CHEROKEE LONG DOCK: ABACO LANDMARKS (1)
Cherokee Long Dock has a significant claim to prominence on an Island that has, with its Cays, a good few docks to admire. The impressive 770 foot wooden dock is the longest wooden dock in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, as its plaque proudly proclaims. The waters of Cherokee Sound are very shallow in places, and as the tides retreat, so sandbanks appear and the rest is barely covered by the sea. Hence the need arose for a very long dock to serve the very small community of Cherokee.
Before the roads were built – in relatively recent memory – Cherokee was an isolated settlement. There was a shortcut connection by boat to a now-abandoned dock at the nearest community, Casuarina, across the Sound. However, non-tide-dependent access from the open sea was vital for supply boats and mail boats. Access to the sea was needed by the fishermen.
The plaque documents the history of the dock, the damage inflicted by hurricanes, and the ‘countless hours of labour’ by local people- ‘men, women and children’ – to preserve the dock.
Royal terns and other seabirds use the dock to rest; and as a safe place from which to fish
Photo credits: David Rees and his wonderful drone (header); Larry Towning (2, 3); Amanda Diedrick (4, 5, 6, 7, 9); Karen Eldon, Velma Knowles (8); last image from a FB friend with thanks and many apologies – I’ve lost my note of who took it… to be added if possible; short vid from Youtube.
Pingback: ROYAL TERNS | THE BIRDS OF ABACO
How cool! Love the pics and the information. Would love to see it in person.
Rutledge M. Bradford, Esquire Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer Bradford Cederberg, P.A. 11 S. Bumby Ave., Suite 200 Orlando, FL. 32803 407-926-8710 W 407-926-8711 Fax 407-579-3454 Cell Sent from my iPhone
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Rutledge, I’m beginning to think you need to get over to Abaco! The birding is excellent (we saw 4 Kirtland’s Warblers last year). And if you are a fisherman, check out the Delphi Club website http://delphi-bahamas.com RH
LikeLike
FYI, there’s a really good surf break only around 300 yds out from the pier. Grab your Longboard RH
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent advice, which will appeal strongly to all those at least 33% younger than me! RH
LikeLike