“Acklins is too damn good” is actually the island motto displayed on the government building. I’d say that was definitely true about the very friendly people we met. We had a long 3 mile dinghy ride from Delectable Bay to Spring Point. First stop was the town clinic where I had a small hope of refilling my blood pressure medicine. I thought there was a slim chance, but I should at least try. There were several people in the waiting room and I asked if it would be possible to get some medicine. They showed me inside to the nurse who said yes, they had that medicine, but I’d need to see the doctor. I offered to go back outside and wait but she insisted that I sit inside her office with the cool air conditioning. We had quite a nice visit while I waited for my turn. She was a native Acklins Islander. I asked her about gardening and she said that only the old timers grew food. Everyone else just bought it at the store when the mail boat came. Seems we had just missed the mail boat day, and she thought we wouldn’t find much left in the store. I asked about health care in the islands. She said most people carried insurance for an air ambulance that would take you to Nassau. Pregnant women had to leave the island at 8 months so they could deliver in Nassau, although sometimes they didn’t go, and then she delivered the babies. She had delivered lots of babies over the years.
Soon it was my turn with the doctor who was Indian. He was very nice, spent about 20 minutes with me (more time than my PCP back home ever does). I got a refill for 30 days and total price including doctor was $35. Not too bad.
Next stop was the grocery, or so we thought. After walking a very long way, it turned out the grocery store we were after, had closed down and the nearest one was the one back in Snug Harbor. Bummer! So instead we made our way to the gas station/convenience store where we got some canned milk, crackers, and a few snacks. Not much to buy there! It was so incredibly hot walking down the paved roads, that I was having a tough time. Prince had to be carried. There was really nothing else to see, although we had hopes of finding a place for a bite to eat, there was nothing. Still I was happy to have my medicine so the day was really a success.
Unfortunately it took a couple more days until I felt well enough to go anywhere. Instead I took it easy reading and napping and thinking how it is no fun to feel sick in such a remote place. We also had some bad weather news. The weather report shows no hope in sight for heading east for the next 15 days! Very disappointing.