The Berries: Hoffman's Cay, the Blue Hole & Flo's Conch Bar

We waited out a cold front for a couple days in a well-protected anchorage at Hoffman’s that has a good beach, snorkeling and a Blue Hole. This is one of many uninhabited cays. Two other boats were also here these days though: Sandalii (from Boston on their catamaran they recently sailed over from France), and Footprints, a young couple on a short vacation from Indiana with a 2 and 3-year old!

This was a Starfish haven! So many of them, all quite large and beautiful.

A short walk from the beach on a path through some thick vegetation was the Blue Hole. This hole reminded me a lot of Arizona’s Montezuma Well only smaller. It is about 600 feet across and amazingly clear.

The shot below is looking down into the water, so what you see is the ledge I’m on with an overhanging rock and the rest is under the surface of the water, clouds reflected.

South of Hoffman’s is Little Harbout Cay. On the way there I saw no less than 35 starfish, one big barracuda, and a nice size ray. The southern end of the cay has a nice place to anchor, primarily because of Flo’s Conch Bar. Also at this anchorage was a nearby beach pictured below.

 On a small rise off the beach, looking into the interior of the island.

At the moment, three people make up the total population of this island and they all help run Flo’s Conch Bar. Flo herself is deceased, but the place has been run by the Darville family for many years. The gal we talked to is the daughter of Flo’s good friend who evidently used to help. They have chickens here, but no eggs. The hens hide their eggs in the vegetation. She also said there was a peacock (never saw it) and one iguana (also in hiding).  The restaurant is open when they feel like opening and fortunately, we hit it on a good week. Take a look at Flo’s…

  

Directions in guides are to take your dinghy up to the dock and walk up the hill to the pink house after making a radio call to Chester to be sure someone is there, willing to cook, and arrange your meal. No need for signage outside; it's one of 4 buildings and the only pink one. 

It’s a typical dollar bar inside with bills all over the walls and ceiling.

Our table was set when we arrived. We were anchored next to a couple from Great Britain in a monohull sailboat called Tumi, a Peruvian name.  Debra and Paul have been spending half the year sailing for the past 6 years and had just sailed across the pond recently on a trip that will ultimately take them to Australia! A very interesting couple and they joined us for lunch.

Lunch, served family style, began with conch fritters and then came snapper, conch, rice and beans and cole slaw. All delicious and more fried food than I’ve eaten in years! Washed it down with a cold local Kalik beer that cost half the price of the dinner at $7 a bottle!