At Black Point - Great Guana Island for Easter
AJAYA'S CRUISE
Phil & Nikki Hoskins
Sat 3 Apr 2010 18:53
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In position 24:06.05N, 76:24.07W
Black Point community is hosting it's 2nd Easter
festival and over 40 yachts have descended on the anchorage to share in the
celebrations. There is a full diary of events arranged from Cook-outs (not
technically correct as the food is cooked indoors but served outdoors and is
excellent value), volleyball and basketball competitions, a bottom fishing
tournament (read into that what you will), gospel singers and a Junkanoo,
similar to a carnival. So there is plenty to see and do. All the
community youngsters that are educated away at Nassau during the week are home
and strutting their stuff and all the young ladies are dressed up in their best
outfits. What is amazing is that they open their doors to a 100 or so additional
visitors walking round their village and sharing in their celebrations - this is
very much a reflection of what happens everywhere in the Bahamas as the
population is so friendly wherever you go.
We have been here since last Wednesday, having
sailed south from Big Majors Spot near Staniel Cay where we dinghies to the
local beach to meet up with the resident pigs that trot out to welcome new
arrivals, with the expectation of picking up some tasty leftovers. If you arrive
with nothing to offer then the 'welcome' is short-lived and they trot back from
whence they came until they hear or see another dinghy approaching. They must
post a look-out in the bushes. The regular tripper boats they actually
swim out to meet so as to be first in line for the best morsels which makes for
a comical sight as we've not seen swimming pigs before now. We felt guilty about
not taking any offerings but those that did were relentlessly pursued until the
food was rapidly scattered on the beach and the visitors fled back to the
relative safety of their dinghies. Pigs will be pigs!
   Spotty pigs at Big Majors Spot
island...................
The 'harbour' at Black Point has enough
space for a 100 yachts at anchor, which makes for a great sight in the beautiful
turquoise water. Many of the yachts we have already met previously and we have
also made some new acquaintances, usually at the dinghy dock or in the laundry
room. As it was Nikki's Birthday last Thursday we had a leisurely day
(well more leisurely than most days). We walked to the local beach on the Exuma
Sound side of the island where we collected lots of sea glass which we've
been amassing since the Abacos. It gives a purpose to the walk and is good
exercise bending down picking up the tiny fragments of worn glass that have been
lying in the sea for many years.
The celebratory meal was at Lorraine's Cafe, one of
three local eateries, particularly recommended by cruisers for it's wholesome
Bahamian food. We shared a table with two Canadians who had been waiting ages
for their meal so were glad of somebody else to talk with! It seemed that most
of the restaurant were also waiting as Lorraine was so busy. In fact we were
invited to go behind the bar to get our own drinks, which we did!
Eventually everybody's meal seem to arrive at
once from the kitchen and an hour later the restaurant closed for the evening,
which is typical in this part of the world. Certainly no after dinner coffee
whist waiting for your bill. And difficult to pay by credit card - it's cash
only. Ironically, the next day following the Birthday
celebration we met up with a couple on the dinghy dock, they had been in the
same restaurant celebrating a Birthday as well - another April 1st
baby!
We visited the local grocery store to see what was
available. A step back into the 50's with rough wooden shelves, boxes of veg on
the floor and very elderly tomatoes. The proprietor was a wonderful Bahamian who
had just had a new electronic till delivered from Nassau which had been
despatched with no instructions and he couldn't get it to work. Alongside the
counter was a notice we liked stating that "Mr Credit has died and gone to
Heaven - so please don't ask for him!" A nice crossover of
business and religion.
   Backyard boatbuilding production
line
Phil tries Tom's hat
on
Mailboat from Nassau - this arrived with a pick-up truck on
deck!
   The Black Point
'Nick'
Low water in the
harbour
and a tranquil resting place for one of the
residents
We will stay in Black Point 'til early next week
but not sure where our next destination will be. We have problems with the
watermaker and now our 'day' fridge is playing up. We may head back to George
Town to re-provision or head north to Warderick Wells to visit the Exumas
National Park. But we have a day or so to make a decision.
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