Road Trip

     Thursday was a day of living dangerously.  It all started on Tuesday when Sharon and I made an inquiry for a car rental.  Long Island (Bahamas) is about 75 miles long, and no more than a couple of miles at its widest reach.  There is one main road running north & south, Queens Highway, with a few "side" roads.  The roads are narrow with a few twists & turns and do tend to have grades but nothing mountainous.  The highest elevation on the island is about 125 feet.  Although the car we rented was a conventional car with the steering wheel on the left side, that is also the side of the road you are to be driving on.  So, I gave Sharon strict orders,  no matter how mad I got at her for reminding me to drive on the left side, she was to badger me with reminders to do so.  Actually, if I would have drank 6 Kaliks (Bahamian Beer) before we left at 8 a.m., it would have been easier to drive on the left side!
       While in Salt Pond, we met Dan and Deb (S/V Lady Hawk) from Dover, DE.  We knew Dan from last May when he worked at the West Marine Store in Rock Hall.  We had run into them in Black Point, Exuma and were surprised to see them again in Salt Pond.  They asked if they could share the car rental with us for the day.  Hey, when you're a cruiser, you never pass up an opportunity, especially when you can share the cost with someone else.  It proved very beneficial as they had toured the island before by car.  Dan also shared some of the seat time behind the wheel.
     Our first journey of the day was to go the the very north end of the island, Cape Santa Maria, to the Christopher Columbus Monument, dedicated the the native islanders, the Luycayans and Columbus's arrival in 1492. 

     One of the chores for the day was to get our propane tank filled. The tank was to have been filled on Wednesday but the driver for the propane company was on island time.  He stopped at Long Island Breeze Resort, cruiser central, but left when he did not see the propane tank.  Jackie at Long Island Breeze Resort had called him on the the phone that morning to remind him, but you know it's island time mon!  So we drove down to Gordons at the very southern tip of the island to get the tank filled.
      Our next adventure took us to Clarence Town on the east coast of the island.  We stopped at the Flying Fish Marina for Kalik and fries.  Dan was also on a mission to find some Cuban cigars, but it was no joy for Dan.
      We also visited Dean's Blue Hole near Clarence Town.  This blue hole is the deepest on the planet and with the clear water of the Bahamas was very interesting when viewed from the cliffs above.  In the photos below, you will notice the dive platform that is used for the free-dive competitions - no scuba tanks!
        Despite everybody driving on the wrong side of the road and my Bahamian driving skills, I managed to keep everybody out of harm's way.  It was a great road trip.

Click on any photo to see enlargements of photos

Cape Santa Maria Grotto, Long Island

White Cliffs of Cape Santa Maria, Long Island

Christopher Columbus Monument, Cape Santa Maria, Long Island

View from top of Cape Santa Maria Grotto Looking to Atlantic Ocean

"CYA" Sign

Dean's Blue Hole, Long Island - 663' Deep With  Free Dive Platform

Cliffs on North Side of  Dean's Blue Hole