Wayne’s expression says it all.  There are bugs in paradise and on that calm day, we needed the insect repellant, badly for noseeums and mosquitos. Sunscreen, drinking water and insect repellent are the holy trinity in my daypack.

Whoever you are – thank you, thank you, thank you! 

Alas, even in the sandy sun-filled garden of modern-day Eden, there are a few ants — well, mosquitos and noseeums — to spoil paradise.  They remind us when it’s too windless to hike, or approaching suppertime — theirs precedes ours as they arrive around between 4 and 5 pm.

Outside these tiny winged vampires, there are sand burrs.  These herbaceous pests deploy wickedly barbed velcro-like seed pods.  They rely on their freewheeling nature for excellent dispersal and appear their strategy is proving quite successful throughout the islands.

This is the sand burr plant and its evil but exceedingly effective seed.

The beauty of these islands makes these potential inconveniences well worth the hikes.

This is what happens to croc wearers hapless enough for cross paths with sand burrs.  Yes, you can feel them through the shoe and they really hurt!

Location Location
April 2014 BAHAMAS.  Retrospective –Stocking Island (N23.31.126 W75.45.544) is part of Elizabeth Harbour, which encompasses Georgetown.  All are part of the Bahamas Exuma chain of islands, a popular cruising destination.  We anchored in the Stocking Island area at various times through February and March 2014 to provision, explore, meet guests and find shelter from various storm fronts.  We’re in  in Long Island’s Clarencetown Harbor at this post’s writing, crossing our fingers the Southwesterly forecast  holds long enough for a good passage to Rum Cay.  It’s about 32 nm, and the 2nd leg of our deliberately slow journey back to the States.