Bermuda and back to Grenada – onto Grenadines

Bermuda

PHOTO Albums click here: Bermuda and back to Grenada AND: July in the Grenadines

John and I flew back to Bermuda for the month of June. There we were able to catch up with our family and friends, our Dr.’s appointments, a year’s worth of prescriptions to pick up, some business and various other appointments. We also arrived just in time to see to a major plumbing issue and an AC failure that needed attending to. John also did the bottom of Gavin’s boat and installed a new exhaust system in it. We had cruiser visitors, Piscator with John and Wanda stopped by Bermuda on their way to the Azores. We took John around the island; poor Wanda had injured her foot upon arrival and was incapacitated. However we were able to meet them both for a lovely lunch just before they sailed for the Azores. We had a few fun nights with family and friends. All in all we were very busy. The month flew past – we never even had time for a swim!

We returned to Grenada

with our Grandkids, Ethan and Rhianna. Upon arrival we readied the boat to leave Clarkes Court Marina

where we had left it for the month. This meant the usual stocking up with fresh foods and water, getting the sails back aboard, including our new headsail and generally seeing to odds and ends needed for our summer adventures. Remarkably this took a day and a half- not long at all. We left the dock and ooops the boat did not want to respond to the wheel. The propeller was not turning due to all the growth. Luckily we were able slide into an empty bay, John, Bob and Carl helped tie us up. John had to go overboard and scrap the barnacles off the prop. He found that the growth was incredible. Huge barnacles all over. After a while we were off again.

Out to a bay in the Woburn Bay

area we went. There we found a lovely anchorage were we stayed for 2 nights. First thing the next morning we had a diver scrape all the barnacles off the hull. It was there that Rhianna learnt to snorkel and they both learned to handle the dingy. The snorkeling was remarkably good by the entrance to the bay.

We set sail for St George

on the Friday. Both John and I were concerned as to how the kids would take to the swell, however they were fine. The seas were about 4ft and with a good breeze we took 2 hours to sail around to St George. The new headsail was perfect and the sail comfortable. There we anchored off the

Grand Anse anchorage,

which is just lovely. The water is clear and wonderful for swimming, much better than in Wolburn Bay. In St George we were able to get the phones set up and get the rest of our supplies. The walk around the town and into the market was an eye opener for the children, especially Rhianna. It is very different to anything she has ever encountered before.

Saturday was Hash Day

and we decided to do the Hash for the 1^st time. Well we all lost our “virginity” at the hash and got certificates at the end to prove it. Here is the link that tells about Hash harriers: http://www.gthhh.com basically they are groups that either walk or run a course that has been set through the countryside. Everyone starts together the walkers and the runners but the trail eventually splits in 2 with the runners going one way and the walkers another. There are false trails set as well and if the people in front find a false trail they shout “back back!! When they are on the correct trail they shout “on on!!”

Our trail went through part of the rainforest and was very steep at times. We started at approx. 600ft and went up to 1010ft according to John’s GPS. The “walk” has quite a fast pace and for me was a real workout. Don’t know how the runners do it. Oh and it goes through rivers, narrow winding tunnels in the trees and vines. The kids did really well – out in front of us. Rhianna did tire towards the end but made sure she ran up the last hill coming 1st out of us 4. It’s a fun expat event with many locals taking part and happens every week at different locations. There is cheap beer and good food at the end. We allowed the kids soda and we all ate the national dish a mix of curried chicken, spinach like plant, sweet potato and some sort of long dumpling. What a surprise when Rhianna tucked in. Ethan finished his huge serving of it and declared to love it. It is called “Oil Down” We had a good time, went back to the boat with a chicken leg each and our leftovers had a night swim to wash off, hosed off, ate and crashed out.

We continued enjoying the St George anchorage

for several more days. We visited the town, checked out the market and bought lots of fresh fruit. We visited Fort George and then moved up to Dragon Bay. At Dragon Bay we visited

The Underwater PHOTO album: click here: Underwater May and July 2013

Moliniere Bay and the underwater sculpture park.

Rhianna was very happy to be able to swim down the 15 odd feet and touch the statues. The statues make for an exciting but eerie dive. We saw the “circle of children” the mermaid, the symbolic ones of the bodies on the ocean floor and others. That evening we were invited aboard “Yachtsman’s Dream” for drinks and snacks. It was a lovely evening and we all enjoyed meeting John, Leila and Kathy the cook/friend. Wow the humus was amazing, Ethan reminded John of a mechanical digger digging in to the snacks. The kids joined in the conversation as Nana had banned electronics so we could all chat and enjoy conversing.

