Trip Report Part III: A River Runs Through It

Posted by Paul King on November 16, 1999 at 06:54:00:

As the plane descended, the deep-sea blues approaching Sandy Point gradually gave way to softer and softer shades of blue and green and other colors that exist only in the moment they are observed. Sandy Cay is a peninsula pointing back towards the Florida coast at the very, very tip of Great Abaco Island. The entire point is surrounded by a uniform white, sandy beach that outlines the settlement of Sandy Point in an understated, yet dramatic fashion.

Charlie, while exploring the Bahamas 25 years ago, had found his way to Sandy Point. Although Sandy Point is basically a small fishing village of something over 400 people it has a fine landing strip set a couple of miles from the point. Even today the landing strip is just that, it is not an airport. There are no buildings, gas pumps, signs, restrooms, or anything. Just a strip of pavement surrounded by a large forest of pine trees.

On his first visit those many years ago, Charlie buzzed the settlement, landed his plane, and waited for someone to drive out to the landing strip to pick him up. After waiting a few minutes a pick up truck emerged from the woods. In it were two 17 year old locals. One of the "kids" was named Rudy. Twenty five years later Rudy and Charlie have become life-long friends.

Rudy is now married with a child who attends J.A. Pinder School. As Hurricane Floyd approached the Bahamas Rudy's wife and child evacuated to the United States. Naturally, they stayed at Charlie's home. Rudy elected to ride it out on the Island.

As Amelia and I shared smiles of joy for having reached Sandy Point Charlie, using the VHF, radioed below trying to reach Rudy. Finally, contact was made and Rudy said he would drive out to the landing strip to pick us up. We circled the settlement. Sandy Point before the storm had been shaded by four or five hundred palm trees, not just on the beach but all through the settlement. It looked like a third of them had been blown over and another third damaged but still standing. The other third stood proudly over Sandy Point as if signaling that things were going to be OK.

From the air the town looked very much under construction. Many houses were in the midst of roof repair with crews of two or three perched on the rooftops. Several homes appeared collapsed. In the center of the town Charlie pointed out Pinder School. It had been repainted a nice bright yellow. It's several buildings looking intact from the air. It's largest building housing three classrooms that also served as an auditorium displayed a new roof. I knew that this building had taken the brunt of the storm and was still unusable. It had lost part of the roof and been flooded by six feet of water.

We flew toward the landing strip to begin our descent. We touched down and taxied to a dirt road that led away from the strip. Amelia asked where the airport was. Within a minute or two a vehicle emerged from the woods. It was Rudy. We all were introduced and began loading the boxes of school supplies from the airplane into Rudy's vehicle.

A few moments later a pick-up truck approached and parked. Out stepped the principal of J.A. Pinder School, Mr. Erskin Wells. Amelia and I walked in his direction to introduce ourselves.

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