Francis Bay Hike

Sat 22 Dec (afternoon) - Francis Bay is one of the beaches adjacent to Maho Bay. It's only about a 1 mile hike... but it's pretty hilly in spots. Francis Bay is neat because it has Mangrove trees in an inland channel running adjacent to the ocean. The roots of the Mangrove trees press deep into the channel and serve as a natural sanctuary and nursery for many young fish species. They're actually vital to the whole ecosystem, but they're being wiped out worldwide by silt runoff caused by upland deforestation. They're very protected here though, so much that you can't even get very close to them. You can see the inland channel, though only from a distance, while walking along the Francis Bay Trail. (How did I do, Jeff Corwin?)


Here's the road leading away from Maho Bay.




It's actually a long road to walk before the trail even starts.




There's lots of nice sights along the way though...




I see a lot of these flowers here... don't know what they are.




Here's the start of the trail.


This trail was not, however, built by goats.




Here's the start of the Mangrove channel... looks like a nice mud bath.


Here's a better view of the inland channel...


You can sit and watch the channel, and the grass grow, from here.


The trail leads deeper into the forest...


The biggest hornet's nest I've ever seen... hope they're friendly.


I was actually pretty scared to walk under this, but it was abandoned.


Don't forget to look up occasionally.


Ok. Nuff said.


Look, it's the rare tri-leafidon grassinon (ok, I made that up).


Approaching trail's end. It's fun...


To walk...


From forest...


To Beach!










Pelican diving (just missed it)!


























And the trail leads back home...






Maho Bay, and showers, and dinner, is just beyond... what a nice afternoon!