Black Point Settlement,

Seaduced
John & Jane Craven
Fri 21 Dec 2012 15:43
This place was recommended to us when we went to cruisers drinks in Warderick Wells.  It is the largest settlement in the Exumas outside of Georgetown, and so we really didn't know what to expect when we arrived.  We had planned to stay 1 or 2 nights, but as there is some bad weather coming we will stay a 3rd night, as we are as well protected as we can be anywhere. 
When we arrived, we went ashore to find....a ghost town, or that was how it seemed, there was hardly anyone about, no children playing, nothing!  The two or three local shops were closed, as were the restaurants, we did eventually find an open bar where we were the only customers, and it turns out that everyone here goes to visit family in Nassau for the Christmas holidays, and it is only after Christmas that the place comes alive.  There can be 80-100 boats in this anchorage at times - there are currently 4! 
Brizo left us early this morning, they needed boat fuel quite urgently so have headed down to Georgetown ahead of us.  Most of our time in Georgetown will be over the actual Christmas Holidays, so places will be closed.  The anchorage there is not good in the weather that has been forecast so they will have to stay in the marina while it passes - we will catch up with them again on Sunday.
Today, we have done very little, we went ashore this morning for wi-fi to keep updated with the weather, and spent the rest of the day on board relaxing.  We visited the 'Garden of Eden' driftwood sculpture garden yesterday - you need a certain amount of imagination, and probably a good few 'Kaliks' (the local beer) wouldn't hurt either, to actually see the artists' point with some of the statues....
Swimming and diving here are again a risky business - the books suggest that you don't stray far from your dinghy as there are a lot of very territorial sharks and eels....  We had some fun with the fish hiding under the boat toady.  I dropped a clothes peg while hanging out towels this morning and a couple of huge fish, we think a small shark or tarpon, shot out from under the boat to catch it.  To try and entice them out again to photograph and ID, we tied a clothes peg to some string and dangled it in the water  - not much luck though, having said that, it passed about an hour.  Small things please small minds, or maybe we have been away from civilisation too long?  It is also quite disconcerting to realise that you have sharks, no matter how small, hanging around in the shade under your boat - swimming is definitely off the exercise regime at the moment.  
  Party Central - although a little bit dilapidated, this is apparently where it all happens...


  The sculpture garden

 Ray hanging out near the dinghy dock