tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014469411159899582024-02-07T12:42:35.848-04:00s/v Mowzers/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.comBlogger338125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-54061627580991579312017-10-29T11:14:00.001-04:002017-10-29T11:14:48.040-04:00September 6 - Irma the Beast<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This posting will be my final "Mowzer" blog post, but while it marks the end of this particular chapter, it will definitely not be the end of our journey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I am posting this to share our story with all those who have asked for an update on Mowzer. What we can't forget is the sheer incomprehensible level of devastation for those people who live and make their </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">livelihood on these special islands. We are not alone in the loss of our boat and we sympathize with the many others who have been similarly affected.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's rewind back a few months to set the scene. We had left Mowzer on St. Martin for bottom repairs and a paint job at Polypat boatyard. She was situated in the yard, </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">just west of Marigot by the lagoon entrance on the French side. The repairs were planned for about three months out of the water and then life took a turn as we changed plans to <a href="http://svmowzer.blogspot.ca/2017/02/changes-in-latitudes.html" target="_blank">return to Ottawa</a>. In June, Henry returned to the boat to prep for hurricane season and check on the repairs. Given we were to remain in Ottawa for a while, thankfully he also took the time to remove and ship home most of our belongings and precious mementos of Mowzer life. While </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">we knowingly left Mowzer on an island often targeted by hurricanes, we weren't planning on being onboard and we filed our plan and received approval from our insurance company. Little did we know that the hyperactive hurricane season of 2017 and September alone would host not one or two, but FOUR major hurricanes, three of which would make landfall in the eastern Caribbean.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">September 6 saw the arrival of Irma with a direct hit that devastated the islands of the north-east. Barbuda, the island where we had so much enjoyed viewing the magnificent frigate birds was completely annihilated with 95% of structures destroyed and all residents permanently evacuated from their home island. Saint Martin was next in line for this hurricane which sustained wind speeds of 295 km/hr for over 36 hours and on the morning of September 6 we can only shudder to imagine the conditions on the island.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first images we viewed showed the twisted and flooded remains of the boat-yards just outside of Marigot and at this point we could only assume that the worst had happened to Mowzer. Reports came in over the next few days, from friends and strangers alike all sharing stories of horror and devastation and although we were miles away, it was a visceral feeling of dread that took up roost deep in our bellies.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Meteo Express (Facebook page)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It took another 6 days for Irma to pound through the Virgins & islands west, to finally diminish and die away over the mainland U.S. and by then we had watched category 4 Jose brush to the north and were now cringing as another formed off the coast of Africa. Adding insult to massive injury, Maria wound herself up to category 5 and this monster took a more southerly route right through our beloved Dominica and the U.S. islands of St. Croix and Puerto Rico. Between Jose and Maria, more tropical storm force winds and copious amounts of rain made lives even more miserable on St. Martin and compounded the damage left behind by Irma. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thankfully it is now almost November and the end of the 2017 Hurricane season will soon be proclaimed to be one for the history books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With communication and power outages on the islands, limited reliable information was difficult to find, but finally on September 13 we were put in touch with marine surveyor David Duong who was in the process of documenting many of the boat yards in St. Martin with his drone footage </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">on YouTube</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. Here was our first glimpse of Mowzer: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> at </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4:16 in this video Mowzer appears bottom, slightly left of centre with a monohull leaning up against her - no mast, no bimini, keels collapsed.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/y72g432Xs5g/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y72g432Xs5g?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As you can see the picture is not pretty so we launched an insurance claim and cutting quickly to the end of our story we have now had the boat surveyed and proclaimed a total loss.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The pictures from our survey report tell a more detailed story. It would appear that the monohull leaning up against her helped push Mowzer over on her keels and come to rest on the boat next to her. The aluminum RIB dinghy is amazingly still on the davits but is cracked and has bent the davit structure. The aft port quarter is fractured, the hard-top bimini is completely gone, the mast lies bent and twisted on the ground in front of the boat and the list goes on and on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our insurance (Skipper's Plan backed by Aviva Insurance) has acted quickly and efficiently, especially considering the volume of catastrophic losses they must be processing and we are satisfied with that part of the outcome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Irma may have taken Mowzer, but we have memories, experiences, the fulfilment of dreams and the most amazing, expanded set of friends who have supported us throughout the whole ordeal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The following pictures were taken by the surveyor (Harbor & Ocean Services Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida) and provided in the report to our insurer:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, let's remember happier days as we plan our next adventure. Irma may have taken Mowzer but the pursuit of the simple lifestyle and the dream will continue!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">R.I.P Mowzer</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com3Rue de Galisbay Port, Marigot, St Martin18.078662935815327 -63.07892001132813717.957895435815328 -63.240281511328135 18.199430435815326 -62.917558511328139tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-49118304066593556742017-02-05T00:01:00.000-04:002017-02-05T00:01:43.637-04:00Changes in Latitudes<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the past 10 years </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as is typical of most wanna-be and then out-there cruisers, I've assiduously followed numerous sailing blogs. As with any good story, the desire to know the outcome is often bitterly counterbalanced against the selfish desire for the enjoyment of the journey to continue. As I look back through my browser bookmarks list, it is like walking memory lane seeing the names of those who came before and have now moved on to other adventures, mostly on land and under the title of a different blog, or returned to their former land life for jobs, school, health or any myriad of other reasons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When setting out almost two and a half years ago, we deliberately set out without a planned timeline; it made the adventure more real for us and with no concrete plans, we didn't have to deal with reality for a while. For us, no deadline looming over us meant that we were free to live in the moment and enjoy every one of those moments to their fullest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We then found ourselves returned to Ottawa with no real plan. Is this a mark of the distance we have truly travelled? Have we become such gypsies, blowing in the wind, that we've even let go of that intense trait of planning out every step of the journey that got us out on the high seas in the first place? Is this a mind-space to treasure? I'm going to say, "Yes!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The flip-side of that coin however, is that reality does intrude and with a little number-crunching (probably all begun long ago but now percolating up to the surface) we've decided that while it would be lovely to stay out cruising indefinitely, we should take some concrete action to refill the bank accounts and think of the future beyond the next five years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fate has a lovely way of intervening, and the decision was made particularly easy when within a week of reaching out to my professional network, I was rewarded with a position I have coveted for a number of years. How could I say no? As of February 13 I will be starting a new job at PricewaterhouseCoopers! I won't go into the gritty details but suffice it to say that it's a position that will challenge me, allow me to travel across Canada and I will be specializing in an area that I find fascinating.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Favourite line on my resume:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>1st Mate & Navigator, sailing vessel Mowzer (October 2014 - present)</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now that we've made the decision to return, the reverse of all those actions taken to divest ourselves of our earth-bound connections has to be undertaken. Job, housing, transportation, furnishings, WORK CLOTHING!! <i>Yikes!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're not done yet though - Mowzer remains patiently in St. Martin and Henry at least will be returning to her welcoming decks in the spring. Stay tuned for the next chapter!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile - I think we have a new ride. Imagine just how much fun we have had buying a car in sub-zero, wintery conditions.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No two-stroke outboard on this new ride. Guess I don't have to worry about dinghy chaps either.</td></tr>
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<br />s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-1088000097057232752017-01-15T13:44:00.000-04:002017-01-15T13:44:40.162-04:00Martinique to St. Martin ... and On To Canada!<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a while since I posted here so to close out 2016 I thought I should do a little catch-up on our adventures since we were last hiking on Martinique.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ah, Martinique!! One of our favourite islands in the Caribbean and would that we could still be there. However, Mowzer needs some warranty work and the yards here are just too busy to fit us in until later in 2017, so off to St. Martin we went on word that we could be hauled and repairs started before Christmas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Martinique, as always had her grips on us and just as we were leaving we lost a set-screw in the pin that held the boom to the mast. After our initial shock, we turned around, effected our repair and were on our way again a few hours later.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just one little set screw, stripped of its' threads, caused a heart-stopping moment as we got ready to hoist sail and head north.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had the perfect weather window for our trek north. We could have done it all in one go but we decided to enjoy ourselves and took day sails instead: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Martinique to Dominica, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dominica to Guadeloupe, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guadeloupe to Antigua, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Antigua to St. Bart's,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and then a small hop from St. Bart's to St. Martin. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the rainy, squally weather cleared over the first couple of days we were treated to sunny skies once again. Along the way we met up with friends, firstly in Anse d'Arlets we had a final dinner with Laura & Jerry on their charter boat.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgealksVlR7tIg0kSb2lsou6Z318XixgxSVUMYvqM7jVIwL_Oqy76Y3C9cO_cVdzyuITi_ALCdeTEhrAF0qxvWqfckUvgZy1gBzcaD4fSku0JeU4IzK-9VOvyCebuHkC8g6qUqkrZkJnMM/s1600/DSCF0420-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgealksVlR7tIg0kSb2lsou6Z318XixgxSVUMYvqM7jVIwL_Oqy76Y3C9cO_cVdzyuITi_ALCdeTEhrAF0qxvWqfckUvgZy1gBzcaD4fSku0JeU4IzK-9VOvyCebuHkC8g6qUqkrZkJnMM/s400/DSCF0420-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From under her thick duvet of early morning cloud, Martinique awakes to the sunrise.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We caught up with Joe and Greg on Serenade as we reached Dominica, and from there to St. Martin we were boat buddies. It was still raining heavily on the island and we were treated to views of spectacular waterfalls and a 'river' of freshwater run-off along the coast.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterfalls from above and you can just make out the colour change of the fresh water running south along the coast.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlXnhvqgOkNthLWLiLyOCgnEhUaoErpnKCG73Xx2rIFgYdfoZyVrTEP-SA5xqg1EYv8QEuOG2tmnS2g5f3CJRnKNfUWHD9p84f662zdOGcnVvHTdU836h3n0HDKX8AcIsocrXboaPCe8/s1600/IMG_1902-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlXnhvqgOkNthLWLiLyOCgnEhUaoErpnKCG73Xx2rIFgYdfoZyVrTEP-SA5xqg1EYv8QEuOG2tmnS2g5f3CJRnKNfUWHD9p84f662zdOGcnVvHTdU836h3n0HDKX8AcIsocrXboaPCe8/s400/IMG_1902-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning sun lighting up the water and Serenade's sails. What perfect conditions!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we approached Guadeloupe we were treated to a rainbow over the anchorage and then a little squall as we anchored - seemed to be the routine we had hit, but on this occasion we were able to celebrate with a little reunion. Bill and Wendy on Overstreet were already in the anchorage.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dbWfJUqCgCrtaDne45XeTl59SIf6E1ipM0yFNIJ8A2a8Gm_pb3LHNmDcgPegqQRcLhAojdmRpMO3UvwiYYv5NYV4yvzJ1O8cQXcSZ0QoN0xjgOMoHetSizn96AEu2IbkqkeZy3pO9c8/s1600/IMG_1932-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dbWfJUqCgCrtaDne45XeTl59SIf6E1ipM0yFNIJ8A2a8Gm_pb3LHNmDcgPegqQRcLhAojdmRpMO3UvwiYYv5NYV4yvzJ1O8cQXcSZ0QoN0xjgOMoHetSizn96AEu2IbkqkeZy3pO9c8/s400/IMG_1932-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbows mean sunshine and rain - we were already in the sunshine so we assumed we might be about to get wet in the anchorage. Not for long though and then we were primed for a beautiful sunset.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so the days went - up and sail early for 8-10 hours and then settle into an anchorage for the night. Conditions were near-on perfect with beam reaches between the islands and easy-to-dodge squalls few and far between. Once we reached Antigua we were hoping for the forecast northerly factor in the winds as we made our turn north-west towards St. Martin. Unfortunately, the winds do not always listen to the forecast but we weren't complaining - calm conditions for a motor-sail, no drama, and a mid-afternoon arrival in St. Bart's. The only excitement we had was when we were just over 10 miles off the coast of St. Bart's and running in 70-100' of water, we could just make out a freighter up ahead that appeared to be stationary. Once we were in range with our AIS we were confirmed, he was anchored - and RIGHT on our rhumb line!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easy for us to tell that freighter wasn't moving, with the peaks of St. Bart's in the background.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DVY6PPYLAbOq1YL7y2fVNkOxkniiZE_DMwRJ_ks4KJCKeMe54jX56UcwyxD1t_t03tqxq8UrRbn1wDYllhkLaPyYU_KL6nEWf25S0oCaTwwSGP-VgZyQLEUkHMj9TU70SGzSpmLqSEQ/s1600/IMG_1964-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DVY6PPYLAbOq1YL7y2fVNkOxkniiZE_DMwRJ_ks4KJCKeMe54jX56UcwyxD1t_t03tqxq8UrRbn1wDYllhkLaPyYU_KL6nEWf25S0oCaTwwSGP-VgZyQLEUkHMj9TU70SGzSpmLqSEQ/s400/IMG_1964-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really? Right on our rhumb line to St. Bart's. Diversionary tactics were called for.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not that exciting in all reality - just a little tweak on the auto-pilot, and mostly a way to break up the day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once again, under sunny skies we headed on the next morning to make the bridge into the lagoon at St. Martin. As a first for us, we carried right on through the causeway bridge, which is a swing bridge with an in- and an out-channel, proceeded just over the border onto the French side and dropped our hook.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just two of us going through the bridge on that day.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We settled into the anchorage and with our arrival the winds picked back up to howling level and the sunny skies took a break. We had timed our trip perfectly!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTrXw74LLqOiCPk3EepCKaMUr9qpGc3dD1_AWmalpiyENEy0trmUEolc1vdGNisRPrc8IHcb0cqM_cWWvUTKlx-hyA8BCM3W-pSA9_4tjARbOmwTBtNeTlnNzpWBZsTQJda__IuSJ664/s1600/IMG_1971-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTrXw74LLqOiCPk3EepCKaMUr9qpGc3dD1_AWmalpiyENEy0trmUEolc1vdGNisRPrc8IHcb0cqM_cWWvUTKlx-hyA8BCM3W-pSA9_4tjARbOmwTBtNeTlnNzpWBZsTQJda__IuSJ664/s400/IMG_1971-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun said farewell for a few days with a nice showy sunset on the clouds above.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJ3fRwoLj5nwS194BNUROOSq2ybj211Di5c6wfgD7C_ImY_EGQfeI-Nc-msGIgZ2ka4AuDgNKO0uf00uZLdddkWLEH6GM3Lrn3B3RonvynVkr3f3AjUljQ52TxUEwGsYqUwdZFSWB9xk/s1600/IMG_1972-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJ3fRwoLj5nwS194BNUROOSq2ybj211Di5c6wfgD7C_ImY_EGQfeI-Nc-msGIgZ2ka4AuDgNKO0uf00uZLdddkWLEH6GM3Lrn3B3RonvynVkr3f3AjUljQ52TxUEwGsYqUwdZFSWB9xk/s400/IMG_1972-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our home in the French-side lagoon, just below "The Witch's Tit".</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDwkwHG-53fjLJLb56gk3XXMqj_7lcEz0xZAE7DPLwhZmGAexeNL4or8aNN5Htl1f8MMmG-lRY2wENitVSGWFHh4HWpsSnIXcyTndA6PaCSPSF_xcpUufh8C4VTsF9xx387uZf0V_-X8/s1600/IMG_1967-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDwkwHG-53fjLJLb56gk3XXMqj_7lcEz0xZAE7DPLwhZmGAexeNL4or8aNN5Htl1f8MMmG-lRY2wENitVSGWFHh4HWpsSnIXcyTndA6PaCSPSF_xcpUufh8C4VTsF9xx387uZf0V_-X8/s400/IMG_1967-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They may be stormy skies, but a little ray of sunshine created the perfect light for an evening sail.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While we awaited our haul-out date and hoped that the winds would die down a bit, we socialized and caught up with new and old friends.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87bQfAIgErfE4ZPwd6I9vbQ3FLFz6s-6SCi_6Bf_TZLgItIxv6yVEEHZxK_X9HFIqZaU-7hUNt1frb6Dob0qTtJBpRBQubWO2-Sb5pj6fxKwk5J8-x4dYlFluzYJHM7ly7Lny5H4Ghbo/s1600/IMG_6852-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87bQfAIgErfE4ZPwd6I9vbQ3FLFz6s-6SCi_6Bf_TZLgItIxv6yVEEHZxK_X9HFIqZaU-7hUNt1frb6Dob0qTtJBpRBQubWO2-Sb5pj6fxKwk5J8-x4dYlFluzYJHM7ly7Lny5H4Ghbo/s400/IMG_6852-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our favourite spots - Little Jerusalem for most excellent shawarma, this time enjoyed with Jo and Greg.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAu4iM7j9KhqQgvyO_q37gyBpqRE_N8DWu4cUQTDeRgxSW_M3Tut232HIQ85t42yjkyvXDuKR6TILNayj4pLTb5BWohqoFwiP2xyW67r1YzAkGluLDmcaglmc75I7hSnNEOHmFnxZKnQU/s1600/IMG_6857-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAu4iM7j9KhqQgvyO_q37gyBpqRE_N8DWu4cUQTDeRgxSW_M3Tut232HIQ85t42yjkyvXDuKR6TILNayj4pLTb5BWohqoFwiP2xyW67r1YzAkGluLDmcaglmc75I7hSnNEOHmFnxZKnQU/s400/IMG_6857-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a new one to try - an interesting combination!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">St. Martin is a wonderful cross-road where people heading north, south, east and west all converge. Here we met up with first-time Canadian cruisers Matthew & Kathleen on Kinship (friends from Ottawa) and Tess & Al on Ingomar (from St. John's, NFLD.) We then reunited with Danish friend Peter on Mandalay and with that we had quorum for a hike and a beer or two.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGOX6ORQGBUJ-mWzLHYxSRkgbyyXzL0bOFvWt_pA1A26sWdbJB3DuO1eZYHHID57NqQj-c2ALZ6iw_hbp-IVCkGfCpSSOVqDmzZQhWt0_WDLPqqgl_-db8mpGeZrx5UIX-k5Mzm20iug/s1600/IMG_6858-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGOX6ORQGBUJ-mWzLHYxSRkgbyyXzL0bOFvWt_pA1A26sWdbJB3DuO1eZYHHID57NqQj-c2ALZ6iw_hbp-IVCkGfCpSSOVqDmzZQhWt0_WDLPqqgl_-db8mpGeZrx5UIX-k5Mzm20iug/s400/IMG_6858-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matthew, Kathleen, Tess & Al joined us for a lovely French meal on a patio in Marigot.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXIW-nzATKJFMaGerCxgHS6cnlPk4Ctt5m7PjpzVFha5MqsbqVav4wxku18l7Y1-DyZsSRR0t6hDSJhWpTO3UauSZlEbvLUbqGQbYyMmHviwXTK0QQXhqXIfvHK8Zs5FhxERkF1hJjUw/s1600/DSCF0439-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXIW-nzATKJFMaGerCxgHS6cnlPk4Ctt5m7PjpzVFha5MqsbqVav4wxku18l7Y1-DyZsSRR0t6hDSJhWpTO3UauSZlEbvLUbqGQbYyMmHviwXTK0QQXhqXIfvHK8Zs5FhxERkF1hJjUw/s400/DSCF0439-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting lost up on Pic Paradis - it's amazing how quickly the path can become overgrown in the rainy season!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our haul-out date arrived on December 15th, and ironically it was the only day on the forecast that had winds under 20 knots. We hightailed it over to the yard early in the morning and before the winds could change their minds, we were lifted out and settled on the hard. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmW5-N5C5tDRDnkgqWXlM7bZ8x3pKN5HlbvoE3-WmMzuOIsW8cQqtLqI82qoZTm8gK0TNRs0JcAsGTwSwTvKjq8PrVMT8cPLyDEymXgQK4CKFbTbEPkkofonXe5owYaAKOQZhlYmmgA4/s1600/DSCF0440-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmW5-N5C5tDRDnkgqWXlM7bZ8x3pKN5HlbvoE3-WmMzuOIsW8cQqtLqI82qoZTm8gK0TNRs0JcAsGTwSwTvKjq8PrVMT8cPLyDEymXgQK4CKFbTbEPkkofonXe5owYaAKOQZhlYmmgA4/s400/DSCF0440-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting the lift straps carefully positioned.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagFaLJAX20nnLhkwukCO4YeHU8eh8QpTvvHHUKi79-rcCrVaLRb2QGf7c6HhSrGcLfLGWEeGNDVmKRFmUbFKKbRzLwzpvBbD51EvygFEvU1nAX9tCtEDp70NuE-GDeSDwLQ-ocu7fbPc/s1600/DSCF0442-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagFaLJAX20nnLhkwukCO4YeHU8eh8QpTvvHHUKi79-rcCrVaLRb2QGf7c6HhSrGcLfLGWEeGNDVmKRFmUbFKKbRzLwzpvBbD51EvygFEvU1nAX9tCtEDp70NuE-GDeSDwLQ-ocu7fbPc/s400/DSCF0442-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And quick as that Mowzer was lifted by the crane and carefully positioned in the yard. The whole operation took about 15 minutes.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A dusty, dirty yard is not a fun place to stay so we were very lucky to get an apartment right on Marigot Bay, about 15 minutes walk from the boat yard. A friend of a friend of a friend owns the place - so wonderful what a good network of friends can accomplish!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlI2fTMh3MJbuVZwepSFUs6pUAiX3WThODy1w9KZGkh8wCZtJRLitbwhgf3r_eLV3XaD7xlhMW_EVDU-2y93uO56za6pyFBpMEWvS-QOluLMJPa746lLWP3wOHYPkKk-7L4xfp-OQje8/s1600/DSCF0450-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlI2fTMh3MJbuVZwepSFUs6pUAiX3WThODy1w9KZGkh8wCZtJRLitbwhgf3r_eLV3XaD7xlhMW_EVDU-2y93uO56za6pyFBpMEWvS-QOluLMJPa746lLWP3wOHYPkKk-7L4xfp-OQje8/s400/DSCF0450-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our living room and a tiny kitchen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTpCh-exxTlb90EBtAyfu65zrWGKoQ2Z_GPntWnU1bOcWgcVB2jBjAa3AaDZb7GYIcl_-y4M3oe7ynnlWayeKzsdRc_soPa076CMkSGfRAZemtkXeBSoC85Cv7wc20kuFbG3SYzd0UKM/s1600/DSCF0445-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTpCh-exxTlb90EBtAyfu65zrWGKoQ2Z_GPntWnU1bOcWgcVB2jBjAa3AaDZb7GYIcl_-y4M3oe7ynnlWayeKzsdRc_soPa076CMkSGfRAZemtkXeBSoC85Cv7wc20kuFbG3SYzd0UKM/s400/DSCF0445-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the bedroom and patio completely made the stay delightful!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mowzer now has to sit on land for about four months, so being homeless for a while we decided to head back to Canada for Christmas and spend the holidays with family. On top of that, we celebrated my amazing mother's 93rd birthday with everyone in attendance except Jim, who joined us by Skype from Belgium.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">93 years strong - celebrating with the family.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Winter has of course arrived in Ottawa and with fresh eyes we are enjoying the winter views.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9t0w9nSVoqhePR7HbmWqwvNnqoHd8T3wSM68Bvj3SdC8ce7-Fzo5GMzXimElPiubSajpAqI9o0WcCOCa8CETIIcEc6KyJsrC7gMmpZGl-I8RuoxQ8_Ot1_CkLArjm3Fy3J681hpfhIGs/s1600/IMG_6947-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9t0w9nSVoqhePR7HbmWqwvNnqoHd8T3wSM68Bvj3SdC8ce7-Fzo5GMzXimElPiubSajpAqI9o0WcCOCa8CETIIcEc6KyJsrC7gMmpZGl-I8RuoxQ8_Ot1_CkLArjm3Fy3J681hpfhIGs/s400/IMG_6947-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Changes in latitude.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-12226257932798155712016-11-30T08:55:00.000-04:002016-12-27T11:28:24.848-04:00Exploring the South Side<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqh7x8-Ptvqdl57yve_YSr-vikT1ueaCYF32ehwKrmqEmcavQNtfK2LP6EQgOJfWzagTQWRMy6QezB06UXTlMHM0w-4OB2w3BUltNj8TZmKi29oVBiCRUvuXj9Y6tNZx9q2obbpRv43wM/s1600/Martinique.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqh7x8-Ptvqdl57yve_YSr-vikT1ueaCYF32ehwKrmqEmcavQNtfK2LP6EQgOJfWzagTQWRMy6QezB06UXTlMHM0w-4OB2w3BUltNj8TZmKi29oVBiCRUvuXj9Y6tNZx9q2obbpRv43wM/s400/Martinique.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our route along the south shore of Martinique led us through some diverse scenery and wonderful seaside towns.</td></tr>
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<span data-offset-key="322vv-0-0">We were treated to a hike last weekend out on the Diamante peninsula, right at the south west end of Martinique. Our friend John had a car so off we went to explore an area we hadn't visited much before. The hike between Grand Anse and Anse d'Arlet gave us a good view of both pretty anchorages (we stopped here briefly last July). </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUJzI-sgOQjdCkpn1a7rPMo_lw2ul9YHEVpOwhfbP6pGdH3RQYzBIqxVUPUpzWmMDDnxGtIMkxwqbOiBdQ-GRuBOAD_7zE8Sfy1CVJzYeDcULVDa-vL7Sth0Wg8oUJMHSDuoAtWLXOcE/s1600/DSCF0379-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUJzI-sgOQjdCkpn1a7rPMo_lw2ul9YHEVpOwhfbP6pGdH3RQYzBIqxVUPUpzWmMDDnxGtIMkxwqbOiBdQ-GRuBOAD_7zE8Sfy1CVJzYeDcULVDa-vL7Sth0Wg8oUJMHSDuoAtWLXOcE/s400/DSCF0379-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Anse is chock full of boats at this time of year, but still retains the quaint charm of a seaside town.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anse d'Arlet is a smaller bay, nicer town and definitely a beach destination for locals on this sunny Sunday.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UcwWRK-A5HhJgAZOhGEXOnDh-2j0qtA9UUi69qFNpObJ_emGYyCvOXW-4hniR5aNSoqRB704uNmw5WframgvpwRqN-bCYox2TlxHAyVbqoslVygogoChmNWvypN83SJrGlo6RgtEWsU/s1600/DSCF0385-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UcwWRK-A5HhJgAZOhGEXOnDh-2j0qtA9UUi69qFNpObJ_emGYyCvOXW-4hniR5aNSoqRB704uNmw5WframgvpwRqN-bCYox2TlxHAyVbqoslVygogoChmNWvypN83SJrGlo6RgtEWsU/s320/DSCF0385-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the walk over the headland between the two bays, Morne Champagne, Henry thinks he has found a great little real estate offering.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the south shore we stopped at this great viewpoint overlooking Diamond Rock.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-_N533SqvPIa1tS8d0eQIw6_cQhMwYjn2WhJ5_PkWPb_G4YAJPzJpdzO0_-iq9V3qrRJha7bJTQzfCMtTDmUdXfh82Wx2leuhnnvEY5TAo11f6QOndEene5LXipLzkFK9e3rPTUYLJY/s1600/DSCF0388-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-_N533SqvPIa1tS8d0eQIw6_cQhMwYjn2WhJ5_PkWPb_G4YAJPzJpdzO0_-iq9V3qrRJha7bJTQzfCMtTDmUdXfh82Wx2leuhnnvEY5TAo11f6QOndEene5LXipLzkFK9e3rPTUYLJY/s400/DSCF0388-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's hard to believe but at one time the British navy took control of this rock, called it HMS Diamond and kept tabs on the French. This is the first time I've seen a layout of where they located their operations (enlarge the photo for a better view.)</td></tr>
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<span data-offset-key="a6fmu-0-0">The drive back along the south shore took also us past a memorial statue that we had heard of but never found in the past as it is not marked on the tourist map. This statue (these statues) was erected as a memorial to the 46 lost souls on a slave ship that went aground on these shores during a strange manoeuvre by the captain in 1830. It is still unknown the name or nationality of the ship. The memorial is white, the traditional colour of mourning in the Caribbean, is approximately the same size as the burial ground, is in a triangle formation representing the axis of the slave trade and points to the location in Africa where the slaves were taken. An incredibly moving site.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1dcdh-0-0">We finished up the day at the Baraqu'Obama restaurant in St. Luce. You can't get your seafood any fresher than here: sitting at the tables on the beach watching the lobster begin sorted into holding pots, pulled out and placed on the grill just in time for your order! If you go on a Sunday, just make sure you get there early or there won't be a table available for you, it was a busy little place!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The story goes that the owner opened his restaurant at the same time that Barack Obama announced his run for the presidency. He was so proud that a black man would run for president that he named his restaurant in honour of the event, never imagining that he would actually become the American leader. Notice the Creole spelling.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting at our table watching the lobsters being sorted as they are brought in by the fishermen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The waves are almost lapping at our toes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't get any fresher!</td></tr>
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<span data-offset-key="1dcdh-0-0">Our many thanks to John (Seamantha) who introduced us to these new sights. Not sure how he managed to avoid the camera for the day, but we'll get you next time!</span></div>
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s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-55312970182928626612016-11-26T15:49:00.000-04:002016-11-26T15:49:12.119-04:00$$$: Cost of Cruising the Eastern Caribbean - An Island Exploration<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; line-height: normal;">
There are many cruisers who will not share their costs because cruising, just like life on land, is an individual lifestyle choice and everyone’s choices are different. However, I know when we were in the planning stages and trying to figure out how we could make this life work for us, a big question was, “could we afford it and for how long?”</div>
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Of course everyone has a different style of cruising and a different boat with different issues and different requirements. Did I stress that word enough yet? “Different”. That means of course that your mileage may vary from ours.</div>
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We spend very little time in marinas but we do occasionally visit one for leaving the boat. Other folks spend more or less time in marinas, and of course your cruising grounds will greatly impact cost. The Eastern Caribbean is not cheap - let me make that clear. Yes, we expect to pay less than $3 for our beer but boat parts are expensive and difficult to obtain, food can be cheap if you eat local provisions and fish along the way but if you have a yearning for some special treat expect to shell out for it. We eat out a couple of times a week, will happily partake in happy hour with drinks and will eat lunch out if we are running errands or hiking over the lunch-hour. And then there's communication (i.e. internet) costs. We often spend $70-80 a month but for those dollars only get about 5gb of data. Also for us this past couple of years has been difficult with the Canadian dollar falling in value against the US dollar. Remember that all those islands that use the East Caribbean Dollar are indexed to the USD so we are essentially spending USD most of the time.</div>
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We know that there are many people out here who spend more than we do - and as I said at the start, that is a lifestyle choice. We also know that we could do this cheaper, but would we be happy and enjoying ourselves and would Mowzer be a comfortable safe boat? - perhaps not. There are many reports that you can live on ridiculously low amounts but I would hazard a guess that these reports are not from the East Caribbean, and perhaps their crew is just a little bit more salty than us.</div>
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Please read through to the very end and then you can make your own decisions as to whether this information applies to you.</div>
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Mowzer: 2009 36’ Fountaine Pajot catamaran in good condition</div>
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Crew: Henry & Catherine - 50-somethings also in good condition ;-)</div>
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Accounting: We track every dollar spent (did I mention I was an analyst and Henry an engineer in our past lives?) We divide our tracking into three categories:</div>
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<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #454545;"></span>Boat expenses</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #454545;"></span>People expenses</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #454545;"></span>Annual / One time expenses</li>
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Within these main categories are further subcategories but our basic premise is that if we spend it on ourselves it is “People”, if we spend it on the boat it is “Boat”, and if it is a once a year or an otherwise non-recurring event we use the final category. Being Canadian, we actually run our numbers through conversion to the Canadian dollar - that’s how we have to pay our credit card bills and the currency of our bank accounts. However, given that most of the information you will find regarding costs and expenses on the internet are in US dollars, I have converted our numbers using the exchange rate in effect at the end of each month.</div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;">Annual budget is $60,000 USD and to be honest we spend a little more than this but are not too far off our budget.</span></li>
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Here’s the breakdown of our 2016 spending into the three main categories - our 2015 data was very similar:</div>
