Day 241 Tuesday. February 18, a car trip to the north of Long Island

Day 241 Tuesday, February 18^th 

Ocean Energy leaving Salt Pond

Early morning, French done, Chris Parker show listened to and in the dinghy at 7:30 a.m. to get to the rental car for 7:45 and head north on the island.  Dave and Sue are just 2 minutes ahead of us.  The car has rested fine over the night.  Ocean Energy is at the government dock as we tie up to the dinghy dock at Island Breeze.  We had last seen Ocean Energy at Staniel but know her travels as the captain calls in to Chris Parker every morning.  Ocean Energy is a tanker that travels around to all the outports in the Bahamas delivering fuel.

View of Thompson Bay as we head north, Jazzebelle is in the middle

We head north planning on getting to the furthest point and working our way back as we are to return the car by 1:00.  First stop is the Columbus monument at Santa Maria head.  This is where Columbus first landed in the Bahamas and one of his ships went aground, you must guess which one.  The road is bad for the last mile so we park the car and hike.

Start of the hike

Sail boat in the distance off of Cape Santa Maria

Panorama of Cape Santa Maria with Columbus Monument to the left 

Arrival at the monument, Sue, Julie and Dave

Columbus Monument in the distance

View North along Cape Santa Maria

  Sue is again our driver (thanks Sue), and finds a good spot for us to leave the car. 

End of the road - North Long Island

We all enjoy the hike and take lots of pictures.  The monument is at a height of land and we can see a lovely 360 degree vista.  It is windy and there are whitecaps and only 1 sailing vessel in sight.  After the monument we turn left and try to get to the farthest spot possible but the bridge is out so the road just ends.  Oh well, time to turn around.  We have to limit our stops as we have only 3 more car hours and about an hour drive to get back to Salt Pond.

We passed on breakfast before heading out and the granola bar snack is running thin so we decide to stop a Stella Maris resort for an early lunch.  On our drive down to the resort there is a cave sign so we pull over. 

Party Cave c/w bar and tables

The cave is limestone with a few bats, but the resort must host events in it as there is lighting and tables and benches made of rocks and cement along with a bar and barbeque.  Interesting.  To Dawson it is strange to enjoy an evening “underground” vs. overlooking the ocean. 

Another couple miles and we are at the resort.  What makes the stop at Stella Maris is that Dawson had just started a book by Jimmy Buffet, Where is Joe Merchant?, and the Introduction was written in Stella Maris on Julie's birthday in 1992. There is a bar and grill at the waterfront which is on the Atlantic side and although windy affords a beautiful view. 

Julie and Dave at Stella Maris Bar and Grill

After a yummy lunch we wander about and find an ocean pool the resort has carved out of the rock.  Looks very inviting.

Ocean Pool carved out of the limestone

Closer to the car park we find a viewing tower that comes complete with osprey and nest so of course we have to climb up.

Osprey wondering what we are looking at

It is now about 12:15 so time to get the car back to its owner.  The drive back is uneventful.  Sue puts the pedal to the metal slowing down as we pass through the communities. 

The afternoon is spent blogging and napping.  Julie attempts to buy some milk but no luck.  The mail boat comes in with supplies tomorrow which is too bad as we want to get an early start in the morning.  Oh well, we have UHT milk that will have to do.

We head back to the boat but stop at Windward to introduce ourselves to their daughter Michele who is visiting during university break.  She has just had 2 interviews in Sarnia for summer employment so our paths may cross in the spring.

A early night to bed although Julie stays up watching a bad movie on DVD.  Not even worth the dollar we spent to buy it.

Cheers

Julie and Dawson