Royal Island

Even with a short diversion back to Nassau we made Royal island with plenty of light to set anchor in good sand.  This is an amazingly well protected spot as yet unspoiled by development.  There have been attempts over the years including one by Roger Staubach's company but so far still a good spot for cruisers.  There were no sandy beaches to land the dinghy on and the shoreline was too sharp edged to risk having our soft hulls bump up against it and pop our means of exploring.  We also met a nice guy out living the dream on his boat.  He graduated from Fort Walton Beach HS in the same era of our girls.  It was great to meet him and hear his story.

Royal Island as seen by Google Earth

Blue Moon at anchor

The small opening at the east end of the bay.

 

This dock and the trailers must have been for the workers when the island
was being developed.

This was a storage place for something.  Long abandoned judging by the vegetation 

We've seen this stacked stone wall fences in other places, usually near colonial settlers ruins.

We saw these concrete pillars all over the shoreline on the western end
of the island.  Maybe surveyor marks?

This dock was actively used but we never saw any people.