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Here’s the next level of detail with the breakdown of each category:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Careful with our tracking = no miscellaneous expense.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">* Zero spent this year on charts & guides - purchased in previous years</td></tr>
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Okay - that's all good information that you can use if you are planning on sailing in the Eastern Caribbean soon. However, the Eastern Caribbean is made up of many island nations and each one will present a different spending experience.</div>
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I was interested in comparing our costs between islands and also wanted to get some average numbers around daily spending.</div>
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I took all our data since April 2015 when we arrived in Sint Maarten/St. Martin (SXM) and started our trek south through the islands. Since then we made our way south to Grenada where we spent hurricane season 2015, then back north all the way to SXM only to return once again to Grenada for hurricane season 2016. For each time period in a country, I pulled the data for how much we spent in each category and also calculated the number of days of our stay. Here's a sampling of the data:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Careful, these data are in Canadian dollars.</td></tr>
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Are your eyes glazing over yet?? No worries, this is where it all comes together.</div>
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In the timeframe we're reviewing we spent 193 days in Grenada (by far the most of any country) and our average <u>people</u> cost is $91 CAD ($67 USD) per day. Do we really walk around Grenada shedding that much from our wallets on a daily basis?? Well not really of course but it is quite customary to spend $350 on one shopping trip to the grocery store, the hardware store and the bulk supplies store.</div>
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So here's what I was really interested in - a breakdown by country. These numbers are CAD so divide by 1.35 to get equivalent in USD. Remember - keep reading below the chart to get just a little more insight.</div>
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And here's my final set of notes on this data:</div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;">This chart does not include the major boat expenses category (insurance, haulout, major projects, bottom maintenance, vacation travel, etc.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SXM and Martinique are both major boat spending centres - this is where you get your annual and expensive repairs done.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Antigua, St. Lucia & Grenada also have good chandleries so boat bucks are spent there as well.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Montserrat, Dominica and SVG all look relatively inexpensive but major provisioning is done on the surrounding islands before/after going there.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that's it. What does this really do for me? Probably not a lot but it does help me be aware of the 'danger' zones and where our money can slip away. While we recognize that SXM is where we get most of our expensive boat shopping done, it is also a huge cruiser's gathering place and also home to the Heineken Regatta with lots of social time spent in bars and restaurants - perhaps this year we'll try to eat more on the boat! Just look at Antigua - lots of social and regatta time but we know that island is expensive so we've done a better job of controlling our costs there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope this might be helpful and please send any comments or questions our way.</span></div>
s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-55874924963843324242016-11-19T19:53:00.000-04:002016-12-27T11:14:26.937-04:00Making tracks to Martinique<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just four days of almost perfect sailing saw us make a quick transit from Grenada to Martinique.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We said our goodbyes to friends in Grenada, but time was marching on and we had to leave.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marie, Codey & Cathy - just missing Allen in this picture. Wonderful young friends who are on the verge of making their marks on this world! Can't wait to see what they get up to.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 1: Mt. Hartman to Carriacou (43 nm). Wind almost the whole way right on the nose, we took the western (leeward) coast and didn't even bother taking the sail out of the sailbag. We hoped once we cleared the northern tip of the big island we might see some wind, but it just stayed right on the nose. There was a big weather cell sitting just to the east of St. Vincent and thankfully it didn't move into the area but the effect was the northerly wind. At least it was only blowing 10-15 knots and the seas were nice and calm too. We arrived just in time to clear out of customs for an early morning departure the next day and to fill up all our diesel and gas jerry cans with duty-free fuel - the cheapest in the eastern Caribbean!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 2: Carriacou to Bequia (41 nm). Sailing through the Grenadines, the wind came round to the beam and we saw 8.2 knots SOG at one point! The only excitement we encountered was when the reef in the sail decided to come undone. Even though the winds were such that we could have deployed the full sail, we often find the boat more balanced and she sails better with the first reef, even in winds at 15 knots. This day however, we didn't bother to try to reattach the reef and instead put the full sail up, and promptly lost a half knot of speed. We had removed the sail for our time in the boatyard (required by the yard) and apparently when putting everything back, someone (ahem, me) obviously forgot how to tie the right knot - back to basics I guess. All was fixed when we arrived in Bequia and is now performing quite nicely.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9efx3ia7GfPvXKGSo55aDTsy_4QM9zi_AeU7YPF7A7RTNW0F7siXtahoupxEOk5eqSk8t8_leizsCT0uhFyNc9YE7Tyq2FdGeIqa3ur1AzHfcTeeslDjIymIuYsaMpv4YP0p-U1DtsI/s1600/DSCF0280-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9efx3ia7GfPvXKGSo55aDTsy_4QM9zi_AeU7YPF7A7RTNW0F7siXtahoupxEOk5eqSk8t8_leizsCT0uhFyNc9YE7Tyq2FdGeIqa3ur1AzHfcTeeslDjIymIuYsaMpv4YP0p-U1DtsI/s400/DSCF0280-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sailing the Grenadines - pretty sweet.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bequia treated us to a dramatic showing with the sunset.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 3: Bequia to Rodney Bay (74 nm). Up at 3am for an early morning departure under an almost full moon. We had to motor to the top of St. Vincent and then again hit great conditions with almost flat seas across the channel to St. Lucia.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeF6SV4UbfxN8-lRVR3Cj0Cre6zSSRtImJXjVFWsCsaEUtm9sLbrN-KfnVi_rqbMc_bU82eOg0TJvGh959D5S8wg47DUJLHtWud2kUfssXjzkNhh5UIL0sqbXFBxQNtN92WWkLwpckU1g/s1600/DSCF0300-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeF6SV4UbfxN8-lRVR3Cj0Cre6zSSRtImJXjVFWsCsaEUtm9sLbrN-KfnVi_rqbMc_bU82eOg0TJvGh959D5S8wg47DUJLHtWud2kUfssXjzkNhh5UIL0sqbXFBxQNtN92WWkLwpckU1g/s400/DSCF0300-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An almost full moon played hide & seek behind our sail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fDjk0vIe2yzd15flQEOeWB4Xx1Pr8ZiO4nslKB9YlDWOwmy1WcCM8nLVHqh8haaVYmvLz7j0MYSr_bKMDFYsW7oXw3aBu4Z9UXazN85C_2atnowv7AqDFueA4fBfUMi7B4zpujPG66g/s1600/DSCF0305-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fDjk0vIe2yzd15flQEOeWB4Xx1Pr8ZiO4nslKB9YlDWOwmy1WcCM8nLVHqh8haaVYmvLz7j0MYSr_bKMDFYsW7oXw3aBu4Z9UXazN85C_2atnowv7AqDFueA4fBfUMi7B4zpujPG66g/s400/DSCF0305-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the early morning with the sun rising behind St. Vincent and the moon setting over the Caribbean Sea we had this intriguing lighting effect looking west.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's an interesting little study in perspective. We were tracking up the leeward shore of St. Vincent with this monohull who left Bequia with us. From our viewpoint, they were sticking awfully close to shore and we were hanging out a bit trying to pick up some wind. However, when we checked their AIS signal on the chart plotter they had plenty of room. Just goes to show how big those hills really are!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkjsiDO4oPMXU4kp0kG3PIKgAQ2bCJ_5Ljy6We7okAqesHychoiFFO9OHMf-xx9IPO7WkZI3nLk44n9giKz5s4zR-nZt_6g1p-Nw6wW0BfPDO9Ed2vmdD1DM9vvvqSLv_ScXq9PvL2Bs/s1600/DSCF0307-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkjsiDO4oPMXU4kp0kG3PIKgAQ2bCJ_5Ljy6We7okAqesHychoiFFO9OHMf-xx9IPO7WkZI3nLk44n9giKz5s4zR-nZt_6g1p-Nw6wW0BfPDO9Ed2vmdD1DM9vvvqSLv_ScXq9PvL2Bs/s400/DSCF0307-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit blurry but Marinade appears to be almost on the shore.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspLYgaxMmVXFk4rHcbQ5K8lcqnl7aPK8GzH_5l7GJVDs0uNrc2SYcNXTkfHI6cAnF1v31Vbn0x9lz6l9DfDczJu9ZrsbcVSSt63SKDkB4UssorGTJQko8hoASQUuykaCCEX9G1217zOM/s1600/DSCF0308-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspLYgaxMmVXFk4rHcbQ5K8lcqnl7aPK8GzH_5l7GJVDs0uNrc2SYcNXTkfHI6cAnF1v31Vbn0x9lz6l9DfDczJu9ZrsbcVSSt63SKDkB4UssorGTJQko8hoASQUuykaCCEX9G1217zOM/s400/DSCF0308-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Their signal on AIS (the little triangle) shows they are actually closer to us than to land.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUCJLlogRHE9hvOp-k5eVJbt3gxXTD7rFQ_39U3I_VCXukmLoxl77Dg88UsTG0TLSHwXFToaY9UHdsPBSt0t9_qXDiracbYYJRS_kAfLefmlA8L5a9wL9Jqb-QMZ3_b8SGnk6jgqkDzc/s1600/DSCF0309-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUCJLlogRHE9hvOp-k5eVJbt3gxXTD7rFQ_39U3I_VCXukmLoxl77Dg88UsTG0TLSHwXFToaY9UHdsPBSt0t9_qXDiracbYYJRS_kAfLefmlA8L5a9wL9Jqb-QMZ3_b8SGnk6jgqkDzc/s400/DSCF0309-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rounding the top of St. Vincent with barely a breath of wind, and then BAM! 20 knots on a perfect beam reach.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxHD6w9qCDxyLaWwnv5tXonZTW5hbS_vcjTbPpQMQ_HBBCLe1VUXh7FCqEa9k-FkHihdxDLaVmUypt72xI1H7P2q77mowKJiHFK3RGA1fa33v3UT2qVfGGpTSyMLg7a9QbmDcVdhgbQs/s1600/DSCF0310-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxHD6w9qCDxyLaWwnv5tXonZTW5hbS_vcjTbPpQMQ_HBBCLe1VUXh7FCqEa9k-FkHihdxDLaVmUypt72xI1H7P2q77mowKJiHFK3RGA1fa33v3UT2qVfGGpTSyMLg7a9QbmDcVdhgbQs/s400/DSCF0310-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning drama with the sunrise behind St. Vincent.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Approaching St. Lucia from the south provides beautiful views of the many moods of the Pitons.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYIxaHPWa-wmZuwsG4nLVsT9uGmL_u6WV1OimIazWBHOLtu-j4tTXu1BD4jJjRK9az-C5p0-Q3XtO_d2AAdq15gg6qmcLbTkS1GregNezL3EZgGnqybiFFQFxsmjvvKfczQ3zovbP0X8/s1600/DSCF0312-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYIxaHPWa-wmZuwsG4nLVsT9uGmL_u6WV1OimIazWBHOLtu-j4tTXu1BD4jJjRK9az-C5p0-Q3XtO_d2AAdq15gg6qmcLbTkS1GregNezL3EZgGnqybiFFQFxsmjvvKfczQ3zovbP0X8/s400/DSCF0312-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I still maintain they look like cat ears in the early morning haze.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK-SC4cJcN2qC-RVLYwvDeLP4JIQ6VQVqu07SBCtlYiWGlpqby07mMyTlEf4D8x1C_CM240gZQua777pkMI_oMBmLm9qAq-6UA4d5T8sPM4lBqOzt1UxTaNXgKxtG1DQZIdOLw14cPFI/s1600/DSCF0313-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK-SC4cJcN2qC-RVLYwvDeLP4JIQ6VQVqu07SBCtlYiWGlpqby07mMyTlEf4D8x1C_CM240gZQua777pkMI_oMBmLm9qAq-6UA4d5T8sPM4lBqOzt1UxTaNXgKxtG1DQZIdOLw14cPFI/s400/DSCF0313-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a dry crossing, rain showers ahead.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNw_bJ6_S39rNXArtgcY7aXtY83_9rCG60LYnSLTAG-6H4MgCs5fA7EJqYgzEHPRWx8P2EkaCVUI443eDVSeTskEWDjUvAMId9bilGmBtzHIFvUGGPlDuXTizdUnmI7lwFEVFx3N5ew0/s1600/DSCF0314-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNw_bJ6_S39rNXArtgcY7aXtY83_9rCG60LYnSLTAG-6H4MgCs5fA7EJqYgzEHPRWx8P2EkaCVUI443eDVSeTskEWDjUvAMId9bilGmBtzHIFvUGGPlDuXTizdUnmI7lwFEVFx3N5ew0/s400/DSCF0314-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's an anchorage between the Pitons - bet they're getting wet today! I love the twin 'smoking' volcano tops.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfXkkgmuzK_wNpCVAvD6ImkrufwIq8-mw5hznGSYTGdqRb7wHywLrO8X1dTEPlJ0sp8l3HDiWGTjWHc4jATGYWJoePCKSOA2Oj-ZNbBz0svK06J6_C4PH8jsrfVonVUye19crHuYszNY/s1600/DSCF0315-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfXkkgmuzK_wNpCVAvD6ImkrufwIq8-mw5hznGSYTGdqRb7wHywLrO8X1dTEPlJ0sp8l3HDiWGTjWHc4jATGYWJoePCKSOA2Oj-ZNbBz0svK06J6_C4PH8jsrfVonVUye19crHuYszNY/s400/DSCF0315-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost obliterated in the intensity of the rain.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiioWpJWJ_Dc8MK50iP5tJjBEbSUXK8glk3qQn4qxPVi2EUUtTbCvBztv2pjss5u_K7_JR59kkEF7_d6JsLvYTgsyYG9R3dL03eK0rS0lcTyneC_3NfOmVXuGOFGsQiK10QvdEtQU_B7o/s1600/DSCF0317-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiioWpJWJ_Dc8MK50iP5tJjBEbSUXK8glk3qQn4qxPVi2EUUtTbCvBztv2pjss5u_K7_JR59kkEF7_d6JsLvYTgsyYG9R3dL03eK0rS0lcTyneC_3NfOmVXuGOFGsQiK10QvdEtQU_B7o/s400/DSCF0317-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then the sun came out and the whole fury was done.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 4:</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rodney Bay to Ste. Anne (25 nm) With our early start on the previous day, we lazed around a little, let the sun rise, used up the last of the data on our Grenada SIM card (it doesn't work in Martinique) and then picked up the anchor to head north on a short little hop to the south end of Martinique. Once again, another beautiful sail and amazingly few fish pots as we approached the anchorage at Ste. Anne. When last here in July we had our pick of spots to anchor, now the anchorage is filling up and there are hundreds of boats here. We found a nice sandy spot right between other fellow cruisers and here we will rest for a while.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Phew - what a trip and probably the best three days of sailing we have had in a very long time. 183 nm in 29 hours which is an average of 6.3 knots - very happy with this!</span></div>
s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com0Ste. Anne, Martinique14.428835951261609 -60.88913133945311514.305814451261609 -61.050492839453113 14.551857451261609 -60.727769839453117tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-74392864593577853282016-11-13T12:34:00.001-04:002016-11-13T13:04:39.904-04:00Our Last Hash on Grenada<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We've posted many times before about our regular Saturday activity while on Grenada, but this week's <a href="https://web.facebook.com/groups/grenadahash/10154814150199797/?notif_t=group_activity&notif_id=1479044220457253" target="_blank">Hash</a> was just about the wettest and muddiest that we have done in a long time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We'll be leaving Grenada in the coming week so this Hash also marked our last for </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a while, unless of course we track down another Hash House Harrier club up-island.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We'd had a lot of rain over the last few days so we fully expected this hash to be a wet, muddy affair. We headed up into the hills of St. David parish, near Red Gate and as Devon's bus climbed higher and higher, the air temperature pleasantly chilled and the vegetation became so lush and tangled it </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">looked like it was just dripping over itself. We arrived at Velma's shop where the hash as hosted this week and within a few steps off the concrete road, we just knew we would be cleaning up lots of sticky mud at the end of the run.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Instructions were given and we set off under cloudy skies. It wasn't until we were high up on a ridge that an intense downpour hit us. The rain was pleasantly cooling on our hot skin and by the time we returned for the end of hash celebrations and party, we were even relatively clean - all the mud washed away, except around our ankles and the soles of our shoes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vyKMb4IK5qt4zfMpRaP5tJEO8-6LHmTIQ0X4OHBbTDcAFjWuVjMAisW_cL6OPhgm8WtlsoC-k_sr4AVVbfDl8BrEqtx9-58IsI8GRZ7bhqF1aO18TCk-PPSlUXS7o1qFFu54DNC2icE/s1600/DSCF0202-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vyKMb4IK5qt4zfMpRaP5tJEO8-6LHmTIQ0X4OHBbTDcAFjWuVjMAisW_cL6OPhgm8WtlsoC-k_sr4AVVbfDl8BrEqtx9-58IsI8GRZ7bhqF1aO18TCk-PPSlUXS7o1qFFu54DNC2icE/s400/DSCF0202-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark, Fiona & Kierin - looking all clean before the hash.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKHzVT8gL911fImZsEHqt97_QTcVjjkcChN39-RSCWC2yrXOgbhtDJjTg_9kEXEKKi7W8gXj4duUA_EA7WJx2NHrvyunX3g_au3IZbl3pTyCSJfvD5K7geS9FKD9-_AdQ7I8iRsVdtIU/s1600/DSCF0208-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKHzVT8gL911fImZsEHqt97_QTcVjjkcChN39-RSCWC2yrXOgbhtDJjTg_9kEXEKKi7W8gXj4duUA_EA7WJx2NHrvyunX3g_au3IZbl3pTyCSJfvD5K7geS9FKD9-_AdQ7I8iRsVdtIU/s400/DSCF0208-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lush, heavy and red - volcanic soil on this farm grows anything that is stuck in the ground. Yams and plantain here with papaya and cabbage in the background.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpP1nX_0mU322w38_BjSDnpDahNpw38YPA2CZuSqRz20c2PBib6ay1BHj_9bTgGQqbKxrggztZyyEM22-sv5XxmDIRWNFmhxoEsQzRD6-QklWgTpc9I09YU-9FPSh2ybb-tDvPqUCvHg/s1600/DSCF0205-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpP1nX_0mU322w38_BjSDnpDahNpw38YPA2CZuSqRz20c2PBib6ay1BHj_9bTgGQqbKxrggztZyyEM22-sv5XxmDIRWNFmhxoEsQzRD6-QklWgTpc9I09YU-9FPSh2ybb-tDvPqUCvHg/s400/DSCF0205-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dark, waxy Sorrel flowers are used to make a sweet red Christmas drink.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1A99VhLQF0E8o9nq7HhRUnkL1KWSmGDGgoy3USeiCH_FYTEn_7wGn5WYeovbAqe9e05QDmoH_RncmhJ1KCU0m3m8gXtoCBAlBIa0RLBg7Vzg58rKMqXQKLlevyJ3GVVCb05S296Ft1U/s1600/DSCF0206-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1A99VhLQF0E8o9nq7HhRUnkL1KWSmGDGgoy3USeiCH_FYTEn_7wGn5WYeovbAqe9e05QDmoH_RncmhJ1KCU0m3m8gXtoCBAlBIa0RLBg7Vzg58rKMqXQKLlevyJ3GVVCb05S296Ft1U/s400/DSCF0206-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being a young kitten on Grenada is a terribly hard life. Usually scrawny, short-lived little things that don't stand much of a chance - this one had also suffered having all his whiskers clipped off.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSaxCz0L6Bh9w9JtufpcdnC5HhQp25viN-BwV-S5gBPPXkdaouQ-r_EAFb5tq5NOmas1Uz3ahcxuOz0rmKkTWiy_Y1AcoPNeHB0Jg05M6-rdA9HSjSxLajSasay2pZyDTPrrRcHL-PY0/s1600/DSCF0207-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSaxCz0L6Bh9w9JtufpcdnC5HhQp25viN-BwV-S5gBPPXkdaouQ-r_EAFb5tq5NOmas1Uz3ahcxuOz0rmKkTWiy_Y1AcoPNeHB0Jg05M6-rdA9HSjSxLajSasay2pZyDTPrrRcHL-PY0/s400/DSCF0207-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost ready for the hash to start - Reg and Shanique are all smiles.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLNajnesyUP2Yrz5C72vXm0GCIbFUtgPTY9UPqQEcN6E1skefd8DatMov9QSW4PHeyTgaf7Hvtw0nJJlQ8jifh1dThPauEMmYcmxtahyQmhQKneaMx8MGOPq4dX5u7cBuF7hz1u_zfbc/s1600/DSCF0211-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLNajnesyUP2Yrz5C72vXm0GCIbFUtgPTY9UPqQEcN6E1skefd8DatMov9QSW4PHeyTgaf7Hvtw0nJJlQ8jifh1dThPauEMmYcmxtahyQmhQKneaMx8MGOPq4dX5u7cBuF7hz1u_zfbc/s400/DSCF0211-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Johan, Paul, Reg & Henry - not often Henry gets to be taller than Johan!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEich4wvRJjSqHjfqcRrsBIIc2RfjOFzTNBQdIX3nxxG6difaOougP_pLsNzuCzuqSnd5edDvxzCsUlFFtmliJUqvJNnh5gT2z-4H_8h6CYknl_DHHd9zQvgZk3o1ot4kkYgzOV9w3LWxOE/s1600/DSCF0213-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEich4wvRJjSqHjfqcRrsBIIc2RfjOFzTNBQdIX3nxxG6difaOougP_pLsNzuCzuqSnd5edDvxzCsUlFFtmliJUqvJNnh5gT2z-4H_8h6CYknl_DHHd9zQvgZk3o1ot4kkYgzOV9w3LWxOE/s400/DSCF0213-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Contemplating (or becoming part of) the greenery.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlYNUULe7nAk6msXDTCOESs94vnP-Qaj8PL0zwQ1aqiq0qCTC6BtjlBrW2dtLXDauacLPFJS2mRp2rPksbcAvpFGvOlFZ4rMU-jkP0PGRhEYhnhZnxFAIrUbS3FZDbtV_1XIBHTPHBj0/s1600/DSCF0215-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlYNUULe7nAk6msXDTCOESs94vnP-Qaj8PL0zwQ1aqiq0qCTC6BtjlBrW2dtLXDauacLPFJS2mRp2rPksbcAvpFGvOlFZ4rMU-jkP0PGRhEYhnhZnxFAIrUbS3FZDbtV_1XIBHTPHBj0/s400/DSCF0215-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And we're off - the trail left off the road and headed through the local backyards and then into the bush.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lEjJnbUmMwkjw9hhZ2bbI9QZGiKdWvL64bcGbeK0K1lnJfRH0MUhpZ_NH-M3kQqNCJf9tRpG8HLeMAnk1OgipK6cxt1pn0RpSEYua8GDHdocIOfWV9MX1XinxirOLXvPJYshTCryNWY/s1600/DSCF0217-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lEjJnbUmMwkjw9hhZ2bbI9QZGiKdWvL64bcGbeK0K1lnJfRH0MUhpZ_NH-M3kQqNCJf9tRpG8HLeMAnk1OgipK6cxt1pn0RpSEYua8GDHdocIOfWV9MX1XinxirOLXvPJYshTCryNWY/s400/DSCF0217-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hare, "Respect the Banana" urged us over the first stream crossing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0D8rkOfjX1qk9eTgEY7kYQmjXoQKDPNpqa861R_nxJGPsQtmfcllUXuNWBKcKJZrtzSfJ90fgrx70C89IVRmjv2ZmVtSWp-Pal1onWhF2otOYfxJ-FSjq_Fb4Qy06-EY9NGJMTzTxhM/s1600/DSCF0218-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0D8rkOfjX1qk9eTgEY7kYQmjXoQKDPNpqa861R_nxJGPsQtmfcllUXuNWBKcKJZrtzSfJ90fgrx70C89IVRmjv2ZmVtSWp-Pal1onWhF2otOYfxJ-FSjq_Fb4Qy06-EY9NGJMTzTxhM/s400/DSCF0218-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack, sporting his first muddy handprint on that pristine white t-shirt, leads Henry up the hill under a mango tree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9VgBiG0EwDbRbQE1KfVfniy4hKlnjDBMUcLhB1Zkjfm-sOk3OCuBL0la8qwmHhyphenhyphen2PVWPu-xVD0fy0TBQrLvwb4ZRbThKVfaSz8em2TLOZU56_thktddj5PDudVCrfaKBWnEoOy6bHdw/s1600/DSCF0221-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9VgBiG0EwDbRbQE1KfVfniy4hKlnjDBMUcLhB1Zkjfm-sOk3OCuBL0la8qwmHhyphenhyphen2PVWPu-xVD0fy0TBQrLvwb4ZRbThKVfaSz8em2TLOZU56_thktddj5PDudVCrfaKBWnEoOy6bHdw/s400/DSCF0221-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our next river crossing - easier just to wade in and get the feet wet, it is inevitable anyway.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6k-9B8Nu-c7A6imoRpwMJU-qvDJJij9l-SZKq6C0ZYC1tsmizLgegbLpADAWGLhTNFgclsPAGpfAQ0XL34mxHB94Q5D4d0OsZdgDTqzPgdjqV4f3oGn1U9K0mzxvoNJOhK0Nq5nlEpms/s1600/DSCF0223-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6k-9B8Nu-c7A6imoRpwMJU-qvDJJij9l-SZKq6C0ZYC1tsmizLgegbLpADAWGLhTNFgclsPAGpfAQ0XL34mxHB94Q5D4d0OsZdgDTqzPgdjqV4f3oGn1U9K0mzxvoNJOhK0Nq5nlEpms/s400/DSCF0223-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rain started down, the clouds settled on the hilltops and our view was reduced to the immediate surroundings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBq3SPV7lGSs-0NnyNWrS_5UIDjmNjHuG7CKT2BYWW7LV8ROsFbqFP8c_8R-rfg0oq7gaLkCONn0wkwkNJlS3SpIJJceX1hobm1iYruzZXntkwHvnjisQ2xDlXh-zvYSdw3z_VopnPepo/s1600/DSCF0224-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBq3SPV7lGSs-0NnyNWrS_5UIDjmNjHuG7CKT2BYWW7LV8ROsFbqFP8c_8R-rfg0oq7gaLkCONn0wkwkNJlS3SpIJJceX1hobm1iYruzZXntkwHvnjisQ2xDlXh-zvYSdw3z_VopnPepo/s400/DSCF0224-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This part of the trail let up a surprisingly well-manicured grassy road.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGzG2Bo8ns9IhHQCl5CkGozcTkuQR5SiDXR1VKs6rgeOTDgm_zDgo1bnflk0VTvZcWunqKCcj5_1s0Aa6ytQ17_UJWkTOX8R43jN1Nakbd2CAJZMbYM6vlQ_BTGJ4jq9OzU3qTSJQY3U/s1600/DSCF0225-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGzG2Bo8ns9IhHQCl5CkGozcTkuQR5SiDXR1VKs6rgeOTDgm_zDgo1bnflk0VTvZcWunqKCcj5_1s0Aa6ytQ17_UJWkTOX8R43jN1Nakbd2CAJZMbYM6vlQ_BTGJ4jq9OzU3qTSJQY3U/s400/DSCF0225-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Venessa & Gary - are you wet enough yet?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgq5jbtW8CtB7ofJ28QMXXolXD166o93xhWg97KZ0gd58Jnva2TNvUNTJel-JVEjIuyWyhb74b4JHFzkuJ1V050Anp4CcwqfRrvbEmaUoCHUopXid_Y7HJv9Y1cdCmxuxYqx9WpiB4H8Q/s1600/DSCF0228-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgq5jbtW8CtB7ofJ28QMXXolXD166o93xhWg97KZ0gd58Jnva2TNvUNTJel-JVEjIuyWyhb74b4JHFzkuJ1V050Anp4CcwqfRrvbEmaUoCHUopXid_Y7HJv9Y1cdCmxuxYqx9WpiB4H8Q/s400/DSCF0228-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As we reached the ridge and imagined the views on either side, the rain lashed down with abandon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPua4hpWQuCTS062Ee5_2BYstKkP4j2BfZYDVnIGjt24twRlSYeK4hFCjFXzJh4LO7N4nL-gPL08_u_z2-FAlMX5X8_BjFn1TZI7dOOZqD5IBqHicA5De8XWEDVJg4DYNebLwG93dW2w/s1600/DSCF0229-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPua4hpWQuCTS062Ee5_2BYstKkP4j2BfZYDVnIGjt24twRlSYeK4hFCjFXzJh4LO7N4nL-gPL08_u_z2-FAlMX5X8_BjFn1TZI7dOOZqD5IBqHicA5De8XWEDVJg4DYNebLwG93dW2w/s400/DSCF0229-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This sheep was unsuccessfully trying to stay dry under a banana tree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl0NHzAjvxvZZ1f8BExzfdiGaCz6Rq6csVz0_u6YoJ9rP39SAJ8pYHVbwbo475o1VRGNXuETacoC4YoLV56sleqUah7SmohZFPZjm5cdK4Bm3NrIL4iJ3j1GMbRL8D3-ZH4yIB4KEaYw/s1600/DSCF0231-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl0NHzAjvxvZZ1f8BExzfdiGaCz6Rq6csVz0_u6YoJ9rP39SAJ8pYHVbwbo475o1VRGNXuETacoC4YoLV56sleqUah7SmohZFPZjm5cdK4Bm3NrIL4iJ3j1GMbRL8D3-ZH4yIB4KEaYw/s400/DSCF0231-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Path or stream? Both!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiH_cF38SO5OYd9MUAjWNj7BiJCqUQ-c7HDFl4njmvFnHjTqHdgQA1ifB-TP6IuqbW0EGxHsq-x4ClyLGEY41tcgAaylYZr1p_K9q64hSwZc6rVFNxvulMT_w8STcqWJbWpjhwW6tT24/s1600/DSCF0232-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiH_cF38SO5OYd9MUAjWNj7BiJCqUQ-c7HDFl4njmvFnHjTqHdgQA1ifB-TP6IuqbW0EGxHsq-x4ClyLGEY41tcgAaylYZr1p_K9q64hSwZc6rVFNxvulMT_w8STcqWJbWpjhwW6tT24/s400/DSCF0232-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And we're back - and the party is already in full gear. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMwcvirotHKd6fo_6hrMOslL-gKqcphYNMRt3-WI2B5-zoJYWn7QhpWNGb7lNvS2yL3D1TluMjfPiqJ0FdAmD_iMpTRBN-WhBvHUUE95ANuj1XSETSmTxwtYUxvFHeRU1_wDi1zvD4Ko/s1600/DSCF0235-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMwcvirotHKd6fo_6hrMOslL-gKqcphYNMRt3-WI2B5-zoJYWn7QhpWNGb7lNvS2yL3D1TluMjfPiqJ0FdAmD_iMpTRBN-WhBvHUUE95ANuj1XSETSmTxwtYUxvFHeRU1_wDi1zvD4Ko/s400/DSCF0235-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We picked up our arrival beers and then turned back to watch the fun as more hashers arrived and struggled to make the final climb.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgt05foxx7ZjyfWej4IjoQY4kIjnjXIdmHXoubmtF9_dUeSTxOEu8PZp1Ws6d4Jtgk760AXnBy7cUYlacWk4Ao4vucRUC3NY3MZ61WkZGSnO3qzZX7klzpEDVlhy20IU460t_wz_3LPA/s1600/DSCF0240-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgt05foxx7ZjyfWej4IjoQY4kIjnjXIdmHXoubmtF9_dUeSTxOEu8PZp1Ws6d4Jtgk760AXnBy7cUYlacWk4Ao4vucRUC3NY3MZ61WkZGSnO3qzZX7klzpEDVlhy20IU460t_wz_3LPA/s400/DSCF0240-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slip sliding away.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Riding on Devon's bus, we have turned our after-hash tradition into a local pub visit. It just so happens that the last few weeks we have been on hashes in the southern parish of St. David's, which means that the most logical stop on the way home is Nimrod's Bar in Lower Woburn.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xxPWEGYxLsrGyn1UYjIEljkpRcdPiGqz3gJYYC9dQHvN6U7xZDckcYGUX6muXrzkIHJqUKzIobQO12Al-Z5BfuMqzrZ2HQbBEWMC5V0NZOBZgPtANgMhMWgKZm7GJ6X3di6gDaKGnBk/s1600/IMG_6839-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xxPWEGYxLsrGyn1UYjIEljkpRcdPiGqz3gJYYC9dQHvN6U7xZDckcYGUX6muXrzkIHJqUKzIobQO12Al-Z5BfuMqzrZ2HQbBEWMC5V0NZOBZgPtANgMhMWgKZm7GJ6X3di6gDaKGnBk/s400/IMG_6839-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can see, we've been here before with friends.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl03p3iP3r5RSZdriG1d4rFdmG0k3USNj8K_oXc0FGVM-PFmsr_ZPh3pT6Yp3bQFNVcmonmD50p_HLypTsSE5oghh9lmnOcQHJaRTXFt-zU2Wi3puY2r7myIKR5UAonL6kn6Z7XyokkrE/s1600/IMG_6841-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl03p3iP3r5RSZdriG1d4rFdmG0k3USNj8K_oXc0FGVM-PFmsr_ZPh3pT6Yp3bQFNVcmonmD50p_HLypTsSE5oghh9lmnOcQHJaRTXFt-zU2Wi3puY2r7myIKR5UAonL6kn6Z7XyokkrE/s400/IMG_6841-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barflies Shanique, Reg, Catherine & Devon. At Nimrod's you can get a wicked rum punch, a cold beer and some excellent pickles and marmalade.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com0Saint David, Grenada12.041167293134905 -61.69750213623046911.979049293134905 -61.778183136230467 12.103285293134904 -61.61682113623047tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-66554815873750481632016-10-28T14:41:00.000-04:002016-10-28T14:41:46.466-04:00Keeping Our Cool While at Anchor<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few days ago I put up a post about <a href="http://svmowzer.blogspot.ca/2016/10/keeping-our-cool-in-boatyard.html" target="_blank">Keeping Our Cool in the Boatyard</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Given that we spend most of our time swinging on the anchor, it's even more imperative that we keep our cool while living onboard, on the water! This can be especially important if you are spending extensive time in the tropics - like hurricane season in Grenada where the daily temps are often over 40C and the humidity over 90%. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've added a few bits and pieces of canvas to Mowzer over the last couple of years to help us do just that, the latest being a wind scoop for the cockpit. Amazingly simple, can't believe it's taken me two years to make this one (scroll down to the bottom for a view.) Maybe there are a few ideas you can use on your boat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's our current inventory:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Sun/rain shades on our forward hatches</u> - we have two hatches on our forward saloon windows that interestingly open inwards. This means that with the slightest drop of rain, we are wet inside along the backs of the salon cushions. Even with our big sunshade up, any rain that drips over the front edge of the cabin top makes its way inside. The solution: I afixed some bolt-rope track under the edge of the cabin top overhang, made a couple of rectangles out of Sunbrella with corner ties that clip easily to the lashings of the trampoline and removes easily for when we are getting underway. Now when it rains we are dry inside up to about 25 knots of wind - then it starts to blow along the deck and up into the open hatches so we shut down the hatches. Essentially this just recreates a hatch that opens outward, which is just what Fountaine-Pajot installed on later models of our boat.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivypjQraVDkq8YmjMKhlGrgpAEED5atGJk2ivMtbBoN2sY64gzGRDqxj2sgL6TAhZDWa-7p4Sx1P2BPKzlOm-i9CZ51zSWVwAEXgdeL5eHI6QS48_VPIbRuVzDUBOKkKVJ5lBiSjFy3fc/s1600/DSCF0170-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivypjQraVDkq8YmjMKhlGrgpAEED5atGJk2ivMtbBoN2sY64gzGRDqxj2sgL6TAhZDWa-7p4Sx1P2BPKzlOm-i9CZ51zSWVwAEXgdeL5eHI6QS48_VPIbRuVzDUBOKkKVJ5lBiSjFy3fc/s400/DSCF0170-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only problem with the forward hatch covers is that they impede access to the anchor locker, but at least we don't have to go in there too often once the anchor is down. You can also see here the sunshade covering we have on all the saloon windows to reduce glare and temperatures inside.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Hard top on the helm station</u>: Last year we installed a hard top bimini over the cockpit and also a hard top shelter at the helm station. Because in the Caribbean the wind nearly always blows from the east and the helm station is on the starboard side of our boat, this means that nearly always the shade from the hard-top protects the cockpit from the most intense sunshine of the day. If we roll down the front windscreen it also helps to keep the cockpit dry. These were not the primary benefits foreseen when we built the hard-top, but they sure are much appreciated.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEtoEkbYFyiW0O3atWg8udxp9v5BK5j-JCieuW0YbPmWDpzNw-pXZMJlZf1kgPpkzzvXzRRB2EiuUWPyaMs57CdxI4t6mJOrwh5tZETTaTw7iJjsBWZ8JI2i90bhIxGYwOG_8np9WOTk/s1600/DSCF0171-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEtoEkbYFyiW0O3atWg8udxp9v5BK5j-JCieuW0YbPmWDpzNw-pXZMJlZf1kgPpkzzvXzRRB2EiuUWPyaMs57CdxI4t6mJOrwh5tZETTaTw7iJjsBWZ8JI2i90bhIxGYwOG_8np9WOTk/s400/DSCF0171-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just look at that lovely dark shadow under the helm roof.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Aft Sun-shade</u>: A few years ago (before we even moved aboard) I made an aft sunshade for the back of the cockpit. As I mentioned above the wind nearly always blows from the east, which means that at prime cocktail time the sun is shining directly into the back of the boat. It can get brutally hot and some sort of shade protection is obligatory if you are going to spend any comfortable time living on your boat in the afternoons. Based on the premise that a light colour would reflect more light and would therefore be cooler I made a white sunshade. It worked very well but finally after about five years of constant tropical sun it packed it in, both the fabric and thread completely sun rotted. Considering it was not made of Sunbrella and I spent about $50 for the fabric from some discount bin I consider this to be stellar performance. This time around though I paid heed to a number of experienced cruisers who voiced the opinion that a dark colour is in fact cooler because it creates a deeper shade. Trusting these experienced voices, I made a new sun shade this past season out of dark blue Sunbrella and immediately we noticed a difference. It feels like the cockpit is at least 10 degrees cooler and the deep shade is a huge improvement for the eyes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaWdH_08Z51m8zgqKKMNS9A1pnq3K0E7Poy8-Nl7PlMIiyh8BdfXkbqE-A8sXNsqM_SpwBuesHoxko68iJ4pGCl3niFqNPwwnILmJSquoIDntQT0km3eAMSs_WtiBqvKIfd3JG38FIJk/s1600/DSCF0172-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaWdH_08Z51m8zgqKKMNS9A1pnq3K0E7Poy8-Nl7PlMIiyh8BdfXkbqE-A8sXNsqM_SpwBuesHoxko68iJ4pGCl3niFqNPwwnILmJSquoIDntQT0km3eAMSs_WtiBqvKIfd3JG38FIJk/s400/DSCF0172-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also made sure to split the wide panel into three pieces, joined by zippers. This makes it much easier for one person to roll up and stow away.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Shade Awning</u>: A lot of boats will sport a shade awning of some sort throughout their stay in the tropics during hurricane season, when the sun is at it's hottest. The one area on our boat where an awning is really appreciated is on the trampoline and the front window area of the salon - this means that if we want to sit out on the trampoline and enjoy the trade-wind breezes we can find a bit of shade to prevent the crispy bacon look. I made our shade awning back in the fall of 2014 and we use it quite a bit when the wind is below 20 knots. However, I would say that of all our little heat-beating missiles, this is the one we use the least. I posted some pictures and commentary on the blog <a href="http://svmowzer.blogspot.com/2014/12/sunny-sunday-rainy-monday.html" target="_blank">here</a>. (You can also see there our old helm protection - almost non-existent.