On July 11^th we did our 1^st serious sail. We headed off early for Carriacou

another island of Grenada, which was about a 28-mile sail. This proved to be a bit of a rough passage as we were close hauled and tacking the entire way. We had a bit of a race going with Yachtsman’s Dream which kept us a bit entertained, but generally it was a tedious 7 hours. Rhianna had taken her seasickness meds, which was just as well as the seas were a bit rough. She slept a good 5 hours of the journey. Ethan began to feel the effects of seasickness towards the end due to using his electronics. Lesson learnt – watch the horizon.

We anchored in Tyrell Bay,

which is a beautiful anchorage. The next few days were spent exploring the shoreline by snorkeling. It is quite unspoilt and lovely underwater. Ethan and Rhianna just adored the snorkeling. We have seen sea snakes, all types of fish, schools and schools of fry/bait fish, wonderful stag horn corals, sponges, whips and soft corals, long spined urchins just to name a few. Rhianna said in her journal –“I saw a huge patch of fish. I named everyone of them Bob. I went under and swam with them as if I were some sort of a mermaid.”– A walk along the shoreline where John and Ethan tried to climb showed them why you don’t climb crumbling cliffs – you slide down the hard way and it’s not nice.

We met up with our old friend –Les on Golightly. We hadn’t seen each other since Rum Cay so we had much to catch up on. He introduced us to Richard and Lavinia on Partners and we had a great evening aboard Aeeshah swapping sea tales from the last few months.

Rhianna finished her 1^st book ever and Ethan also finished his so we had a brownie celebration on our last night in Tyrell Bay.

From Carriacou we travelled to

Union Island – St Vincent and the Grenadines

where we picked up a mooring ball, something we rarely do. However it was blowing quite strongly and the anchor was not cooperating so …… After which off to the airport we walked to check in which is always a fun procedure. Union Island hasn’t changed much in the 4 years since we were last there; in fact it was even quieter. In Clifton we watched the kite surfers some of which were excellent, doing flips in the air and such tricks. The following morning we set sail to

Mayreau.

Upon arrival we anchored in Saline Bay

It is a large beautiful bay, which was perfect for the kids. Straight into the water everyone went. Ethan and Rhianna were enjoying the floating rings by throwing them from the boat and then jumping through the middle. It was high excitement, as I got out to go and prepare lunch I warned them to be careful. Little did I know that a few minutes later I would be injured! As I hurried to prepare lunch I failed to secure the latch on the fridge securely so of course the lid crashed DOWN on to my left finger tips – the top digits. I howled and wailed as this was extremely painful – (the lid weighs a good 20lbs and has sharp edges) – Ethan called Papa who came and got my hand on ice and then splinted my fingers together and dosed me with pain meds. Lesson learnt – double check all latches!

The afternoon was spent with me aboard boat while they went snorkeling L

We stayed at Mayreau several days, swimming, exploring and relaxing, until July 20^th when we set off for

Tobago Cays.

Our short passage to Tobago Cays turned into a rough one as a squall moved in. That always causes excitement and anxiety but passes soon. We anchored up where we usually go – as far away from the crowd as possible. The Tobago Cays is just extraordinary. It is a small group of deserted islands, protected from the sea by Horseshoe reef. The islands, water and reef colours are a kaleidoscope yellows, greens, turquoise, blues, browns and reds. We happened to be there for a full moon, which made for very dramatic night skies.

While there for 4 days we snorkeled the inner reef, explored the islands, enjoyed the beaches and totally appreciated the beauty. Seabirds such as Brown and Masked Boobies, Frigate birds and various types of gull are everywhere and nesting along the rocky shore. The land birds are with out fear and get quite close. There are iguanas and tortoises to watch when exploring the islands. The reef life is amazing as being protected it is abundant. Every type of fish and coral are on the reefs. We saw many rays of different types, nurse sharks and from the boat we watched turtles.

Rhianna had become fearless in the water – gone was the screech when she would see an eel or sea snake. She had been encouraged by watching Ethan touch and Papa chase a shark so that during our last snorkel she had become quite over confident. It was quite a blustery day with the surf rolling over the reefs and waves a couple of feet high. We had anchored the dingy and the kids had raced over the side. Not waiting for an adult they were off to the closest reef where Ethan spotted a shark. Rhianna wanting to be the 1^st to touch it swam down and was off chasing the shark. Papa was quite upset with them, as they didn’t even know that it wasn’t a reef shark nor did they wait for me with the camera. The previous day they had seen the result of a foolish mistake made by another girl who had gone too close to the waves breaking on the reef only to be washed up and get scrapes along with sea urchin spines in her feet. We were able to finish our time at Tobago Cays with Rhianna finishing her second book and the promise of another Brownie celebration.

The next stop was Canouan

where we had the 1^st and 2^nd burger of the trip by having lunch and dinner shore. We picked up some necessary supplies and left the next day of Bequia.