San Sal Road trip.

Just got back from a run . Not sure if it was walking on the thick sand yesterday on the beaches here or if I am just getting old but man is my right hip killing me. Had to walk the last half mile back. At least it was nice out. The was a nice dry breeze. I had on a long sleave shirt and it was still a bit cold.
The winds this morning are increasing from the south west. We have plans today to go lobstering. Looks like we will be doing it on the north end of the island. Yesterday I got a car . Kyle and I and Capt Bucky from the Due course did a road trip around the island. today before we return it, we plan to go lobstering in some remote places.

The crank mechanization that winds up the light house 

On our road trip yesterday we did the improved road that circles the island. When I say improved.... I mean there was pavement at one time. Some parts of it look like the surface of the moon. We made lots of stops at anyplace that looked scenic. One of the highlights is the light house at Dixon hill. it was built in 1887. It sits perched on the rocky north shore of San sal. Up until 10 years ago it was still a kerosene burning light. That has been replaced with electricity and a light bulb now. But the machinery that turns the light is still hand crank. And get this... someone has to climb to the top of the light house every 2 hours to hand crank/ wind up the mechanism.  The is an old couple that lives there and all night long every two hours one of them climbs up and rewinds the light. The view from up there is breathtaking. and the 127 steps to get to the top will take your breath away as well.
From Dixon hill we made our way around to the east side of the island. The beaches there are magnificent. The sand is pink. I have included a pic but it does not do it justice. The reason the sand is so pink it the coral reef that lines the eastern shore is a brilliant red/ orange / yellow. As the coral is eaten my fish and as the waves erode the reef, the dead coral particles wash ashore as a pink sand. The beach is thick and deep. Its very soft and hard to walk in. Also above the high water mark is lots of sea weed and debris. There was a study done at one time that showed that most of the trash that washes ashore here and on Cat island, comes from Spain. It has to do with the way the currents and winds seem to always push the stuff right here. It is evident, when you find fishing buoys ( lots of them) washed ashore. Many of them have markings from Spanish fishing vessels. With that said, It may explain why it is said that Christopher Columbus made his first land fall in the new world, right here on San Salvador.
As we drove around the island we found many real old houses that are weathered and standing like relics of past years. I looked it up  on the net and apparently these were old slave posts and housing.
The road trip was full of little stops here and there. I have included some of the pics.

Kyle and I at Dixon Hill 

Pink sand beaches of San Salvador

Miles of pink beaches and no foot prints

an old slave house

mountain of  conch shells

on the bluff at French Bay

Driving on the wrong side of the car as well as the road

Kyle up in the light at Dixon Hill

Wow

Last night after Dinner Kyle and Bucky and I walked up to the bar. Boy were we in for a treat. It was Karaoke night. I sure hope the video down loads. Bahamian women singing John Denvers Country road..... Priceless.  We did not stay long.