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Cockpit Wind Scoop</u>: The latest addition to our arsenal, just added this week. I tested out the concept with a couple of sarongs, then more robustly with an old bed sheet (thanks Janice!) and finally moved into construction phase. The purpose of this wind scoop is to capture the wind as it blows along the side of the boat and funnel it into the cockpit, creating a nice cooling breeze as we sip sun-downers behind that lovely dark blue sun shade (sure, all we ever do in the cockpit is sip sun-downers!) You'll note that I made it out of clear plastic - the type used for dodger windscreens, edged with Sunbrella which means that it doesn't blocke our view out the side of the boat. I won't leave it up in really heavy winds but in the steady trades of 10-20 knots it is scooping away quite happily and we are much cooler as a result.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbP_HqnIBPSmc36Q-UqGPWsuzfzhsqcALO1RQhC-MVWUmWnB7kAKmuyoGsUbOQZ3jKKwjtZhnanSCfNnPtnn79Eoxj97Fp0IWzwHoKmY3mSMN89_ur1G3PDjAk7tpFElaYOey_jcxf28/s1600/DSCF0163-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbP_HqnIBPSmc36Q-UqGPWsuzfzhsqcALO1RQhC-MVWUmWnB7kAKmuyoGsUbOQZ3jKKwjtZhnanSCfNnPtnn79Eoxj97Fp0IWzwHoKmY3mSMN89_ur1G3PDjAk7tpFElaYOey_jcxf28/s400/DSCF0163-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our (almost) unimpeded view of the anchorage at Mount Hartman Bay.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxUqs9KbbfEqUHAJ3-NTy7hC52KOqyokgUxgT9Ue629SL_nZ0SdRsAIJYX6o3p7QajZp1_LcwJfHwuME_fUpgZyqCBUSl-OXMajJCkj7cPM8AV0w6oREfTAtdwuLxwtGa3VO1MsZbZ_0/s1600/DSCF0168-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxUqs9KbbfEqUHAJ3-NTy7hC52KOqyokgUxgT9Ue629SL_nZ0SdRsAIJYX6o3p7QajZp1_LcwJfHwuME_fUpgZyqCBUSl-OXMajJCkj7cPM8AV0w6oREfTAtdwuLxwtGa3VO1MsZbZ_0/s400/DSCF0168-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love that this scoop is almost invisible on the boat.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And there you have it - keeping cool in the shade and the breeze makes all the difference to our enjoyment of Mowzer!</span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-57614927967379669182016-10-27T15:42:00.000-04:002016-10-27T15:42:59.356-04:00Final Update from the Boatyard - And Then a Splash<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Between our return from Canada on October 11 and our scheduled launch date on the 22nd we had a few boat jobs to complete, those that can only be completed when on dry land. Once we got going, things progressed well and to avoid a Saturday launch and potential conflict with an afternoon of fun at a Hash, we moved the date up to Friday afternoon and actually made it on time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's what we got up to...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Propeller & Saildrive Antifouling: Our propellers mount on a piece of equipment called a sail drive under the boat. This is essentially a right-angle gearing that drops down from below the engine and about once every ten (10) years it is recommended that the lower unit seal be replaced. We are only 7 years old but to avoid any unwanted surprises, we went ahead and had the seal replaced, then we replaced all the automatic transmission fluid that fills the unit and finally went about protecting the whole assembly from the nasty growth that can grow on underwater surfaces in warm tropical waters. Because the propellers and sail drive are made from aluminum they should not be coated with an anti fouling paint containing copper, this can cause pitting on the aluminum surface. Instead, we chose to use a product specifically designed for aluminum called Seajet. The idea is that growth is repelled and will not adhere to the painted surface and it will remain nice and slippery, providing little resistance to the moving water as we sail or motor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The process involved applying a first coat, 15 minutes later a second coat, 15 minutes later a third coat, 2 hours later a fourth coat, 2 hours later a fifth coat and 2 hours later a final coat. Phew!! Timing that not to get sanding dust from our neighbours in the yard was tricky business but we managed to find a day when they were taking a break.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYLgxL2jtOp2he76Onqg7DpBMPk2zDCY6TARkMLWTePs2AeRGVhjsvEbUmSBJpKOlOuieJovYeS4DEa8FCdNK6XQdBSyz5dqR4O-qUufpeCnJbrPDd7TAHcaoUi-W4TYpvPnaEF36RP4/s1600/IMG_6791-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYLgxL2jtOp2he76Onqg7DpBMPk2zDCY6TARkMLWTePs2AeRGVhjsvEbUmSBJpKOlOuieJovYeS4DEa8FCdNK6XQdBSyz5dqR4O-qUufpeCnJbrPDd7TAHcaoUi-W4TYpvPnaEF36RP4/s400/IMG_6791-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two propellers and two spares, along with two nose cones going through the process.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiUOYHoJXMHkCzjI8OZVjZ77bIuxpBLxVpkvey2kGPsRwBs3rCeu1aoki6Le8EzQ1GAtA2Nn5bon3Px04Iv645qQ3i30XzB3EK3rzXri1VhHMFPgQLwdomIBXHxIdRKxkAVVVLJHTAG4/s1600/IMG_6793-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiUOYHoJXMHkCzjI8OZVjZ77bIuxpBLxVpkvey2kGPsRwBs3rCeu1aoki6Le8EzQ1GAtA2Nn5bon3Px04Iv645qQ3i30XzB3EK3rzXri1VhHMFPgQLwdomIBXHxIdRKxkAVVVLJHTAG4/s400/IMG_6793-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It many not look all that pretty, but our sail drive is clean and ready for painting. The blue tape is protecting the shaft where the anode and the propeller will go.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once we had the sail drives and propellers painted, we moved on to the bottom of the boat to give it a nice new clean bottom. Since our epoxy bottom is nice and smooth, the primer was in good shape, and we are using the same product as before and to be honest most of it was gone anyways, we were able to just apply the new bottom paint without a lot of arduous prep-work. Some will tell us that we should have stripped right off and put on new primer but since we have other plans we will divulge at a later date, suffice it to say, this is all that is necessary at the moment. So happy to be able to get the bottom paint all on in one day!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmL2_Tof-zJJ8EEbhTwe2YRO0uf7kJLznQIgul36XYWOn80szfyrcMeiHnwSB_ybJ7kDfoMCb8MqqPJTmBav71xjCIyjSo3FnHxqk1h7JLCqb-bZJcTVFy1H60ShNe5GdUP3SzMLc4Bw0/s1600/DSCF0146-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmL2_Tof-zJJ8EEbhTwe2YRO0uf7kJLznQIgul36XYWOn80szfyrcMeiHnwSB_ybJ7kDfoMCb8MqqPJTmBav71xjCIyjSo3FnHxqk1h7JLCqb-bZJcTVFy1H60ShNe5GdUP3SzMLc4Bw0/s400/DSCF0146-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wearing your carnival j'ouvert shirt is kinda cheating Henry - it makes you look like you're really tossing that paint around.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVKOTycsxBcLY9pCq_i3y-Q84dhtzOzRVspVih0vMcOiKEJZ9OSaGEezXA0T24tmJQeVyGt3ydvfHl7XRal9KLyf9yMQgLl_sVurCUnRBhAg4uiZd1rhqASPMTlCkI5LxXZEQMNWFm3w/s1600/DSCF0149-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVKOTycsxBcLY9pCq_i3y-Q84dhtzOzRVspVih0vMcOiKEJZ9OSaGEezXA0T24tmJQeVyGt3ydvfHl7XRal9KLyf9yMQgLl_sVurCUnRBhAg4uiZd1rhqASPMTlCkI5LxXZEQMNWFm3w/s400/DSCF0149-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's so nice and easy to paint a catamaran - no scaffolding needed to reach the high spots and even the keels weren't too low to get under.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWumWFiac2JHWvx1DyX34HlL3rhI3a2EYQwPJlaC7xK0qXmPHOm82hRsW-vfWc4RsdOfe0sp_HCg29xeh_fotAGF8gQSQy6EGcy5QlPmUXwv1hmCdBtyOhoqdVXERhmmrTxUNiRXixTU/s1600/DSCF0151-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWumWFiac2JHWvx1DyX34HlL3rhI3a2EYQwPJlaC7xK0qXmPHOm82hRsW-vfWc4RsdOfe0sp_HCg29xeh_fotAGF8gQSQy6EGcy5QlPmUXwv1hmCdBtyOhoqdVXERhmmrTxUNiRXixTU/s400/DSCF0151-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calling it "The Boatyard Blues" but happy that job is all done.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Thursday afternoon, it was time for a little boatyard Tetris. Two of our neighbours needed to move out and eventually a boat about four rows back wanted out - this happens when you tell the yard you want to splash in December and then change your mind to October. The guys in the yard a real pros when it comes to moving boats and although the process seemed very slow - we were extremely happy they were so careful, it was still faster than moving other boats (like us) out of the way and then coming back for the offender.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLY5AyOQj6y_XNu42UPBaI0UyEU5KehO7-_Y8MCCZc7cLXlacV4dNBKsiJALKozZ0OpL-zjMdELlez82ECIWURzU1eCcKQHC4-EXU3v4fbl4zRx-eyNG8nJ0uY_AAjuSSCUJz9jVO358/s1600/IMG_6787-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLY5AyOQj6y_XNu42UPBaI0UyEU5KehO7-_Y8MCCZc7cLXlacV4dNBKsiJALKozZ0OpL-zjMdELlez82ECIWURzU1eCcKQHC4-EXU3v4fbl4zRx-eyNG8nJ0uY_AAjuSSCUJz9jVO358/s400/IMG_6787-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was pretty scary watching a 50' catamaran pass within inches of our hull.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally Friday arrived and we turned on the hose full of free water to wash away the boatyard grime. It seems that you can wash and wash the boat, but as soon as you get in the water you will still find something that you forgot to wash off. The freshwater rinse felt so good and then before we knew it, the trailer was there to pull us away to freedom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Previously we had been lifted out of the water on a travel lift and then transferred to the trailer for parking. This time, we stayed on the trailer and as a first for us, we were launched down the ramp. There were two divers in the water making sure all was clear before we were pulled over to the dock and tied up. Being the last launch of the day, we stayed where we were to check through engines and other systems, with no worries about holding up another boat.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhNGzvphaKKvC2c3wGeJtdpf4AHYI34H70JR2zIQq9ovFPXfeteNTFrZXX95lXenUgNnQt3fRhLAgQBvuUqBTnn6PVG60zLogZlOdYJ8c1_iMuPhM3RTxGU6R0WO3yWhIC68mTljCRBQ/s1600/IMG_6795-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhNGzvphaKKvC2c3wGeJtdpf4AHYI34H70JR2zIQq9ovFPXfeteNTFrZXX95lXenUgNnQt3fRhLAgQBvuUqBTnn6PVG60zLogZlOdYJ8c1_iMuPhM3RTxGU6R0WO3yWhIC68mTljCRBQ/s400/IMG_6795-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading down the ramp to freedom.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf17jf2d2BNeL3Wc8GlU4nZTb8fJJsFwLXGQzyTj5bJ_LXR-MrMw4ua883hA1CfMWOKfmSNlpjovNWY4qEkf_IgD7jJDAH_ugZdF6Vfiy8QIsncMN4CBHD_67mkROuIC0BBkQn4BYpNgk/s1600/IMG_6796-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf17jf2d2BNeL3Wc8GlU4nZTb8fJJsFwLXGQzyTj5bJ_LXR-MrMw4ua883hA1CfMWOKfmSNlpjovNWY4qEkf_IgD7jJDAH_ugZdF6Vfiy8QIsncMN4CBHD_67mkROuIC0BBkQn4BYpNgk/s400/IMG_6796-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But we didn't go too far the first night - it felt good to just be on the water.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Ah the boating life - this is what it's all about</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6u4rbodT9TiEbfV3z0yZtiBAeeg71tjBM27A5JH3Fee9YHkILaJ6ruU1ZL3uJUmOp50TFePAhw43MUFgYVLd4NdzNOl5T5RXEeSZMHlS1DhwZqNibfCnrzyGkMQVN2RweJW4rEo24Ngg/s1600/DSCF0154-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6u4rbodT9TiEbfV3z0yZtiBAeeg71tjBM27A5JH3Fee9YHkILaJ6ruU1ZL3uJUmOp50TFePAhw43MUFgYVLd4NdzNOl5T5RXEeSZMHlS1DhwZqNibfCnrzyGkMQVN2RweJW4rEo24Ngg/s400/DSCF0154-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset view from Calvigny Island anchorage on our second night out.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, we've moved around to Mount Hartman Bay which feels like our home away from home. We'll enjoy a couple of weeks here before moving back northbound to start our third season of cruising.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting cloud formations over Secret Harbour Marina.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXD0vy7nfx27IYM1ex9z3WJbaZqU4f7fWKZ5LBE-jLeg92YWGkB8ABYWp5bSv5F-5tnzh0dG0iu3ilrZha4A3ob5i2A2mjk0dXfIbhw74qdoGcqGyn3PH0ROzuSQ043rpSQGpQs_pJ9rk/s1600/DSCF0159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXD0vy7nfx27IYM1ex9z3WJbaZqU4f7fWKZ5LBE-jLeg92YWGkB8ABYWp5bSv5F-5tnzh0dG0iu3ilrZha4A3ob5i2A2mjk0dXfIbhw74qdoGcqGyn3PH0ROzuSQ043rpSQGpQs_pJ9rk/s400/DSCF0159.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grenadian Thanksgiving and kickoff to the World Series - celebrated with grilled chilli-dogs in the great company of Alan, Marie and Cathy.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Third season!!! I can't believe it :-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com1Clarke's Court, Grenada12.014598261668549 -61.74093246459960912.01071576166855 -61.745974964599611 12.018480761668549 -61.735889964599608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-1464477467591319272016-10-20T11:58:00.000-04:002016-10-20T11:58:55.460-04:00Keeping Our Cool in the Boatyard<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, the drought has ended on the blog and we are once again back in action on Mowzer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a fantastic month away visiting family in Belgium and Canada but once again we are back on the boat and the last couple of weeks have seen a flurry of activity with our launch date set for the end of this week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Believe it or not, we have actually stayed on the boat throughout our time at Clarke's Court with the one exception of a night spent in one of their rental rooms on the night we arrived back in Grenada after dark - opening up the boat that night after a month's sojourn was not on my list of fun things to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some people opt for an apartment rental during their boatyard stay and we have certainly enjoyed visiting some nicely air conditioned places with them. This is particularly a good idea if you can't run your fridge or freezer out of the water. We are not in that situation so we decided to do it a bit more cheaply and stay on the boat in the yard. Did I mention that September / October is the hottest time of year in Grenada and that the mosquitos can be quite brutal?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's how we handled the situation, managed to stay sane and married, and <a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/zika/en/" target="_blank">Zika</a> free.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26Y49a3I_fffb6byJliq0x05elRYqNTMPjxqYgleC0lfD1_7BSM8ah04VQW8wwYXrslNGeyCYzAsnmasgOQY11-2bupY7vGsEnkNyy7Q48fZYokA_xsJNXoCtTAMgF2ue5vhhd3i6vlg/s1600/IMG_6631-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26Y49a3I_fffb6byJliq0x05elRYqNTMPjxqYgleC0lfD1_7BSM8ah04VQW8wwYXrslNGeyCYzAsnmasgOQY11-2bupY7vGsEnkNyy7Q48fZYokA_xsJNXoCtTAMgF2ue5vhhd3i6vlg/s400/IMG_6631-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We bought one of those mosquito nets with magnets down the middle so every time we went through the doorway it automatically closed behind us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGtPkdihJNfoFtqTaGF-StTaXOxChW5PWgqFtEWzJrEO-9pPPAwrHYaUytVZFmLQYagMc-utZAQFOhiiIGKhCFC0PFrt4Z4NsXaGPqzNLapMe4f9dTuXiyEcEt5pMcoRcG-hU1vVswgA/s1600/IMG_6632-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGtPkdihJNfoFtqTaGF-StTaXOxChW5PWgqFtEWzJrEO-9pPPAwrHYaUytVZFmLQYagMc-utZAQFOhiiIGKhCFC0PFrt4Z4NsXaGPqzNLapMe4f9dTuXiyEcEt5pMcoRcG-hU1vVswgA/s400/IMG_6632-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a better view of the screen at the door.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKwlqtgGvf6Va8T5etd1d_TWe-m4_XLKhcMsbBhX5td2JoqOSeX4kx0j4Ty0O_Bzy8UsBXL_tU7Oq1esV5_XT_r4pGY-iblNMZAuhQI6cY0LYVliA1Hi7DWWnt5EFBDrXhKt7TWoWze4/s1600/IMG_6637-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKwlqtgGvf6Va8T5etd1d_TWe-m4_XLKhcMsbBhX5td2JoqOSeX4kx0j4Ty0O_Bzy8UsBXL_tU7Oq1esV5_XT_r4pGY-iblNMZAuhQI6cY0LYVliA1Hi7DWWnt5EFBDrXhKt7TWoWze4/s400/IMG_6637-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It might look like we're trying to repel aliens, but tinfoil on the windows immediately reduced the temperature inside the boat. Add fans and screened, open hatches and we managed to get a little air circulation inside as well.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hPtNi5QQKPcXmv5VkAYaeLkzXMP-AX__mcQDAvSjFj7olDzU6KBLDHi44VwU33PN7ghTbCvaH4IeK8-ss2PApMb1qt31hCy7VWw8DqHk-qzyb8T3D5YhFT_EmyO48mzeMQ95D6AgkQk/s1600/IMG_6634-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hPtNi5QQKPcXmv5VkAYaeLkzXMP-AX__mcQDAvSjFj7olDzU6KBLDHi44VwU33PN7ghTbCvaH4IeK8-ss2PApMb1qt31hCy7VWw8DqHk-qzyb8T3D5YhFT_EmyO48mzeMQ95D6AgkQk/s400/IMG_6634-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For our top hatch I just sewed a bit of light chain around a large circle of no-see'em mesh - stayed in place nicely and easy to close the hatch without having to remove the screen.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuxsFB4dCAfgDYpcAqXcKhFms7CF6dQYG5az-ZqzVwJ9JYIIpSjDiWa7lCxzlWI7AQvFOGICWiCFBbxVwlrD8MYOHiVIl5v0rYLnYkF8sfEfkNRkv27e1tzCf-p8qM6FDa1HMu-Y0-R4/s1600/IMG_6633-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuxsFB4dCAfgDYpcAqXcKhFms7CF6dQYG5az-ZqzVwJ9JYIIpSjDiWa7lCxzlWI7AQvFOGICWiCFBbxVwlrD8MYOHiVIl5v0rYLnYkF8sfEfkNRkv27e1tzCf-p8qM6FDa1HMu-Y0-R4/s400/IMG_6633-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The item that made the most difference though was the A/C unit we rented - at $50US/week it kept our berth cool at night so we could get a good night's sleep. We usually have to turn it off after a couple of hours so we don't end up feeling like we're sleeping in a meat locker.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuapGQGCelOFom7h7pwina8k5pnebzjSfiUNlpEJpuy6ES8JNHCEedlL_zrn5YL6r942kaAhOfUa9kW0D3BnXhdcl_TDcfQ0EDXu0FQThSt1aAuRUlrZOTn3be6vb4czEGX_O3vESBkEY/s1600/IMG_6636-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuapGQGCelOFom7h7pwina8k5pnebzjSfiUNlpEJpuy6ES8JNHCEedlL_zrn5YL6r942kaAhOfUa9kW0D3BnXhdcl_TDcfQ0EDXu0FQThSt1aAuRUlrZOTn3be6vb4czEGX_O3vESBkEY/s400/IMG_6636-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The biggest issue now is making your way down the swim ladder for that needed visit to the toilet, usually in the dark of night - I'm happy to make do with a pickle-jar but sometimes you just gotta go!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that's it - we've been sleeping well and getting work done but will be oh so happy to be back floating on the water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still can't sing the praises of Clarke's Court Boatyard loud enough.</span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com0Clarke's Court Boatyard, Grenada12.013129123340713 -61.72531127929687511.951010623340713 -61.805992279296873 12.075247623340713 -61.644630279296877tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-27948692708482469742016-08-23T20:40:00.000-04:002016-08-23T20:40:04.479-04:00Clarke's Court Boat Yard - Grenada Haul Out<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will start right out with saying how impressed we are with the haul out we just did at <a href="https://www.clarkescourtmarina.com/" target="_blank">Clarke's Court Boat Yard</a> on Woburn Bay in Grenada.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday Mowzer settled into her new home for the next couple of months and here's how it all went down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were booked in for an 8am lift. Prior to lift day, we had removed both mainsail and genoa since all sails (excluding in-mast or in-boom furling) must be removed. The water maker was pickled and we had moved round to Woburn from Mt. Hartman the night before to be a little bit closer in the morning. As I started to hail the boatyard on the VHF radio a dinghy pulled up alongside us in the anchorage. "Don't worry," says Henry, "they're already here!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was just the beginning of a very attentive and detail-oriented lift.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixGPZU9MbuJEc235MW3YGjo1Xfcv4YL0KIw3kGSKLBm4_GZnoQNgxzson6JvBzIleuabzF_BrSgnoNeIZ3TCz917vl-86U3kXZcxGt_IyfSUrC6juP98RoYieM3g0idFkSbEFEInJt9A/s1600/IMG_6507-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixGPZU9MbuJEc235MW3YGjo1Xfcv4YL0KIw3kGSKLBm4_GZnoQNgxzson6JvBzIleuabzF_BrSgnoNeIZ3TCz917vl-86U3kXZcxGt_IyfSUrC6juP98RoYieM3g0idFkSbEFEInJt9A/s400/IMG_6507-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulling into the slip where The Hulk, a 242 ton travel lift is waiting to pluck us up out of the water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lift straps are carefully positioned under the boat with not one, but two divers in the water to make sure they are placed correctly.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5NgBmlb4nuX5FjhQia44STYqMYQKQ4VuhQT-apoxoKVuNJD2YB51lmIlpVcWrkZFs9I8DZi7AZm7YrBbjc2beYWLQa9fTo2eo7rovevpYrFldYopGO4oWm6_WyX_XxzVMdLKCGgyYtU/s1600/IMG_1280-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5NgBmlb4nuX5FjhQia44STYqMYQKQ4VuhQT-apoxoKVuNJD2YB51lmIlpVcWrkZFs9I8DZi7AZm7YrBbjc2beYWLQa9fTo2eo7rovevpYrFldYopGO4oWm6_WyX_XxzVMdLKCGgyYtU/s400/IMG_1280-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A super smooth lift and there is Mowzer hanging in the straps. My what a dirty bottom she has!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRrFONzzHW_rT9q7k1HMqoXa2rzyPTzUiOV3aH4yVQ-NpdLbwp2f6wpXnn3Vju4JVBFBM6hnVrsil1z9WIpTZ_UdduJnPWasqlX0zSD3V1qdIaprsa900_Aj4ZOcYfjSy897-ReSe_pg/s1600/IMG_1281-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRrFONzzHW_rT9q7k1HMqoXa2rzyPTzUiOV3aH4yVQ-NpdLbwp2f6wpXnn3Vju4JVBFBM6hnVrsil1z9WIpTZ_UdduJnPWasqlX0zSD3V1qdIaprsa900_Aj4ZOcYfjSy897-ReSe_pg/s400/IMG_1281-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With two pressure washers in action the guys set to work to removed all the marine growth.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tnH4KZCU51P2yM0I-FCCN0nNcjKiiXcK_yGHHiqH-r3vdn32GPFZzF3mktOtL5bLn9IfzZB8UKlsritTN5_1eGa8Vj1Vku4cCoAC6wuUc0_iyUHc0kJzm8dc5gnra6RrSXMpYDzB6OU/s1600/IMG_1289-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tnH4KZCU51P2yM0I-FCCN0nNcjKiiXcK_yGHHiqH-r3vdn32GPFZzF3mktOtL5bLn9IfzZB8UKlsritTN5_1eGa8Vj1Vku4cCoAC6wuUc0_iyUHc0kJzm8dc5gnra6RrSXMpYDzB6OU/s400/IMG_1289-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All clean now and very evident that our bottom paint is DONE.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAF5SxpZFJyOJwX2XDr4X3y101etILlcGInJlm_EQsCsBWlUvA71t8hIZNQAv1MvX4fxJcPugDLMcghFpPjgmgW-ttaRSRVKDECImlR8XTiGv5TnmtFQRzHBL2lK_3PbZjv1y3PjCvMU/s1600/IMG_1290-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAF5SxpZFJyOJwX2XDr4X3y101etILlcGInJlm_EQsCsBWlUvA71t8hIZNQAv1MvX4fxJcPugDLMcghFpPjgmgW-ttaRSRVKDECImlR8XTiGv5TnmtFQRzHBL2lK_3PbZjv1y3PjCvMU/s400/IMG_1290-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A major disappointment of the day, we have quite a few blisters despite a repair three years ago.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJSg5joqpgqkd8MhcLMavbcAzem2GiraeXUDdIWNSkBCjm6olELGYRoSu7kbZTZbodioKhS4rIuaptoFcWXoOgkMti0M-yeldNP7LHyLYNw7q0BJ1LiZisbpHvDyZL6yMkShKP8BtiVE/s1600/IMG_1302-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJSg5joqpgqkd8MhcLMavbcAzem2GiraeXUDdIWNSkBCjm6olELGYRoSu7kbZTZbodioKhS4rIuaptoFcWXoOgkMti0M-yeldNP7LHyLYNw7q0BJ1LiZisbpHvDyZL6yMkShKP8BtiVE/s400/IMG_1302-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a conundrum: our boat is so small that the cradle hardware can't fit under the boat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7Lb4d29Y6cSWqINnHSyBTcXmIDy5n3p81080A_eIHOLurtVjizIfHsIx8xmClHtFb13hdpyvpQ59z_AsDqrrrrBrFCyrxdYcSwoWbgKtI2QcPfZPq9kMIadC1sG4rGV8vYgqkT5J_og/s1600/IMG_1303-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7Lb4d29Y6cSWqINnHSyBTcXmIDy5n3p81080A_eIHOLurtVjizIfHsIx8xmClHtFb13hdpyvpQ59z_AsDqrrrrBrFCyrxdYcSwoWbgKtI2QcPfZPq9kMIadC1sG4rGV8vYgqkT5J_og/s400/IMG_1303-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lads put their heads together and solved the problem.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdwUlD9586UFhaJPohyez96I6SZ3vydqJjISQwc57Y3dInQYO4H_b075bzX54jEDQT3Y4onpcfqGFyvTe218jSu_GYffE3zZkwrhvPBSYWRJ-LX-Vsyc3ReZqnzVO2Gnwbw3qhVVk2A4/s1600/IMG_1309-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdwUlD9586UFhaJPohyez96I6SZ3vydqJjISQwc57Y3dInQYO4H_b075bzX54jEDQT3Y4onpcfqGFyvTe218jSu_GYffE3zZkwrhvPBSYWRJ-LX-Vsyc3ReZqnzVO2Gnwbw3qhVVk2A4/s400/IMG_1309-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mowzer, transferred to the towing cradle and making her way into the storage yard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oZw-tDc1wBhgV-e5lt9PL3u3_jeXlUqcHJDWy4sBjWizIg80jzbC2RUQtWgCy1B1Q_OPl6ywcJGNyHR6srYho1iEo9X1yRMiKhqq4Gl_fuTSfwQuWq7Anzw4NNORcrEDd7qiMmu1fqA/s1600/IMG_1314-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oZw-tDc1wBhgV-e5lt9PL3u3_jeXlUqcHJDWy4sBjWizIg80jzbC2RUQtWgCy1B1Q_OPl6ywcJGNyHR6srYho1iEo9X1yRMiKhqq4Gl_fuTSfwQuWq7Anzw4NNORcrEDd7qiMmu1fqA/s400/IMG_1314-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a snug fit. With some expert driving and manipulation of the hydraulic trailer she was slipped into her preassigned and measured spot.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gOpmVCCiBIUVSCxjoEJT_aWGALxo7vliLMf0PtFslaAhaweQyI2TXSel9UNaGdQHPyjYPabOBk6bifJ0FR5nZRzKgeH3Yc6P-KJ6hpKIYb4myFkxClG9GaooxvP7ngfIg9bcA7mFPPQ/s1600/IMG_1315-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gOpmVCCiBIUVSCxjoEJT_aWGALxo7vliLMf0PtFslaAhaweQyI2TXSel9UNaGdQHPyjYPabOBk6bifJ0FR5nZRzKgeH3Yc6P-KJ6hpKIYb4myFkxClG9GaooxvP7ngfIg9bcA7mFPPQ/s400/IMG_1315-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We can actually see the water from our spot in the yard, and catch a little bit of wind in the cockpit which is a welcome relief.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now begins the work of getting the old paint removed and new applied - more on that later. We also have some other service items to take care of and then we'll be off to visit family in September knowing that Mowzer is safely taken care of in our absence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to the wonderful and welcoming staff at Clarke's Court for an uneventful morning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-32458748685874378222016-07-30T17:57:00.000-04:002016-07-30T18:04:32.335-04:00The Traditional Side of Carriacou<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We arrived on Carriacou and have been enjoying the social life of Regatta and the beginnings of Camp Grenada 2016. Today, with Janice & Dave (Livin' Life) and Sunny & John (Notre Vie) we decided to get ourselves over to the other side of the island and check out the wooden boat building scene.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are anchored in Tyrrel Bay on the west side of the island, Hillsborough is the main town on the north side and way over on the other side is the little village of Windwardside. Given that the sun is now directly overhead at noon and it is getting brutally hot, we opted to hop on a local bus and am I glad we did. All told, the round trip is 28 km and it is hot, hot, hot!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwTPYhPbPjqJk9p7zJlH9e8w6E5WHbeXEfbwWo1bH-JGizJq4or49T9a4MVaH4DwY5is22_RJygXQs-js4Yyc8Y1CJWJDlRtwR2_oSnBwS_5kE6OvD1_CJ2z6X-YmxJBW3fKJj-nX9-0/s1600/Carriacou+-+Windwardside-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwTPYhPbPjqJk9p7zJlH9e8w6E5WHbeXEfbwWo1bH-JGizJq4or49T9a4MVaH4DwY5is22_RJygXQs-js4Yyc8Y1CJWJDlRtwR2_oSnBwS_5kE6OvD1_CJ2z6X-YmxJBW3fKJj-nX9-0/s400/Carriacou+-+Windwardside-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bus 10 from Tyrrel Bay to Hillsborough and Bus 11 from there to Windwardside.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back when we were in Antigua for the Classics Regatta we had a chance to view the film <a href="https://vimeo.com/32574938" target="_blank">Vanishing Sail</a>. If there's any way you can catch a showing and if you have any interest in island boat building or just a good story, don't miss the chance. After watching the film we decided that we had to get ourselves over to see the actual building of one of these boats. I don't know if it's a result of the film or whether it was well on it's way before that, but there is a revival of traditional boat-building going on here with the sloops being sold to foreign sailors for racing or tourist excursions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We found our way along the little beach and arrived in the yard of Anthony McLawrence. When I say yard, I mean literally in his back yard, with the 64' hulk that he expects to finish by Christmas sitting solidly on the ground behind a fence. Once the boat is finished the fence will have to come down and then it is just yards to the water.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzGmL72huuyD5yrJE6lj2AxigvYkDZJ8af5qGy5axyAcWLoGimN-OE4ry_-taibIsmKrtTgP6Hi3FfiLgvnSDc4AvDJjmi7Rpc6kqPNsjaJNCYEwAKUw_Bguzp3d3in61rr0bV_yxHvE/s1600/IMG_6331-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzGmL72huuyD5yrJE6lj2AxigvYkDZJ8af5qGy5axyAcWLoGimN-OE4ry_-taibIsmKrtTgP6Hi3FfiLgvnSDc4AvDJjmi7Rpc6kqPNsjaJNCYEwAKUw_Bguzp3d3in61rr0bV_yxHvE/s400/IMG_6331-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bus driver dropped us right on the town dock and we easily found one of the boat building locations, although there were a couple being built at various places in town.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYe4tzSUWYS9TYdXpWp2699V4_1gNDLd3ggspe8Og_AeeJiDj2TqUlLN4om5a2E4uVxLumUsmrWBhNCNmf2WSrL7tYHRlbjIX-MF8wz0YStN4mb75uI_FMYL7gqkR8RV-X6RZRiCZitU/s1600/IMG_6334-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYe4tzSUWYS9TYdXpWp2699V4_1gNDLd3ggspe8Og_AeeJiDj2TqUlLN4om5a2E4uVxLumUsmrWBhNCNmf2WSrL7tYHRlbjIX-MF8wz0YStN4mb75uI_FMYL7gqkR8RV-X6RZRiCZitU/s400/IMG_6334-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Due to all the reefs and out-islands, houses can be built unusually close to shore on the windward side.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj836S1vYhWkD8YlOhdDU21YOf3sZayZasY66t2f-M-461WopQG5BHE1mE8FtN7a0HD_37B0czBwvtjrzlywe9w8jBUrzygKWAgPcxldrAPvzFYTMJgCZq_sdVhLlPHMw4xKY03zdsw7MQ/s1600/IMG_6335-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj836S1vYhWkD8YlOhdDU21YOf3sZayZasY66t2f-M-461WopQG5BHE1mE8FtN7a0HD_37B0czBwvtjrzlywe9w8jBUrzygKWAgPcxldrAPvzFYTMJgCZq_sdVhLlPHMw4xKY03zdsw7MQ/s400/IMG_6335-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing on the dock, we watched a couple of island sloops getting ready for today's race around the island. They fly these massive mainsails, a jib and a genoa or gennaker, have almost no keel and use men for ballast.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-igtL16EC7ZfWR6g4OPfoh0Szodw2y-Ub1UZFoVozm0wZmx3_ecdZPiybmBptNRrJPZBrScqtV04HdOGhB_XUipmnifidyTO6joINs1sH1qvOyEN64JxYfaerSN2urWSEp6k4BUxrohc/s1600/IMG_6336-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-igtL16EC7ZfWR6g4OPfoh0Szodw2y-Ub1UZFoVozm0wZmx3_ecdZPiybmBptNRrJPZBrScqtV04HdOGhB_XUipmnifidyTO6joINs1sH1qvOyEN64JxYfaerSN2urWSEp6k4BUxrohc/s400/IMG_6336-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This half-planked boat was the first we found.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbvXPG86vzyx8VJ1QtzmzbYU53KhBHGR_CbaT_3f3L9r1zv5OHKLYG0Wwmu3VE76xdJXsL78QvxbYvBu5DgmiLJGdzKA9WZps860nGIAifErIP4LZCSc42qG0Lll9z5sFZTIKwdjAHTc/s1600/IMG_6337-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbvXPG86vzyx8VJ1QtzmzbYU53KhBHGR_CbaT_3f3L9r1zv5OHKLYG0Wwmu3VE76xdJXsL78QvxbYvBu5DgmiLJGdzKA9WZps860nGIAifErIP4LZCSc42qG0Lll9z5sFZTIKwdjAHTc/s400/IMG_6337-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">64' long and beamy inside. These boats don't get finished off inside, the ribs will always be exposed, the advantage being things can't roll around too far.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwZ5gwtBdl7_fwtMhyphenhyphendCRmc1j9Cm0dWrlfVD8Ich2zx0LwJ3AfrGf1LRPoAs53xrbP56U-O-7s-wowZd-rrV_vbxgL0RS8N29B5i6PG8UBbnzr6JEjytgn5DxjxoAFj3Cg4ppFirXdOE/s1600/IMG_6338-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwZ5gwtBdl7_fwtMhyphenhyphendCRmc1j9Cm0dWrlfVD8Ich2zx0LwJ3AfrGf1LRPoAs53xrbP56U-O-7s-wowZd-rrV_vbxgL0RS8N29B5i6PG8UBbnzr6JEjytgn5DxjxoAFj3Cg4ppFirXdOE/s400/IMG_6338-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The guys are checking out the planks that are nailed to the ribs with 10" nails.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-xThlgayqyOvgxGb4vT75np2iKqyHbQOHR_zasxl0PE3LUATnCqvytQRfjEteJ6jW_OoWoCEZsjmGov_TNvGiaa4oWBFQzH64ZhAezFeZQu4mhhwxIhE732WzZFobZhooN1iNllRCIs/s1600/IMG_6339-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-xThlgayqyOvgxGb4vT75np2iKqyHbQOHR_zasxl0PE3LUATnCqvytQRfjEteJ6jW_OoWoCEZsjmGov_TNvGiaa4oWBFQzH64ZhAezFeZQu4mhhwxIhE732WzZFobZhooN1iNllRCIs/s400/IMG_6339-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the wood is local Grenadian but the keel is Greenheart from Guyana - a very solid, heavy wood.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJ6aE_bVwEZ7q1-cGWQnIlLldMdDTlXCGzve0qEXqqnO3nV6N7BunM5goOn9yTKv2NqM-X877nssN21xtghPSro9qyhv4jjIM9fvcEGZ0vOSkQ3SubQbYcXeBzeQKrXR6Ede-RZT0S90/s1600/IMG_6343-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJ6aE_bVwEZ7q1-cGWQnIlLldMdDTlXCGzve0qEXqqnO3nV6N7BunM5goOn9yTKv2NqM-X877nssN21xtghPSro9qyhv4jjIM9fvcEGZ0vOSkQ3SubQbYcXeBzeQKrXR6Ede-RZT0S90/s400/IMG_6343-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had the pleasure of meeting Anthony McLawrence, the builder of this particular boat. He has built 6 or 7 forty-plus footers but this is the largest he has built.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We carried on our exploration of Windwardside, finding another fishing boat being built alongside the road and magnificent views of the islands, including the start of the sloop round-the-island race.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeJrGIvjbB03Y34KIc3pNn2f1VmN7NoLXnU-QGl7eolxsPZSg4rek8XYLmTxzS_3bS8nNB7fVvURqiFKiKSF68F9zV5Yv2cBL6MtB9n29_M6mbyHc4tAvtHuZmRV4OfpNJ4wem3-WAcE/s1600/IMG_6345-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeJrGIvjbB03Y34KIc3pNn2f1VmN7NoLXnU-QGl7eolxsPZSg4rek8XYLmTxzS_3bS8nNB7fVvURqiFKiKSF68F9zV5Yv2cBL6MtB9n29_M6mbyHc4tAvtHuZmRV4OfpNJ4wem3-WAcE/s400/IMG_6345-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the boat-builders featured in the movie owns this house. It may need a little paint but is pretty none the less and a great example of a local house with gingerbread trim and lace in the windows.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An interesting story here - a memorial to nine boatbuilders who lost their lives in 1945 when a mine drifted to shore from a sinking WWII boat. The mine exploded and killed the men working on shore nearby.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9MUMOs9H3eacqsBEeiomriYy854H89kKmYyEeA0Jk1jj-yvCZqS2FBzAi4EdGsqKbplmncQGSENZ5Q2qfuRKRqjEr0U_g5ICauCPUzKdcWQvr27GDrnBk6nErue-E2mkk4QD7YadYro/s1600/IMG_6352-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9MUMOs9H3eacqsBEeiomriYy854H89kKmYyEeA0Jk1jj-yvCZqS2FBzAi4EdGsqKbplmncQGSENZ5Q2qfuRKRqjEr0U_g5ICauCPUzKdcWQvr27GDrnBk6nErue-E2mkk4QD7YadYro/s400/IMG_6352-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petit St. Vincent (left) and Petit Martinique (right) with the sloops racing across the start-line.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bus stop bench - great use of two pallets!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvYAACry5qafJCEx7xcvEygO8gkiL57JTOYgoKpjxMKyjjAkIfYPY0zJR4nkJLL8sGR2k8gomsJhQ9vCCUfEGi2fiRVBzxPz-iMGEQeskqQF1W6XrJMxcux17smT4IU98lhzP6vjV_B0/s1600/IMG_6360-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvYAACry5qafJCEx7xcvEygO8gkiL57JTOYgoKpjxMKyjjAkIfYPY0zJR4nkJLL8sGR2k8gomsJhQ9vCCUfEGi2fiRVBzxPz-iMGEQeskqQF1W6XrJMxcux17smT4IU98lhzP6vjV_B0/s400/IMG_6360-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These guys seemed unperturbed that they were a half-hour late for the start of the race.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcoming sidewalk step to a local establishment. We stopped for cold beers but although the pizza smelled delicious we were on the hunt for roti in Hillsborough.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4bHZUXvwcWeBQN2gTNrw0HNlgm4uN4rP-nni6wrZ167mL_DkbPm2K7_ieIQl39_VVnUNkpMLGSP_iCzc8LH30SmpRis4CvaDLRoWu2jJxoWRTE89-OS0K6SwB2Fthn4AFNmwLNTPjrs/s1600/IMG_6368-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4bHZUXvwcWeBQN2gTNrw0HNlgm4uN4rP-nni6wrZ167mL_DkbPm2K7_ieIQl39_VVnUNkpMLGSP_iCzc8LH30SmpRis4CvaDLRoWu2jJxoWRTE89-OS0K6SwB2Fthn4AFNmwLNTPjrs/s400/IMG_6368-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last look around Windwardside. Dave found the site of the building of Genesis, the boat featured in the movie.