a mollusk) living on it’s back.

 

Here's a closeup of the West Indian Fuzzy Chiton showing the barnacles.

Here's a closeup of the West Indian Fuzzy Chiton showing the barnacles.

 Apparently the Lucayan Tainos used to harvest the chitons by using tools made from conch shells. They were somehow able to get the meat inside without smashing the plates. The small strip of chiton meat is salty, rubbery and a little slimy.

 

This chiton shell was found by a guest of Harbour Club Villas and it has the most beautiful markings.

This chiton shell was found by a guest of Harbour Club Villas and it has the most beautiful markings.

If you are out exploring any of Providenciales’ rocky shoreline, stop to take a look and see if you can find these interesting mollusks.

See you on the rocks!!

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc