INDEPENDENCE CHRONICLES

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Nassau to Norman's Cay, Bahamas

Typical wardrobe for cruising…Sun protection - not COVID. Larry said I never looked better!

We depart Nassau via the east end of the main channel and cross to Norman’s Cay (42NM) between the Yellow and White Banks. This route allows us to find some deeper water…it’s amazing when 12 feet of water is considered deep! A nice calm cruise leads us to a pretty anchorage…time to put the tender in and check out Norman’s Cay.

My model advertising the CP59 cruising lifestyle

Anchored at Norman’s Cay and heading out for a snorkel

This is what is left of a DC3 airplane that crashed back in 1978

This photo (& the following information) of the same plane mentioned above, is courtesy of ‘The Exuma Guide’, by Stephen J. Pavlidis. Norman’s Cay was purchased by Carlos Lehder in 1979 for $500,000. He then spent $5 million in renovations, some of that going toward lengthening the airstrip and enlarging the dock. The improvements to the airstrip & dock were key to Lehder’s cocaine smuggling and distribution chain that ran from Medellin, Colombia to Norman’s Cay & then on to Florida & South Georgia. Strangely enough, the plane crashed attempting a touch & go maneuver with a load of landscaping sod.

The snorkel around the plane wreck was fantastic. The water was clear and calm and the fish - very friendly. Photo grab by Larry’s gopro