(Revised from the earlier posting with the same title)

We have developed a great appreciation for clean laundry during this cruising life. Our last wash day (other than swimsuits and the occasional t-shirt rinsed and hung on the rails to dry) was in Marsh Harbour on January 19th. Almost every textile on this boat was either soiled or salty, and the sheer joy of having them all clean and dry is just beyond description. This town knows how to fill a niche. There is a dinghy dock right outside the Laundromat; 12 modern washers and almost as many dryers take tokens - $3.50 each - and they all work. For a small extra fee - I think it is $10 - someone else will do it all for you. The place is spotlessly clean and is open till 8pm. (tokens must be purchased by 5, and it's closed on Sundays). As in many Laundromats, there is a book exchange, and soap and other cleaning supplies may be purchased there. Ida also cuts hair, and Jim plans to spend some time in her chair next week. Every cruiser knows or finds out about Black Point's laundry facilities, and the reputation is well deserved.

Another convenient stop during the washing and drying is Lorraine's Caf� - two houses down the road. Lorraine not only serves food and beverages, she has an extensive book exchange, and a whole room devoted to computer and internet service. She asks a small fee - minimum $5.00 or $10.00 for a day - and will also do printing and scanning. Along with wifi access, she has several computers there for the use of cruisers. She told me she just opened this room a couple of months ago, and is hoping people will stop in and help her recoup her investment.

To backtrack just a bit, Jim and I dinghied back into Staniel Cay on Friday from our anchorage at Big Majors Spot. It was great fun to spot Joel and Kailin (Achates II) last seen in Green Turtle Cay. They are Nova Scotians who have been having a fabulous year of exploring.

We walked over to Bernadette Chamberlain's cottages and just love the look of them. Our neighbour from back in Ottawa is renting one for a week and we have another one reserved for our family starting Thursday. They face the beach and come complete with comfy chairs on the porches and hammocks slung from gazebos. They are a short stroll from the Pink Pearl store where Flo Smith presides. The boat came in on Friday and we had a wonderful time stocking up on produce and cheese while we got to know her. I know we'll have many more pleasant visits.

Wine is in short supply here and prices are high. We'll need to ration ourselves until the next stocking up place - maybe Georgetown? We checked with the folks at the dock to see about buying some fish, but no luck. We'll keep trying. In the meantime the pork chops looked tasty.

On Saturday morning we took our 2-hour run to Black Point and you already know what we did during daytime hours! In the evening we devoured ribs at Lorraine's with Mike and Kathy (Sapphire). Saturday is BBQ night there and along with her regular menu, Lorraine serves excellent ribs and chicken, with conch fritters to start with and coconut cake to round out the meal.

Sunday morning the four of us hiked out along the beaches on the eastern shore, listening to the waves crashing in, bemoaning the amount of washed up plastic once again, and browsing for pretty shells and seabeans.

We bade farewell to Mike and Kathy as they continue on their southward journey while we headed back to Staniel Cay for a few more days.