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lunch time was coming on and our tummies were empty so we hopped back on a bus to Hillsborough where the streets were bustling and the speakers were pounding out the Soca. Nothing particularly special going on - just a nice Saturday in town.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzaajMPMEcTTHXz1qQ_MptDyNca7jYjEoLZuhjzAmNrm3_gCpXuJMrqrhwBs972UT7Xo78zEcc91ZDnit7vppCuZ9wpECHT-9UYDYa2E7DJnJwnCgoDkNJl2ML-kCWyhXu6hwRcb6uFo/s1600/IMG_6369-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzaajMPMEcTTHXz1qQ_MptDyNca7jYjEoLZuhjzAmNrm3_gCpXuJMrqrhwBs972UT7Xo78zEcc91ZDnit7vppCuZ9wpECHT-9UYDYa2E7DJnJwnCgoDkNJl2ML-kCWyhXu6hwRcb6uFo/s400/IMG_6369-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main street and market stands in Hillsborough.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3GQ9ecFvVcAY-sCvIim_yQ_6_P4aVoHa_gsjJqr95zuHRi4wQVtSvyNHifJZ9WA_JnwRICTAFQdUjgixeQVRBXMLU_7n_CrSqRDm0yoC-VozzAqmulA-xWvIr9vfW3-ZWg2MLo38rys/s1600/IMG_6370-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3GQ9ecFvVcAY-sCvIim_yQ_6_P4aVoHa_gsjJqr95zuHRi4wQVtSvyNHifJZ9WA_JnwRICTAFQdUjgixeQVRBXMLU_7n_CrSqRDm0yoC-VozzAqmulA-xWvIr9vfW3-ZWg2MLo38rys/s400/IMG_6370-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did we step back in time?? We've also seen signs saying they're licensed to sell Intoxicated liquor - I think I like Spiritous better.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyE78vg6ZX1J7OO6VCQ21I6hyphenhyphenJ0QMydPc-bYgSWabdLJqnLeH9GNkET_H_hWsMpIeEzN6vNDk3ABAAK0VNp-3isjsR_EOnu42EIBSjwSaKcXSmaK4fE35ZUhi3PuKRtuHVwMcYMjLQ10/s1600/IMG_6372-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyE78vg6ZX1J7OO6VCQ21I6hyphenhyphenJ0QMydPc-bYgSWabdLJqnLeH9GNkET_H_hWsMpIeEzN6vNDk3ABAAK0VNp-3isjsR_EOnu42EIBSjwSaKcXSmaK4fE35ZUhi3PuKRtuHVwMcYMjLQ10/s400/IMG_6372-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patti's Deli - a lovely example of traditional Carriacou architecture.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMku0f1Bybhl2ieAJ8Ia6F_058Z2RUuklCS0TD7ZQ7emHOgC-lvh5mEzp7XAyl8krpIOpMU3Za1G6l6LG2K6K3ORnfk7pZn5aXaSNWcrPBVZTe8QQaYgD6voR2BWsWBrfpRm6r7B7ZUUs/s1600/IMG_6377-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMku0f1Bybhl2ieAJ8Ia6F_058Z2RUuklCS0TD7ZQ7emHOgC-lvh5mEzp7XAyl8krpIOpMU3Za1G6l6LG2K6K3ORnfk7pZn5aXaSNWcrPBVZTe8QQaYgD6voR2BWsWBrfpRm6r7B7ZUUs/s400/IMG_6377-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the bar we went to, but appropriate for Regatta weekend!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noon and my shadow is almost directly below me! We're just above 12N latitude and the sun is tracking south so it's just going to get hotter.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVjrZjsUdrCwdifQj1v6ZMsIECtEXm0xfzCn4uoDXeWFnSqy34IRJydiAhBc1NIzHErbjjPJ2M9TACreLy7pl-d_FhW8mAehT3UZx1tlwe1ZvOQ1uCcXU2cY0wLTjjacaGN-3jDqj_a4/s1600/IMG_6375-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVjrZjsUdrCwdifQj1v6ZMsIECtEXm0xfzCn4uoDXeWFnSqy34IRJydiAhBc1NIzHErbjjPJ2M9TACreLy7pl-d_FhW8mAehT3UZx1tlwe1ZvOQ1uCcXU2cY0wLTjjacaGN-3jDqj_a4/s400/IMG_6375-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found it - Sunny & John knew a great place to get roti. Literally a hole in the wall, just up the stairs past the sign.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After lunch, we wandered onto the beach to watch the goings-on. Prep for racing, liming(*) with beer, swimming, boats going back and forth to the pier, more liming, kids playing, adults relaxing - all a perfect way to spend the afternoon.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out the boats at the pier.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's something just a little unsettling about watching a laughing gull eating a chicken wing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACUYrR67OtAthMfCgznua4n6kbz41GCKtfrg2eBxXOekSuCIyK5E5D5A0bRSRUkS0eAkFS6UQBYjYNxpNTtEPqVe8XVGH5hzG_Ly1V_2j0gUlNsN644CiHYhcOdF3a2AOQYBsoliD13o/s1600/IMG_6384-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACUYrR67OtAthMfCgznua4n6kbz41GCKtfrg2eBxXOekSuCIyK5E5D5A0bRSRUkS0eAkFS6UQBYjYNxpNTtEPqVe8XVGH5hzG_Ly1V_2j0gUlNsN644CiHYhcOdF3a2AOQYBsoliD13o/s400/IMG_6384-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We leaned on this guy's boat long enough so he came over to join in the discussion. Where sailors gather the conversation always comes round to boats and sailing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggk3IqNubKeGnylMstpuKSy6ctK40ehmmdC7u4dpie9bPYIhO1XtTKfZyU31szWXMchd3rzcN5sznWcAFrQgF3rtede9lbC17iTR7Ekr6KH6wCk3X5QhVFQEvLbBwbct8SM4pIIAuONE/s1600/IMG_6389-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggk3IqNubKeGnylMstpuKSy6ctK40ehmmdC7u4dpie9bPYIhO1XtTKfZyU31szWXMchd3rzcN5sznWcAFrQgF3rtede9lbC17iTR7Ekr6KH6wCk3X5QhVFQEvLbBwbct8SM4pIIAuONE/s400/IMG_6389-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just along the beach a catch of whelks were boiled up. The 'ladles' are actually the tree-end of two palm fronds and made most excellent scoops.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Visiting Windwardside totally lived up to expectations - laid-back, no fancy demonstration or museum, just people carrying on with their daily lives and bringing back a traditional craft that had it's heyday a hundred years ago. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Perhaps we will be able to find our way back up here for the launch of the boat we saw under construction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* - Get ready for carnival, here's the dictionary:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Liming: to hang around and relax, usually shooting the breeze with your buddies and a cold beer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chipping: carnival step - little steps in time to the music</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wining: another carnival move - a little more licentious and probably after consumption of much rum and beer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com0Carriacou, Grenada12.4785888 -61.449384212.354562300000001 -61.610745699999995 12.6026153 -61.2880227tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-49572241945716448062016-07-21T08:46:00.000-04:002016-07-21T08:46:15.652-04:00Carnival - St. Lucia Style<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We stopped in St. Lucia for a couple of days and it just so happened that when we arrived the local Carnival was underway. Shops and businesses were closed on Monday & Tuesday afternoons so we decided to join in the fun and took a bus down to Castries, the capital town. The parade started with true island style about four hours late, but that was okay, it gave us lots of time to try out some of the local street fare: bits (bakes), fried chicken, cold pitons, roti - all delicious.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunny & John from Notre Vie with their guest Dave joined us and we all enjoyed the local scene.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBSg7ziXSTwJpF825NQlVFi8PkoEEku_R5WmT_dlBkgphDRJ1qAjTwPW4nwG87Mdo7RJQHzOx0d1Q1jtQ13qJb_hjXXBXfcvPPhhQx3dtbECecYV6yDrynwsvogsc2gc-b89gLHGT6aw/s1600/IMG_6280-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBSg7ziXSTwJpF825NQlVFi8PkoEEku_R5WmT_dlBkgphDRJ1qAjTwPW4nwG87Mdo7RJQHzOx0d1Q1jtQ13qJb_hjXXBXfcvPPhhQx3dtbECecYV6yDrynwsvogsc2gc-b89gLHGT6aw/s400/IMG_6280-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Accras - fish fritters were a hit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73vCE6I_DM0gbaOrAplVqkySvTeoqKQmWMF5Ajz5q5bodJFeeKNybQLfnF3UI5gDhRj0rga56bugCwGzoD42IRrURqYBBqu-IySXWT9YsGSU7f1_kSaZzLohqQ_IcKLccRIX2HrpP_Os/s1600/IMG_6282-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73vCE6I_DM0gbaOrAplVqkySvTeoqKQmWMF5Ajz5q5bodJFeeKNybQLfnF3UI5gDhRj0rga56bugCwGzoD42IRrURqYBBqu-IySXWT9YsGSU7f1_kSaZzLohqQ_IcKLccRIX2HrpP_Os/s400/IMG_6282-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bits and chicken frying up. Note the creative use of an old car parts, a wheel hub in the background and a clutch casing forward with charcoal burning under the pots.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogW6d83gWHJ9TqVHzxRgwKCEhmhooUiUB6Luu1hLNl3sUERSQkaYwoNKU4yJ2D264ecpTsfl-Qrp0TU2Jg_gVLqJfxEiRm9RVnc9AmttDkiakCj5_INSgVqk8L8K3H0c3G56FY-fwbFo/s1600/IMG_6279-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogW6d83gWHJ9TqVHzxRgwKCEhmhooUiUB6Luu1hLNl3sUERSQkaYwoNKU4yJ2D264ecpTsfl-Qrp0TU2Jg_gVLqJfxEiRm9RVnc9AmttDkiakCj5_INSgVqk8L8K3H0c3G56FY-fwbFo/s400/IMG_6279-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Gilbert meet Mr. Gilbert!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZh2BLXnFVaJcvsNdHqD_8IKFyMiDSw0sv7MxvvNLGotBhmNxN3kTjNttHq-lZq71UGOyOxdhBWdWmR__iihOMtFts9hG5sfmS4KFJuGKr9PDuGCxaxgmYhnzMRlJWoS73lzGVgnPEg0/s1600/IMG_6288-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZh2BLXnFVaJcvsNdHqD_8IKFyMiDSw0sv7MxvvNLGotBhmNxN3kTjNttHq-lZq71UGOyOxdhBWdWmR__iihOMtFts9hG5sfmS4KFJuGKr9PDuGCxaxgmYhnzMRlJWoS73lzGVgnPEg0/s400/IMG_6288-WM.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loved this t-shirt! Look closely and you'll a bride & groom...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOp-rvGgfZ2miIZEH2_BynuzQFcOpCWqPrPu9Dy5xcQDHm0OTGbEontcVvjFRpYyGbdRLt4OIIPDL-3FokOinNNClmCGXULege5p-7pKRtsX9tOgAHJiwlQEVf2qfdza0x7SGJEYU084/s1600/IMG_6291-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOp-rvGgfZ2miIZEH2_BynuzQFcOpCWqPrPu9Dy5xcQDHm0OTGbEontcVvjFRpYyGbdRLt4OIIPDL-3FokOinNNClmCGXULege5p-7pKRtsX9tOgAHJiwlQEVf2qfdza0x7SGJEYU084/s400/IMG_6291-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mocko jumbles got the party started.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8LMxCcDdt4CJmx0HKbTYVXzavWq0f6fW_P7wcr5yHGnlvkBSyGTylDz5KPiKYOHwBkFj8bers0rPfrQ0kdTruZoF7Z54mW0tABKBBKihXd0ESCmSQ2aC2Ybj92DQLeRLqRu07UiHm6A/s1600/IMG_6294-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8LMxCcDdt4CJmx0HKbTYVXzavWq0f6fW_P7wcr5yHGnlvkBSyGTylDz5KPiKYOHwBkFj8bers0rPfrQ0kdTruZoF7Z54mW0tABKBBKihXd0ESCmSQ2aC2Ybj92DQLeRLqRu07UiHm6A/s400/IMG_6294-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Followed by towers of speakers dispelling bone-jarring beats.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOEmgZV8gLNxVfm73rwQ8cmBuasS1qMBvfbLc3DZMmIU42RajcnUkcXTHtEUAXjfv1N5Bq-oQ_HzPTfAscjoGUxMMkrFD6vZp5EPnV8_vYTKfshUXbLdBgktjs_RXndTe9CNc1U2IO1k/s1600/IMG_6295-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOEmgZV8gLNxVfm73rwQ8cmBuasS1qMBvfbLc3DZMmIU42RajcnUkcXTHtEUAXjfv1N5Bq-oQ_HzPTfAscjoGUxMMkrFD6vZp5EPnV8_vYTKfshUXbLdBgktjs_RXndTe9CNc1U2IO1k/s400/IMG_6295-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These boots are made for walking ... The parade route is over five miles - can you imagine?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4N7EQ_Zl8YDOcWzOyKfaLZh5iGOAd5t_mGYQxcNU8OAFoGOUMiHkUyU6ZcRB1j4zBhYD8A9UaTLDqSbdHiGa_LfS3WuuIAVrfFBMHGWuAnhzrvR7sjhLACK0qKTEwIL81M4wgZpcyiFg/s1600/IMG_6298-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4N7EQ_Zl8YDOcWzOyKfaLZh5iGOAd5t_mGYQxcNU8OAFoGOUMiHkUyU6ZcRB1j4zBhYD8A9UaTLDqSbdHiGa_LfS3WuuIAVrfFBMHGWuAnhzrvR7sjhLACK0qKTEwIL81M4wgZpcyiFg/s400/IMG_6298-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indian princess?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZheP9S5zYs_7N8KjXFf-WcuLsBuIUaUx_1PKdOJdk6JfmaUrBNoosWhNHN7dn1IXEeVIK_T2oxZHimRJPuM8cv0wMe8EwEw6CM2INMCp6JmpAqN5scPtM9uNCTA9pxUsTiqjJCTbKMs/s1600/IMG_6299-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZheP9S5zYs_7N8KjXFf-WcuLsBuIUaUx_1PKdOJdk6JfmaUrBNoosWhNHN7dn1IXEeVIK_T2oxZHimRJPuM8cv0wMe8EwEw6CM2INMCp6JmpAqN5scPtM9uNCTA9pxUsTiqjJCTbKMs/s400/IMG_6299-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">End of the parade and these revellers are just happy to have made it.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only in the Caribbean, you say!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- the parade route looped around on itself creating a traffic jam within the parade</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- one of the many bands had 1500 revellers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- the speaker trucks were too tall to pass under the overhead wires so guys climbed up on top and used sticks to raise the multitude of wires</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- we all got an eyeful when an old guy bent over in front of us to pick up old butts from the pavement - he was wearing only a shirt belted at the waist, let me stress, only a shirt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-54413321955547416082016-07-17T16:51:00.000-04:002016-07-17T16:53:48.917-04:00Loving & Leaving Martinique<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today we made it official, we are finally going to leave Martinique and head a bit further south. Hard to believe but we checked in at St. Pierre on the 10th of June and it is now the 17th of July!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Despite my inability to pick a <a href="http://svmowzer.blogspot.com/2016/06/a-frequently-asked-question-whats-our.html" target="_blank">"favourite" island</a> a few days ago, Martinique definitely ranks up there and we've made Ste. Anne our home for almost a month now. What on earth could we have been up to that would keep us in the same spot for so long? Well, as you may know, I have a fond spot for Pain Chocolat, and certainly enjoy a bottle of French wine now and then, but to be honest it is just the laid-back atmosphere here that is so easy to love. Add to that, Le Marin is THE place to buy bits and pieces for a French boat and if they don't have what you're looking for in the chandlery, they just order it in for you - from the motherland, across the pond. 24 hour delivery - no problem!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So we've spent our time completing a few little projects, but mostly watching fellow cruisers come and go as they hurry south to make haul-out, visitor arrival and/or insurance deadlines. We've joined in beach BBQs, multiple hikes and then watched quite a few of the Euro 2016 soccer games in various bars around the bay.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We caught up with old friends from last season in Grenada, we made new friends on Sula (Lesley & Stu) and Indigo (Kathy & Greg) and last but not least had a reunion with some of the first cruisers we met back up in the BVI in the spring of 2015 - Notre Vie (Sunny & John and their guest Dave).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkM3-qhJObr7E8yzaOK8y2Uz2PEyNZZ709HhcgAjNgMbgSucKWrwDDV0JKElFinf349mwwgUyY2i_v-43kUiBdTLi6cnG67kWuRbUbkhXR-6tQFdH1JxiT34SkXROUExhj35ccRcy1mjM/s1600/IMG_6138-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkM3-qhJObr7E8yzaOK8y2Uz2PEyNZZ709HhcgAjNgMbgSucKWrwDDV0JKElFinf349mwwgUyY2i_v-43kUiBdTLi6cnG67kWuRbUbkhXR-6tQFdH1JxiT34SkXROUExhj35ccRcy1mjM/s400/IMG_6138-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the view from the lighthouse on Cape Caravelle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjReldG_FQ8DuBX8C65H5MSPYSBTEpWWAO3i9sA-HtUu3sktHMCI7x-LPXc1ggAO1N9b6cMxmz6lGEnbvZHUYsd8Mas_5Emly5x983CpEDEajzXRr-AhY5RUbvRl4m3pcpDOvf57A6N8/s1600/IMG_6149-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjReldG_FQ8DuBX8C65H5MSPYSBTEpWWAO3i9sA-HtUu3sktHMCI7x-LPXc1ggAO1N9b6cMxmz6lGEnbvZHUYsd8Mas_5Emly5x983CpEDEajzXRr-AhY5RUbvRl4m3pcpDOvf57A6N8/s400/IMG_6149-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting rather precariously on the ledge - boy was it a long way down!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwMdEaA7WkNefHzUSxqKtbBaMXGdrq2adogWHiwPvS9RtogcTwT4xTcVsd1VHGwr7Zqyu1NtKjc9D85yBBR2kmNWS8u2v15lITQvSQc6PsHxitzzh7fbvcJjgBtVc3MJgHOoh5NgqG4A/s1600/IMG_6157-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwMdEaA7WkNefHzUSxqKtbBaMXGdrq2adogWHiwPvS9RtogcTwT4xTcVsd1VHGwr7Zqyu1NtKjc9D85yBBR2kmNWS8u2v15lITQvSQc6PsHxitzzh7fbvcJjgBtVc3MJgHOoh5NgqG4A/s400/IMG_6157-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've now walked miles of coastal paths, especially up the wind-blown east side of the island.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTcytZMd8oaVRYSELdmiOnytmm_bGUPqG4EAfWvEbji9Ba7pOYYXRvbWUOZl1ExQmDZ-SlS0k3kRxIN9gOoqEJOdlHDEGJ7-Hz_CwSIoTENEpF6wkXk0eGYZrlh_Xf26w2d-r4GDWV28/s1600/IMG_6160-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTcytZMd8oaVRYSELdmiOnytmm_bGUPqG4EAfWvEbji9Ba7pOYYXRvbWUOZl1ExQmDZ-SlS0k3kRxIN9gOoqEJOdlHDEGJ7-Hz_CwSIoTENEpF6wkXk0eGYZrlh_Xf26w2d-r4GDWV28/s400/IMG_6160-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On one expedition to the east side, we stopped for snack and self-picked mangos. We had a fairly global contingent here: Tracy & Wayne (South Africa), Lesley & Stu (New Zealand), Peter (Denmark), Kathy & Greg (US) and of course us (Canadian). </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFS2vgW0aA7H_AnLZWlTfkFuhNReffravShLHCaoRXOfLKrQMKBDcLWTL3nehGshCYWAUO4ak6fAq7qdYmRxZGWzs8wzl8pX606AqE57926NibrYxRrwZppFh4zpYI7Hw9eqlmq0IH248/s1600/IMG_6174-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFS2vgW0aA7H_AnLZWlTfkFuhNReffravShLHCaoRXOfLKrQMKBDcLWTL3nehGshCYWAUO4ak6fAq7qdYmRxZGWzs8wzl8pX606AqE57926NibrYxRrwZppFh4zpYI7Hw9eqlmq0IH248/s400/IMG_6174-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach casting with big long rods on a Sunday morning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiN709KtLce1Cqkp2MVUOHdFnlkb496NXQSovnTHMADrlyCrnG1ZqyEAFP4CBUYp4aQNw2CC4FPPMq9kIbf95PnKcaSdyIZ44YxIvf0asFxAwx-wpRp00eNgKOSIlU89iJYYnoIxu_rw/s1600/IMG_6178-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiN709KtLce1Cqkp2MVUOHdFnlkb496NXQSovnTHMADrlyCrnG1ZqyEAFP4CBUYp4aQNw2CC4FPPMq9kIbf95PnKcaSdyIZ44YxIvf0asFxAwx-wpRp00eNgKOSIlU89iJYYnoIxu_rw/s400/IMG_6178-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beaches at the southern end of Martinique have picture postcard white sand, palm trees and plenty of space for everyone.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluPOMklwgC2OF9h8UdPzvsIc-GIC4hzMAnhaRvJ_1-r7m3uwRS58u9j8DY1me2CokK22K4aSs6qoRy5JLGPetMpL5sYDsXZ_L1IAJl7vUR3iNFDgOihJXmkZrAfwz-0NHFcw_IHnsoNc/s1600/IMG_6182-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluPOMklwgC2OF9h8UdPzvsIc-GIC4hzMAnhaRvJ_1-r7m3uwRS58u9j8DY1me2CokK22K4aSs6qoRy5JLGPetMpL5sYDsXZ_L1IAJl7vUR3iNFDgOihJXmkZrAfwz-0NHFcw_IHnsoNc/s400/IMG_6182-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking with Kathy & Greg from Indigo - couldn't resist posing with this one!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62waAnvNkBPmHp-H6kXb6Dg53p0Piz3egxzk6DkJHT0BsiFa_9-JnEvE4tWc9CNCvm1ZIyUol_apJ7w0U2F2doLXx1mhv5F_eYxOaMzs3hJ7G4lomFQ261LwhkjAQM9fZlrycim24pTk/s1600/IMG_6184-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62waAnvNkBPmHp-H6kXb6Dg53p0Piz3egxzk6DkJHT0BsiFa_9-JnEvE4tWc9CNCvm1ZIyUol_apJ7w0U2F2doLXx1mhv5F_eYxOaMzs3hJ7G4lomFQ261LwhkjAQM9fZlrycim24pTk/s400/IMG_6184-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a cold Lorraine after a hot hike never goes amiss.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9IWq10SB77BUoFVzqifoDJlNmKtWhGIATzF46BiK2on-jVwLCQIRqlp7RkXpMpyTQUMANhTrEKCcyyqhFsJ-TjIHCN8lxe2ZZqCYHfkyPC9tlGl7tyjZhrFlD5AMcm2wVt_W0HGVJfc/s1600/IMG_6188-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9IWq10SB77BUoFVzqifoDJlNmKtWhGIATzF46BiK2on-jVwLCQIRqlp7RkXpMpyTQUMANhTrEKCcyyqhFsJ-TjIHCN8lxe2ZZqCYHfkyPC9tlGl7tyjZhrFlD5AMcm2wVt_W0HGVJfc/s400/IMG_6188-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unlike many of her neighbouring islands, Martinique is also very pastoral with large herds of cattle in fenced fields.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4Wifly3AAVF0gLIpBPCvh3s4P4OE7H7oKKUq8lp1Na7lfQ0b_jOoSSn22PVr92PVFMjFN90ua0GRTtVJeWe7fRSMwy3znjXRtRJyX5t_eFjDeXEHPdbQ84R0l2LWqiq-x1GX8qFbXHw/s1600/IMG_6264-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4Wifly3AAVF0gLIpBPCvh3s4P4OE7H7oKKUq8lp1Na7lfQ0b_jOoSSn22PVr92PVFMjFN90ua0GRTtVJeWe7fRSMwy3znjXRtRJyX5t_eFjDeXEHPdbQ84R0l2LWqiq-x1GX8qFbXHw/s400/IMG_6264-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting in one last hike around Salines Beach - this one we like because there's a beer stop not far from the end. Cold beer, a bit of exercise and great camaraderie - this is what life down here is all about!<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We did manage to complete one boat project that is already paying off nicely. We added one more solar panel over our dinghy davits which ups our capacity to capture the sun's rays a bit later in the afternoon and we are hoping we won't need to run our generator every couple of days to play catch-up on our batteries.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-m-Iw9Ondvc6zyCHuJMvPefBhslGfAzwECCuO7iOxGMdVNrg7eU1mOPLQTkO95bDxXW2-0viv41eNyT3ywBysFevLuGN1aluHYxMu5Q4Q2Dsp3hNQUX7Yjd9WB1Dy5sLunlTxyVtjnU/s1600/IMG_6194-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-m-Iw9Ondvc6zyCHuJMvPefBhslGfAzwECCuO7iOxGMdVNrg7eU1mOPLQTkO95bDxXW2-0viv41eNyT3ywBysFevLuGN1aluHYxMu5Q4Q2Dsp3hNQUX7Yjd9WB1Dy5sLunlTxyVtjnU/s400/IMG_6194-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting the wiring installed inside the davit tube, ready for installation of the panel.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQlvLXg3la7kBozdKe0Zw1-AEWW_ciNfqlv4XRiSGAIWc0G0y0nvfbEFDXYUrKTh9gIu8REMEGQFgSTfnKrDxxIFlGj0r79Fwyu5-eKxycMjP31TaEJGUq_lg200Tx8zg9JfhYAzQTLM/s1600/IMG_6240-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQlvLXg3la7kBozdKe0Zw1-AEWW_ciNfqlv4XRiSGAIWc0G0y0nvfbEFDXYUrKTh9gIu8REMEGQFgSTfnKrDxxIFlGj0r79Fwyu5-eKxycMjP31TaEJGUq_lg200Tx8zg9JfhYAzQTLM/s400/IMG_6240-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And there it is, nicely mounted over our davits and angled back just slightly to capture the later afternoon sun.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFiqZaInMIWCrZJYcMNYvTDWKRYfRFIfVMaGoBWuSWGsuwSMxbef5fnSFXpkWDlq5rW1W0jypJyVtSiy2pPI_xdndoJaK1jIPrruuzr6pip1qWzJj58vTAw0Jt-mfv3Cg-RU3cwJG_iM/s1600/IMG_0984-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFiqZaInMIWCrZJYcMNYvTDWKRYfRFIfVMaGoBWuSWGsuwSMxbef5fnSFXpkWDlq5rW1W0jypJyVtSiy2pPI_xdndoJaK1jIPrruuzr6pip1qWzJj58vTAw0Jt-mfv3Cg-RU3cwJG_iM/s400/IMG_0984-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course we're getting into the rainy season so we're very glad of our wind generator that helps fill in when the skies are like this.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Picking up bits and pieces, and keeping the boat stocked with all the French goodness requires trips with the dinghy. It's about two miles over to Le Marin and if the wind is blowing we either have to pack dry clothes or bundle up in hot rain gear to stay dry. Nothing worse that standing dripping salt-water all over the chandlery floor!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwt_QAUCBsEj08ipkEixVZJ_N6A7BSG8QAAZkpPVfGYBd3qBgnFsKgThs3s6LQW1ni9JhYjcfoQo-SLryILVb57i-pNOGEe4OrkAOngrYi7a91djjxs0JT3aX7NCPWA9CQi8NTHctJULc/s1600/IMG_6229-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwt_QAUCBsEj08ipkEixVZJ_N6A7BSG8QAAZkpPVfGYBd3qBgnFsKgThs3s6LQW1ni9JhYjcfoQo-SLryILVb57i-pNOGEe4OrkAOngrYi7a91djjxs0JT3aX7NCPWA9CQi8NTHctJULc/s400/IMG_6229-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Join us in the dinghy on this little excursion into Le Marin...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTpk0KnJKhHk9EJbCpkuWG2zcfyhAHL61KctHkTHHbeUfDnhE7JCSbHeJOoK0zxe0VGKI4CbGcLEhyVaMjQD1FDViRnSOU80zWzjn8TqLi25I6qnze93NuRR9NmYDae_rhE6VUAAumOw/s1600/IMG_6232-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTpk0KnJKhHk9EJbCpkuWG2zcfyhAHL61KctHkTHHbeUfDnhE7JCSbHeJOoK0zxe0VGKI4CbGcLEhyVaMjQD1FDViRnSOU80zWzjn8TqLi25I6qnze93NuRR9NmYDae_rhE6VUAAumOw/s400/IMG_6232-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We drive over some crystal-clear waters as we leave the Ste. Anne anchorage - this is one reason why we like it here so much.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7cXKG8OzsJwq-BpyoxQIj5NeD13VeLo1OiWtfgRQanW_dKde4HlzxQhx11YdVOlhq9NiwNpZKisx9K2JvZlGWqhDBpezmh6kPsgea-d-W3FPqYn2y5B4vwhkYRaHpAdVTEe-SFiOrEA/s1600/IMG_6202-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7cXKG8OzsJwq-BpyoxQIj5NeD13VeLo1OiWtfgRQanW_dKde4HlzxQhx11YdVOlhq9NiwNpZKisx9K2JvZlGWqhDBpezmh6kPsgea-d-W3FPqYn2y5B4vwhkYRaHpAdVTEe-SFiOrEA/s400/IMG_6202-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the bay at Le Marin you see all sorts of neat nautical things - including this submersible dock that can lift a catamaran out of the water to have it's bottom painted.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLdyl7wXrm-XsWtqvvJPgOaf9-5UshzpjauoWgzM6eDXKr0M-krRGzzjrA4HECrBp0KbtuJo2zjWJ5W0z97qHByjZiHuNieU_H3o8jE9X4iaeO_Ituas7XFjehgFFekGGqOr2rfN4mPg/s1600/IMG_6207-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLdyl7wXrm-XsWtqvvJPgOaf9-5UshzpjauoWgzM6eDXKr0M-krRGzzjrA4HECrBp0KbtuJo2zjWJ5W0z97qHByjZiHuNieU_H3o8jE9X4iaeO_Ituas7XFjehgFFekGGqOr2rfN4mPg/s400/IMG_6207-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grocery store, Leader Price, has it's own dock. There's another dock on the other side of the bay if you prefer to shop at Simply's and another up a creek where you can visit other shops. All geared to the boater.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhZOXxOnuya060On7c9hG0MYIhWrlrB-CkFubpC0wK-ECV7PP2IeivW81VxokTL20kA1xaDv08eQQo9ZlQgGkYac7UEa1amzuvXlByPizxDuHqvEGCKR9vZlMItARPgrvirOFV1d1VQ4/s1600/IMG_6213-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhZOXxOnuya060On7c9hG0MYIhWrlrB-CkFubpC0wK-ECV7PP2IeivW81VxokTL20kA1xaDv08eQQo9ZlQgGkYac7UEa1amzuvXlByPizxDuHqvEGCKR9vZlMItARPgrvirOFV1d1VQ4/s400/IMG_6213-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As we zip across the bay, we avoid the sailing school Hobie-cats. These are local kids learning how to sail, not tourists from a resort.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtlc_4xFCCHwhUmCmoQLf-Dttfgu_aFBm97Z5OKp-AFy6RWNxCR7FNOqb6VvN6xiPobG5rwORjzPLtEwoJkxUFIZYva-lHRThyv_lvE2skWzEl8o70ZdCIg5PoCHV2tMKzcFRdiyGptg/s1600/IMG_6215-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtlc_4xFCCHwhUmCmoQLf-Dttfgu_aFBm97Z5OKp-AFy6RWNxCR7FNOqb6VvN6xiPobG5rwORjzPLtEwoJkxUFIZYva-lHRThyv_lvE2skWzEl8o70ZdCIg5PoCHV2tMKzcFRdiyGptg/s400/IMG_6215-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see the boats for all the masts!! There are hundreds of boats on moorings, at anchor and at docks in this bay.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMM_jnr2wOgAEpHasD64Tb9v_S653hk6_TgUN-YImqim7JIwTRUQbyX62bpUS_KYIemNLYvNfcK_0H6TevvuknEiBaTZT3BFDwxUUyPot3ogkTpc3dwoPwqmNT4gcfm5q5kF2ErQhm64/s1600/IMG_6218-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMM_jnr2wOgAEpHasD64Tb9v_S653hk6_TgUN-YImqim7JIwTRUQbyX62bpUS_KYIemNLYvNfcK_0H6TevvuknEiBaTZT3BFDwxUUyPot3ogkTpc3dwoPwqmNT4gcfm5q5kF2ErQhm64/s400/IMG_6218-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at the marina dinghy dock - blue building is a well-stocked chandlery and there's a great bar with TV and wifi just to the right.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsUV6svXEj4U9_fa7fGsvngyq_Ml9sIMtRbdeHgvGAW3983mR2RIjQN_s4lC-nn4pEdLLZE0BV8nMPvYU3ewbmUZ_B5FqslWESXQAkrUjGSJLNyr72SJ8hxXUG3nygSiw8KSvwfzfGZU/s1600/IMG_6196-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsUV6svXEj4U9_fa7fGsvngyq_Ml9sIMtRbdeHgvGAW3983mR2RIjQN_s4lC-nn4pEdLLZE0BV8nMPvYU3ewbmUZ_B5FqslWESXQAkrUjGSJLNyr72SJ8hxXUG3nygSiw8KSvwfzfGZU/s400/IMG_6196-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, here we are at Mango Bay with Bill & Wendy and James & Pam testing out the beer during the Euro soccer match.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYWeveBOLnRMjr_B9PL2MfyoB2s7P6Zkjuoi3pYvJr3FIQ4An4W0dAcAMayyLWpmjqz7iWJQDTit1Q-YVyxYqJCs7a6cgTec7EVV4tLWe_JtZtseZBZvhqDBMiwiXf6rGcB2iOP90y1Y/s1600/IMG_6220-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYWeveBOLnRMjr_B9PL2MfyoB2s7P6Zkjuoi3pYvJr3FIQ4An4W0dAcAMayyLWpmjqz7iWJQDTit1Q-YVyxYqJCs7a6cgTec7EVV4tLWe_JtZtseZBZvhqDBMiwiXf6rGcB2iOP90y1Y/s400/IMG_6220-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After all our provisioning we trundle home back to Mowzer. Lorraine beer is a must-buy on Martinique.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Y9n_QOfppMSGMsZt3kOldYdKh-LYnKaUbiQGTycRRp0tiOloX-G7nA1zcc16gEfswJBUZ4krMu8qKVQuQW4LmtFxaKw0Qs0Vqmsgq7SarQStT0agkqjyraKCP-pBLU7zLXdWcupQUWk/s1600/IMG_6235-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Y9n_QOfppMSGMsZt3kOldYdKh-LYnKaUbiQGTycRRp0tiOloX-G7nA1zcc16gEfswJBUZ4krMu8qKVQuQW4LmtFxaKw0Qs0Vqmsgq7SarQStT0agkqjyraKCP-pBLU7zLXdWcupQUWk/s400/IMG_6235-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Returning to Mowzer, and the last photo of her without her new solar panel on the back.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, there you have it, that's what's been keeping us occupied on Martinique. Tomorrow morning we move on to St. Lucia with a forecast of light winds but hopefully enough to move us along comfortably.</span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com0Sainte-Anne, Martinique14.430690360770953 -60.87936401367187514.307696860770953 -61.040725513671873 14.553683860770953 -60.718002513671877tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-66867781205313201882016-07-15T11:07:00.000-04:002016-07-15T11:07:36.862-04:00Leatherback Turtles - Brand Spanking New!<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday was a sighting that might be a once in a lifetime event - we will count ourselves very lucky if we ever get to see brand new Leatherback turtles emerging from their nest and taking their first steps to get to open water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In case you don't follow us on Facebook (go and Like our page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/svmowzer/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel" target="_blank">The Sailing Tales of Mowzer</a>). I posted video there as well that shows these little guys on their final steps getting to open water.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">An amazing experience on Salines Beach today (Martinique). We were heading home after a fun and lazy afternoon on the beach when we came across some little turtles making their way to the sea. More appeared, and so too did a few other beach-goers, but everyone remained calm and just monitored to make sure they all made their way into the ocean successfully. These little tiny new hatchlings have so many challenges ahead of them, and I know only a tiny fraction will survive, but it was so special to see that they made this first step successfully.</span></blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are we there yet? The coastal path leads to a series of stunning beaches at the southern tip of Martinique.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our destination for the day - Salines Beach.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a group of great teenagers playing soccer games in front of us. Fete National in Martinique meant the beach was full of family groups.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved the play of the sunlight through the sheltering leaves of the tree above us. No rain today so it was safe under the Manchineel trees.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relaxing back in the shade of those trees - almost time for a dip in the surf.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a lovely relaxing afternoon on the beach we headed back along the beach to pick up the path to Ste. Anne. Just before the end of the beach we came across a small group of people intently watching these little guys on the ground. Leatherback turtles were emerging from a nest at the top of the beach and had a long trek down to the surf. Everyone stood calmly around and watched their progress - this mean no seabirds came in to pick them off and all that hatched made it safely to the ocean. Just a tiny step in their dangerous journey to adulthood and only a small number will make it, but it was amazing to be there for this first journey.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzZKPDTTx9xzNPK2vB2i2ikcO-rsFcOJdIWANo-l-E39-JsC51AUy8WmPlBOzxEHXUL83X2n5XxW3UHYg6Z8SfQ5E6qTrVFleb_m6u09gyXdWf9MCaT94u3PJ6OmNYzc6WBSj8K-RhHg/s1600/IMG_6248-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzZKPDTTx9xzNPK2vB2i2ikcO-rsFcOJdIWANo-l-E39-JsC51AUy8WmPlBOzxEHXUL83X2n5XxW3UHYg6Z8SfQ5E6qTrVFleb_m6u09gyXdWf9MCaT94u3PJ6OmNYzc6WBSj8K-RhHg/s400/IMG_6248-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first couple out of the nest - don't they make the most beautiful tracks in the sand?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many more followed down the slope.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little hatchling emerging from the sand. We figure we saw at least 50 come out of this hole.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a long way!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkfMevlZut-qI5F4OLg97FeByasdbJCkYxvYEmWaZhlmd8VOJQ05CmbM30YDqUbhXoIEkUH9GijhNbw3M8DSbyIR1jpFPNsZSKgpk63unneilz9fGPrLG1kpv3SbT555dG19ApW3XhbM/s1600/IMG_6253-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkfMevlZut-qI5F4OLg97FeByasdbJCkYxvYEmWaZhlmd8VOJQ05CmbM30YDqUbhXoIEkUH9GijhNbw3M8DSbyIR1jpFPNsZSKgpk63unneilz9fGPrLG1kpv3SbT555dG19ApW3XhbM/s400/IMG_6253-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was such hard work - exhausting just watching them.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuICg60XOsraT0MDSBXc9towjwMl58ofFI1i3340c3LDalr3WkK-af_V256G6A-s_eHmre4V6Z96eUOqoeyKNUsm7OX5x5atml8tg9s2Gwmmh8ETYjUJLfvMAlApBgGNQebd7XrDKJJgs/s1600/IMG_6254-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuICg60XOsraT0MDSBXc9towjwMl58ofFI1i3340c3LDalr3WkK-af_V256G6A-s_eHmre4V6Z96eUOqoeyKNUsm7OX5x5atml8tg9s2Gwmmh8ETYjUJLfvMAlApBgGNQebd7XrDKJJgs/s400/IMG_6254-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Into the first bit of water - almost there.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEwz-bK-00hUW-FwwjhpdoKpF-UQFiwCs09T3YNvO25J-kb68T08jJG3t3oZATZLIj9whCWzfx3eJ1QRB5CxN7pNQEAxIRQW5ENjJy3m1SNOCiZUpHmPoFNthBorNjo0HVqprXjsaH10/s1600/IMG_6255-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEwz-bK-00hUW-FwwjhpdoKpF-UQFiwCs09T3YNvO25J-kb68T08jJG3t3oZATZLIj9whCWzfx3eJ1QRB5CxN7pNQEAxIRQW5ENjJy3m1SNOCiZUpHmPoFNthBorNjo0HVqprXjsaH10/s400/IMG_6255-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lapping edge of the waves would tumble the babies around.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37gNaYpCwA9XNmsDWc9L1KCMUzMuTfiZ3-PeOSK88Q3i8ErfsnA1WhP52L_juRGflcvhY3qPEWZyZhIuLHZTkCHpEEmYpHy9sA9g7y6wiash5V6yDduwbHT74jjym_deHFYJp5jzl2X8/s1600/IMG_6256-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37gNaYpCwA9XNmsDWc9L1KCMUzMuTfiZ3-PeOSK88Q3i8ErfsnA1WhP52L_juRGflcvhY3qPEWZyZhIuLHZTkCHpEEmYpHy9sA9g7y6wiash5V6yDduwbHT74jjym_deHFYJp5jzl2X8/s400/IMG_6256-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally - enough depth to the water and their little flippers would propel them so quickly into the deep water.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't forget to check out the video I posted on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/svmowzer/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel" target="_blank">The Sailing Tales of Mowzer</a> (it's too big to post here.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com0Sainte-Anne, Martinique14.403258176425471 -60.88206768035888714.34174067642547 -60.962748680358885 14.464775676425472 -60.801386680358888tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-55253598341212578772016-07-13T09:50:00.000-04:002016-07-13T09:50:19.613-04:00Favourite Islands Part 4: Martinique to Grenada<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are the Windward Islands and when sailing south, Martinique is the point where you no longer have to sail east to make the next island. Who said Caribbean sailing was all gentle breezes behind the beam?! At least from here on down the chain there's a good chance the wind won't be hard on the nose.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the final instalment in my little island series - here's <a href="http://svmowzer.blogspot.com/2016/06/a-frequently-asked-question-whats-our.html" target="_blank">the one that started it all off</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Martinique</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Approaching Martinique is much like walking into a tropical greenhouse - you can smell the flowers from a couple of miles off the island, especially at the end of the dry season when it seems just about anything that can bloom is showing off its most spectacular colours. Visiting Martinique is like stepping into a heady mix of first world France on vacation in the Caribbean. The island has just about every convenience and if you like shopping this is the place to come. Also, if you have a French boat as we do, this is the place to find all those unique little requirements that are hard to source elsewhere. Le Marin is huge and much like the lagoon on St. Martin offers services of all types and chandleries with direct supply lines to France. The island of Martinique is a delight but is most easily explored by car on excellent European-signed roads. Highlights include the volcano of Mt. Pelee, many rum distilleries and a banana museum, Fort de France - a bustling city, the mountainous interior region and we have particularly enjoyed hiking on the east coast. The best thing about Martinique are all the anchorages starting with St. Pierre in the north, many little Anses around Fort de France and then Ste. Anne and Le Marin in the south. Even if you don't speak French, the locals are friendly and will help out with quite a bit of English.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Love: Lorraine beer, cheap wine, great cheese, pain chocolat for breakfast</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Hate: (apart from the effect on my waistline) There's really not much to dislike about this place - I suppose when you're trying to get a repair done, the French-Caribbean working hours are difficult to accommodate. We use the mantra, "But of course, we are French." Most trades work 9 to 12, 2:30-ish to 5, Monday - Friday and sometimes Saturday morning. Also, if you use propane make sure you are well-stocked before visiting the French islands since you can only buy butane cooking-gas here.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoErHMe8xOPPOVeYRqQx1o_AwgYSuXSB1BdmDUJLxjHIU_G_xdZm00RUJX-S9LGx2Sbj5AuFcT_6mJVpu2eocCjW2YhYzTg3BrbiR6EG2VfjPJf4_Hfe5DDgcgM9oLFexAwN8eZkvpp90/s1600/Martinique+-+St.+Pierre-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoErHMe8xOPPOVeYRqQx1o_AwgYSuXSB1BdmDUJLxjHIU_G_xdZm00RUJX-S9LGx2Sbj5AuFcT_6mJVpu2eocCjW2YhYzTg3BrbiR6EG2VfjPJf4_Hfe5DDgcgM9oLFexAwN8eZkvpp90/s400/Martinique+-+St.+Pierre-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Pierre nestled under the heights of volcanic Mt. Pelee.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gI0KwGc-_xvk0fdI6YIpOcVQCS8me_bRh7mvHthPqcc4H5eU4itNOfFyIfhRN3xwT9tfhKD1Kols2LFSkVKsHlmgXJKeoB9Gh3CeFHk-wgbpW562DGrfaUzs11uX1EH4m2VjbjUnWEA/s1600/Martinique+-+Pelee-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gI0KwGc-_xvk0fdI6YIpOcVQCS8me_bRh7mvHthPqcc4H5eU4itNOfFyIfhRN3xwT9tfhKD1Kols2LFSkVKsHlmgXJKeoB9Gh3CeFHk-wgbpW562DGrfaUzs11uX1EH4m2VjbjUnWEA/s400/Martinique+-+Pelee-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking the dizzying slopes of Mt. Pelee.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvicRs_3XoqgZQFt42aTNelr3eOHRxzcfJw-MqX8ECu1w3BlnrCeAUehvX1XD984LaMcOwYbBBHPkoKBx1TzpgwUudea1nn0steX0W0kiVYDTQrWFt2CYkREZJC6KiPHIdDNm4shEGqU/s1600/Martinique+-+mall-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvicRs_3XoqgZQFt42aTNelr3eOHRxzcfJw-MqX8ECu1w3BlnrCeAUehvX1XD984LaMcOwYbBBHPkoKBx1TzpgwUudea1nn0steX0W0kiVYDTQrWFt2CYkREZJC6KiPHIdDNm4shEGqU/s400/Martinique+-+mall-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fort de France - back to all the mod cons.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRyuVv2payxKoyxx528jY_-EmhyuX_ngjY6n5cpguuWdjPOY_OtNyp9d1da8jQSljbrQNQMrJ-KE0F2PBCVzfR_bqWgsnzz8TXh3RzYlEw_alk-8tao0k3P52SURIIL7MU46i8m2ClWE/s1600/Martinique+-+night+shot-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRyuVv2payxKoyxx528jY_-EmhyuX_ngjY6n5cpguuWdjPOY_OtNyp9d1da8jQSljbrQNQMrJ-KE0F2PBCVzfR_bqWgsnzz8TXh3RzYlEw_alk-8tao0k3P52SURIIL7MU46i8m2ClWE/s400/Martinique+-+night+shot-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night time concert at Fort de France.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvq8lv8SwnuUhPrDDN1NTk_ffwUxxrdCF2S7NKnn-lahY8TfhJbwI1K3Lm4BcxEFWNr9FWPVA8L5YWXJ1bmGpAF7jzkmVVmaOUJNZ3BVRAmrlsAl7iv9ZQjunoYtzA73EoRrweAc6nZk/s1600/Martinique+-+Ste.+Anne-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvq8lv8SwnuUhPrDDN1NTk_ffwUxxrdCF2S7NKnn-lahY8TfhJbwI1K3Lm4BcxEFWNr9FWPVA8L5YWXJ1bmGpAF7jzkmVVmaOUJNZ3BVRAmrlsAl7iv9ZQjunoYtzA73EoRrweAc6nZk/s400/Martinique+-+Ste.+Anne-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The southern beaches and anchorage at Ste. Anne.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAg1uvudAh2i7Q6qTSC4Yw09mFc6cTwvHaBw73qgUkcy87RrimnCllgYiLEaIGRgOvVKaih4OQ1zF658rSTjrvcpFnfdBZOkgJSaQmR8XV9WDtnyxt-0blTd9dNnL9u91miveSx7pMlU/s1600/Martinique+-+Ste.+Anne+church-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAg1uvudAh2i7Q6qTSC4Yw09mFc6cTwvHaBw73qgUkcy87RrimnCllgYiLEaIGRgOvVKaih4OQ1zF658rSTjrvcpFnfdBZOkgJSaQmR8XV9WDtnyxt-0blTd9dNnL9u91miveSx7pMlU/s400/Martinique+-+Ste.+Anne+church-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas eve night in Ste. Anne and there's standing room only outside the church.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>St. Lucia</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">St. Lucia is an independent island that has developed quite an infrastructure to support cruise ships and resort visitors. After Martinique it feels a bit like visiting the wild, wild, west and in fact we have found there is even country music sometimes playing on the radio. Rodney Bay at the north end is where most cruisers congregate and there is a good marina and boat yard with associated services here. If you ran out of propane in Martinique because you stayed too long, this is the place to fill up (or to prep on the northbound voyage). There are restaurants to please every taste and some of the best Indian food we have eaten down here. However, it's not cheap so plan your visit accordingly. In fact we find that St. Lucia is one of the most expensive islands to visit since prices are geared with cruise-ship and resort vacationers in mind. On the flip-side, staying in the marina is affordable and a great place to take a little break. Marigot Bay with access to the Capella Resort if you stay on a mooring is a delightful visit and we use this as our arrival and jump-off point to the south. The south end of St. Lucia is dominated by the magnificent and iconic Pitons. Many people do stop off in these southern anchorages but we prefer to view them from afar and avoid the clamour of the boat-boys.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Love: The ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) arrives in Rodney Bay in December and we loved the crazy energy of the place as these long-distance cruisers arrived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Hate: It's hard to walk down the street without being asked for a hand-out.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhtL1yiQLcpAkAzHIWby64Tw86ugIg1zLJHQFqHJgL5pysyNtTlpPpER6-JDKCcgAd7JXtNys9Oo4N9WtmYSobZLTLuWYM2-6HdyGcpo223bq0_Ac4RfASwDFqtCvpbcTgpp3oZfaBI4/s1600/St.+Lucia+-+Rodney+Bay-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhtL1yiQLcpAkAzHIWby64Tw86ugIg1zLJHQFqHJgL5pysyNtTlpPpER6-JDKCcgAd7JXtNys9Oo4N9WtmYSobZLTLuWYM2-6HdyGcpo223bq0_Ac4RfASwDFqtCvpbcTgpp3oZfaBI4/s400/St.+Lucia+-+Rodney+Bay-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rodney Bay - another big anchorage where cruisers congregate.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDtaJVG9Y9IVsQsF7m4fhfkXAc5SAhXnhOU13ihbHtywxpbAd_E-EwAp4b8tFDkBjv5w9jnrDuljG1DPcqZTWS20EkaOW5XIny7JT3awcGBSD8vmi2lm30sswXqHfgZz8yQk91RT7ZIs/s1600/St.+Lucia+-+fruit+guy-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDtaJVG9Y9IVsQsF7m4fhfkXAc5SAhXnhOU13ihbHtywxpbAd_E-EwAp4b8tFDkBjv5w9jnrDuljG1DPcqZTWS20EkaOW5XIny7JT3awcGBSD8vmi2lm30sswXqHfgZz8yQk91RT7ZIs/s400/St.+Lucia+-+fruit+guy-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buying fruits & veg from one of the boat boys - just check everything for bugs and roaches cause they love to live in that canopy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvTxXnhA0tqpZ4xy1m0IFSbThGrwloT0sNJZw12n0rVH-jxRu4QLeDxWmLxCg5Wlv6LOb3G1TSDKD6yWlKhAVjd5DtpoBt_Lm2qV7QOQj8d-HFMHdxzYS9DF_ZsM_L1mPpcUBFMCAHf4/s1600/St.+Lucia+-+Gros+Islet-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvTxXnhA0tqpZ4xy1m0IFSbThGrwloT0sNJZw12n0rVH-jxRu4QLeDxWmLxCg5Wlv6LOb3G1TSDKD6yWlKhAVjd5DtpoBt_Lm2qV7QOQj8d-HFMHdxzYS9DF_ZsM_L1mPpcUBFMCAHf4/s400/St.+Lucia+-+Gros+Islet-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gros Islet feels like a town out of the wild west, right down to the horses on the street.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8HfysMKkZW0FuydgO8c8zToC6RJ2wzixbqd1MfHBTn_E15XRXbXWYqpp8kdpD4qGLKt9SdRt6i0odhL8_HKCm9RR_d_9ZolAeG0S1nn7-v9bAj2r5w8Bz7Y1yilYVKHXGF7jc8ll3aE/s1600/St.+Lucia+-+Marigot+view-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8HfysMKkZW0FuydgO8c8zToC6RJ2wzixbqd1MfHBTn_E15XRXbXWYqpp8kdpD4qGLKt9SdRt6i0odhL8_HKCm9RR_d_9ZolAeG0S1nn7-v9bAj2r5w8Bz7Y1yilYVKHXGF7jc8ll3aE/s400/St.+Lucia+-+Marigot+view-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful tiny Marigot Bay.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKn7g_nSlW6HGRJFwMXZ5aAGLK42oNZXFtYjL7-gepDJT0JuAoLFUFZqzmT8wcJV7D0jk5Y6MsXRiN-rMJLL3ULTjS_txliibgCaNDPkqb_2V8l0Q-0lZU4r-PtCWVU0_vhNG0L0qZsbo/s1600/St.+Lucia+-+Marigot+Sunset-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKn7g_nSlW6HGRJFwMXZ5aAGLK42oNZXFtYjL7-gepDJT0JuAoLFUFZqzmT8wcJV7D0jk5Y6MsXRiN-rMJLL3ULTjS_txliibgCaNDPkqb_2V8l0Q-0lZU4r-PtCWVU0_vhNG0L0qZsbo/s400/St.+Lucia+-+Marigot+Sunset-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset behind the palm trees.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRPYqaNUXBRh1A10BMq4DJL3sUsfBb7LZXf8ZSvHUBvILU57UwB7PvlfnszE0oynu1EDQKACt_DLcyY_Dna34vsCXfZOUTAHPNguoZMAJd_RwESLo09VKmXUt6y8iNmx0ssYrbStFwOI/s1600/St.+Lucia+-+Stairway+to+Heaven-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRPYqaNUXBRh1A10BMq4DJL3sUsfBb7LZXf8ZSvHUBvILU57UwB7PvlfnszE0oynu1EDQKACt_DLcyY_Dna34vsCXfZOUTAHPNguoZMAJd_RwESLo09VKmXUt6y8iNmx0ssYrbStFwOI/s400/St.+Lucia+-+Stairway+to+Heaven-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking here is straight up the mountainside!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikg2IyOLrP0TM9pKZq079KkmOvnDAmmwY0qMI8mWBQqMWYe8aTbTF9mL19vEwuSlqBtz6M_px8Rd2K9s4-hDnq34dp-6yZpL9LIs-TecB91gynfoRF68L-J5yeYRwqRe29U6cS-1td_NU/s1600/St.+Lucia+-+Pitons-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikg2IyOLrP0TM9pKZq079KkmOvnDAmmwY0qMI8mWBQqMWYe8aTbTF9mL19vEwuSlqBtz6M_px8Rd2K9s4-hDnq34dp-6yZpL9LIs-TecB91gynfoRF68L-J5yeYRwqRe29U6cS-1td_NU/s400/St.+Lucia+-+Pitons-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sailing to the iconic pitons.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZW4hoQgs_RC20671nQx8ge5U-eKtwAaoOWm5Z-bNw4uZLbidG9IWaRdKxoUiDNDUTBQ2sFNBKLVAIObRwI9AU2lQwB6Fxl_HG4tJpSclsZ0pJtw_NQ7YjG-eCWX8MwyEpYNEtyCsU8ok/s1600/St.+Lucia+-+Piton+sunrise-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZW4hoQgs_RC20671nQx8ge5U-eKtwAaoOWm5Z-bNw4uZLbidG9IWaRdKxoUiDNDUTBQ2sFNBKLVAIObRwI9AU2lQwB6Fxl_HG4tJpSclsZ0pJtw_NQ7YjG-eCWX8MwyEpYNEtyCsU8ok/s400/St.+Lucia+-+Piton+sunrise-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise over Petit Piton.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>St. Vincent & The Grenadines</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">St. Vincent (the big island) and the smaller islands of The Grenadines - Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Tobago Cays, Union Island and many little islets scattered in-between make up this nation. We have not yet visited the big island of St. Vincent due to security concerns so Bequia is the first stop we make here when heading south. We check <a href="https://www.safetyandsecuritynet.com/" target="_blank">CSSN</a> regularly when cruising throughout the Caribbean and especially when in this area. It is unfortunate since we have heard that the island of St. Vincent is magnificent, much like Dominica. While some visit the island, most take a miss preferring not to take the risk of being the "one" vessel that ran into a bad guy on a particular night. The island of Bequia has taken the cruising community to heart with many small businesses and restaurants all gathered around the end of large Admiralty Bay which makes this a delightful place to stop and visit. The islands south of Bequia are unique in their various attractions and spaced apart to make day-hopping a pleasant activity. Mustique - an expensive private island and resort for the rich and famous. Canouan - another resort island with a dodgy reputation so we haven't visited (yet). Mayreau - so small you can walk around the entire island but big enough to support a surprising number of bar/restautant establishments. The Tobago Cays - turquoise, Bahamian-like waters full of turtles. Union Island - we like Chatham Bay on the west side where you really get away from all the hustle and bustle. All these islands have spectacular palm-tree lined white-sand beaches and look like they were plucked off a postcard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Love: this is what you dreamed the Caribbean would look like</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Hate: the unstable and corrupt government that has led to the security problems </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNdowQp2bQNF09vSyA5U0spzCl2hl48cJiOGe10MXl1eYTIwQ6l5CcIjO2ymQk_O3FpC50E6tu-uzT305k_lwUv56YNK60Qx5xUchIn7Zx1wwpnECNSd2diQmaHLi15mOsYKrFAg31wI/s1600/Bequia+-+Peggy%2527s+Rock-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNdowQp2bQNF09vSyA5U0spzCl2hl48cJiOGe10MXl1eYTIwQ6l5CcIjO2ymQk_O3FpC50E6tu-uzT305k_lwUv56YNK60Qx5xUchIn7Zx1wwpnECNSd2diQmaHLi15mOsYKrFAg31wI/s400/Bequia+-+Peggy%2527s+Rock-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bequia - Admiralty Bay from atop Peggy's Rock with 'Jetman' as our guide.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iW2t9-0jqkTVPeUGESHnrPsbOUJPNrS7WW9LMDfAVTWy2RMUXUWjD7jnqbkAi9WOCyz1OfIf7IwQzwqNy82e4qOQI1whabUsEChyx6jpGLGA9SitW8K0r1hVmbtnTV_p-aau2I77_9g/s1600/Bequia+-+Friendship+Bay-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iW2t9-0jqkTVPeUGESHnrPsbOUJPNrS7WW9LMDfAVTWy2RMUXUWjD7jnqbkAi9WOCyz1OfIf7IwQzwqNy82e4qOQI1whabUsEChyx6jpGLGA9SitW8K0r1hVmbtnTV_p-aau2I77_9g/s400/Bequia+-+Friendship+Bay-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bequia - Friendship Bay and the whaling station. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpQ6cLcKp_jAUOTewQxvYtRW703N7AYTKNv5sNX_5LbnPo7Vit_My5qFG7rfB256v6uhvFwf54ytqzj4qQyMH1niGybUKk1Ei6gOT-4iB2a0J70EfG-vU-KT78k_mzYezkWTqkErFSMU/s1600/Mayreau+-+Rightous+%2526+Da+Youths+bar-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpQ6cLcKp_jAUOTewQxvYtRW703N7AYTKNv5sNX_5LbnPo7Vit_My5qFG7rfB256v6uhvFwf54ytqzj4qQyMH1niGybUKk1Ei6gOT-4iB2a0J70EfG-vU-KT78k_mzYezkWTqkErFSMU/s400/Mayreau+-+Rightous+%2526+Da+Youths+bar-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayreau - Righteous & Da Youths bar.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwPJXquVcF852Wv3ND2s-kC7-pKPiunoyFggpHdocmnJspB5VmgThWGq_zVEDcuWwjlEIlg5cNu4N6IfmxJ39tnYEg9yy1c0TycXD_5hFlQ779xg4fqJRGW5P7F-9ee4uMomI7Lv9vPE/s1600/Mayreau+-+Saltwhistle+Bay-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwPJXquVcF852Wv3ND2s-kC7-pKPiunoyFggpHdocmnJspB5VmgThWGq_zVEDcuWwjlEIlg5cNu4N6IfmxJ39tnYEg9yy1c0TycXD_5hFlQ779xg4fqJRGW5P7F-9ee4uMomI7Lv9vPE/s400/Mayreau+-+Saltwhistle+Bay-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayreau - Saltwhilstle Bay</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DKqzL0C0NDx08mLN8K0CfZIp_65RL-5iWRG1WnQd94WuCbaxLI1RkuRs4WmfxmxoeBwIlmUFw9LsxgSswgWhkQ_xRsEuF3Ci8tUp9ZEzAHrhSuO7meyNtB6QygsaLeR7KW8YG_r2hJU/s1600/Mayreau+-+Tobago+Cays+view-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DKqzL0C0NDx08mLN8K0CfZIp_65RL-5iWRG1WnQd94WuCbaxLI1RkuRs4WmfxmxoeBwIlmUFw9LsxgSswgWhkQ_xRsEuF3Ci8tUp9ZEzAHrhSuO7meyNtB6QygsaLeR7KW8YG_r2hJU/s400/Mayreau+-+Tobago+Cays+view-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Mayreau - looking out over the Tobago Cays.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFgb1MjunOj0fC3OV_5oubEj86Jx4eDpNuTPUXZXXCLSrRJuv9bTtMte6pnoVjVlJ9I1ohPc47cUO6RwNtEJZNnph_cSbJxCqfDvI_ox7L5S7ab6Iab2bvc2yofCUb7VXVhN4ZmGC0tE/s1600/Tobago+Cays-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFgb1MjunOj0fC3OV_5oubEj86Jx4eDpNuTPUXZXXCLSrRJuv9bTtMte6pnoVjVlJ9I1ohPc47cUO6RwNtEJZNnph_cSbJxCqfDvI_ox7L5S7ab6Iab2bvc2yofCUb7VXVhN4ZmGC0tE/s400/Tobago+Cays-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tobago Cays - Petit Tabac and absolutely clear turquoise waters.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WzpRkgxxolyJEQKuBCrPG9Kpq8_ay6_1g8HPcaozAeR4EH346iMxC2M7NhA4Z0uxbwJWf3mJoXyqyPoOz1W989lpy3LK9vjkhyTo31kEJtX9ubGAxE0gdKCLuf8saeHrbQfCB8DIUlY/s1600/Union+Island+-+birthday+drink-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WzpRkgxxolyJEQKuBCrPG9Kpq8_ay6_1g8HPcaozAeR4EH346iMxC2M7NhA4Z0uxbwJWf3mJoXyqyPoOz1W989lpy3LK9vjkhyTo31kEJtX9ubGAxE0gdKCLuf8saeHrbQfCB8DIUlY/s400/Union+Island+-+birthday+drink-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sundowners in Chatham Bay on Union Island.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Grenada</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grenada is our chosen destination for hurricane season (August to November) and as such has been our home for about three months of the year for the last couple of years. We've had a chance to get to know Grenada up and down the island but spend most of our time on the south shore. Before getting to the big island however, there is one more island to visit that is geographically part of The Grenadines, but politically belongs to Grenada rather than St. Vincent. Carriacou is our gateway to this southern island and is a great place to get away from the busy-ness of Grenada during the season. This little place is where time tries to stand still and if you haven't seen the movie <a href="http://www.vanishingsail.com/" target="_blank">Vanishing Sail</a>, I highly encourage you do so. Grenada, on the other hand, is a busy, vibrant island full of cruisers, university students, ex-pats and locals. The cruising social scene really heats up in Prickly and Mount Hartman Bays but there are plenty of quiet little anchorages where you can safely tuck yourself away if you prefer a more peaceful sojourn. Weekly shopping buses, Saturday <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/grenadahash/" target="_blank">Hashes</a>, cooking classes, yoga, fitness, volleyball, loads of great haul-out facilities and boat services mean that Grenada is strongly competing with Trinidad as the place to stay or leave your boat during the hurricane season. We like to kick off our stay in Grenada in August with the annual <a href="http://www.spicemasgrenada.com/" target="_blank">Spicemas</a> - a week-long party in St. George's that celebrates Grenada and all things Carnival.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Love: the friendships and camaraderie of Grenada and the Grenadians</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Hate: heat and humidity - why do we come so far south at this time of the year!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDwcNVzyJVH7bAwUDRBjgCfZKoKfpRKCeM9SkqZSeSg8yOygpPeWY612neSgHiCzd-n7SfR76EW6BUe6aknNf0bP3UKGa3esWrBULdfKrH3kHdrwuGgU7_vzIVfdCYK6i0aGcmLPL1fw/s1600/Grenada+-+Secret+Harbour-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDwcNVzyJVH7bAwUDRBjgCfZKoKfpRKCeM9SkqZSeSg8yOygpPeWY612neSgHiCzd-n7SfR76EW6BUe6aknNf0bP3UKGa3esWrBULdfKrH3kHdrwuGgU7_vzIVfdCYK6i0aGcmLPL1fw/s400/Grenada+-+Secret+Harbour-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Secret Harbour on Mt. Hartman Bay - our home in Grenada.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY71jeaFmic-qokcUMyxKh94G6lBmzReFPgsagKeAtfEqWuOPoI2SUBRIE-rJnqdnY2_ZC8YoqwtHJm_jdGNQgdJetNJqDrJEQx1wulGOIa1FbwpdlMOYor_IG9NPYp0gKgydnHdstCsU/s1600/Grenada+-+Concord+Falls-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY71jeaFmic-qokcUMyxKh94G6lBmzReFPgsagKeAtfEqWuOPoI2SUBRIE-rJnqdnY2_ZC8YoqwtHJm_jdGNQgdJetNJqDrJEQx1wulGOIa1FbwpdlMOYor_IG9NPYp0gKgydnHdstCsU/s400/Grenada+-+Concord+Falls-WM.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are so many waterfalls on Grenada to visit - Concord is one of the easiest to get to and most popular.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG06IZ63JlLP4q8N0W_6KUfe-e6G9sBC0bQLoW7IbYcJMXowV44itOqt32R8OgVlP6Bzopfi5Ibhy9nGmjBarjoAUukW9r7CWUGQqazs8-fskwr6gA2aXptsEcE96eIDNPZqXuydsj_e4/s1600/Grenada+-+volleyball-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG06IZ63JlLP4q8N0W_6KUfe-e6G9sBC0bQLoW7IbYcJMXowV44itOqt32R8OgVlP6Bzopfi5Ibhy9nGmjBarjoAUukW9r7CWUGQqazs8-fskwr6gA2aXptsEcE96eIDNPZqXuydsj_e4/s400/Grenada+-+volleyball-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volleyball kept us busy at Secret Harbour.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLQ50E5lv0uiA2WKRJLJmUiShga4b7coWK0Mpwgy1D8Zc85fSYlagS6OIbZtnuWYuyhrSajCPziJHOsgb4McejBDAR9uBvG2mFhwDwPKA7PXnLejSJKQ_ZyrHbrXCEgTCqjn-AAs4gC4/s1600/Grenada+-+Golf-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLQ50E5lv0uiA2WKRJLJmUiShga4b7coWK0Mpwgy1D8Zc85fSYlagS6OIbZtnuWYuyhrSajCPziJHOsgb4McejBDAR9uBvG2mFhwDwPKA7PXnLejSJKQ_ZyrHbrXCEgTCqjn-AAs4gC4/s400/Grenada+-+Golf-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We managed to play a round of golf too.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8J7ueTZMUYjhxoPzLxqko-aa28v9aWvIXuINFJk3A2BKd7A50THswPHCyfTVFJoqqBz7q8NJA700fjPu5XQ13tQvGSyVzFH_fbgu3Zg516_ZcF9PbhV8rIl_jXwCniZmK7US4UMO9oR8/s1600/Grenada+-+Carnival+costumes-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8J7ueTZMUYjhxoPzLxqko-aa28v9aWvIXuINFJk3A2BKd7A50THswPHCyfTVFJoqqBz7q8NJA700fjPu5XQ13tQvGSyVzFH_fbgu3Zg516_ZcF9PbhV8rIl_jXwCniZmK7US4UMO9oR8/s400/Grenada+-+Carnival+costumes-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carnival time and the ladies are in high gear with the sequins and glue guns.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojOOAGssae2GxTEoH-db0Z9qarcWbi4smijs2Tatl4aL1aYjEHY3Z_LHYdd3RhyphenhyphenIE98ECmK56v32XEBqSPJ4MP6Pj3rdvfEJslxjFtXAksfm1SZ2IJjJc0fEk_6VFrupvWn4QWqo2b7c/s1600/Grenada+-+Carnival+kids-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojOOAGssae2GxTEoH-db0Z9qarcWbi4smijs2Tatl4aL1aYjEHY3Z_LHYdd3RhyphenhyphenIE98ECmK56v32XEBqSPJ4MP6Pj3rdvfEJslxjFtXAksfm1SZ2IJjJc0fEk_6VFrupvWn4QWqo2b7c/s400/Grenada+-+Carnival+kids-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old and young - all love to parade in costume.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeXf7jcbWx6fRBeHo9EVT98mXMiK9THRrnYEh2WZ__3Dd0F0pQ6Q3e5dIm7loJy8DdDtPjyh_-l8PFOOabhQAj1SV2JALRN0RGiAhnnGNQChZrodqYOKS6oZ6unbQxr4le85Qi5hRKx0/s1600/Grenada+-+Carnival+meds-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeXf7jcbWx6fRBeHo9EVT98mXMiK9THRrnYEh2WZ__3Dd0F0pQ6Q3e5dIm7loJy8DdDtPjyh_-l8PFOOabhQAj1SV2JALRN0RGiAhnnGNQChZrodqYOKS6oZ6unbQxr4le85Qi5hRKx0/s400/Grenada+-+Carnival+meds-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jouvet morning and we're ready to party. Who knew we'd make friends with young med school students!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpaIslcLVTyHdjmg5vYQmKQCTel3FyYMrBCWKd969oOrVOuZIyX18Zqqkk-nfDVN1CydgquAViHoyf9Kf1_egSGV5hBZ5uPLj6NQBVCKhnZra_2Q5gOKDJepYYKVDWpXmf-PBifEGc-s/s1600/Grenada+-+Carnival+oil-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpaIslcLVTyHdjmg5vYQmKQCTel3FyYMrBCWKd969oOrVOuZIyX18Zqqkk-nfDVN1CydgquAViHoyf9Kf1_egSGV5hBZ5uPLj6NQBVCKhnZra_2Q5gOKDJepYYKVDWpXmf-PBifEGc-s/s400/Grenada+-+Carnival+oil-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The frenzy that is carnival.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmd0RoUlVIwvPbDSwM1GiuDpTkHnBlMvsKfSE9fZTpO1reDjRQKZ17_dNQQYW0A25hwXnhicQR7khGiG8vY6E30v55Il-pF-wiprG-uASB6xpECWVwB4dn3ktUGkxsMEk0NQ0x0yhX1LY/s1600/Grenada+-+Carnival+crew-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmd0RoUlVIwvPbDSwM1GiuDpTkHnBlMvsKfSE9fZTpO1reDjRQKZ17_dNQQYW0A25hwXnhicQR7khGiG8vY6E30v55Il-pF-wiprG-uASB6xpECWVwB4dn3ktUGkxsMEk0NQ0x0yhX1LY/s400/Grenada+-+Carnival+crew-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jouvet is all about the paint - we're heading for the communal wash-down next :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8DAniwn7yZ7UtUdoargb8oO2KSge9uX-5l128PBY789EPvo71lzsHP2qQ1i7svrqZMkuWjMj9V1jeo-zonekJ8y_N3LfaixfLEd2D09iV-XqopZBHg5-xlE8uQvsaYzIZUd7qPWlXL8/s1600/Grenada+-+Hash+900-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8DAniwn7yZ7UtUdoargb8oO2KSge9uX-5l128PBY789EPvo71lzsHP2qQ1i7svrqZMkuWjMj9V1jeo-zonekJ8y_N3LfaixfLEd2D09iV-XqopZBHg5-xlE8uQvsaYzIZUd7qPWlXL8/s400/Grenada+-+Hash+900-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every Saturday afternoon there is a Hash somewhere on Grenada. We were lucky enough to be there for the 900th - 900 organized runs on this tiny little island!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNqNwPiYohJX-_y3_SckVxi3t8rX_s7yuKs3K5yMWf4rhn8mHicPDjzbdSlSY492J9Vd3XNeiRKTEj1ZOya_wZeBqZafM7cTrvnXg__OVeMxySO2d-QmXZe_G8NweOlzSQGaGEwyetG8/s1600/Grenada+-+Hash+potty-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNqNwPiYohJX-_y3_SckVxi3t8rX_s7yuKs3K5yMWf4rhn8mHicPDjzbdSlSY492J9Vd3XNeiRKTEj1ZOya_wZeBqZafM7cTrvnXg__OVeMxySO2d-QmXZe_G8NweOlzSQGaGEwyetG8/s400/Grenada+-+Hash+potty-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bring on the dotty potty for the birthday celebrations - there's always a reason to have another beer after the Hash.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwnvAGvaNMH-OhxLSbuUQJ8W_nsEBLM1XGS_YuTnp3aAaEea9QqLdyicmlBOktvoDzTLyQamwE8lKde0jj5UiHkBs-7eP-L52xU3SZk_l5awFqE8OzgT9SwRIWQWVuVdP2NxOcYmovNg/s1600/Grenada+-+Hash+buddies-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwnvAGvaNMH-OhxLSbuUQJ8W_nsEBLM1XGS_YuTnp3aAaEea9QqLdyicmlBOktvoDzTLyQamwE8lKde0jj5UiHkBs-7eP-L52xU3SZk_l5awFqE8OzgT9SwRIWQWVuVdP2NxOcYmovNg/s400/Grenada+-+Hash+buddies-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hash buddies - ON ON!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, there you have it. These (and the ones in my preceding posts) are all the islands that we have come to know and in some cases love over our travels of the past two years. We still feel that there is much more to discover but we are starting to get a measure of these places. Have we found an answer to the question, "What's your favourite island?" Perhaps not, but we definitely have favourites (plural):</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> St. Martin - duty-free boat parts</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Antigua - great round-the-island cruising grounds</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Dominica - abundant nature</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Martinique - France in the Caribbean</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Grenada - home away from home</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">... oh wait - can I add more? - it's too difficult to choose!!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our explorations are so enriched by these guide books - don't leave home without them!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifDqAHXQalLDgEMjdkXh32PsqnFk17Et_ILlpeSvyo8O6UsX4Sc-AVbPyqhaysY1Zjvtsxyk9A54Qu6xwxww0GQY11oAx1aW16xwOrxI8l1PznDN-UF-HTl6_oEwzYmTSpwcQzIDpeto/s1600/Flags-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifDqAHXQalLDgEMjdkXh32PsqnFk17Et_ILlpeSvyo8O6UsX4Sc-AVbPyqhaysY1Zjvtsxyk9A54Qu6xwxww0GQY11oAx1aW16xwOrxI8l1PznDN-UF-HTl6_oEwzYmTSpwcQzIDpeto/s400/Flags-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Name the country!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVazCSrnixQnCO6NiJF0AQNYM0xqJBwIicaLm0n9mopXJvZD1GeeOoriCwW1DgPHuMD9FMsNx_es1ccwOMz6mV1aSOfOEpN81lxCsWYSbm_KjqKCyS30yhiyXSAJO0xQusmqAniWk-XJo/s1600/Friends-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVazCSrnixQnCO6NiJF0AQNYM0xqJBwIicaLm0n9mopXJvZD1GeeOoriCwW1DgPHuMD9FMsNx_es1ccwOMz6mV1aSOfOEpN81lxCsWYSbm_KjqKCyS30yhiyXSAJO0xQusmqAniWk-XJo/s400/Friends-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And of course - Cheers to all the friends we've made along the way.</td></tr>
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s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-54317291316081948552016-07-06T08:30:00.000-04:002016-07-06T08:30:48.739-04:00Favourite Islands Part 3: Saba to Montserrat<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moving on to the inner arc of the Leeward Islands: these are rugged, more sparsely populated islands that are primarily of Dutch and British history.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the <a href="http://svmowzer.blogspot.com/2016/06/a-frequently-asked-question-whats-our.html" target="_blank">first instalment</a> and <a href="http://svmowzer.blogspot.com/2016/07/favourite-islands-part-2-anguilla-to.html" target="_blank">second instalment</a> of this series if you missed them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Saba</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We first fell in love with Saba (The Unspoiled Queen) when we visited by plane on our initial sailing trip to the Caribbean in 2008. Since then we have sailed there once in 2012 and visited by plane again in 2014. Saba has a well-earned reputation for being a difficult place to visit with your own boat: the island is steep-to which means that anchoring is pretty much out of the question unless you carry about a kilometre of chain. There are lots of mooring balls but unless you get to visit in a dead calm with no northern swell, you will not want to spend much time on the boat. But, that's the reason we visit Saba. We want to get off the boat and explore this pristine and quaint little island that appears to have stepped right out of Gulliver's Travels. You can hike to the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands at the top of Mt. Scenery, or you can dare the near-vertical descent of the The Ladder to relive history and the path of absolutely everything that came to Saba prior to construction of the port. We adore hiking on this island and for a long time called Saba our favourite. Now there are rivals but it will always hold a special place in our hearts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Love: a tiny encapsulated island where you're certain everyone knows one another</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Hate: the reputation of the anchorage puts people off</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saba rarely reveals it's crown</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihb1zetIVHLJs6ptZBLPaeWKPsocEO8YOLq95XC19l0WUeXayRu9hwA5r1oiJw83OLAEQmkOl9N0HXWNaXWwYb0PTtt8jTUJ88YwMlQnydVsoI6F67zgQxlhQhU-JT2MyqCB2NJ1Zx0fo/s1600/Saba+-+view+of+Windwardside-WM-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihb1zetIVHLJs6ptZBLPaeWKPsocEO8YOLq95XC19l0WUeXayRu9hwA5r1oiJw83OLAEQmkOl9N0HXWNaXWwYb0PTtt8jTUJ88YwMlQnydVsoI6F67zgQxlhQhU-JT2MyqCB2NJ1Zx0fo/s400/Saba+-+view+of+Windwardside-WM-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little village of Windwardside perched on the saddle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvj6se3ABXP6PDTi9PNbufiuCj_4VCaTOK3YtbOxhAtAwVYasC-N39tX1XzIWwqn_-ErdWmOVis8KQ-3thkOxMwxJe-l0r9cY2CPMwM47OsaOuUZPmdgjfpAjxIb0-qUeP_Y3yv6krMY/s1600/Saba+-+The+Ladder-WM-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvj6se3ABXP6PDTi9PNbufiuCj_4VCaTOK3YtbOxhAtAwVYasC-N39tX1XzIWwqn_-ErdWmOVis8KQ-3thkOxMwxJe-l0r9cY2CPMwM47OsaOuUZPmdgjfpAjxIb0-qUeP_Y3yv6krMY/s400/Saba+-+The+Ladder-WM-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ladder - with the Customs House perched above.<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>St. Eustatius</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We only visited Statia for the first time this year and really enjoyed it. This is another island with a rolly anchorage if there is any north swell. Our first impression of this island is that it is much like Saba with it's Dutch history only rougher round the edges - there's a certain 'outback' kind of feel to Statia. This was once a huge busy port but is now a sleepy backwater that sits under the presence of Quill, it's dormant volcano. The main town is lined by weathered clapboard houses along cobblestone streets with small signs of improvement in places. We have climbed Quill and explored it's micro-climate crater but have yet to branch out to other areas of the island. We will definitely return for more of this friendly laid-back isle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Love: this history of this place</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Hate: another rolly anchorage makes long stays in the winter months difficult</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oranjestad overlooked by Quill</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many choices for hiking in the park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSlnxVfvmUKTZVgTa4xO2TKfJODOpDdzbEzLQCdvxyAp5o10J1ZLszsUhAiBe0kzYCdVcHnv8SZxktH9BfsViUfFEJiQoOX_VbaU5dlvGjaP_Xszc3nDBUYlxgcZ5pInm6Ysce6A32Ug/s1600/Statia+-+streets-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSlnxVfvmUKTZVgTa4xO2TKfJODOpDdzbEzLQCdvxyAp5o10J1ZLszsUhAiBe0kzYCdVcHnv8SZxktH9BfsViUfFEJiQoOX_VbaU5dlvGjaP_Xszc3nDBUYlxgcZ5pInm6Ysce6A32Ug/s400/Statia+-+streets-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quiet streets of Oranjestad.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>St. Kitts</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We visited St. Kitts in 2015 on our way south and have to say that this island did not leave a really good taste in our mouths. There are some great sights to see and Brimstone Hill Fortress should be visited at least once - it is the only UNESCO World Heritage site in the Eastern Caribbean. However, after driving around the entire island and spending a couple of days on the streets of grubby Basseterre we never really felt welcomed to the island. This is the only place where I have been acutely aware that I was the only white person in sight. I will give St. Kitts it's due that this was the first 'new' island we visited as we started our travels south and perhaps now that we have experienced more of the British heritage islands (Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada) perhaps we would have a different opinion of St. Kitt's. There is also no really good anchorage with easy access to town so you have a choice of either a rocky, rolly anchorage at Basseterre or being miles from town but more protected down at Whitehouse Bay</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Love: Brimstone Fortress (too bad it's not on another island)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Hate: the feeling of being an outsider</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Circus in bustling downtown Basseterre</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzC8kemUTpn-2Zsm9uTNH53pKO2IiNY1GT-ilLzqt8-y7VDWFYpiDJK2r1xRKSevkrT4DKHbdxnxonoGkbZYOgymq36vX5SzyWI7ezkOq2OE1C3F2mgilXLfovCnb4VT_rs3pROoZll4/s1600/St+Kitts+-+batik-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzC8kemUTpn-2Zsm9uTNH53pKO2IiNY1GT-ilLzqt8-y7VDWFYpiDJK2r1xRKSevkrT4DKHbdxnxonoGkbZYOgymq36vX5SzyWI7ezkOq2OE1C3F2mgilXLfovCnb4VT_rs3pROoZll4/s400/St+Kitts+-+batik-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful batiks at Caribelle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJI7STtQSBCTZTUKn_FuF2Z2lyTAKI07VkoeFtsfoXxPBi_Zg-WTWkHRmw8WCmk1wFlu5_w0q6BB25ZiCn0XSnfI1gCv32cWsJPXa8FjeiRmtzEmmrLXFgsZkwIWPvFI_4UQVpe1zjYY/s1600/St+Kitts+-+Brimstone-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJI7STtQSBCTZTUKn_FuF2Z2lyTAKI07VkoeFtsfoXxPBi_Zg-WTWkHRmw8WCmk1wFlu5_w0q6BB25ZiCn0XSnfI1gCv32cWsJPXa8FjeiRmtzEmmrLXFgsZkwIWPvFI_4UQVpe1zjYY/s400/St+Kitts+-+Brimstone-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brimstone Hill with Telca Marina below.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGye624uDsZ7yIafsVSzhvnc31z6pjj8Q_8ifuqdeP72aOq6BAlLlwCIXzYKC717PLUTx0Zd22JdnnHHP5Sa_2jY9mxfxELOnIb4lzLxPPrtT8t3mJWXINbncVFXlz7ZMw7e1lc5nLe10/s1600/St+Kitts+-+Brimstone+view-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGye624uDsZ7yIafsVSzhvnc31z6pjj8Q_8ifuqdeP72aOq6BAlLlwCIXzYKC717PLUTx0Zd22JdnnHHP5Sa_2jY9mxfxELOnIb4lzLxPPrtT8t3mJWXINbncVFXlz7ZMw7e1lc5nLe10/s400/St+Kitts+-+Brimstone+view-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brimstone Fortress - a formidable defence structure.