Up A Creek

Shroud Cay, Exumas

We continued making our way northward eventually anchoring at Shroud Cay.  This island is noted for its extensive network of mangrove creeks that crisscross its interior.  We explored the northernmost creek, which winds its way eastward, where the water becomes deeper, and then finally empties into the ocean.  Here we found a beautiful little white sandy beach where we beached the dinghy, and walked around the corner and up the hill to experience Camp Driftwood.  

Finest white sand, and turquoise blue ocean, and crystal clear water.
Notice the creek on the right emptying into the ocean on the left.

View from Camp Driftwood looking out to Sea

Beaching the Dinghy

Apparently Camp Driftwood has been on Shroud Cay since the 1960’s, when a sailing hermit named Ernest Scholtes stayed on his boat in the anchorage and built a cozy place on the ridge line, little by little, with pieces of driftwood, shells, sea beans, floats and colorful bits found on the beach. He carved steps into a steep rocky slope on the ocean side, cleared away brush and carried sand up the slope in sail bags for the trail. Years later, the U.S. DEA had a camera set up here to spy on Carlos Lehder’s activity on nearby Norman’s Cay. Carlos Lehder was a co-founder of the Medellin Cartel and a former Colombian drug lord. He is currently imprisoned in the United States. Born in Armenia, Colombia, Lehder eventually ran a cocaine transport empire on Norman's Cay that reached into the billions of dollars.  

Mangrove Creek

Site of former Camp Driftwood

Enjoying the view

When we arrived at Camp Driftwood we found the carved steps and the sand cover trails, but there was no driftwood, shells, sea beans, floats or DEA cameras. The beach, however, at the foot of Camp Driftwood is one of the most beautiful we've ever seen, with the finest white sand, and turquoise blue ocean, and crystal clear water.  The sand flats reach out seaward from the island for miles and shimmer in the sunlight when covered by the turquoise waters at high tide. The current in this area is swift and, at times, the water rippled inexplicably. We spent the day enjoying the beach, and hiking the trail up to the Camp Driftwood site, and floating the creek discovering something new around every bend. 

It was another one of those magical moments in the islands and Peggy has proclaimed Shroud Cay her all time favorite place in the Bahamas.  May you too have magical moments in your life along with fair winds.

Saying goodbye to the Exumas...