Norman Key

If it's Saturday, it must be Norman Key. We moved on down the Exuma chain about 15 miles to anchor on the west side of Norman Key, another privately owned island. Once occupied by a drug runner, Carlos Lederer, cruisers were known to disappear in this area back in the late 70s and were presumed to have been murdered by the drug lord. Drug running was shut down  over 30 years ago, and all that remains of this era are some bullet ridden and decaying buildings and the deteriorating carcass of a plane in a small bay.

There are a few houses here, beautiful sandy beaches fronting on aqua waters, a small resort, a runway, and a bar and grill, McDuff's. A planned larger resort does not seem to be materializing. The island would seem too unoccupied to support a bar/restaurant, but while we were there, two small planes landed and people appeared for late afternoon lunches. There was also a skeleton, standing in the corner. We are not certain, whether these skeleton's are left over from the drug running days or just a sign of the off beat humor of the islanders.