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Nevis</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nevis is paired with St. Kitts as a dual-island nation and yet couldn't be more different than her neighbour. It helps too that we have friends with a cottage on Nevis and so we've been treated to a 'local' view. However, the island has a great mooring field within easy reach of the main town of Charlestown, the population is laid-back and friendly and the island has some great history and geology to explore. As with all these islands, it can get rolly here with a north swell. Nevis was once the largest sugar-producing island in the Caribbean for the Brits so there are umpteen old ruins to explore, there's some good hiking and Nevis Peak is said to be one of the most difficult Caribbean volcanos to ascend (we have yet to do it.) This is also one of the few islands where you will find monkeys (the locals consider them a pest) but for those of us who don't have to live with them, it is quite exciting to see them in the wild bounding through the trees or stopping to screech at you from the branches above.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Love: this island is just the right size</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - small enough to be accessible but large enough to still offer a challenge</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Hate: there's no real dinghy dock at the town dock</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxllJj3uv3lnJvehMjuUqPXaAKWNc90BMLBKAkbs-lJPV6LxMe_KpBksbi5Xuwcs0x204VRRHRR5ORsej-dPRz469Di3HkHrydmlXdeJ8DgC70b9bDsMGORx3BY4CASmdkWbQ-zZT8xU/s1600/Nevis+-+welcome-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxllJj3uv3lnJvehMjuUqPXaAKWNc90BMLBKAkbs-lJPV6LxMe_KpBksbi5Xuwcs0x204VRRHRR5ORsej-dPRz469Di3HkHrydmlXdeJ8DgC70b9bDsMGORx3BY4CASmdkWbQ-zZT8xU/s400/Nevis+-+welcome-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Nevis!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Jeyy5Kv_hLV8JVMuMCUTDh9OrWfXIOeBEcn5lMhO6Xfi2WFYzVvUwneU07viAzRXEyaWH3bjq3hrznf1YTj7MJ_Ft-RYgGoZbV4AaSlqU_kYT-IUFxNlVHb3BYc9_-lCXyb2NnRlONc/s1600/Nevis+-+Charlestown-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Jeyy5Kv_hLV8JVMuMCUTDh9OrWfXIOeBEcn5lMhO6Xfi2WFYzVvUwneU07viAzRXEyaWH3bjq3hrznf1YTj7MJ_Ft-RYgGoZbV4AaSlqU_kYT-IUFxNlVHb3BYc9_-lCXyb2NnRlONc/s400/Nevis+-+Charlestown-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The town square - a great place to lime under the Flamboyant tree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBumi4JT2a1lLjjDZCuf1xmktseRG91LVEZCxdift3pvuZ3LAtu03FVt5IHH75fI3wz36NyIkkGg_7XRy15uWspp-bGHj18yMb4XJya9JJ8Qbaj-cER2u0E-ss2GmRbxOzNu6RVaWaNqA/s1600/Nevis+-+church+ruins-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBumi4JT2a1lLjjDZCuf1xmktseRG91LVEZCxdift3pvuZ3LAtu03FVt5IHH75fI3wz36NyIkkGg_7XRy15uWspp-bGHj18yMb4XJya9JJ8Qbaj-cER2u0E-ss2GmRbxOzNu6RVaWaNqA/s400/Nevis+-+church+ruins-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church ruins - some of many on the island.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEQhhpMJLLQpmEi0MoPYPlCutajdyWLwXto5Q2JN2evaCtFDjxoEP5nQAlw7xVu5G14T9nqXxZTjHnSEvzvQBzVjawRgkcl2bWaAzgkuGsHDyhi9S6fwjFAbzYg2ybq7M5eQrpIbcPrM/s1600/Nevis+-+Monkey+sits-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEQhhpMJLLQpmEi0MoPYPlCutajdyWLwXto5Q2JN2evaCtFDjxoEP5nQAlw7xVu5G14T9nqXxZTjHnSEvzvQBzVjawRgkcl2bWaAzgkuGsHDyhi9S6fwjFAbzYg2ybq7M5eQrpIbcPrM/s400/Nevis+-+Monkey+sits-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love em or hate em, there are monkeys on Nevis.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Montserrat</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Montserrat is a unique experience in that it is the only island with a currently (and sometimes violently) active volcano. The volcano has been erupting since 1995 and has now completely destroyed the original capital city of Plymouth and rendered about two thirds of the island uninhabitable. People come to Montserrat to view the awesome power and destructive capability of Mother Nature but there is much more to discover on this island. From the northern anchorage at Little Bay you have little indication of what you will see south of the Central Hills but this really gives you a sense of the resiliency of those islanders who have remained on Montserrat - rebuilding and carrying on with their lives. The northern part of the island encapsulates a wide variety of landscapes from rugged cliffs, dry scrubby savannahs to lush rainforest in the mountains. Hike around, take the bus or lime at a local watering hole to get a real feel for this island before gawking at what we've all come to see - the eruption of Souffriere Hills volcano. If you manage to get to Montserrat in March, you will have a unique experience with St. Paddy's day celebrated among the most Irish influenced, Guinness drinking islanders.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Love: incredible contrast and the power of nature</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Hate: when people miss the rest of the island, and when the tour guides encourage them to do so!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zMSC166axrl1E8fWsUkRqGTfbBFX8mhEiY9WzbATgLPonn0QUwM12Bcp5wfcGoCUGp5VAp1CemhN2OuV6L9K48rd8TxbWo-xSTFd-84pJxOlWW4ihxq4oyeUuAXYUsJgBSbm3qtxMww/s1600/Montserrat+-+Little+Bay-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zMSC166axrl1E8fWsUkRqGTfbBFX8mhEiY9WzbATgLPonn0QUwM12Bcp5wfcGoCUGp5VAp1CemhN2OuV6L9K48rd8TxbWo-xSTFd-84pJxOlWW4ihxq4oyeUuAXYUsJgBSbm3qtxMww/s400/Montserrat+-+Little+Bay-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The anchorage at Little Bay with a small surf rolling in.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKr5FgZ57SfZoTI_Wr8ZwC6ZWJtOfst9gkac3cKADr2k1z9MPJdspYSuhJJX73lWB1qu1Uv6ntt2zcHCykWet6x32em5cy-Qlwza7rNJ1v0RRmslhy-DnsrbqnBucK7Oleo1PEDXs6Ix4/s1600/Montserrat+-+cricket-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKr5FgZ57SfZoTI_Wr8ZwC6ZWJtOfst9gkac3cKADr2k1z9MPJdspYSuhJJX73lWB1qu1Uv6ntt2zcHCykWet6x32em5cy-Qlwza7rNJ1v0RRmslhy-DnsrbqnBucK7Oleo1PEDXs6Ix4/s400/Montserrat+-+cricket-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were lucky enough to catch a local cricket game - boy was it dry that year!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmLHthtOl6aHGD4K6pTZX76z0aTOzcgn3YtukzrpDBzcgAWXhJ8H6_8189XDDTitacjFYmYR68k-pp-OU5TyhYku4KGc6uFrqlX_5ibTBP00EftBtZq_1SRaJ8lLoljxZz5EGVFGCYz8/s1600/Montserrat+-+north-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmLHthtOl6aHGD4K6pTZX76z0aTOzcgn3YtukzrpDBzcgAWXhJ8H6_8189XDDTitacjFYmYR68k-pp-OU5TyhYku4KGc6uFrqlX_5ibTBP00EftBtZq_1SRaJ8lLoljxZz5EGVFGCYz8/s400/Montserrat+-+north-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The north end of the island from atop the lush Central Hills rainforest.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHYJCdyjnOG-kkbl7RhnhOmW0thvZ17AqgeZ2tOygIGDrOq__u5vHA-GzBTQlC0BqAJZnnsBMuUk32EC7ThvixbWTM7XSSKQwQzLGh7cvuLQb9igFcXdiajdDrBghACAtxdouhCfU2Pk/s1600/Montserrat+-+destruction-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHYJCdyjnOG-kkbl7RhnhOmW0thvZ17AqgeZ2tOygIGDrOq__u5vHA-GzBTQlC0BqAJZnnsBMuUk32EC7ThvixbWTM7XSSKQwQzLGh7cvuLQb9igFcXdiajdDrBghACAtxdouhCfU2Pk/s400/Montserrat+-+destruction-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south - to the destruction at Plymouth.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing all these islands have in common is that most of them have small anchorages that are prone to roll when there is a northern swell. If possible, visit them as late in the season as you can to reduce the risk - perhaps on the way south in the April-May timeframe if you have heading south for hurricane season. The rewards are worth it though as these islands are quite distinct from the other more populous islands and a world apart from the French islands.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One more instalment to come - the Windward islands down to Grenada.</span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-19950735987846311152016-07-01T21:36:00.001-04:002016-12-27T10:13:06.672-04:00Favourite Islands Part 2: Anguilla to Dominica<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Still on a quest to see if we can figure out our favourite East Caribbean island - here's the second instalment. Here's the <a href="http://svmowzer.blogspot.com/2016/06/a-frequently-asked-question-whats-our.html" target="_blank">first instalment</a> if you missed it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Anguilla</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just a scant 6 miles north of St. Martin, Anguilla is a low-lying limestone island that is quickly making a name for itself with high-end boutique resort and villa tourism. There is one main anchorage on the north side, Road Bay, and a number of small fishing harbours scattered along the coast. Getting to the shoals and islets that lie along the north shore is an expensive proposition (extra cruising permit required) and is really only enjoyable in calm weather. We have been to Anguilla twice and both times have enjoyed the island more by car than for its water-based activities. The history of Anguilla is quite interesting with their relationship with Britain and we enjoyed speaking to a passionate local historian and learning a bit more about this island. The locals are friendly, understand tourism and there are many opportunities for great eating.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Love: Small and easily accessible by car</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Hate: Not much to do if you don't have a car</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road Bay is the main anchorage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghI6qRenXegO6sA6JiRhu0_PWS397HFQjv9OftzprtJAZBQwV1aB0h5rinH53iSRTVBWgn2qHlaZwROb_rsJ3NIIBBUEE7ze4zpMRr-YR84aHPG-Ef64wJEiD6bLMe8IpQHGNuEyWP9jY/s1600/Anguilla+-+Museum-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghI6qRenXegO6sA6JiRhu0_PWS397HFQjv9OftzprtJAZBQwV1aB0h5rinH53iSRTVBWgn2qHlaZwROb_rsJ3NIIBBUEE7ze4zpMRr-YR84aHPG-Ef64wJEiD6bLMe8IpQHGNuEyWP9jY/s400/Anguilla+-+Museum-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little museum makes for an interesting diversion.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFWUAUC3orc3JxV1YJnnkRKM9wcya5rRcnedS8RrHiIiqxN2-DCah51KOn5oEBjH3d9bwY4cBOx63pIGiq9g90XT68LSPsBrMb_2QuYogbDZy_mDbIztQZ3HgyGeO2qCpuDtm7gLpI9o/s1600/Anguilla+-+Scilly+Bay-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFWUAUC3orc3JxV1YJnnkRKM9wcya5rRcnedS8RrHiIiqxN2-DCah51KOn5oEBjH3d9bwY4cBOx63pIGiq9g90XT68LSPsBrMb_2QuYogbDZy_mDbIztQZ3HgyGeO2qCpuDtm7gLpI9o/s400/Anguilla+-+Scilly+Bay-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishermen bring in the catch at Scilly Bay.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Sint Maarten / St. Martin</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sint Maarten (the Dutch side) the mecca of all things boating related and it's island neighbour St. Martin, the first of the French islands. The two halves are so different and yet exist so well side by side. We come to Sint Maarten to do boat work, buy stuff for the boat and have stuff easily shipped from the States. We then go and drop the hook on the other side and enjoy a much more relaxed stay with all the benefits of the French territory. The lagoon is one of the most amazing features since by dinghy we can access so much on both sides. We love playing on St. Martin with friends since there are many great bars and restaurants, pretty beaches and usually so many assembled cruisers that just hanging out on each others' boats is a great time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Love: You can get anything you need for your boat here</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Hate: This island is BUSY!!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYcAxX1dTeXrE_c_rbQsfug440CAYFLtr3hNDKLkKh77bZtMpH7iikPU64iKsXmW4vsuGcMYp70Sb_vPYLjs-5DPBV2E83Yy0wO9kVBp0gllivs-NuaLvyVvOtQMYT9Upmq1grF2V4rM/s1600/SXM+-+Lift+bridge+inside-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYcAxX1dTeXrE_c_rbQsfug440CAYFLtr3hNDKLkKh77bZtMpH7iikPU64iKsXmW4vsuGcMYp70Sb_vPYLjs-5DPBV2E83Yy0wO9kVBp0gllivs-NuaLvyVvOtQMYT9Upmq1grF2V4rM/s400/SXM+-+Lift+bridge+inside-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A parade of boats entering Simpson Lagoon under the lift bridge on the Dutch side.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrkydaYdrk-huu3VFETNU813SMgVfeE1YDPjD4qs6Ztrv_a-flHiUY56brX3SdgEmSWE9q88U6-oVTxhPZX8t_6lZJoHgOTVg_NAC3N32NDDcf2uPW671_8Jnlli9wqGgAn7Aaz3-iXM/s1600/SXM+-+big+yachts-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrkydaYdrk-huu3VFETNU813SMgVfeE1YDPjD4qs6Ztrv_a-flHiUY56brX3SdgEmSWE9q88U6-oVTxhPZX8t_6lZJoHgOTVg_NAC3N32NDDcf2uPW671_8Jnlli9wqGgAn7Aaz3-iXM/s400/SXM+-+big+yachts-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mega yachts and big sailboats - all part of the scenery.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqve6lyPXWfXl_xoFmtlCvWL1WDO3z2pgWtAUfMmTG1Ecolkvf7Nj9Zlk_K0wviwpLddQXAy5EGBnAdWSYEz8ZiyGOhLF_I-4uth8m4L0bNx8WRkuE5bsYDuNtvryhb47dz4N6vWQ-Ls/s1600/SXM+-+Lagoonies-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqve6lyPXWfXl_xoFmtlCvWL1WDO3z2pgWtAUfMmTG1Ecolkvf7Nj9Zlk_K0wviwpLddQXAy5EGBnAdWSYEz8ZiyGOhLF_I-4uth8m4L0bNx8WRkuE5bsYDuNtvryhb47dz4N6vWQ-Ls/s400/SXM+-+Lagoonies-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On of our favourite hangouts - Lagoonies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpG7NpdkCNC9ipCrvvzyimaF6A1r4SANeaSybu0ypyG2Mp5735FPPKGgIMxcvVvfXqkYejmEh1-oE5trX9zDJ89RKmG4e3SgrOCH1QQu-pmUM9X7lOSRMqOGoV1ZLS8B3V5GhrHRVLz4k/s1600/SXM+-+Fort+Louis+panorama-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpG7NpdkCNC9ipCrvvzyimaF6A1r4SANeaSybu0ypyG2Mp5735FPPKGgIMxcvVvfXqkYejmEh1-oE5trX9zDJ89RKmG4e3SgrOCH1QQu-pmUM9X7lOSRMqOGoV1ZLS8B3V5GhrHRVLz4k/s400/SXM+-+Fort+Louis+panorama-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the French side, the fun little town of Marigot with the lagoon in the background.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZakzYZZM8_n4hPLIkdQ5hfVUw4htMN1IHuxQ0KP8cbNbkrlyBX0bPN8LENg1f7ixoE4G1pfmhxPdzackmP7fKrzzFK1b0kYNXs2NPM5uX_hZIuGGO6LozYSWEwEkEDFD0iBxlIzOdjo/s1600/SXM+-+dancing+ladies-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZakzYZZM8_n4hPLIkdQ5hfVUw4htMN1IHuxQ0KP8cbNbkrlyBX0bPN8LENg1f7ixoE4G1pfmhxPdzackmP7fKrzzFK1b0kYNXs2NPM5uX_hZIuGGO6LozYSWEwEkEDFD0iBxlIzOdjo/s400/SXM+-+dancing+ladies-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladies of the tourism office dressed in traditional Creole costumes.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>St. Bart's</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We haven't spent a huge amount of time on St. Bart's but what we have felt here was that we could be in the French Riviera. High end shops and boutiques, a charming little gallic town, well dressed residents and visitors - this place exudes luxury. Anse Colombier at the north end of the island is the perfect stop-over spot with free mooring balls and beautiful clear waters. We've heard that this is THE place to be on New Year's Eve.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Love: Perfect for a short visit</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Hate: The anchorage at Gustavia (we stay in Colombier.)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsA_At1rXV7qsSaVWBMNYc6pKGtFxQ_HJr5yQ2YLtkKQqT7CkHfHL5f0Cfg7Gqn5eaPXUSAnFyhbWOt_PCqFssmdUDbOdtevrPF-2RVBFhgs6QfXP-DdGKZMUVLyr3s9-gUrdnGFY3aY/s1600/St+Barts+-+Gustavia-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsA_At1rXV7qsSaVWBMNYc6pKGtFxQ_HJr5yQ2YLtkKQqT7CkHfHL5f0Cfg7Gqn5eaPXUSAnFyhbWOt_PCqFssmdUDbOdtevrPF-2RVBFhgs6QfXP-DdGKZMUVLyr3s9-gUrdnGFY3aY/s400/St+Barts+-+Gustavia-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pretty little town of Gustavia is wrapped about the inner harbour.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SMvX6EtAOUHkjGnnHP6Ivv5W49KMtr5PPyHbJiL8WNuWCs4ckz3EWnsN9f0UTX6711WE_ZZ4lKREsqdbnVOGruvy9h1TjnyLGdxBA0pmgxQSATDOifwMDoUz_MPmuLtxUssrZ6Dfpjs/s1600/St+Barts+-+shopping-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SMvX6EtAOUHkjGnnHP6Ivv5W49KMtr5PPyHbJiL8WNuWCs4ckz3EWnsN9f0UTX6711WE_ZZ4lKREsqdbnVOGruvy9h1TjnyLGdxBA0pmgxQSATDOifwMDoUz_MPmuLtxUssrZ6Dfpjs/s400/St+Barts+-+shopping-WM.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is probably the only real Louis Vuitton shop in the Caribbean.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLknJ1-5d0AFa8E609yq7d1LjDi2orVeAlEgBi_Xn-8-SruxMEYp17znlZLndklc51O9gGTuVKPwosBMwLfpafzqrdk-weoDVhrxXQyDv_-HAMkVKbLc10J-_p2RtBKuHLoaEXPznCSTw/s1600/St+Barts+-+airport-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLknJ1-5d0AFa8E609yq7d1LjDi2orVeAlEgBi_Xn-8-SruxMEYp17znlZLndklc51O9gGTuVKPwosBMwLfpafzqrdk-weoDVhrxXQyDv_-HAMkVKbLc10J-_p2RtBKuHLoaEXPznCSTw/s400/St+Barts+-+airport-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Bart's is one of those islands with a crazy little airport - just look at this approach!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Antigua & Barbuda</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two islands ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Barbuda is one of the most isolated, barren islands you will have the pleasure of visiting. Miles and miles of white sand beaches, the scantest population, an interesting topography with an inner lagoon, relatively flat island, rising to low cave-studded cliffs overlooking the Atlantic. Visit in the winter months and you will be amazed by the Frigate Bird nesting colony - it is a sight to see! Plan on being there in calm conditions and with a well provisioned fridge so you can stay a few days. This is the place to achieve your inner peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Love: Peace & serenity</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Hate: Water-taxi ride or a long wet dinghy ride to get to Codrington</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach on Barbuda - really, there is nothing here!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3Ir6_BvUWdRnwrBECZ2Ip9SJSocMzrEq8J9V-t-jZfxXTKVUVQfAFKfowW0mvCH2_9DB-cE9BNY6oUrdDQ4hdn15fX08sV84uDq6cEb-Y72PgtiEOtCjckoUPhhlqUSJnrlErEd2IIg/s1600/Barbuda+-+frigate+bird-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3Ir6_BvUWdRnwrBECZ2Ip9SJSocMzrEq8J9V-t-jZfxXTKVUVQfAFKfowW0mvCH2_9DB-cE9BNY6oUrdDQ4hdn15fX08sV84uDq6cEb-Y72PgtiEOtCjckoUPhhlqUSJnrlErEd2IIg/s400/Barbuda+-+frigate+bird-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Except of course the Magnificent Frigate bird - you have to go see them.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Antigua is the complete opposite - this is a busy island and in the winter months hosts a number of top-notch regattas. What is amazing about Antigua and sets it apart from most other islands is that with its extensive reef and island system, you can find anchorages on all sides of the island. After the hustle and bustle (and regatta party time) in Falmouth and English Bays on the south side, heading around to Nonsuch Bay on the east side is much like turning the clock back to some untold time, or instantly finding yourself on vacation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Love: Multitude of cruising opportunities</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hate: Don't let vendors confuse you with USD vs. ECD - that's a 270% ripoff!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsNqcMl2vqG68nC4G6v52qFPG7UDm-3cwr0S4GKAw9M6SeRBBGOwVD-i-wPf78Rrn1ALK-8TAge26VYvpgEFnnCGfi5cX2RzgTFbVuuPUB3p0sMGMI0EFjvajAI1cO1zLEY3cSdwRcw4/s1600/Antigua+-+Racing-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsNqcMl2vqG68nC4G6v52qFPG7UDm-3cwr0S4GKAw9M6SeRBBGOwVD-i-wPf78Rrn1ALK-8TAge26VYvpgEFnnCGfi5cX2RzgTFbVuuPUB3p0sMGMI0EFjvajAI1cO1zLEY3cSdwRcw4/s400/Antigua+-+Racing-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No charge, just stand on the beach or the cliffs and watch these incredible speed machines race for the start-line.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The colours of the water fill the spectrum of blue.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceLMy-_MBfc0MWJrFdtn5RjlF4Yj6Cl6iI2uejaPNJreflLdz6-JAZ51a7_hdRuNRweUF89WnmvtpPnyEfYKTNa6qyQF4uSKH-Kh3fu9lhDh9gq0B4o5VSoXfYc188Sf9sJJ2GFiZ6gg/s1600/Antigua+-+Jumby+Bay-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceLMy-_MBfc0MWJrFdtn5RjlF4Yj6Cl6iI2uejaPNJreflLdz6-JAZ51a7_hdRuNRweUF89WnmvtpPnyEfYKTNa6qyQF4uSKH-Kh3fu9lhDh9gq0B4o5VSoXfYc188Sf9sJJ2GFiZ6gg/s400/Antigua+-+Jumby+Bay-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of resorts on Antigua - this is a high-end one on Long Island at Jumby Bay.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5ZT-bPkzIgn3JxXf-RfenNurHWYoPLaDKRsm7nIN7Cgtdt9yuFLjGgsAp7k2yzTsMDR5BZ1SJn8OHfAvOIg7avHTBE9wRmL6VJwXUcj2Qsg0qM75lX08Tz8fGI3sWzvJA9TwaMc02Us/s1600/Antigua+-+Green+Island+kite+school-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5ZT-bPkzIgn3JxXf-RfenNurHWYoPLaDKRsm7nIN7Cgtdt9yuFLjGgsAp7k2yzTsMDR5BZ1SJn8OHfAvOIg7avHTBE9wRmL6VJwXUcj2Qsg0qM75lX08Tz8fGI3sWzvJA9TwaMc02Us/s400/Antigua+-+Green+Island+kite+school-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catch some wind action on the east coast at the kite school on Green Island.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQJFn8ShrzeXH-JLqx4yU9sQIf_SpTAQU2uHKbn407Df9JO60-43D0H_Z5cw0cSo4MGjqGLCpa-Um5lqRDq0uVAHpIeegPi0mkcfGOkrNoMzXfA0Mg7C1VSEk5eKQjfd5onDpfcXIBhI/s1600/Antigua+-+Flamouth-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQJFn8ShrzeXH-JLqx4yU9sQIf_SpTAQU2uHKbn407Df9JO60-43D0H_Z5cw0cSo4MGjqGLCpa-Um5lqRDq0uVAHpIeegPi0mkcfGOkrNoMzXfA0Mg7C1VSEk5eKQjfd5onDpfcXIBhI/s400/Antigua+-+Flamouth-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back in Falmouth, the Classics are lining the docks.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Guadeloupe</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The biggest of the French islands and the seat of the Antilles Administration offices. It is not however the most 'French' of the islands - it is the most 'Creole'. Here you get the most in-depth feel for the French Caribbean and the island-style cooking is delicious. Guadeloupe is made up of two bridge-joined islands, each with a very unique character. There are also a number of outer islands including Marie-Galante and Les Saintes. There is so much to see and do on all these islands, many rum distilleries to visit, ruins - old forts - history galore. Point a Pitre (the biggest but not the capital city) is a gritty working class place with great energy in the daytime, not sure I'd want to be out on the streets after dark. One of our favourite hikes of all time is on the south-west end of the island - Souffriere Volcano.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Love: Diversity - so much choice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Hate: Difficult and sparse anchorages, language can be an issue if you have no French.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLauCnX3R2QHJJw99tq6bxrKchFUMaXl2thpA1DF4IaosCVoxnsJZ1O-5nvwGMX5qidMdllQrZjqRz3yrYP7fjFtO_r3vyON472H-tdgqxlUi5dWCiTjusdvo39uEnLWA08EFj7hH8g4/s1600/Guadeloupe+-+Pointe+a+Pitre-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLauCnX3R2QHJJw99tq6bxrKchFUMaXl2thpA1DF4IaosCVoxnsJZ1O-5nvwGMX5qidMdllQrZjqRz3yrYP7fjFtO_r3vyON472H-tdgqxlUi5dWCiTjusdvo39uEnLWA08EFj7hH8g4/s400/Guadeloupe+-+Pointe+a+Pitre-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pointe a Pitre on Guadeloupe is a totally cosmopolitain city.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRhbLtrYbdwwb7rGFf9DMTSTUiJ4qB9zLyVC9obt6pul4CLtHCZFL-PQlMHrdYa5bsEG-qp-agsbyF83vkuhlBWokkrQxz04_mXkPbJtDJRivzoXqeCuKOLEcc3YTWR7YQlZs03qnlQ4/s1600/Guadeloupe+-+market-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRhbLtrYbdwwb7rGFf9DMTSTUiJ4qB9zLyVC9obt6pul4CLtHCZFL-PQlMHrdYa5bsEG-qp-agsbyF83vkuhlBWokkrQxz04_mXkPbJtDJRivzoXqeCuKOLEcc3YTWR7YQlZs03qnlQ4/s400/Guadeloupe+-+market-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But the outdoor market is still the place to get the best fruit and veggies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8A2UZijCCK4drrEtpVaXy831kYBaGxEv6tLsbkJHVLrauS4vKXF5rmGkLZ96rF5Iu1tTELu2dqgoUVxYJFSBSMCvGwU92Y1c-BA6C7nwcMd6fhq7y91rtv9vTn9ZwkeGD_VQ1Lay0Qpg/s1600/Guadeloupe+-+Marie+Galante+-+Restaurant-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8A2UZijCCK4drrEtpVaXy831kYBaGxEv6tLsbkJHVLrauS4vKXF5rmGkLZ96rF5Iu1tTELu2dqgoUVxYJFSBSMCvGwU92Y1c-BA6C7nwcMd6fhq7y91rtv9vTn9ZwkeGD_VQ1Lay0Qpg/s400/Guadeloupe+-+Marie+Galante+-+Restaurant-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah - what's not to love about French Creole cooking.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvForP3fiLmzAsfiPLwGq3NvDqFEnAtnWVHe5OckF_Dxo7AcrUGZErS8vTJ1cH5YHEczkZCq8rzX-4Jztma4jZS11uu9moQmAVpoRORxo_LCoW1ELoqiPmjFLQBEhE17MUQtmqMGDvxfQ/s1600/Guadeloupe+-+The+Saintes+-+ship+house-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvForP3fiLmzAsfiPLwGq3NvDqFEnAtnWVHe5OckF_Dxo7AcrUGZErS8vTJ1cH5YHEczkZCq8rzX-4Jztma4jZS11uu9moQmAVpoRORxo_LCoW1ELoqiPmjFLQBEhE17MUQtmqMGDvxfQ/s400/Guadeloupe+-+The+Saintes+-+ship+house-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcoming you to Les Iles des Saintes - the doctor's house.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHakgpiLM6zbLX1NFm22c0gqwxFezd6y4LvAS0R_nCm7kc_6zFrbZCV2tzSpcxjsP61R2ZChk3y5j7SWHcBC4Xb353Ijn5KlmbOvQrvqzpLFJLTGDtm4vWTBdGFJ_PzFKN6yqe5yZqQKc/s1600/Guadeloupe+-+Fort+Napoleon-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHakgpiLM6zbLX1NFm22c0gqwxFezd6y4LvAS0R_nCm7kc_6zFrbZCV2tzSpcxjsP61R2ZChk3y5j7SWHcBC4Xb353Ijn5KlmbOvQrvqzpLFJLTGDtm4vWTBdGFJ_PzFKN6yqe5yZqQKc/s400/Guadeloupe+-+Fort+Napoleon-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learn your history of the pivotal Battle of the Saints at Fort Napoleon - this one didn't go so well for the French.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeMd3O3yd1rciDHlk0IW5-sSbzxeKxcYhIXo9iKw9-PO8AwlhaWg6PotIoVCOMB2gJLtKznMP_5Lcuj3JxZDdPWUMZm3bpbEIIi11lE5yPCP9uLHSSGqzx3Kl7-5BzSNuhxlbS0mHnVo/s1600/Guadeloupe+-+The+Saintes+-+street-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeMd3O3yd1rciDHlk0IW5-sSbzxeKxcYhIXo9iKw9-PO8AwlhaWg6PotIoVCOMB2gJLtKznMP_5Lcuj3JxZDdPWUMZm3bpbEIIi11lE5yPCP9uLHSSGqzx3Kl7-5BzSNuhxlbS0mHnVo/s400/Guadeloupe+-+The+Saintes+-+street-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wander the quaint streets of Grand Bourg des Saintes.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Dominica</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ah, the nature island. Dominica is like finally getting to the cottage for that long anticipated summer wilderness vacation. Everywhere you go on Dominica is like walking through a tropical nature conservancy or a garden. Take your pick - literally. Fruit drips off the trees, lemon-grass grows everywhere, the farmers will give you roots from their gardens. The lush forests that cover most of this island, clinging to the steep slopes of nine volcanos make for the most excellent hiking along the Waitukabuli National Trail. Some of the friendliest people you will meet live on Dominica and hiking along the roads involves a multitude of stops along the way just to lime with the locals. It's irie mon!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Love: Getting in shape - hiking on Dominica / PAYS organization in Portsmouth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Hate: Breaking my personal rule here to write more than a short phrase because this is a complex topic. When we first visited Dominica we saw poverty everywhere. To our North American eyes, these people lived in poverty. What we now see is a population that lives close to nature. No-one is starving on this island. There are some individuals who are poorly clothed and wander the streets but there is usually an underlying issue of physical or mental illness and we see this every place we visit, including back home in Canada. What has created the greatest need on Dominica was Tropical Storm Erika that devastated the island in August 2015. Villages and roads were wiped out and people lost everything they owned. So I guess what I 'hate' about Dominica is actually my own interpretation of what I see on the street and I really need to get over myself.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTghAeOBjDiJ-cuJ-qjFZcDuHrrkER2B5reQvahmlISFocAoez0WK1in_ChRjmH3K87zxx1UZdIN3FicOHTtfUaZsUkzGFpl4FqzrLAZt7vOK10thk7vkdccOHK0BEsOkUc6ZGGHxCp9o/s1600/Dominica+-+valley+view-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTghAeOBjDiJ-cuJ-qjFZcDuHrrkER2B5reQvahmlISFocAoez0WK1in_ChRjmH3K87zxx1UZdIN3FicOHTtfUaZsUkzGFpl4FqzrLAZt7vOK10thk7vkdccOHK0BEsOkUc6ZGGHxCp9o/s400/Dominica+-+valley+view-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dominica is rugged, green and wet. Magnificent waterfalls carve their way through the landscape.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1J17M-KVn91qPqUWsB6cXG1kul1jzAhKrhKEfwO4g_qYTwsmCbu9cgr1NTxTB8m9Lkr2wCtP6wBldTkECyVr6cjZlbOFiY8v1_Y87l0FuyFsffTOQV0xDHOg7s3xKQZSI8aBVFOhqJrg/s1600/Dominica+-+Waitukubuli-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1J17M-KVn91qPqUWsB6cXG1kul1jzAhKrhKEfwO4g_qYTwsmCbu9cgr1NTxTB8m9Lkr2wCtP6wBldTkECyVr6cjZlbOFiY8v1_Y87l0FuyFsffTOQV0xDHOg7s3xKQZSI8aBVFOhqJrg/s400/Dominica+-+Waitukubuli-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Waitukubuli National Trail encircles the island in 14 segments.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu3DmirNH-pChJV_XzGEYoDkIT8Op6Yh1Xr_iJXzyuvGFC9XL-c8eIlsAVZaWrWbo6bHj6jZunOoJqpmxxDThDl5pMDWlo4AwFc4aokufOgfTNb9goHJ9I7RfGdVgAZC3d22i6bkA_W4/s1600/Dominica+-+Hiking-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu3DmirNH-pChJV_XzGEYoDkIT8Op6Yh1Xr_iJXzyuvGFC9XL-c8eIlsAVZaWrWbo6bHj6jZunOoJqpmxxDThDl5pMDWlo4AwFc4aokufOgfTNb9goHJ9I7RfGdVgAZC3d22i6bkA_W4/s400/Dominica+-+Hiking-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Following the trail and getting close to nature.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYXbTKPjkBNj9nGUN6vrJsvPKCc7VWNYVd9Frvh_L3pZQTYp34a8zz2aDhclZha0KFma6g2NyngZeLhnI6f5WoAHuWpaNOp6BP_YWJ2M0WqxekXmG6jSvu2BoYEV1fC98YMfG-EyGocE/s1600/Dominica+-+tree-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYXbTKPjkBNj9nGUN6vrJsvPKCc7VWNYVd9Frvh_L3pZQTYp34a8zz2aDhclZha0KFma6g2NyngZeLhnI6f5WoAHuWpaNOp6BP_YWJ2M0WqxekXmG6jSvu2BoYEV1fC98YMfG-EyGocE/s400/Dominica+-+tree-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the largest tree...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaukbelKowoU012VK6plygEE_Z-7OWiaaOeRc67B0CQEz1rd-i9b9x3_bdd-zcrdc9V2tg_GtoPdVvou5jT4tzTMkjjq_MIWwrFdNowzLoNM8eZRqaKaTIJvbb5lT5S3JlC2QQGHhqXU/s1600/Dominica+-+Heron-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaukbelKowoU012VK6plygEE_Z-7OWiaaOeRc67B0CQEz1rd-i9b9x3_bdd-zcrdc9V2tg_GtoPdVvou5jT4tzTMkjjq_MIWwrFdNowzLoNM8eZRqaKaTIJvbb5lT5S3JlC2QQGHhqXU/s400/Dominica+-+Heron-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To the shiest bird...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Vo4MIsQqhrkkJxSv4AgW9kD-15uqYE4p8MBe-PVO-aBYIfsAEnvhojSDl-XLmpxR3ZSLevlW1vgAg3Ozf1UxLkQ9L-xEEPtodoSBvR0oO7t9iULF3P3M_cd8jEVsRF_kzvXIrl6Yf1k/s1600/Dominica+-+Valley+of+Desolation-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Vo4MIsQqhrkkJxSv4AgW9kD-15uqYE4p8MBe-PVO-aBYIfsAEnvhojSDl-XLmpxR3ZSLevlW1vgAg3Ozf1UxLkQ9L-xEEPtodoSBvR0oO7t9iULF3P3M_cd8jEVsRF_kzvXIrl6Yf1k/s400/Dominica+-+Valley+of+Desolation-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To the power of Mother Nature in the Valley of Desolation, you can see it all on Dominica.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6HSVnwexZ2HefFU7E4uc4MoaD4mpoTwxjQa4LtVwGAdLk62UjhgGNjgnNROp6aBWyf-RNvcY57OcIUkbyTAGL5liuEHmAyKcw-yJMJWemV0kc3b6ZmbPqqS7AIVXTViaRB2hzwGUvbc/s1600/Dominica+-+chocolate-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6HSVnwexZ2HefFU7E4uc4MoaD4mpoTwxjQa4LtVwGAdLk62UjhgGNjgnNROp6aBWyf-RNvcY57OcIUkbyTAGL5liuEHmAyKcw-yJMJWemV0kc3b6ZmbPqqS7AIVXTViaRB2hzwGUvbc/s400/Dominica+-+chocolate-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then finish it all off with some delicious hand-made chocolate.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So that's instalment two - stay tuned as we look at the inner Leeward Islands from Saba to Montserrat.</span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-1057563452761021442016-06-28T09:54:00.000-04:002016-12-27T11:16:02.115-04:00A Frequently Asked Question: What's Our Favourite Island?<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is a question that gets asked not just by non-cruisers but by cruisers alike so we've been chatting about it recently and wracking our brains to try to pick one. The conclusion we came to is that often the island we are currently on is our "favourite" but really it comes down to what we love about each island that makes them so unique.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We're talking about our travels in the Eastern Caribbean so far so we're really looking at the islands from The Dominican Republic to Grenada. We haven't been to Trinidad & Tobago yet so won't include them. These are of course only our impressions and opinions - your mileage may vary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm going to break this answer into four parts just to make it more manageable:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Greater Antilles (Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico) and The Virgins (Spanish, U.S. & British)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://svmowzer.blogspot.com/2016/07/favourite-islands-part-2-anguilla-to.html" target="_blank">the outer Leeward Islands (Anguilla to Dominica)</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://svmowzer.blogspot.com/2016/07/favourite-islands-part-3-saba-to.html" target="_blank">the inner Leeward Islands (Saba to Montserrat)</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://svmowzer.blogspot.com/2016/07/favourite-islands-part-4-martinique-to.html" target="_blank">and finally the Windward Islands (Martinique to Grenada)</a>.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By no means do I intend to recreate a cruising guide, I'll leave that to the talents of <a href="http://doyleguides.com/" target="_blank">Chris Doyle</a> and others, this is just a brief compendium of our observations about the islands and what we like or dislike about each one. Who knows, perhaps at the end we'll even figure out if we have a favourite.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So here goes with installment #1:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Dominican Republic</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The DR is a huge island and is a total enigma to me. We visited the south shore - limited to the La Romana to Bayahibe coast, had a spell of bad weather (worst at anchor we've ever experienced), a fabulous visit with friends on a resort and a great side-trip to the capital, Santo Domingo. At the end of it we decided that we had no big desire to revisit this island due to the constant hustle / coercion, hassle / corruption with officials, and what we found to be very unfriendly locals. We don't speak Spanish so that was a definite barrier and we've heard mixed reviews from other cruisers who have visited the north shore. Some absolutely love A lasting little reminder of our time on the island was the bottom paint job we had done in what we thought was a reputable marina there. We don't feel that the job was at all well done and after six months we had very little bottom paint left in certain areas. It is pretty obvious to us that they didn't put on a primer and possibly less paint than was reported. Shame on us for not doing the job ourselves - we won't make that mistake again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In just a few words words - Love/Hate:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Love: Santo Domingo old city</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Hate: Constant hustle</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Insane driving with motoconchos zipping in and out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quaint street scenes in the old city portion of Santo Domingo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enthusiasm and energy of young guys is the same everywhere.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chess and dominos - on the pedestrian street in between rain showers.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Puerto Rico</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another big island - this one is American. We traveled westward and eastward along the south shore to get to/from the DR. We loved our time on Puerto Rico, the landscape is dramatic and the little fishing towns are quaint and charming. The people are friendly and welcoming and although many don't speak English and we don't speak Spanish, it didn't seem to stop us from communicating (unlike the DR). Heading eastward is difficult as you are heading straight into wind, wave and current which means that you'll try anything to make the miles, including sailing close to reef-strewn, fish-pot laden shores in the dark of night. Not a fun endeavour. We haven't ventured much inland on PR and will definitely spend more time there in the future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Love: People</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Hate: East-bound passage making</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlz_frdcF6mjewnUOTjf606MZoRGSYmGEQ5B3HhhIIHpOvGIAm7DTUvTElIxDmHSZgo0ybPIKD9bIxWO1hdHkPqU1LE9EAFg6Chf4uc9aagb04qZtfjP_4tMxdnyGinumboqZdiRce3lA/s1600/Puerto+Rico+-+South+Shore-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlz_frdcF6mjewnUOTjf606MZoRGSYmGEQ5B3HhhIIHpOvGIAm7DTUvTElIxDmHSZgo0ybPIKD9bIxWO1hdHkPqU1LE9EAFg6Chf4uc9aagb04qZtfjP_4tMxdnyGinumboqZdiRce3lA/s320/Puerto+Rico+-+South+Shore-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning mountain range behind Salinas on the south shore of PR.</td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Spanish Virgin Islands: Culebra & Culebrita, </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Vieques</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We've spent quite a bit of time on Culebra and Culebrita off the east end of Puerto Rico but only had one visit many years ago to Vieques. These islands used to be the back-water cruising grounds, many saying they were like the British Virgins were 20 years ago. I think that has changed a lot and Culebra/Culebrita are soundly into the 21st century now. The island is a weekend getaway for Puerto Ricans coming over on the ferry and their own boats, little cantinas are scattered around the beaches and in the little town making eating/drinking a fun adventure. Golf cart rentals are the way to see the tiny little island and Culebrita can only be reached by boat. The inside anchorage at Ensenada Honda is chock-full of boats with sheltered waters and easy access to the shops and restaurants, the outside anchorage on the west side is quieter if you discount the regular ferry that goes in and out. The best thing about Culebra is that it is a resting and gathering spot for cruisers from all over the place after completing the difficult easting along the shores of Puerto Rico - there's an audible sigh of relief heard with each arriving vessel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Love: Laid back</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Hate: Too far west from the Eastern Caribbean</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flamenco - the most beautiful beach on Culebra and a top beach of the Caribbean.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding time at the Dinghy Dock bar - patrons, birds and fish all partake.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The morning market is open in Culebra - best chance to pick up some fresh veggies.</td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The U.S. Virgin Islands: St. Thomas, St. Croix, </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">St. John</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">St. Thomas (the island of the Big Hurry), St. Croix (once an industrial island, now in decline) and St. John (the island of nature), along with a few smaller islands make up the U.S. Virgin Islands. The three islands are quite distinctly different and we have spent most of our time on STT and STJ with a couple of short visits to STX. We have friends on STT which makes it a special place for us after having Mowzer based there for five years of charter. This is the island where people can easily fly in/out and from there disperse to the other islands. Cruise ships disgorge thousands (sometimes 10s of thousands) of passengers here on a daily basis in high season so you have to keep your patience and your wits about you. Keep your wits about you too if/when you drive here: American cars (driver on the left) but drive on the left as in Britain. Our favourite of the islands is St. John. You are immediately transported to the white sand beaches and clear turquoise waters of your Caribbean dreams. Nature trails abound with a good dose of plantation history. In some bays on the south shore you cannot see a single light at night other than moon and stars, if you are lucky enough to be there by yourself. On a short visit to the Virgins, we have been happy to spend our time on STJ and not bother crossing over to the BVIs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Love: Entry to "the Caribbean"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Hate: Americanization of the Caribbean</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leinster Bay on the north shore of St. John.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking west to St. Thomas.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Thomas on a busy day.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>The British Virgin Islands: Jost van Dyke, Tortola, Norman Island, Peter Island, Salt Island, Cooper Island, Ginger Island, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and many other islets</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Each island in the BVI does have a unique element or attraction but they are all similar topographically other than Anegada which is a low-lying limestone island. The others are all old volcanic islands and all of the islands in this region tend to be quite dry and scrubby. The BVI have become home to one of the largest charter fleets in the world. There are probably thousands of bareboat and crewed charter boats plying these waters and with good reason. The waters are protected, the islands are close together, there is entertainment provided in every major bay / anchorage. The place has been filled up with expensive mooring balls ($35US / night), loud beach bars and plenty of people that probably shouldn't be trying to sail a boat. However, these are all reasons (other than that last one) why we actually love the Virgins - the sailing is easy, the waters are lovely and clear and there's always something to do, even if it just means sitting back and watching the antics in the mooring field each afternoon. This is really where we learned to sail and fell in love with the idea of living on the boat so these islands are rather like coming home to us. Those who complain that it is too busy and the anchorages are too full, just have to spend a little more time with their charts and look for the quiet little bays where the charter boats won't go (no beach bar or mooring balls.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Love: Easy sailing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Hate: Expensive</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcaCdnDtfXxsIp_KSuyD71gPlnj-RFqLg9DnszJAUHuWLE7pIafEGUtAY_wOC9ooUYpgU9IPJ7UQ0j_5jb-TOzbwGQzXwpgM_sqSGuja7UsNv9Hg9Eb752LyaFGMLqRjj1RHji6gsCPI/s1600/BVI+-+Henry+on+Virgin+Gorda-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcaCdnDtfXxsIp_KSuyD71gPlnj-RFqLg9DnszJAUHuWLE7pIafEGUtAY_wOC9ooUYpgU9IPJ7UQ0j_5jb-TOzbwGQzXwpgM_sqSGuja7UsNv9Hg9Eb752LyaFGMLqRjj1RHji6gsCPI/s320/BVI+-+Henry+on+Virgin+Gorda-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlooking Eustatia Sound on Virgin Gorda.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hazy, relaxed afternoon overlooking Tortola.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaZQh5adkMOQVKtdeSQd92lr8d6ehyphenhyphenz_PEDDyKFPq2wmJ8pasMW2rzYh7VfrQhfxXf9s__vkZWIk8q5cLC_mwegtS3NN7WxS0vamkyWMm7PtzRTKW7n4QT4J0ydXfBi8ohyphenhyphenTmT0Dmx_U/s1600/BVI+-+Anegada+Beach-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaZQh5adkMOQVKtdeSQd92lr8d6ehyphenhyphenz_PEDDyKFPq2wmJ8pasMW2rzYh7VfrQhfxXf9s__vkZWIk8q5cLC_mwegtS3NN7WxS0vamkyWMm7PtzRTKW7n4QT4J0ydXfBi8ohyphenhyphenTmT0Dmx_U/s320/BVI+-+Anegada+Beach-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anegada - a world apart from her sister islands.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There we have it - what's your favourite of these islands? Stay tuned for the next instalment as we move east and south through the islands.</span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-74198439283732783082016-06-17T22:32:00.001-04:002016-06-17T22:32:30.665-04:00Conquering Mt. Pelee<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mt. Pelee: At a height of 4,583' sits at the top of Martinique and as we've sailed by on the western side of the island appears charming with it's lovely sloping green approaches, much of it farmed on the rich volcanic soil, gently sweeping down from the heights. Little fishing villages with black sand beaches nestle along the shoreline at inlets created by rivers that tumble down from above, and gravel quarries create a micro industry like little ants labouring away on the lower plains where ash and mud run down to the sea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What we don't see from this approach is the rugged uninhabited northern side of the ruptured landscape. Deep canyons and craggy spires charting, and charted by, the course of rushing torrents of water. Flooding from massive rainfalls at the peak makes this an inhospitable landscape that has wisely been left to nature.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have watched Pelee and it's moods over our last few visits to Martinique, always tempted to tackle the peak but knowing that conditions must be right or we would be miserable. Winds at the top are constantly howling, added to cold and wet and it would be unpleasant to say the least. So, patiently we have watched and our patience has paid off as we were treated to two days of light cloud shrouding the top, quite often breaking to provide a peek at the peak. This was it, we were reaching for the top!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Given the height of this mountain, we were definitely not hiking up all the way from the bottom. There is a wonderful trail system across the peak and the best place to start was at the car rental agency in St. Pierre! It's low season in the islands now, so why not?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We drove up the southern slope of Mt. Pelee, through the town of Morne-Rouge and up to the 1st Refuge which lies at about 2,600' where we then carried on up the mountain on foot. Here began the real adventure.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The northern tip of Martinique is dominated by Mt. Pelee. We took the eastern approach. The western is currently closed and the northern from Grand Riviere requires a guide and two days!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hike took us up the slope, over the dome and around the old caldera.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After reading of the explosion of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pel%C3%A9e" target="_blank">Pelee in 1902</a> which completely wiped out St. Pierre and approximately 30,000 inhabitants, I can't help but be reminded of Pompeii. I'm putting my complete trust in the volcanologists who say that there will be months of warning before Pelee blows again, so putting thoughts of instantaneous destruction to the back of my mind we headed off.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first steps of many - and look, you can see the peak above!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsFBRN8WIUchQtpZ8q-NttwN2u1OCl11C1_1eEQjP1gs85-cb_gD2gRlJ5Gc1QdYgbr5FtPxcIoswqKfnGnqR8_3qW0BBPgTnf9sxJXuEk8esM7LCVJlZ3ZH3OPfVtyhCAVZVKDHEMlQ/s1600/IMG_5992-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsFBRN8WIUchQtpZ8q-NttwN2u1OCl11C1_1eEQjP1gs85-cb_gD2gRlJ5Gc1QdYgbr5FtPxcIoswqKfnGnqR8_3qW0BBPgTnf9sxJXuEk8esM7LCVJlZ3ZH3OPfVtyhCAVZVKDHEMlQ/s400/IMG_5992-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lower part of the trail is well set up with many steps to help prevent erosion.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We passed quite a few groups descending from their hikes to the top and after a number of bonjours, we heard people ahead of us chatting in English. Turns out that just about the whole anchorage of St. Pierre was on the mountain that day and we met a number of fellow cruisers: Planet Waves, Jewel of the Sea, Neko and 'Mud Fog Cove' - sorry that's not their real name but their hailing port is on the side of the boat so that's what we call them.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We joined the group and trundled higher and higher sometimes in the cloud and sometimes sunshine.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirE08yY4Lshe_crhJJKatECdUUPYxN-6pgmL9OCocibYMbAn6pqvvn9xNr5C8qlBjPCu6XmyEBguCls2q3rfCzmT9PEaPPtRqyJNWKsijvpK3_k2FoKKEWqtJz12fG4ASMV7mrPfaG9_0/s1600/IMG_5996-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirE08yY4Lshe_crhJJKatECdUUPYxN-6pgmL9OCocibYMbAn6pqvvn9xNr5C8qlBjPCu6XmyEBguCls2q3rfCzmT9PEaPPtRqyJNWKsijvpK3_k2FoKKEWqtJz12fG4ASMV7mrPfaG9_0/s400/IMG_5996-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group photo of everyone on the mountain at this point, including this charming dad who had pulled his kids out of school for the day for a bit of exploration. The little girl climbed the mountain barefoot so she wouldn't mess up her shoes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's where we're heading - one of the domes at the top of the mountain, momentarily clear of cloud.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back down the spine of the slope and the trail we had climbed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All very atmospheric and we're seeing lots of beautiful alpine growth at this level.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdli01_vm5oONXgv_0l9XDgv0J1wUCCIlq9vcCc4kJuW9di-9dLBcQOpNb6J2gsB2PWDDIcZgDZWBJenytgytDC_kIXvrMKp_jMjGvcagJXNyhdd7a4UtrXZqVCZJwNYl9KiZJ1x0OFo/s1600/IMG_6005-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdli01_vm5oONXgv_0l9XDgv0J1wUCCIlq9vcCc4kJuW9di-9dLBcQOpNb6J2gsB2PWDDIcZgDZWBJenytgytDC_kIXvrMKp_jMjGvcagJXNyhdd7a4UtrXZqVCZJwNYl9KiZJ1x0OFo/s400/IMG_6005-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The growth is delicate and multi-coloured with tiny little flowers and fronds.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSY9g4VT3Rtdo4GRvgwj5knIsEOS8fM9dSBiSegmUB8MjWK3_547RVWV9-LrDgbL7HvQd8aYkGLBu61rwMlAwWmADogR_W3c-w7b63qrk8HNmUQITdolvxohwCTdTxqoy2GF8Vzb-u2M/s1600/IMG_6010-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSY9g4VT3Rtdo4GRvgwj5knIsEOS8fM9dSBiSegmUB8MjWK3_547RVWV9-LrDgbL7HvQd8aYkGLBu61rwMlAwWmADogR_W3c-w7b63qrk8HNmUQITdolvxohwCTdTxqoy2GF8Vzb-u2M/s400/IMG_6010-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's also lush and wet with moss growing on the tree ferns and completely soaked from the clouds that keep drifting by.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the point on the trail where the upper loop begins is the 2nd Refuge. These refuges are places that would provide shelter in a pinch and one can imagine that the weather could turn very nasty up here very quickly. The refuges however, are damp, mouldy, concrete huts with leaky tin roofs and muddy stinky floors - not a place I would want to have to hang around for very long! At the 2nd Refuge we split from our newly formed party and climbed down an incredibly steep track into the caldera and then back up to the top of the 1902 dome.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhfGHfz9nznKKIoiGtpiNvBG9OTyba7H1Ow96T-ZnmZlqfMbqS1VVR1Y6DzfmmAUU1qMXamxOnhVP5BM3YBZJZRsGQcSwuC9Z9omNAMmJfpZW7sykX-RgCMdkraes7nWtUz4NGgcd_ac/s1600/IMG_6038-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhfGHfz9nznKKIoiGtpiNvBG9OTyba7H1Ow96T-ZnmZlqfMbqS1VVR1Y6DzfmmAUU1qMXamxOnhVP5BM3YBZJZRsGQcSwuC9Z9omNAMmJfpZW7sykX-RgCMdkraes7nWtUz4NGgcd_ac/s400/IMG_6038-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before climbing down we checked out the track on the opposing slope. This turned out to be hand and foot work all the way up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-Aql9bQ53ftMXw-zN86rAsRvmJpqCxob2xfbT89E-3nkeF6RKCMzTU59lvJM2p4HngzgEdwphl-bfUezXukhfW_4oX5uXbwsuqrRL4QlwQS0k89bMMP_haetTwWZLeD8TNKIXs3Fa8Q/s1600/IMG_6013-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-Aql9bQ53ftMXw-zN86rAsRvmJpqCxob2xfbT89E-3nkeF6RKCMzTU59lvJM2p4HngzgEdwphl-bfUezXukhfW_4oX5uXbwsuqrRL4QlwQS0k89bMMP_haetTwWZLeD8TNKIXs3Fa8Q/s400/IMG_6013-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3rd Refuge (hut) just below the summit. Here we're on the dome formed after the massive 1902 eruption. There is another dome from the 1929 eruption and one higher peak called Le Chinois. We didn't hike to the top of Le Chinois since we still had quite a distance around the caldera and didn't know how tough it would be.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvstslwV1iaadCCcXf5SAoGUe3JAjVHHbF_3jQJWlV-feOhelxtXHhIVDjyzzo5ABbyw65fT0G2_6a-rwN-9JHsBJTM4cy6tLgDHitUUk5OUeEVjxHKLnUf1kW8nnNKHlepw2cn7dB-I/s1600/IMG_6021-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvstslwV1iaadCCcXf5SAoGUe3JAjVHHbF_3jQJWlV-feOhelxtXHhIVDjyzzo5ABbyw65fT0G2_6a-rwN-9JHsBJTM4cy6tLgDHitUUk5OUeEVjxHKLnUf1kW8nnNKHlepw2cn7dB-I/s400/IMG_6021-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Le Chinois behind us - still smiling :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYh6hDi050FinpxjdNPRkOXTWsYtA9ne_xGSbPc_mRyODapT-UN5vtb9GsEvK9mxq8FXhSgCIW4lIheHcE4QK6JWoJv4cFdTU4xzRuoqigB5xO_IspVcUEo0THNzZY4QWNNJEM34D9Pm4/s1600/IMG_6025-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYh6hDi050FinpxjdNPRkOXTWsYtA9ne_xGSbPc_mRyODapT-UN5vtb9GsEvK9mxq8FXhSgCIW4lIheHcE4QK6JWoJv4cFdTU4xzRuoqigB5xO_IspVcUEo0THNzZY4QWNNJEM34D9Pm4/s400/IMG_6025-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rugged northern view - hard to tell from this picture just how rugged it is. No habitation out there.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UY7Gj_0Sp8O8qR6XjGdFEzeo2zG28mBXI6i50ZdKqY1QYQdXfqv-tt3296vcE-tW42TSWf7Ad-M1yc1ClDccQFG2yz__NMxth-cMAxsDJuuEqc8tZIxMp4WCsfC8qFtGHYiF0W2kJHE/s1600/IMG_6028-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UY7Gj_0Sp8O8qR6XjGdFEzeo2zG28mBXI6i50ZdKqY1QYQdXfqv-tt3296vcE-tW42TSWf7Ad-M1yc1ClDccQFG2yz__NMxth-cMAxsDJuuEqc8tZIxMp4WCsfC8qFtGHYiF0W2kJHE/s400/IMG_6028-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The variety of alpine growth is stunning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1P3RnQ8k1J2iWnPOID1rDcM18dS3dJV8DsR-g6fDwIABNz-V3r_M0ViVfoPd9m6Tz0sfYvy-64H92QiJIXnerkyD-wq558s7OE2OR2KvMZFJfBSCIUjIJoobJzWUwcm1Vv5UnO3Cg6eI/s1600/IMG_6029-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1P3RnQ8k1J2iWnPOID1rDcM18dS3dJV8DsR-g6fDwIABNz-V3r_M0ViVfoPd9m6Tz0sfYvy-64H92QiJIXnerkyD-wq558s7OE2OR2KvMZFJfBSCIUjIJoobJzWUwcm1Vv5UnO3Cg6eI/s400/IMG_6029-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a trail to the west that leads down to the village of Le Precheur.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMl7MCmuTp-tWjmbu4c6m6CWD8EX_8R0L9-04ZZede9CHz0gTRMJOQ6u3NLWxWmQXcONdKVrY7LjKk-M43rMOj9Phk4O1V9NP2De93CVzXJEUhO9u2ZI_TMeL-n-QBvnkhKXeUBJX-mjs/s1600/IMG_6032-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMl7MCmuTp-tWjmbu4c6m6CWD8EX_8R0L9-04ZZede9CHz0gTRMJOQ6u3NLWxWmQXcONdKVrY7LjKk-M43rMOj9Phk4O1V9NP2De93CVzXJEUhO9u2ZI_TMeL-n-QBvnkhKXeUBJX-mjs/s400/IMG_6032-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">However, due to washouts it is currently closed. Glad we didn't plan our day to come up that way.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dYw2ErDA16SscTjyJLzSaF9gldI9uwxBZe_je2OenV_3FWR4r5aMTojrnqucxqMbl9UbZzOrm-ZTqcCjNDM_6hoikYZoQyGB70T1_pRT8a6XrVDi4ruXIWVPawFkNiJ3Us9zkmcTLm0/s1600/IMG_6033-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dYw2ErDA16SscTjyJLzSaF9gldI9uwxBZe_je2OenV_3FWR4r5aMTojrnqucxqMbl9UbZzOrm-ZTqcCjNDM_6hoikYZoQyGB70T1_pRT8a6XrVDi4ruXIWVPawFkNiJ3Us9zkmcTLm0/s400/IMG_6033-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More surprising and beautiful alpine vegetation.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TKbHf8nyzQmK_YtzfNXr_2nSKeADiqrrAfaN_j2iP-3PMfO0WNBqGSInwZAk1TCp9Zki4V7F702p7mA4VXQ-YVVpj6gloVcUoIxR24CXuESNtPZOYh2jWzgLvVZQSajsm1sHcIO_ph8/s1600/IMG_6050-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TKbHf8nyzQmK_YtzfNXr_2nSKeADiqrrAfaN_j2iP-3PMfO0WNBqGSInwZAk1TCp9Zki4V7F702p7mA4VXQ-YVVpj6gloVcUoIxR24CXuESNtPZOYh2jWzgLvVZQSajsm1sHcIO_ph8/s400/IMG_6050-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As we walked back down the section of the path below the 2nd Refuge, this little Green Throated Carib hummingbird led the way, stopping every little bit to make sure we were following. He was so bold he let me move right in close to get his picture on my phone - no zoom lens here!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnGOBqu5-tmz27qZ5C1f5yZLsEbYZ5mvzAEuEdNrF0u7fDDXLZixGY01Tir8zSPx9FITUXQlWkQeokX0nRTzjAWLdScblbt0BESCQ2C1_MjF_IrghWNDiiSIf3kkL0PlySXeGOJ6Bazo/s1600/IMG_6054-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnGOBqu5-tmz27qZ5C1f5yZLsEbYZ5mvzAEuEdNrF0u7fDDXLZixGY01Tir8zSPx9FITUXQlWkQeokX0nRTzjAWLdScblbt0BESCQ2C1_MjF_IrghWNDiiSIf3kkL0PlySXeGOJ6Bazo/s400/IMG_6054-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on the picture to see more detail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioT9LyvlNwirhkauqsoF4i35fXb72dbAwv4_A_rt57gBmhqK_IQrR053wniWB-hB3i_Pv_6WFrENTI_2fCLVq3OSb_RRKzxwvT_QARIKnkooNtHJ1KJhXgC2FJbO9APp2SrAIbX981_Ls/s1600/IMG_6058-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioT9LyvlNwirhkauqsoF4i35fXb72dbAwv4_A_rt57gBmhqK_IQrR053wniWB-hB3i_Pv_6WFrENTI_2fCLVq3OSb_RRKzxwvT_QARIKnkooNtHJ1KJhXgC2FJbO9APp2SrAIbX981_Ls/s400/IMG_6058-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One final view - this one to the south west and if we had binoculars we could pick out Mowzer at anchor on the coast at St. Pierre.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We returned back to the parking lot to find the group we had met on the mountainside enjoying a cold beer and debating the best way to get back to St. Pierre. They had taken the bus to Morne Rouge and walked up from there. Apparently buses were no longer running (it was now 4pm) but I'm getting lots of practice with my French now and we were able to arrange a taxi for the group of six (they just couldn't all fit in our tiny little car.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hike took us over five hours and while we could have done it faster, we thoroughly enjoyed stopping and watching the view or the tiny flora while up on top of the mountain. Remember too that we didn't climb Le Chinois and if we'd done that it would have probably added another hour to our time up there. The hike is tougher than La Souffriere on Guadeloupe but perhaps not quite so dramatic as there are no vents on Pelee. Two days after doing the hike, my calves were quite tender from the descent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We finished up our day's adventure with a drive further through the rain forest around Fonds-St-Denis and Henry happily even found a road-side waterfall to show me. He had promised one at the beginning of the day but I was super happy this one didn't involve too much of a walk since my legs were pretty tired after Pelee.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaHJAvUEUE4a8OMQMKENEZfDy7SKEVyC0-0NRrvmIizOS2DUWinkgJhfC2gDALhEU8YofVhtk1R12BUZxlDqzNnHf76DfPzJUK31XaaPU9qoltuaHu_lwI4k8s1Kx0VAQi2RLEN5cX-E/s1600/IMG_6061-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaHJAvUEUE4a8OMQMKENEZfDy7SKEVyC0-0NRrvmIizOS2DUWinkgJhfC2gDALhEU8YofVhtk1R12BUZxlDqzNnHf76DfPzJUK31XaaPU9qoltuaHu_lwI4k8s1Kx0VAQi2RLEN5cX-E/s400/IMG_6061-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry proudly shows off The Gendarme Falls.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.comLa Trinité, Martinique14.816845362050527 -61.17523601171882314.571179862050528 -61.497959511718825 15.062510862050527 -60.852512511718821tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-47647921429032985742016-06-13T08:43:00.000-04:002016-06-13T08:43:25.443-04:00Martinique - A Revisit to the Slave Canal<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Patiently waiting for the right weather certainly paid off and we had a great sail south from Dominica down to St. Pierre at the north end of Martinique. We averaged just over six knots for the nine hour trip and arrived in time to find a great spot to anchor on the narrow strip of sand that makes up the St. Pierre anchorage. It was a regular parade of boats that made their way south with us and since we arrived on Friday, the parade has repeated itself each afternoon since.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With nothing else on the schedule - isn't life like this wonderful? - we decided to revisit our hike to the Beauregard Canal. We hiked here with Brita and Jason back in January, so pics and details are available <a href="http://svmowzer.blogspot.ca/2016/01/beauregard-canal-or-canal-des-esclaves.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I missed on that posting was a map of the hike - I think I forgot to take the GPS on that day. So here is the route that we used to get up there and back.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlr1W0bWfjYai94Eno1LeL_ApVHKLdsy4lZ-yloVJV4v21qs90sgPjPzZTlx9siWolJCqS0q6uRoUYseMEX8n5OUGwSYNKpDgRRk27fnFqxJ7GH2toBeXfbj4CCIIY8QY046h08EGNDg/s1600/Beauregard+Canal-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlr1W0bWfjYai94Eno1LeL_ApVHKLdsy4lZ-yloVJV4v21qs90sgPjPzZTlx9siWolJCqS0q6uRoUYseMEX8n5OUGwSYNKpDgRRk27fnFqxJ7GH2toBeXfbj4CCIIY8QY046h08EGNDg/s400/Beauregard+Canal-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We took the southern route up which is a little farther than the northern road but a whole lot less steep on the way up. The walk up to the canal is about 3 miles, the canal is another 3 miles each way but is almost completely flat - only a minimal rise on that distance. Make sure to take lots of water and sunscreen since you are on open roads for the most part.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What was a great hike in January, was made even better with all the flowers and fruit along the way now that it is June - we had to have something to make up for missing Brita and Jason. Hiking past the banana plantations and </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cultivated fields provides great views across the county-side and I have a confession to make: we picked two plump, ripe, red tomatoes and munched on them as we walked along. I was in heaven - I haven't had a sun ripened red </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tomato that tasted so good since I left Canada. They certainly don't sell them like that in the markets down here. We also found THE BEST mango tree ever just 200 meters below the start of the canal on the side of the road. The mangos were tiny and sweet and had absolutely no fibre in them. Needless to say we filled a bag and went home with a dozen and a half delectable little fruits!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now what would a blog post be without pictures, so here are some of the pretty sights we saw along the way.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the huge Beauregard banana plantation.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fields of bananas stretched out below us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved the archway entrance to this field.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bananas are bagged on the tree ready for shipment.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't this just the way - put up a sign against dumping garbage and just like that, it's the only place we saw roadside dumping. Martinique is remarkably clean.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heliconia - these flowers normally tower over us but we had the ground advantage here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another tropical beauty - this one was in a pot at the restaurant and I don't know what it is.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a wonderful creole lunch at the restaurant at the top of the canal. Colombo curry coconut chicken, tomato bisque crawfish, rice, plantain, sweet potato and lentils. Now we just need a hammock for a nap. Henry is checking out a pack of hiking routes for Martinique - this pack had 62 cards!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtrb8202qDmr-55ahyfAcbxXCjyO8xNZopjl11rmR3soZs41pzIQ1-OEh5pgeBeSu5yEWOfLLc5LoY3J6XjJo5nN72yIJgjNTG-uGGZzuMC3V7Xfx3w6qbFuuONqpljaXarpDKZhUcvY/s1600/IMG_5983-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtrb8202qDmr-55ahyfAcbxXCjyO8xNZopjl11rmR3soZs41pzIQ1-OEh5pgeBeSu5yEWOfLLc5LoY3J6XjJo5nN72yIJgjNTG-uGGZzuMC3V7Xfx3w6qbFuuONqpljaXarpDKZhUcvY/s400/IMG_5983-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The commonplace red ginger - never thought I would think such a beautiful flower was commonplace.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5onwCtvr1oIaB-N6GooTba1TkruNxhwxocZJNmYFeRyrm1n4v1Z2u-zzlSIbVF68YVhcV9kENDD29jsjGPP8DVXhV0CWE3O7TC3G9ihmqP5d85JrdWVB6AoZvP7vlLZBczC3O0J7GP8/s1600/IMG_5984-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5onwCtvr1oIaB-N6GooTba1TkruNxhwxocZJNmYFeRyrm1n4v1Z2u-zzlSIbVF68YVhcV9kENDD29jsjGPP8DVXhV0CWE3O7TC3G9ihmqP5d85JrdWVB6AoZvP7vlLZBczC3O0J7GP8/s400/IMG_5984-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Heliconia - this one of the downward hanging variety.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_wN65lk0FERYbRSJRLsMeOJrM-Vmkor_0XOvtaj-iAtL0CoQtTQHtF-pYXafrIwWDexG8tgqjSbTvkeVTGqK46-3CyzWXYoC545NPRT9TEcsqEFdfcTtY4a0KccE3CpV9LnrnTHFED4/s1600/IMG_5987-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_wN65lk0FERYbRSJRLsMeOJrM-Vmkor_0XOvtaj-iAtL0CoQtTQHtF-pYXafrIwWDexG8tgqjSbTvkeVTGqK46-3CyzWXYoC545NPRT9TEcsqEFdfcTtY4a0KccE3CpV9LnrnTHFED4/s400/IMG_5987-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick glimpse of the canal and the narrow ledge we walked.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5GMvPUldI_XEO1urwz4q89dZeuySJGohkFPazSrNL9axYwNJ8oNkmY2ZSKYOOBY5SFPxLZGGwE5PdoDKKALkUAWxhgdZ-DdCD2JHhu3XiszOgwVpu-nsOTeXyQM8Q_LqyT6bHJ_HUFc/s1600/IMG_5989-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5GMvPUldI_XEO1urwz4q89dZeuySJGohkFPazSrNL9axYwNJ8oNkmY2ZSKYOOBY5SFPxLZGGwE5PdoDKKALkUAWxhgdZ-DdCD2JHhu3XiszOgwVpu-nsOTeXyQM8Q_LqyT6bHJ_HUFc/s400/IMG_5989-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most hibiscus are red - this pretty yellow variety with it's bright red centre is so delicate and exotic.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-58025727518115761202016-06-11T07:28:00.000-04:002016-06-11T07:28:49.383-04:00A Hike That Just Didn't Want to Happen - Segment 13<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We always say, "Third time's the charm!" It certainly held true with our attempts to hike segment 13 of the Waitukabuli National Trail on Dominica.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We started off with George on Wildcat with a plan to do the hike, but joined by some other cruisers we decided to head inland up a farm track and loop around on the flatter Indian River part of segment 11. First attempt a non-starter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A tropical wave then moved across the island bringing with it about 48 hours of rain. We thought we had a clearing in the weather but with rivers rushing down the mountainsides we decided prudence was recommended. Second attempt aborted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The day of our third attempt dawned cloudy but not rainy so taking a chance we packed up our bags and headed off to find a bus to Penville, from where we would hike back to Portsmouth via segments 13 and 14.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we sat on the bench at the bus stop I have to say I was beginning to feel we weren't going to get our third chance either. Past experience had us hoping to be lucky once again with the bus, but as we sat and waited, and waited, no bus to Penville appeared and no one seemed to be waiting to go there. The bus won't run unless it's reasonably full so we started contemplating alternatives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the things I love about Caribbean culture is how passionate people are in their conversations, one of the things I hate about Caribbean culture is how no-one can seem to talk to each other without raising the conversation to a shouting match. This is usually reserved among the locals but I had a good dose of it today with a bus driver offering to take us up to Penville for a taxi fare of 30EC. We knew if we could get the bus it would cost us 10EC so didn't really want to spend the extra - much better spent on johnnycakes or roti! I told him we'd wait for the bus and go for 10EC. This immediately set him off yelling at me much to the amusement of everyone else sitting outside the johnnycake stand. Needless to say, we didn't get on his bus/taxi, but not before we hurled a couple of shots at each other and ended up with him proclaiming he loved me. We then watched the next bus pull up and the driver get out, sit down on the bench beside us and proceed to have an animated conversation with himself about some bozo who cut him off. Once finished, he asked us politely where we were going and explained (told us) that we'd better to get the bus to Capuchin, which of course was where he was going. Nope, we'd wait and off he went in the opposite direction - did he think we didn't know where Capuchin was? </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">About 15 minutes later he returned and as you can surmise, no other bus had appeared so we agreed that he was right and we should go to Capuchin. An so began our day of hiking Segment 13 (backwards) and then back to Portsmouth over Morne Diable and past Cold Souffriere.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting in Capuchin, segment 13 traverses the north coast and ends on the road above Penville. It's then a road-walk over Morne Diable and down to the end at Portsmouth.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The bus driver, true to his word, took us right to the end of the road in Capuchin where we picked up the 8km trail that comprises segment 13. We were hoping for some spectacular views off the north coast looking out towards Les Saintes and Guadeloupe, and although hazy, the sun was shining brightly.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOLuOrW7V4nq53e5oEPShuwvSVfHQPnQDoflMA0rWCCUvY8_LnEczE_i0mdtQRIlKGYgs1IulpmOLZT8v7a9wPIjjMyO0tnqPYlBui_Xv81vmoRGUx27PbVydne_zW2dvlKn7J-mu5FI/s1600/IMG_5922-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOLuOrW7V4nq53e5oEPShuwvSVfHQPnQDoflMA0rWCCUvY8_LnEczE_i0mdtQRIlKGYgs1IulpmOLZT8v7a9wPIjjMyO0tnqPYlBui_Xv81vmoRGUx27PbVydne_zW2dvlKn7J-mu5FI/s400/IMG_5922-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry marks the end of the road at Capuchin.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XllP6IkE_UFm9FvrYX_TZfyqgcLs4tSoqB-UExnj_j7K6MZmO9-R6vp56R5h6LP_ayvUdcpF8s3gD87u4fhd98RHrMBmAMw3STLLJfpuku-WSIvIMWztZGn7j-72twMWaIIiDKBFqcE/s1600/IMG_5923-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XllP6IkE_UFm9FvrYX_TZfyqgcLs4tSoqB-UExnj_j7K6MZmO9-R6vp56R5h6LP_ayvUdcpF8s3gD87u4fhd98RHrMBmAMw3STLLJfpuku-WSIvIMWztZGn7j-72twMWaIIiDKBFqcE/s400/IMG_5923-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catherine notes the segment particulars.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaVNOf-7mTTLPsX2Y0G1CcsP2TjA5DvWFFTeZHiTjjJq_wTM3nRBSUC-hUgNpV0PBC_pZgew0XIk9wb4avaVJWsEAef612gHH-sTXW69gz8awYZYCM1qIlNzK3iQKFQEu06viNx_C04M/s1600/IMG_5924-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaVNOf-7mTTLPsX2Y0G1CcsP2TjA5DvWFFTeZHiTjjJq_wTM3nRBSUC-hUgNpV0PBC_pZgew0XIk9wb4avaVJWsEAef612gHH-sTXW69gz8awYZYCM1qIlNzK3iQKFQEu06viNx_C04M/s400/IMG_5924-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We started off along a sun-dappled farm track.