It was early to rise on Monday morning to tuck into the cove near “Castle Beach”, just two miles south of Black Point Settlement, for the approaching weekend’s moderate blow. As we motored around the point, it became quickly apparent how the beach earned its nickname as there is a picturesque, yet somewhat out of place, white castle standing proud upon the bluff overlooking the anchorage. Though not as large as King Arthur’s, it’s a square castle with four turrets rounding each corner, arched windows and a grand staircase. Only a wind generator spinning like an airplane propeller proves it’s of the modern age.
While headed toward the anchorage, Christie got creative in the galley and made french toast with the last of our coconut bread. Partnered with eggs, bacon and Mandarin oranges, it was a meal that easily competed for one our the best breakfasts yet. We did the dishes, scouted a good spot for the boat then dropped the anchor. Quickly, the bow jerked the chain taunt giving us the reassuring feeling of our hook deeply wedged beneath the sand on the sea floor. We cleaned up the boat then jumped in the dinghy to head over toward some lobster hunting action. Storyville and Anchor Management were over near the rock cliffs looking for dinner and we wanted to check their luck. Deana and Steve were dipping below the surface with Hawaiian Slings in hand looking for an unsuspecting lobster or fish. A few poked out from beneath a rock ledge and the hunt was on! It took a few shots but Deana quickly speared her first lobster which they would enjoy with warm butter and as a topping on their pizza later.
Dinghying away from the hunting grounds, we stopped at yet another boat in the cove hailing from Houston; Randy, aboard “Mariah”, a single-hander that has been cruising the Bahamas and east coast for the past 20 years. We picked up a little local knowledge about the best road into town then jetted over to SYL to visit with Rusty and Linda as the sun set. We enjoyed their company as we all watched the front blowing in. We could see the rain line and dark clouds marching towards our bobbing boats and at the last minute we left SYL to return to Kaleo still dry. The wind picked up to about 20-23 knots and we settled in for a night aboard. “Ondine” was the movie for the evening and it does not make our recommendation list. Okay at best, we decided to delete it from our hard drive with no intentions of even sharing it.
Regardless of the movie review, we enjoyed being snuggled up onboard while the wind howled outside and Kaleo, chained to the sea floor, bobbed ever so slightly.
On Sunday, the same conditions greeted us but with plans to go to church in Black Point, we couldn’t let a little wind and dinghy sea spray stop us. After a hearty breakfast and dressing in our Sunday best (rare these days), the Navy piled into their respective dinghies and met on the beach. Shane arranged a ride for us into town and the island missionary, Charles, picked us up in his truck. It saved us a couple of miles walk and we all got to mark it as our first time going to church in the back of a pick-up. And certainly a first for sitting in service with sandy feet.
The Bahamian Holy Bible Mission Church is a quaint, sea-foam green building in front of the biggest beach on Black Point. Traditionally set up inside, it was really nice to go to church and even nicer going with the entire group of cruising friends. The Navy was in for a surprise as Shane, of Guiding Light, was enlisted to give the message for the day. Shane had been to the church a few weeks earlier and had really enjoyed his time there. The pastor, who also happens to double as the town’s police chief, asked if Shane wouldn’t mind giving a message and he gladly accepted. He delivered a powerful message based on the insightful personal relationship book, “The Five Love Languages” and how God shows his love to all of us via the five different ways. Perfectly timed for a Valentine’s Day message of expressing love. By the way if you haven’t read the book, we highly recommended it. Not just for romantic relationships, but to help you understand how all relationships (parent/child, friends, co-workers) in your life express love and the best ways to reciprocate it.
After service let out we all walked down to Lorraine’s for a leisurely Sunday lunch of cracked conch. Have we mentioned this is the most amazing conch to be had?! Delicate, tender, buttery and lightly fried with a side of french fries, it made for the best Sunday meal we’ve had in a long time. Christie and Linda stayed at Lorraine’s to do some Internet items while the rest of the crew walked to a blow hole further down the island. It was a powerful hole with mist and water shooting upward with every crashing wave but the scene was ruined by trash scattered everywhere. Either the blow hole was also the town dump or it happened to be the spot where all the trash from the ocean collected. Regardless it took something away from the otherwise awe-inspiring scene.
On the ride back to the anchorage we stopped to wait for a local guy to back his boat into a driveway. Just as we stopped, the boat came unhitched from the truck and began rolling down the road. Luckily it veered off and into a ditch before hitting Charles’ truck. All the guys jumped out of the truck and helped the local guy get the boat hitched back up and out of the ditch.
Upon returning to our own boats, all the guys lent a hand across the Navy with various boat projects. Shane had a watermaker project to work on, Rusty had a rudder fix to make, Steve a wind generator issue to diagnose. Matt returned home after dark just in time for us to enjoy some dinner and reflect on a really nice day.
N 24° 04.43 / W 76° 23.27
