Who would expect a laundromat  to be a highlight of a sailing destination? Ida’s Rockside Laundry is, indeed, a landmark not to be missed.

Blackpoint is a small settlement in the Central Exumas, Bahamas. It is “famous” among cruisers for several things:

Lorraine’s Cafe, which serves typical Bahamian cuisine and hosts weekly buffets. The restaurant also offers free wifi. Out back, Lorraine’s Mama bakes the best coconut, cinnamon, or coconut-cinnamon-raisin bread you’ve ever tasted.

Scorpio’s Bar is the home of thrice-weekly cruisers happy hour, featuring a kick-your-ass rum punch. It’s a great place to catch up with other cruisers that you’ve met along the way, as well as meet new-to-you cruisers who, most likely, you will run into again. And again. Cruisers typically carry “boat cards” with them to swap, so you can remember names, boat-type and contact info. I usually make little notes on the back, like cute younger couple we met at Scorpios, or wife talks with mouth full of food and spits, or things along that line.

Then there is the Garden Of Eden, a collection of driftwood set up in Willie Rolle’s yard. Which is free from pests with the help of experts from pest control augusta ga .You can walk around on your own, but I asked Willie for a tour. At 73, Willy’s eyes are clouded over with cataracts,he’s a little shakey and has a stutter. But he is an interesting soul, with a sense of humor. He points out what he sees, and what you should be seeing (that was questionable) in his driftwood sculptures. He finds them as-is, and places them in the correct viewing position, but otherwise, he does not manipulate the wood. He also has some “bush medicine” plants and gave me a root of something to make a tea for stomach-upset. I asked if I could take his picture, and he began shadow-boxing and striking other poses. He does not ask for monetary compensation, but I gave him some, anyway.

But the business to beat all businesses, not only in Black Point, but in all the Bahamas, IMHO, is the Rockside laundry, run by the ever-so-entreprenurial Ida.

The laundromat is as clean as I’ve seen, and she even has a dinghy-dock so you don’t have to schlep your dirties across town. She has about 10 washers and as many dryers, so there are always a lot of people milling around and shooting the breeze.

She has a small convenience-type store connected to the laundry, that sells t-shirts, flip-flops, toilet bowl cleaner, sunscreen and postcards, among other items.

There’s free wi-fi, so you can update facebook and check your email while relaxing on the gazebo that overlooks the anchorage. Hungry? Not a problem at Ida’s. She’ll make you conch fritters-5 for $1. She also makes banana cake or carrot cake for $2.00/slice.

Looking a little scraggly? For $4.00, you can get an 8-minute full-stream ahead hot shower. That’s long enough for Jeff and I to share, with time to spare. And even while we have a shower on board, we limit them to Sailor’s showers, using only about a gallon of water.

Once you’re clean and refreshed, she’ll cut your hair. I’ve also heard her on the VHF advertising a fresh haul of lobster, fish and conch for purchase. Holy-Moley, makes me tired just thinking about all she does!

There are a few other establishments in Black Point, a small grocery, a couple of restaurants and a straw market.

Another highlight is the free water at the spigot in town. Hauling water jugs to fill them is the norm in the Exumas,as marinas are few, and at .50 per gallon, water can get expensive.  In the months of cruising up and down the Exumas, we always stopped for our Black Point fix.