Black Point, Exumas

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Town Directory – No map needed

This time of year there are quite a few boaters moving north through the chain of the Exuma Cays. They are returning home to the USA and Canada for hurricane season. The leeward side of the Exumas is like a main artery through the chain. The numerous anchorages along the way are the rest stops. Some rest stops are quiet and beautiful. Some stops are small towns for provisioning, fuel and water. While at anchorage we will see six to ten private sail or power boats pass by a day. A few might stop and anchor but most push on.

After some sun and beach time at White Point it was time to push on to none other than Black Point. It was to be a quick stop for milk and bread and then we would be on our way again. Black Point was a short one hour sail. The winds were 20 knots gusting 25 knots which made our journey even shorter.

The small main town of Black Point is maybe a mile long. It boasts three small restaurants and two tiny store with very basic groceries. There is a wifi café, laundromat and a bar. The bread is made locally. Customers can order the bread the day before or arrive early to get a loaf. It goes quickly.

Black Point is a very friendly community. Each business we entered greeted us warmly and took time to chat with us. The owner of the small restaurant, Scorpio’s, went out of his way to make a nice pitcher of ice tea for us. Ice tea is not that common outside the larger towns. Even in the larger towns it is sometimes made special for us. Most people drink Bahamian beer, rum drinks, fruit juices and some sodas. Having lived in states where ice tea is king and living with at Brit, you know there will be tea in our daily routine. The owner made a pitcher of ice tea with sliced lemons just for us. He served it with such pride we had to drink the whole pitcher. We did not want to be rude. And besides, it was good tea.

If you had told me two years ago that I would get excited about laundry I would have laughed. In the past two years I have been in all types, sizes and states of disrepair. The low end would be the time I did laundry in a dark, one room storeroom with no windows, no fan or air and only one of the machines worked—barely. There was no place to sit while waiting for laundry to wash and dry either. On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve been in a really nice laundromat with wifi, cable TV and coin machines that actually work. I have seen everything in-between. In the Bahamas, the choices for cruisers are marina laundry facilities and laundromats in the larger towns. When away from a laundromat or marina a lot of cruisers will do their laundry in the sink on the boat and hang it out to dry.

I really wish we had taken more pictures of the laundromat in Black Point. Maybe I can paint a picture with words. The first thing we noticed as we walked toward the laundry was the special care the owner took to have a nice garden for her customers to view as they entered. The sidewalks were swept and the building was clean. It was obvious the owner of the business cared about how her business appeared to others.

Ida’s Rock Side Laundromat

As we entered and stood adjusting to the shiny clean room, a smiling face came our way. We were immediately welcomed with a big smile and handshake from the owner, Ida. There is a small store off the side that sells laundry detergents and products. There are other items as well. One entire wall of the small store is papered with boat cards from boaters who have visited Ida. Ida showed us around the business and made us feel right at home. Ida will even do your laundry for you if you want to leave it with her. What a deal! Ida also offers coin showers for cruisers.

Outside the back of the laundromat is a dock so cruisers do not have to haul their laundry through town. What a grand idea! Ida has made things really easy for her customers. There is even a wonderful sitting area outside that is covered for shade. And, look at the view. Now this is the way to do laundry!