Black Point settlement was only about a three hour trip. It was another windy day but the waves weren't terrible. The anchorage was fairly large with about a half dozen boats already there. Once securely anchored we dinked to the government dock, a large usually cement dock at all the islands/Cays where the mail/supply freighter docks. We tied up to the dock near shore. A wooden ladder had to be negotiated to get up on the dock which was quite the challenge at low tide. This is due to the fact that the ladder is very short which requires you to stand on the edge of the dink and step high. Then basically jump from the last step down into the dink to get back to the boat. We took a walk through town, which consisted of a nice Laundromat, school, restaurant, and very small grocery. As you walked along the street there were both men and women sitting in front of their homes plaiting. Plaiting is the art of weaving green reeds into six and seven foot long by one foot wide strips. These strips are then dried in the sun. The dried product is then sent to Nassau and used to make items to be sold in the straw markets there.
Our friends on Sun Storm took advantage of having a Laundromat while we were there. I took some time to put together school supplies we brought from home to drop off at the school. Tom filled water jugs at the pier where there was free RO water available.
My visit to the school was short but nice. Tom had given me a few tomato and pepper pods to plant. Because there is such a lack of black dirt and land fit to grow anything in I decided the kids might enjoy planting. When the principal and kids opened the box of supplies they were most excited about the black dirt and tomato plants. Who would have thought?! I wished I had brought more of this kind of thing now, but will be sure to let boaters planning to come next year know to add these items to their school supply items if they bring things. The once per week mail/supply freighter arrived while we were in town. Supply day is quite the event, especially for the small settlements like Black Point. The dock was filled with people watching items being unloaded. The pickup trucks and cars were lined up waiting. Crates of food, refrigerators, a mattress, and a small pickup truck were among the items unloaded. The excitement was obvious. It is a stark reminder that Bahamians live on islands that are rock. Nothing is manufactured here and very little is grown. Almost everything is imported from the states through Nassau. Once Tom told a young man he really like his Nikki shoes and asked where he bought them. The reply accompanied by a funny look,was, we order from the states!
Upper level multi-grade class
I asked this lady if she would show me how to plait. She just giggled and said it would take to long!
Her mornings work
Black Point multi-grade school. The building on the left is k-3, on the right 4-6
Main street of Black Point
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