Bermuda - Weeks 2 and 3

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So the weeks have sped by with some days being very much busier than others. We even had a power outage in the hospital – felt like home!!!! Though, unlike home there only seemed to be a partial collapse as some lights and areas  were still functional – could, I suppose be like home as I can think of some people who seem to live in areas that are never affected!!!!!!

The weather remains gloomy. Yes, it is spring but I can’t say that there is much evidence apart from the flowers blooming and the trees being in leaf. There has been a lot of wind and cloud and most days we have had rain, though there seems to be a general improvement. Am still managing to get out and about – so not too much moaning!!! I even have a starling nesting within the wall  near my unit – quite fun watching the adults flying in with food and can hear the cheeping when I stand close – am unable to see inside as …. (I’m too short!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I have had some very nice neighbours, Alick and Helen, who unfortunately moved out this last weekend. They worked here 30yrs ago for 5yrs so are having great fun visiting old (or young!) haunts. I went with them on Wednesday evening to Admiralty’s cove.

Figure 1: View from the jetty towards the opening of the cove.    Figure 2: the sea viewed through the rock.

 

They had done a scuba diving course in the bay and wanted to see whether the club house and the dive school were still there – they were, with almost no changes plus a number of the same people!!!! We did walk round the rocks and into an area that had been caverned out during the wars and was used both to store ammunition and as a lookout point. It also looked like there were some places where boats could be stored out of view. The sea was the usual amazing colour.

While we were looking at the cove a large number of jack fish (also had other names), which are a beautiful translucent blue colour were chasing shoals of fry which was fun to watch.

On Saturday, despite the threat of rain, I entered the Mid-to-end race and decided that one does daft things when one is away from home. I do not consider entering 10km or a half-marathon back home but……… I did enter this 24km walk. This race has been held for the last 28yrs and has different sections. You can walk the whole length of the island ie end-to-end which is about 42km, or start halfway (which I did) and there are cyclists, runners, walkers and the rest!!!!! All ending in the dockyards. There isn’t a cut off though there is a sweeper bus after 6hours!!

Saturday dawned with no rain which was a huge bonus and after a false start – I had to return to the house to get my number, I joined the steady stream of walkers. The walk went though some really beautiful areas with much of it along the now defunct railway track and was extremely festive with regular sponsored tables as well as small family groups giving out water and encouragement, even the biker boys lined the routes!!!

Figures 1and 2: Gombey dancers started as runaway slaves but now form groups to entertain tourists and lead at festivals. A view into the Great Sound, of one of the many islands, which house private residences.  

Although most of the island is just above sea level, because of the underlying volcanic nature of the land, it is quite hilly and there are some hidden gems in some of the valleys. There is a good rainfall so the vegetation is green and lush and has a tropical feel to it. I love the trees. Many are old with huge canopies and amazing root systems which sometimes cascade down the lime stone walls to get to some decent soil.

Figure 3 and 4: Part of the walk through the railway cuttings - large walls of limestone with tree roots growing down the sides in places.  View over the valley into some of the parishes.

Arriving at Dockyard was very festive, as there were a number of pubs open along the route and all the various restaurants were full. We were each given a medal as well as cooldrink and the one cell company donated flip-flops which were gratefully put on!!!!          

Just after I finished the race,  we had a shower and the wind came up so I caught the ferry back to Hamilton, which was quite a choppy ride!!! I then made my way to the shops and stocked up on food and plodded my weary way home!!! One of the many problems – you can’t find a taxi when you are loaded down with shopping – doing my strength workouts!!!! But I am still adamant that I am not getting a moped!!!!!

Sunday was a quiet start and I spent the morning doing chores and reading. In the afternoon I was collected by my ex-neighbours and we went on a walkabout of the Spittal Pond Reserve with the Bermuda Historical Society. It was led by a botanist who has a fascinating knowledge of the area and the island as well as about the migration paths of the birds that visit.

Seemingly there are only 22 breeding species on the island, all the rest pass through in spring or fall. A number of the species found on the island were brought in and are now pests – starlings, kis-ka-kee and sparrows. Others like the heron were hunted out and have had to be re-introduced in order to keep the land-crab population under control.

We also saw various plants and trees that are exotic pests including the prickly pear!! There are a series of communicating bodies of water of varying salinity which are filled up either by the tides or rain water and the reserve itself has a number of different habitats to attract the migrants. We saw yellow legged stilts and some blue heron but were told that the best time to see migrants is in the fall.

               

Figure 5 and 6: Looking over the main pond towards the sea. A view towards the reefs that surround the island

As you can see much of the shoreline of the island is rocky with some amazing formations. Because the islands are surrounded by reefs, some of which are just off the main land mass, there are not many breakers on shore, unless there is a strong wind or during hurricane season. We were shown damage from the last season. There were 2 hurricanes a week apart and large rocky outcrops were broken up and moved inshore and a number of trees were uprooted. Spittal Pond itself can get flooded even though it is quite a way from the shore with a number of outcrops in the way.

 

This coming weekend, I AM going to get into the sea!!!!!! I want to explore the St George’s area and Tobacco Bay – but more about that in the next blog.