Black Point

We left the area around Staniel Cay after 3 nights and headed south to Black Point.  The anchorage at the town is completely open to the west but with winds forecast to clock from west to north we happily set off.  Well, forecasts aren't exactly a precise science and we ended up spending 2 very rolly nights on the hook as the wind eventually clocked north but the waves didn't catch up.

Since the boat was uncomfortable we spent a lot of time in town.  Black Point is a popular anchorage but the town is by no means a tourist town.  No cheesy gift shops, no companies offering tours - in other words, perfect.  

One whole day was taken up almost entirely by laundry.  There is a lovely clean laundromat in town with a small store attached.  The owner cooks for the customers while they wait for their washers and dryers.  $1 for 4 fresh conch fritters!  The laundromat also offers coin showers - $4 for 8 minutes - what luxury!

Likely the most famous spot in Black Point is Loraine's Cafe.  Cruisers and locals alike gather there for food, drinks, air conditioning, and wifi.  After our laundry we hung out  chatting with a cruiser from Alabama and drinking Sands (a Bahamian beer).  At one point the only staff person had to leave for a moment so she told us to help ourselves.  That is typical of the Bahamas; you can stay at a pub for several hours ordering food and drink and when you pay at the end they ask you what you had since they don't bother keeping track. Stores we've been in have also often been untended. There must be crime here somewhere but we haven't seen evidence of it.

We also didn't see much evidence of women in Black Point except working at the landromat or cafe.  The men and the children were everywhere.  The children bicycling, playing basketball, and playing pretend in abandoned boats.  The men gathering to drink beer and play ruthless games of dominoes. The women are presumably indoors doing all the work.

Black point police station.  I can't imagine they use it much

A Bahamian sloop.  They are hand built and raced all over the Exumas

A completed Bahamian sloop

The view from the laundromat.  Any wonder we spent a whole day there?

These little cuties greeted me with cries of "Hi, Hi, Hiiiii"

Tending bar at Lorraine's

A sign on the men's room door at Lorainnes cafe.
What do you think they are doing in there?

  

Sam found an abandoned anchor when he dove on our anchor to check the set.
We are going to try to sell it in Georgetown since it is too big for our boat.