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| Halcyon Point | Natural bath at Halcyon | Kapok tree in Palmetto Point | Palmetto Point scene |
Surroundings and Further Afield
"Calypso" is nearly the last property on the Bank Road as it runs from North Palmetto Point southeast toward Double Bay. The only 2 properties beyond are "Island Breeze" and "Sable Rose" (both nice rental properties). The road beyond "Calypso" is a mere sandy track in the bush, with frequent views across the ocean to the left and ponds to the right. This track runs between the house and the beach but there is virtually no traffic. If you walk, cycle (bicycles provided) or jog south along this track you will soon reach Halcyon Bay, where the road ends. Beyond lies a large old coconut plantation, and then the winter resident community of Double Bay (whose magnificent beach is accessible by walking along the beach from Calypso or from Halcyon Bay). You can also reach the south end of Double Bayby driving back into the settlement, taking the Queen's Hwy south to the Double Bay turn off, crossing the causeway and turning right). Diamond (or Gut) Cay lies offshore from Double Bay, and can be visited by kayak.
From Double Bay you can rejoin the Queen’s Highway, and then, a half mile further south, take the road to Ten Bay (at the old "japanese-style" house) where there is a magnificent and very sheltered beach along a shallow and tranquil bay, suitable for even the smallest children. From "Calypso" to Ten Bay is about 3 miles.
If instead you walk back along the Bank Road toward the settlement of N. Palmetto Point, you will see various winter residents’ houses, and tracks leading down to the beach. After a half mile or so you come to a small well-run hotel, "Unique Village", with a very pleasant restaurant overlooking the ocean, and then just before you enter the village you will see a public ROW marked "Popponi", which brings you to another endless magnificent beach, which stretches north houseless for miles. In fact there are so many superb beaches on Eleuthera, and so few people, that you could visit a new beach everyday for a month and not encounter a soul. Even after 8 years we are still discovering magnificent new beaches.
The settlement has several general stores, notably Millard’s just beyond the immense kapok tree where you enter the village from the Bank Road, and Sand’s at the main crossroads with the principal thoroughfare of the island, the Queen’s Highway. Millard’s is easily accessible by bicycle, and usually has excellent fresh produce. However, if you want to explore the rest of the island, you will need a rental car (call Andrew Bethel at 242 332 1078 or Cooper at 242 332 1575). The village itself is well worth exploring on foot or bicycle. While it is not very prosperous, it is well kept, friendly and can exude a benevolent peacefulness that makes one question the frenzy of life in the States. "Mate and Jennie’s", at the crossroads with the Queens Highway, is a very popular restaurant with a bar and pool table.
If instead of turning into the village you continue north along the Bank Road you will pass the Green Thumb, the only garden center on the island, and then various impressive winter residents’ houses, with some access points to further magnificent beaches, and finally a fork which turns right into the Club Med compound (now closed) , and left up a steep hill into Governor’s Harbour, the capital. This can also be reached more directly, but less prettily, by the Queen’s Highway. The former Club Med is situated on a particularly superb beach (though not coconut lined), which can be accessed at the turn marked by large concrete pipes, or a track closer to the Club Med turnoff. The Club Med property was recently sold and rumour has it that it will be developed as a cottage community.
Parts of Governor’s Harbor are quite simply stunning, especially the walk down from the hilltop above Club Med to the harbor below through bowers of flowers, past romantic colonial houses and with views to the incredible aquamarine of the "Caribbean". A visit to the Haynes library, St Patrick’s church and Cupid’s Cay is recommended. You will find a few simple but good restaurants, one nightspot ("Ronnie’s"), just a handful of stores, and perhaps fresh fish or conch. But Governor’s Harbor, like the rest of Eleuthera, yields its pleasures only to those who prize harmony and peacefulness, rather than movement, novelty, noise and excitement.
