August 23rd, 2024
Did you know that Spirit of the West offers kayaking trips in the warm, clear waters of the Bahamas? Our guide Al shares some highlights with you about their time in the picturesque Southern Exuma Cays.
Stepping off the plane onto the hot tarmac in George Town, Bahamas was as glorious as I had anticipated. The warmth of the clear, sunny 23°C weather felt like a welcoming embrace, a dose of vitamin D that I had been craving all winter. On my way to the customs building, I quickly shuffled my feet out of my leather boots into my favourite beach shoes (Crocs, of course), which I had kept handy in my carry on. I shared a giddy smile with the group, who appeared as equally as thrilled as I was. A perfect beginning.
Gone were the fjords and dramatic, moody scapes of the BC coast and here were the luscious sandy, tropical beaches from my dreams. A whole new landscape with palm trees and Caribbean pine captured my attention, as unfamiliar little birds flitted from branch to branch.
Snorkelling from the beaches to swim with colourful tropical fish and coral was an inspiring way to spend afternoons. After a leisurely paddle and lunch on a new beach, we stepped into our fins and put on our masks, giggling as we exaggerated our waddle and flopped into the water. More confident swimmers took to the deeper water, while newer snorkelers stayed a little closer shore, enjoying the plentiful corals and the little fish who lived within them.
One of my favourite paddles was navigating the shallow maze of mangroves. I never tired of the clear blue water below my kayak, getting quick peeks of a little turtle darting in and out of the shadows. Following the narrow channel of water through the low lying branches offered a fun labyrinth.
The perfect endings to beautiful days were shared meals and vibrant sunsets. Dessert in hand, we sat in our camp chairs by the campfire and laughed and reflected on the day while the sky lit up fiery red and orange.
It was a welcome and wonderful adventure kayaking in the Bahamas, from the first moment stepping off the plane, through 6 days of paddling from sandy island to island, to the last moments spent recapping every laugh and beautiful moment we all got to share together. I am so thankful for those awesome and memorable days, and I can’t wait for the next ones. See you there?