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The trail started off relatively easily but once under way it rose steeply through a number of switch-backs to crest at a ridge at about the half-way point. Although it had rained heavily in the two preceding days, the track was relatively dry and mud-free - the only slipperiness occurring on moss-covered rocks and with loose footing on the trail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not far onto the trail, once we had entered the forest, we crossed a small river that just below the trail dropped over a 30' precipice to a pool below. We would have loved to see the falls from below but being right at the beginning of our trek and not knowing exactly how demanding the trail would be ahead of us, we opted not to take the diversion down the hill - saving that for next time I guess.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13Q_5C96Fs_aUaTPRistU58E02YhHF3QoIiMIIfp-ScMvHKa4eXl2BELvl2ASUZV9rVaN2k-uFd1xY9KfkgMtDHRiDHjWKlpAHeWZViHEpDoE-j6Jg7V-b-TpvBv3s3ISSy1Ez6h4-qE/s1600/IMG_5926-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13Q_5C96Fs_aUaTPRistU58E02YhHF3QoIiMIIfp-ScMvHKa4eXl2BELvl2ASUZV9rVaN2k-uFd1xY9KfkgMtDHRiDHjWKlpAHeWZViHEpDoE-j6Jg7V-b-TpvBv3s3ISSy1Ez6h4-qE/s400/IMG_5926-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking upstream...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawQFNN1d9j89B2g252SGHTYPL6qzqWTvJNWIxbrpXWsouAsaPgBqpXrxicYfYg6am1BFrrYl1DOG6VPvjPhpglEQaENtMVibdAIstxTQVCABpwFFyIyXPjilbOJ0ndTegCiYnMNo1Pv0/s1600/IMG_5927-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawQFNN1d9j89B2g252SGHTYPL6qzqWTvJNWIxbrpXWsouAsaPgBqpXrxicYfYg6am1BFrrYl1DOG6VPvjPhpglEQaENtMVibdAIstxTQVCABpwFFyIyXPjilbOJ0ndTegCiYnMNo1Pv0/s400/IMG_5927-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then looking downstream - it's hard to get the perspective but that muddy pool at the bottom is 30' below us.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We walked on through the woodland, recognizing many fruit trees such as mango, breadfruit, guava and coconut. The footing was rough so we had to keep eyes on the trail but it is always easy to tell when there are coconut trees about - young coconuts competing for sunlight as they reach up to the canopy above.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirwRgtPRWQGaDf9IuTwL4B4a0C4su9x4zGSof5_frvlsQv6eM1jGypu_jY_6yp5zR4P14pOZHfJFdIkyWhSOBu1hyphenhyphenNSY4VVNvqqWzFNhXzbTpOroVJ7Lxeydqi9bfDkW6x9We666vCOc/s1600/IMG_5933-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirwRgtPRWQGaDf9IuTwL4B4a0C4su9x4zGSof5_frvlsQv6eM1jGypu_jY_6yp5zR4P14pOZHfJFdIkyWhSOBu1hyphenhyphenNSY4VVNvqqWzFNhXzbTpOroVJ7Lxeydqi9bfDkW6x9We666vCOc/s400/IMG_5933-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the ground, fallen coconut sprouts and grows where it lands.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRPJGrEIPVk-_KLrGedQKM8I1j5PU-EKfmGnFtYSMdNVBjoZpiEdHebCHNoGZikQvsT8c0-tjVBhHxTBwNjJAiw4owu4f8HO4qhWhAwqhDDNZ0SF1JcSyWMQzBfLaY34BUe6srv0F0Iw/s1600/IMG_5934-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRPJGrEIPVk-_KLrGedQKM8I1j5PU-EKfmGnFtYSMdNVBjoZpiEdHebCHNoGZikQvsT8c0-tjVBhHxTBwNjJAiw4owu4f8HO4qhWhAwqhDDNZ0SF1JcSyWMQzBfLaY34BUe6srv0F0Iw/s400/IMG_5934-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look up into the canopy above and you can see the parent tree spreading in the sunlight - look out below!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We pressed on up a series of switch backs in the sticky, humid heat. We admired the trees and growth around us, but a vista of the northern views never did materialize on this portion of the trail. At the top of the ridge a well-positioned bench served as a stopping point for a snack.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQMlgjDsn-xFjiiy3aIQ2pSL4lx1P25b0f__RN0z0HY6zvgWTSbDsN9DBCahPwBMymNIyyW6AGzxnHs4_Ijc9savL0bK2IBndGUVFvRBAcXol-LFS1Y9VzYA6z5jG1f45IP042OVrtns/s1600/IMG_5937-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQMlgjDsn-xFjiiy3aIQ2pSL4lx1P25b0f__RN0z0HY6zvgWTSbDsN9DBCahPwBMymNIyyW6AGzxnHs4_Ijc9savL0bK2IBndGUVFvRBAcXol-LFS1Y9VzYA6z5jG1f45IP042OVrtns/s400/IMG_5937-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One johnnycake and one pear, coming right up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyayRJE27UiBurnbYvw2j-Wfyb0Ky2JbKXrDpAzjsH83lq1sN_KpASgqhA6nDDJJJ9rD6QmdWDLWV4p9IjeiLiR2APhdPAJTv8QTQAGK2jTqucWTiGOAj2KIaHhVwFMYoEo7WdgLV3mI/s1600/IMG_5938-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyayRJE27UiBurnbYvw2j-Wfyb0Ky2JbKXrDpAzjsH83lq1sN_KpASgqhA6nDDJJJ9rD6QmdWDLWV4p9IjeiLiR2APhdPAJTv8QTQAGK2jTqucWTiGOAj2KIaHhVwFMYoEo7WdgLV3mI/s400/IMG_5938-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting on the bench at the top of the ridge we had a view down both portions of the trail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8SM_V63hcsTlJUXrfZ59lfBSGFmADvs7Diqtn-BpR16VW-sS08lGn0-oVsiiDW7GmnmJnM6mSV7pwoJRlBE2UXhIzvnCTm6utqsdyEKRL74JRPrRij5qOD_Gc0iqtEBqt05CC-6dbDQ/s1600/IMG_5939-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8SM_V63hcsTlJUXrfZ59lfBSGFmADvs7Diqtn-BpR16VW-sS08lGn0-oVsiiDW7GmnmJnM6mSV7pwoJRlBE2UXhIzvnCTm6utqsdyEKRL74JRPrRij5qOD_Gc0iqtEBqt05CC-6dbDQ/s400/IMG_5939-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have to say I'm pretty happy with my Keen's for this type of dry/muddy walking. The only drawback is that on loose scree, small stones are annoying when they get in under my feet.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we crossed the ridge, we noticed an immediate change in the growth. On the west side of the ridge we had seen drier vegetation with fairly clear undergrowth. On the wetter east side we were immediately plunged into luxuriant, almost rain-forest type growth with tree ferns, flowers and dense undergrowth. This next portion of the trail also passed through the old Grand Fond plantation where once coffee was grown. Now there is a predominance of banana and coconut in the area, with plenty of mangos for a delicious snack along the way.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_hyWFH3T2VqlPMnHcp6wRxaByQvQefcyNMzC-ykwTkG0wU5qxTyDf8WmmlKKfFmfdVFw3MJMjlX9SGVJ6Zb8QMzhArMks10JQBpRgmGvGyKBHCvBC6H99FCN9OgZDPjOMoPVr4K9tw8/s1600/IMG_5944-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_hyWFH3T2VqlPMnHcp6wRxaByQvQefcyNMzC-ykwTkG0wU5qxTyDf8WmmlKKfFmfdVFw3MJMjlX9SGVJ6Zb8QMzhArMks10JQBpRgmGvGyKBHCvBC6H99FCN9OgZDPjOMoPVr4K9tw8/s400/IMG_5944-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look carefully to find the trail through the tropical vegetation.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnEMw1Ita4YS3jtB5TEak04rpKV94UO4pNJVVU5eYNRBxJyRbbKt4nx28FvhOj0rqAzf-PVFFVFpsDbfqtviDe-akNAwr6oQQyOqn7BYBUm3PSwMWfbfQqCZh56h_QJvfu5nVAFT-xro/s1600/IMG_5945-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnEMw1Ita4YS3jtB5TEak04rpKV94UO4pNJVVU5eYNRBxJyRbbKt4nx28FvhOj0rqAzf-PVFFVFpsDbfqtviDe-akNAwr6oQQyOqn7BYBUm3PSwMWfbfQqCZh56h_QJvfu5nVAFT-xro/s400/IMG_5945-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signage along the way gives some details of the area.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VKAefXBACjtqZUO9GB7RjIGWXvC9lmj6J9fh-rjrVu2OCTkN644G84HYN7WPHn9R6AQZwqdLulugaNsOBV6YfG79muYQqKp-L1Ckt0CCJLuxko_O4yv3u5p5Smo305yEla3H05RAfNE/s1600/IMG_5949-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VKAefXBACjtqZUO9GB7RjIGWXvC9lmj6J9fh-rjrVu2OCTkN644G84HYN7WPHn9R6AQZwqdLulugaNsOBV6YfG79muYQqKp-L1Ckt0CCJLuxko_O4yv3u5p5Smo305yEla3H05RAfNE/s400/IMG_5949-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About the size of a tennis ball - this seed pod was extremely prickly and with many of them underfoot, made the going a little tricky.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvHb9Tlr81XnazU_YKHvBZ2hpsPuoyvAQcQZDGTUyNkPLc9n3OlWe31Oz2Nc27VrGsImhV2nQ4JxAsBzm2PQrsJn2GEz2lsqN_VPFXCWQQFw8VqDdVcjy4cBPyA6Nt7YlIlbgka-hzuo/s1600/IMG_5950-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvHb9Tlr81XnazU_YKHvBZ2hpsPuoyvAQcQZDGTUyNkPLc9n3OlWe31Oz2Nc27VrGsImhV2nQ4JxAsBzm2PQrsJn2GEz2lsqN_VPFXCWQQFw8VqDdVcjy4cBPyA6Nt7YlIlbgka-hzuo/s400/IMG_5950-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lush green vegetation layered in the sunlight makes for a beautiful landscape when you don't have long vistas.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlJBlfAloQZ-cBt4e-uoyHrir4bwheXxQzeLTZpFxZ4MSw5t3IDc1J1FIaXTHBmVKaJs54aAhH_QaTYfEnu2R0zxunSUQw-P92j6F4kaJRtihfH40KCbxdiOXtv-hRj3jYQULDVgk9Vc/s1600/IMG_5951-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlJBlfAloQZ-cBt4e-uoyHrir4bwheXxQzeLTZpFxZ4MSw5t3IDc1J1FIaXTHBmVKaJs54aAhH_QaTYfEnu2R0zxunSUQw-P92j6F4kaJRtihfH40KCbxdiOXtv-hRj3jYQULDVgk9Vc/s400/IMG_5951-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many small plantations covered the area - the hill on the far side has a near-vertical segment cleared for new planting. No mechanized farming here, that's for sure!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygKmWmHh0oobNuXSPdFo5T6Pnh1xwbxWPzKzfPwPEx6EgchfRh8rxhnx8hkb5CoXDfI40-7JSvmB3UHtwX4RusllKla7E4XOhquyneOZJEwC1YtgYT4WBFqQj9yPvtaypLXlfY4FXQI0/s1600/IMG_5952-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygKmWmHh0oobNuXSPdFo5T6Pnh1xwbxWPzKzfPwPEx6EgchfRh8rxhnx8hkb5CoXDfI40-7JSvmB3UHtwX4RusllKla7E4XOhquyneOZJEwC1YtgYT4WBFqQj9yPvtaypLXlfY4FXQI0/s400/IMG_5952-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, a view - and there's not much to see other than this stately papaya tree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5G_dIrz-7RWeWre5qlr8K63TbM2zOXSc6NtLRGmxMSFcIcU-lOCJuT-PPzoP2iTNQJ7QSGDkUC3BI2BsgSXWcFq0QWTZ7eMD5SNngfiyvJY9akMUeGFz2Z89K_ZysEr6PHqEH2eEJ3k/s1600/IMG_5955-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5G_dIrz-7RWeWre5qlr8K63TbM2zOXSc6NtLRGmxMSFcIcU-lOCJuT-PPzoP2iTNQJ7QSGDkUC3BI2BsgSXWcFq0QWTZ7eMD5SNngfiyvJY9akMUeGFz2Z89K_ZysEr6PHqEH2eEJ3k/s400/IMG_5955-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on this picture to get a better view of just how rugged the landscape is. The ground plunged away below us to the bottom of a steeply sided valley, that rushed on down to the sea. This is prime, east-facing farmland!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8jJ1sBUOOwtk611HS9py0NVlpOkBD4j4M7Aj0_pLX930Lm4f1P_UEKyDuw_ZurYa5TXesUx5yafdurBp7U6498Gh-5pO0K8RswQ2XnEqwSUF__MEkhcPIORSbkjGrguuInRfEjhkf44/s1600/IMG_5957-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8jJ1sBUOOwtk611HS9py0NVlpOkBD4j4M7Aj0_pLX930Lm4f1P_UEKyDuw_ZurYa5TXesUx5yafdurBp7U6498Gh-5pO0K8RswQ2XnEqwSUF__MEkhcPIORSbkjGrguuInRfEjhkf44/s400/IMG_5957-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More exotic growth along the way.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We finished up segment 13 as we exited to the Northern Link Road. Given we started the trail at 10am and finished up at 1:40pm with about a half-hour of stops along the way, I'm not sure how this trail can be done in 2 hours at anything less than a run!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQl8sx5rAONRW2BEutA0u4H8y14pd5tGRMpq6UtSidHn64efMmKqlFnHMZBsGQRN_xWCODuUD_hvwnAb7DoLwUExlbPpDotkvW-LjiK2qweIy3iHCFXqowwi-x4gLQVFMDbcpbB9ciZs/s1600/IMG_5959-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQl8sx5rAONRW2BEutA0u4H8y14pd5tGRMpq6UtSidHn64efMmKqlFnHMZBsGQRN_xWCODuUD_hvwnAb7DoLwUExlbPpDotkvW-LjiK2qweIy3iHCFXqowwi-x4gLQVFMDbcpbB9ciZs/s400/IMG_5959-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 hours - hard to believe.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We now walked up to the crater on Morne Diable where we had previously visited the Cold Souffriere. At a height of just over 1800' it was all downhill now to Portsmouth - my heart and lungs were happy but not so much the knees.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lush crater of Morne Diable, the wind blows on the ridges, it is eerily quiet in the bowl and the river stinks of sulphur.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9E-50M7Guzv0p7iYc1YWObXjr50fWhiohsMmjCokJIn72Am5lEXj5jPQsa_Iq0IzoJ3m1oRsJzdKf7tSX27W5k4KOCJZ7YCK5zzbFKia1e6OU-Atx8DjJOsNOLRz90vI1xap3u00yT4/s1600/IMG_5962-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9E-50M7Guzv0p7iYc1YWObXjr50fWhiohsMmjCokJIn72Am5lEXj5jPQsa_Iq0IzoJ3m1oRsJzdKf7tSX27W5k4KOCJZ7YCK5zzbFKia1e6OU-Atx8DjJOsNOLRz90vI1xap3u00yT4/s400/IMG_5962-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our last look back at the ridge we crossed to arrive at the crater.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Down, down, down we went back to the boat anchored at Portsmouth. The mango trees are in full production once again so before long we had collected a bag-full to add to our supplies. We also found a small calabash that I will cut to make a bowl and we had a delightful encounter with Martin along the way where we met his wife and daughter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, we've completed segment 13 and we have now done most of the National Trail that is within walking distance of Portsmouth. Next time back in Dominica we will have to explore a little further afield.</span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-54479955336784959952016-06-03T16:28:00.000-04:002016-06-04T10:12:24.678-04:00Chocolate and Caribs<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love chocolate and on a little aberration of this theme, I love beer and chocolate together. The promise of Dominican chocolate and a cold Carib beer sounds wonderful, but in this case we were off to see the Kalinago (Carib) territory on the east coast of the island.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once again we set off in the morning with Martin (Providence) for a tour to the north-east corner with our first stop at Anse Soldat. It was still early in the morning so we weren't ready for a beer but we did take the time for a little dominos challenge.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCjCOVkmQD0M4Cz8gDJlM9cmtvED24DtvWZtmQWgxAgDzrOxe2YHbwFAz0fwQ8kXaUF3CC-82gS-ibi-JkqTiJElvlDhZpv9QQuJySVGk8v8LXKrNzBXQbdqMZlxdx1npxd8exk_sy_Y/s1600/IMG_5831-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCjCOVkmQD0M4Cz8gDJlM9cmtvED24DtvWZtmQWgxAgDzrOxe2YHbwFAz0fwQ8kXaUF3CC-82gS-ibi-JkqTiJElvlDhZpv9QQuJySVGk8v8LXKrNzBXQbdqMZlxdx1npxd8exk_sy_Y/s320/IMG_5831-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sea Breeze bar at Anse Soldat - what a view and right on the beach.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatNQYuvqETGv1cDoazSeo3ltX1ymmI0mXO4dx7Fan74G-tO_5wKE5bNBGEXwtEOsfcCF2eGUlUmtZdIYtNsudM1lbCx6bOc8auvzVmRGSMULbroyuULaDxKFrRp3HM-HUUDZh-oJPFuc/s1600/GOPR1297-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatNQYuvqETGv1cDoazSeo3ltX1ymmI0mXO4dx7Fan74G-tO_5wKE5bNBGEXwtEOsfcCF2eGUlUmtZdIYtNsudM1lbCx6bOc8auvzVmRGSMULbroyuULaDxKFrRp3HM-HUUDZh-oJPFuc/s320/GOPR1297-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George took the first round ...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y0Gn4nHOdCguDWy73RjI0efUDXu-grvzAqX5892lT6ckwjQVvXNwKzEcWAgcMFTVHefOQ9aFhZ0x2k56u99udTPZSdPpS-RRGS_IXrbSStdkdbMz4HueqqyMetpTJm7rrrnareo9Ork/s1600/IMG_5837-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y0Gn4nHOdCguDWy73RjI0efUDXu-grvzAqX5892lT6ckwjQVvXNwKzEcWAgcMFTVHefOQ9aFhZ0x2k56u99udTPZSdPpS-RRGS_IXrbSStdkdbMz4HueqqyMetpTJm7rrrnareo9Ork/s320/IMG_5837-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and I took the second.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHwdNP-gJriyoQvF9y3L3xiDbvsvYYKtSdH5KWtAtQbXT5QJRPU0LVjBanf8yyjqTldFUcj1S3BcZJMAydF6Ygw8FwPcY5AHNjkyn1ftO7ktloRtLPH92S1hXUYjf_vVlGSd1bVvRZ0g/s1600/IMG_5830-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHwdNP-gJriyoQvF9y3L3xiDbvsvYYKtSdH5KWtAtQbXT5QJRPU0LVjBanf8yyjqTldFUcj1S3BcZJMAydF6Ygw8FwPcY5AHNjkyn1ftO7ktloRtLPH92S1hXUYjf_vVlGSd1bVvRZ0g/s320/IMG_5830-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A massive reef system protects this bay from the Atlantic waves - we watched the fishermen bringing in some nets.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we started to head south along the east coast of the island we passed through tidy little villages, each with their own cluster of brightly painted houses and each surrounded by delectable fruits and sturdy root vegetables. The remains of old plantations still pop up occasionally but most places lie in ruin overgrown with vegetation. The times of slavery on this island were particularly brutal so no-one is in a huge rush to dredge up reminders of the past.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWkZWUqTJfyuckIdfC_c1YNdSJwp3aSsv2h7MAfJ72qGJktC8UCUlLKzAJCHpu8GzvSnmcgg1cHRNebpQWk5rw3BKkZ0TxgaJK3t-ihN_xptzmQZoMdAqJkjJDFIkitB_bTOlZvfD0E4/s1600/G0011307-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWkZWUqTJfyuckIdfC_c1YNdSJwp3aSsv2h7MAfJ72qGJktC8UCUlLKzAJCHpu8GzvSnmcgg1cHRNebpQWk5rw3BKkZ0TxgaJK3t-ihN_xptzmQZoMdAqJkjJDFIkitB_bTOlZvfD0E4/s320/G0011307-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical of the colour schemes of homes on this part of the island - each one different and creating a confectionary stand look as we drove through the villages.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFUCQP5sX7-tYH7wE8S8WwsisTdsu0aWPxQQbzG20jh7HUsyNAYjHLorB75ON-BdEXuxgGQ2QycxTsO7OiareFy2UsK7rpR7NJ6sUtCi8ewsl2MwFgIyIjdz7qNuPH8bwJPTFPbcrVuU/s1600/IMG_5839-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFUCQP5sX7-tYH7wE8S8WwsisTdsu0aWPxQQbzG20jh7HUsyNAYjHLorB75ON-BdEXuxgGQ2QycxTsO7OiareFy2UsK7rpR7NJ6sUtCi8ewsl2MwFgIyIjdz7qNuPH8bwJPTFPbcrVuU/s320/IMG_5839-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old church of what was once the huge Hamstead Estate.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTxL4FUrrljnTPRHu_vebku3rYDs8WL13Kr9lJ9gUhIpsdfD3u1cyNkfM58-PhWg2dUcxCYnIzCBSoi0EqIQNeLr1l9EU21ax7635F3Ld36oveJiN2pWH62kGnqLLorCTjUIqli0pJu4/s1600/GOPR1300-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTxL4FUrrljnTPRHu_vebku3rYDs8WL13Kr9lJ9gUhIpsdfD3u1cyNkfM58-PhWg2dUcxCYnIzCBSoi0EqIQNeLr1l9EU21ax7635F3Ld36oveJiN2pWH62kGnqLLorCTjUIqli0pJu4/s320/GOPR1300-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road stop for sweet island pineapple just above the town of Calibishie.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-ZR-42xlXA_Kj3qwd61b6a_NrWgWLwtO3XuSFhZWvK5xJDiH7fA8V5AgSZWVe-trmlw_8hkiI5wR4yf11mpvPprvcsJ0gqHC_fIcllKrJKpGeRaMNJ91J76iRyoYiowluSkDdGAkPPc/s1600/IMG_5841-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-ZR-42xlXA_Kj3qwd61b6a_NrWgWLwtO3XuSFhZWvK5xJDiH7fA8V5AgSZWVe-trmlw_8hkiI5wR4yf11mpvPprvcsJ0gqHC_fIcllKrJKpGeRaMNJ91J76iRyoYiowluSkDdGAkPPc/s320/IMG_5841-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tourist information kiosks and also signs reminding that tourism is a community responsibility show just how seriously Dominicans rely on the tourist trade.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our next stop, and a real high point on this tour, is the Pointe Baptiste Chocolate Factory. Well, it's hard to use the word factory when it is just one man who makes the chocolate, so we'll just say we visited his home and sampled his wares, and of course purchased some to take home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Alan Napier, third generation descendent of Scottish settlers to the island, makes chocolate from cocoa grown and harvested right on his own property. To say this is small-scale production may be understating it, but the results are incredibly delicious. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCQqJWQaFTeEEQSs8KpveT3FY-fYsGrkKrmxN-ySFM7_4AlNUcIm6hZv_7JB-IbAbSQY8_fzFNLiphQJ-OpV8VT_TxDvvJIQ1GHVZK9rgEnGT9v_Wt9fChAurNBd9Ymhqh11-UYJ2cpQ/s1600/IMG_5855-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCQqJWQaFTeEEQSs8KpveT3FY-fYsGrkKrmxN-ySFM7_4AlNUcIm6hZv_7JB-IbAbSQY8_fzFNLiphQJ-OpV8VT_TxDvvJIQ1GHVZK9rgEnGT9v_Wt9fChAurNBd9Ymhqh11-UYJ2cpQ/s320/IMG_5855-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new building, beautifully painted, welcomes visitors. Apparently the health department was not too happy with production taking place in the residential kitchen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oW1zQRfiO6bCh-57Td8CxaOj0dw9Ngso9ZhzCeExaJbUjGD8rVtwJs1YN9VdFTKWOmVCzSvJ_b2ap-vIcyj5FTkFDWMzIBx1moQug2MbwUmFnPZKQsvjEK1Wp2Y0h1E28HdVtglz8k4/s1600/IMG_5849-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oW1zQRfiO6bCh-57Td8CxaOj0dw9Ngso9ZhzCeExaJbUjGD8rVtwJs1YN9VdFTKWOmVCzSvJ_b2ap-vIcyj5FTkFDWMzIBx1moQug2MbwUmFnPZKQsvjEK1Wp2Y0h1E28HdVtglz8k4/s320/IMG_5849-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harvested cocoa pods awaiting processing. The pods are filled with dark brown bitter seeds and a white slimy pith. You can suck out the pith but the seeds need lots of work to become delectable chocolate. Who ever figured this out in the first place??</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLgQWtSMxauJKZ2p0ifsWttoB3zfP9jHWm_lMdnjs_OJV-9tip5RxwZUpqp-fM4tbZZ4nOmLBjq0EV9kSdMdkcrc3mk9yo59hXdMVvSdYvg04C3UbYsSd8959twja4EUxz-f6GxP3Hdc/s1600/IMG_5851-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLgQWtSMxauJKZ2p0ifsWttoB3zfP9jHWm_lMdnjs_OJV-9tip5RxwZUpqp-fM4tbZZ4nOmLBjq0EV9kSdMdkcrc3mk9yo59hXdMVvSdYvg04C3UbYsSd8959twja4EUxz-f6GxP3Hdc/s320/IMG_5851-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alan explains how the seeds (removed from the pods) are packed tight into these wooden boxes and allowed to ferment for a few days. The boxes were quite hot to touch.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqjYAR_et50fBWWpgs7nwSlGjlJH9pe7ybbi-3NQxTz8mJIZzLmCSBPlrgc0IFGWOlJmwMHpwsAtBYOuEi5JWEBHeaP1wh8SkBISmxh9xhmbSUyifXTkhlpeb8W-PM-BFe6WBo46103w/s1600/IMG_5854-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqjYAR_et50fBWWpgs7nwSlGjlJH9pe7ybbi-3NQxTz8mJIZzLmCSBPlrgc0IFGWOlJmwMHpwsAtBYOuEi5JWEBHeaP1wh8SkBISmxh9xhmbSUyifXTkhlpeb8W-PM-BFe6WBo46103w/s320/IMG_5854-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then, laid out in the sun to dry, the seeds have to be turned a couple of times a day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7nDrZ1OGpJzYdYigDELgd8cV98IJhrhU38Hf1wE9Y1z0fS_Gd93pHHQ1wVyevatAuXFELh8QQ-WpyWfQsj9IjEnuqN9cn7l7co6fNoPTkYdUNgYku9whYVnZDX68XN8ZwZWxKBTXhI8/s1600/IMG_5856-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7nDrZ1OGpJzYdYigDELgd8cV98IJhrhU38Hf1wE9Y1z0fS_Gd93pHHQ1wVyevatAuXFELh8QQ-WpyWfQsj9IjEnuqN9cn7l7co6fNoPTkYdUNgYku9whYVnZDX68XN8ZwZWxKBTXhI8/s320/IMG_5856-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We headed over to the building where the pods are roasted and then ground. The machines Alan is using look almost like toys. The roaster is on the table at the back (about the size of an Easy-Bake Oven) and the grinder is the little green machine in the foreground.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGKQjT11FhqIdpYrtdJigEpyDJRCXdJ4HYOuwfDsF5x8_WtfXzr1W-8gR9oFlA-3twS_KbgpoGEB1a7vkJj1X2w-R0JlgHiBEeJG2tlVRNooxbup7WzOJlosN5IAKra5tdqpeBu9zSRE/s1600/IMG_5862-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGKQjT11FhqIdpYrtdJigEpyDJRCXdJ4HYOuwfDsF5x8_WtfXzr1W-8gR9oFlA-3twS_KbgpoGEB1a7vkJj1X2w-R0JlgHiBEeJG2tlVRNooxbup7WzOJlosN5IAKra5tdqpeBu9zSRE/s320/IMG_5862-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A box of nibs (ground roasted beans) ready to be added to another little machine that is like an automated mortar & pestle. The result after this stage is a smooth, creamy chocolate that is then poured into a chocolate bar mold.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwGea5y8MbkRIXZTgCCvIb-B99ccOZmKJ5KN0U4djF_EKWaL15ZALOHSiB2_SAM-6UkJr4tLYJqfmbHieQCroNSW5159e4goB4ZzulvOUnHZcNCIhX6Rs_vZAaPcck3syrwgsVn7DfdM/s1600/IMG_5865-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwGea5y8MbkRIXZTgCCvIb-B99ccOZmKJ5KN0U4djF_EKWaL15ZALOHSiB2_SAM-6UkJr4tLYJqfmbHieQCroNSW5159e4goB4ZzulvOUnHZcNCIhX6Rs_vZAaPcck3syrwgsVn7DfdM/s320/IMG_5865-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are about a dozen different flavours and Alan has labels and cellophane ready for the final product.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRP_eYUcax-tKUZ0EXcmKsCmiB-hav5LKdPFSUZ61cp7arYx_8e4WU9aCEN-b2nw4k96QJlJjvamomCI6bMz9AodoUNzAKiJrl2N5yTvcQlajuhDeDNKkdSUeIV4d79DuqGS2HHF7e3g/s1600/IMG_5864-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRP_eYUcax-tKUZ0EXcmKsCmiB-hav5LKdPFSUZ61cp7arYx_8e4WU9aCEN-b2nw4k96QJlJjvamomCI6bMz9AodoUNzAKiJrl2N5yTvcQlajuhDeDNKkdSUeIV4d79DuqGS2HHF7e3g/s320/IMG_5864-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favourites - Ginger chocolate. We were handed a menu that included Lemongrass, Tangerine, Hot Pepper, Ginger, Candied Ginger and of course 60%, 70% and 80% cocoa.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW93dBmBxO1x9kOs73__0p7WZzYQCTRdn1a9mkTAxyWe71DcNH1xolasf9RCvWpnpY4Lv_9Snc0Ttzu6ZKVlEelhRg5ElOV21f7zG01qnAuIFgI1EuopTzIEgr_58ceMpHnvNCLefM5jU/s1600/GOPR1316-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW93dBmBxO1x9kOs73__0p7WZzYQCTRdn1a9mkTAxyWe71DcNH1xolasf9RCvWpnpY4Lv_9Snc0Ttzu6ZKVlEelhRg5ElOV21f7zG01qnAuIFgI1EuopTzIEgr_58ceMpHnvNCLefM5jU/s320/GOPR1316-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The house built by Alan's grandparents stands amid tropical gardens with a beautiful view overlooking the Red Rocks, that we will see shortly.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQd_DX96bxCqV3xhJe2h7A5u_Y3KrXJ36tTbt9XGJpW4FmZ01o1TlCQsFLZpQzMXoNDb5GUlpS1T96ZmGOg5VToufBrQSeS5YLQZzbhebV1TaPDWF-hUe364WumnZeXNTL9hs4v9jblOw/s1600/IMG_5847-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQd_DX96bxCqV3xhJe2h7A5u_Y3KrXJ36tTbt9XGJpW4FmZ01o1TlCQsFLZpQzMXoNDb5GUlpS1T96ZmGOg5VToufBrQSeS5YLQZzbhebV1TaPDWF-hUe364WumnZeXNTL9hs4v9jblOw/s320/IMG_5847-WM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everywhere we turned in the garden, something was bursting into flower. I love this time of year in the islands as everything is flowering and fruit is ripening on the trees all around us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukqzzBF0tKbOoSE4e0QjHLhVVHRFOAgAQqYZCi6nLwQJZWc4mAoEB_Rq2bxkbxBaCF8jUsjsll3y9djtR0BO8Vwra6lRfWNLnzhVtT5DhSn8zy05ffJvA37Bt-U7Lh6MW4BWwbgH2XKw/s1600/IMG_5866-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukqzzBF0tKbOoSE4e0QjHLhVVHRFOAgAQqYZCi6nLwQJZWc4mAoEB_Rq2bxkbxBaCF8jUsjsll3y9djtR0BO8Vwra6lRfWNLnzhVtT5DhSn8zy05ffJvA37Bt-U7Lh6MW4BWwbgH2XKw/s320/IMG_5866-WM.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And creativity abounded everywhere - there is obviously some talent in this family! Many of the murals were painted by Alan's daughter.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We couldn't resist so we came away from Pointe Baptiste with a good number of bars and flavours to sample.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next on, we drove around to the Red Rocks, which are actually owned by Alan's family. This area of outcroppings points north-east into the Atlantic but the topsoil has all eroded away leaving only the volcanic mud and clay base that has been carved into a curious landscape by wind and rain.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqnsokCAnDAPbnHYpyrR3dz5tJNvntbzoQ3OesNDeUBdacaFFozjoo0WUo84ndMat7AvQh-hJZ3Gh0yrk4tLuFLCekJyLaRLdZEQm_Zn3OZe93DKXzwup_NnJjsFl_MVSa4qkuKsbjDQ/s1600/IMG_5868-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqnsokCAnDAPbnHYpyrR3dz5tJNvntbzoQ3OesNDeUBdacaFFozjoo0WUo84ndMat7AvQh-hJZ3Gh0yrk4tLuFLCekJyLaRLdZEQm_Zn3OZe93DKXzwup_NnJjsFl_MVSa4qkuKsbjDQ/s400/IMG_5868-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from Alan's veranda, looking down on The Red Rocks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYmy5qeVkGpkUXIKgKAvfzdkatJv9L7yOxWABPPm7WD18o-NiLvLxTli6B7fPkcge570CNwLszTV95qg2ARGr5KTovwEeS-6qDIaTYPMh1C0EhDIDXR5I1_dcaMw4EhNzmSIHzNFkL6c/s1600/IMG_5886-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYmy5qeVkGpkUXIKgKAvfzdkatJv9L7yOxWABPPm7WD18o-NiLvLxTli6B7fPkcge570CNwLszTV95qg2ARGr5KTovwEeS-6qDIaTYPMh1C0EhDIDXR5I1_dcaMw4EhNzmSIHzNFkL6c/s400/IMG_5886-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martian landscape or Dominican oddity?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AD4jTAF2wGm2lo8qZldzp2ivng6TkB0toj3EoCw1gcAZiiT3SDBx4_EL6DqaHDXZZkd-WsNSBu4DA77-6Iu6qd5fuSLhqFXULK0OeBPByfKzqDcjPjpp-NX61GYzqSSKzYla9OJNHN8/s1600/IMG_5879-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AD4jTAF2wGm2lo8qZldzp2ivng6TkB0toj3EoCw1gcAZiiT3SDBx4_EL6DqaHDXZZkd-WsNSBu4DA77-6Iu6qd5fuSLhqFXULK0OeBPByfKzqDcjPjpp-NX61GYzqSSKzYla9OJNHN8/s400/IMG_5879-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have we now transported to the south-west of the US? Arizona? Nevada?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHt7jbrAyzdwiBDdbuRx0i7pF7LfDdtquvOMLKYnK-BFaj7Fa8dX4NWcDWiizgj6ODliqYcYX10a1vRpPk5vLq5YALu2eLT0J-nIHuRvI6R43LDhJxXAAXbsXYyTymsCIb0VHzyu8Mraw/s1600/IMG_5875-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHt7jbrAyzdwiBDdbuRx0i7pF7LfDdtquvOMLKYnK-BFaj7Fa8dX4NWcDWiizgj6ODliqYcYX10a1vRpPk5vLq5YALu2eLT0J-nIHuRvI6R43LDhJxXAAXbsXYyTymsCIb0VHzyu8Mraw/s400/IMG_5875-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin slapped a fern on his arm and asked us for the name. You guessed it! Yellow fern.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqyB7jruok6wx5VH7NVjTiX84xwe5_uT4GDQTCNGkeDSd6FASi3LnVyNeaaSv0Eh_lRdGPIr-yPbTueo2VH3aBujMhTLoNlcdFyT_4BKCx3g__bfarfh9mG3shcPeMh2hg2FJgnv29Zo/s1600/IMG_5885-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqyB7jruok6wx5VH7NVjTiX84xwe5_uT4GDQTCNGkeDSd6FASi3LnVyNeaaSv0Eh_lRdGPIr-yPbTueo2VH3aBujMhTLoNlcdFyT_4BKCx3g__bfarfh9mG3shcPeMh2hg2FJgnv29Zo/s400/IMG_5885-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wind was blowing and the guys believed they could fly - or at least just sing about it.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lunchtime stop in Calibishie was just in time to prevent our tummies from rumbling too loudly and perfectly timed as a rain shower rumbled through.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWciqF0C1Lqgg9CxWcr0hAY_mFMNxhrnFUEaNnB8NOLfM-WqgMQJyfoCC6YrDuCBNvFxomSd-tRUS0kGetVgBjHsNSgepdRRTl9KIPmYYYqGLrjyCA2nzv2Mx3wWBNy2yhggaW4heiKHY/s1600/IMG_5891-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWciqF0C1Lqgg9CxWcr0hAY_mFMNxhrnFUEaNnB8NOLfM-WqgMQJyfoCC6YrDuCBNvFxomSd-tRUS0kGetVgBjHsNSgepdRRTl9KIPmYYYqGLrjyCA2nzv2Mx3wWBNy2yhggaW4heiKHY/s400/IMG_5891-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We can certainly recommend the Coral Reef Restaurant - a bit of a hideaway that doesn't look much from the street, but this appears to be the norm in Dominica.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOpUKJl1s9vV-BHp9EVY72aQd30dH3Fo4NBU7_nR7a81LRQ09uxRI8VfWtA8hpAEe3wz1XlkzTOXnbiXrm9ha5QSFRGa0HDYSHpDWpTvaIsYKVvcleyyGsI8gVZcWrmIrIMPhQbKs2is/s1600/IMG_5893-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOpUKJl1s9vV-BHp9EVY72aQd30dH3Fo4NBU7_nR7a81LRQ09uxRI8VfWtA8hpAEe3wz1XlkzTOXnbiXrm9ha5QSFRGa0HDYSHpDWpTvaIsYKVvcleyyGsI8gVZcWrmIrIMPhQbKs2is/s400/IMG_5893-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water here behind the reef is so clear you can sit on the deck and watch fish as if in an acquarium.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the unique features of Dominica is that it is home to some of the last remaining Carib indigenous people - The Kalinago. In 1931 a reserve was set aside on the east side of the island, much like Indian reserves in North America. As with our experience in Canada, many of the same issues are forefront for this small population of about 3000 - poverty, alcoholism, church abuse, subsistence living, loss of rights and freedoms - all this leads to a movement that sounds oh so familiar having just gone through the Truth & Reconciliation Commission at home in Canada. Old traditional ways clash with modern ideas and one wonders how long before either the old ways disappear or their voices are heard. As in the rest of Dominica, local talents are put forth to provide wares for tourist stops, so we did our little bit and perused a woven basket stand. The work is intricate and delicate, but at 20EC (about $8 USD) for a good-sized basket these people are definitely not making a lot of money here.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uEFYDRPlseaYVJMgu4SzmCEI-onNQ-zuf0_wQlqHjQ9-jOx5zyfcJurp5wRaMnTv70pxmfoVIseC10wBjMJ9YiXVuhwBxeqjANPYGjCDMc1MvQo9YxgHdJVfU4fsAHic24C5HaZ81II/s1600/IMG_5899-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uEFYDRPlseaYVJMgu4SzmCEI-onNQ-zuf0_wQlqHjQ9-jOx5zyfcJurp5wRaMnTv70pxmfoVIseC10wBjMJ9YiXVuhwBxeqjANPYGjCDMc1MvQo9YxgHdJVfU4fsAHic24C5HaZ81II/s400/IMG_5899-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woven fans and baskets, Calabash bowls and carved walking sticks were just some of the crafts available.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the highlights we came across, and an experience Martin was not certain he would find for us, was the building of a traditional dugout canoe. We were driving up a secondary road when Martin suddenly stopped and put the van in reverse. We knew he'd spotted something but rather than another interesting plant, this time he'd found two men building a canoe.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoChN_B6TZci89d57Bs3aLVEU2xJ0wBL0G4DmoA0vhoIU2k3rmZWoabBcsyKmMNOPcp2rbdfCevHuya_QpgHkWYWDV61jCWwn9mKqGqQjGF98Bgd4WGxSrz6kiPwolCKoHbSpm3NvJFU/s1600/IMG_5902-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoChN_B6TZci89d57Bs3aLVEU2xJ0wBL0G4DmoA0vhoIU2k3rmZWoabBcsyKmMNOPcp2rbdfCevHuya_QpgHkWYWDV61jCWwn9mKqGqQjGF98Bgd4WGxSrz6kiPwolCKoHbSpm3NvJFU/s400/IMG_5902-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quick eyes spotted this work-site at the side of the road.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The base of the canoe is made from a single Gommier tree. Planks are then added at the sides, all cut from the same kind of tree and seams sealed with the tree's gum (resin).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquju_qc4zktR8xJwYYPiVadlqagDQZlr1UvodhS7kYK-LABB1FHo1gdc9cI5tdjf4FIHRuV1zVvLoCddAFPWvB8_2i7koDp9rnEbv-1WHc7C5CU-k3XRyQSHMkf9XbnAsLTXU9GMVGQk/s1600/IMG_5908-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquju_qc4zktR8xJwYYPiVadlqagDQZlr1UvodhS7kYK-LABB1FHo1gdc9cI5tdjf4FIHRuV1zVvLoCddAFPWvB8_2i7koDp9rnEbv-1WHc7C5CU-k3XRyQSHMkf9XbnAsLTXU9GMVGQk/s400/IMG_5908-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inside of the tree is hollowed out by hand with an adze and the boat is also steamed so it can be widened somewhat in the middle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRR6NyUlltANab9P2BuJ13LaC26t5TN-P8UpBzvU7YxLXFI_LxYIAwjibf8c3CHS4XYZBZDnZba4mz8kkjrbPp9K5v20pndJeokYmnYfT1MbE9QDIJH4WXsa53f6keoBIXBYYbFBvBWs/s1600/IMG_5909-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRR6NyUlltANab9P2BuJ13LaC26t5TN-P8UpBzvU7YxLXFI_LxYIAwjibf8c3CHS4XYZBZDnZba4mz8kkjrbPp9K5v20pndJeokYmnYfT1MbE9QDIJH4WXsa53f6keoBIXBYYbFBvBWs/s400/IMG_5909-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These two men very proudly displayed their almost finished product.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were told that it takes about three to four weeks to build a canoe and they will charge about 3000 EC for the finished product (about $1200USD). We later saw one on the back of a pickup truck being delivered to Portsmouth where it will go into service as a fishing boat. Next time we pass a fisherman out off the coast, I will be looking closely to see if he is using one of these boats.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By now time was getting along and although we had not traveled a long way in miles, we had really taken in the industry that I find defines Dominica. From the one-man chocolate production, to the farms and banana plantations around Marigot, to the fishing of Calibishie and then on to the Kalinago territory we had encapsulated a lot of daily ways of life here on the island. Now when I look out at the lush green landscape my eye is beginning to discern cultivated plantation among the wilder habitat. Looking up at the rugged mountains we can now see the 'population line' with farms below and rain forest above. Martin continues to inform and educate us on the natural resources of the island and woven into every sentence is a combination of educated science and handed-down medicine lore. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our final stop however brought us back to modern day satisfaction and with a cold Kabuli (almost a Carib) in hand we limed away a few more minutes before finishing up back at the boats in Portsmouth. Believe it or not, this is the local airport bar.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseUePVHzV4ZQwr1MtvSqFmFK7Ug9mvaXenGYBL2btXBVGnFusoeE-0PSBOhDJ5jYpKqGGLGmHkdv1kBtQuT_dNvYWXt9icMtFYytDYCtj8M7QVFLP77UIbe5hQ37RIitOeRGBUh1MLdM/s1600/GOPR1328-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseUePVHzV4ZQwr1MtvSqFmFK7Ug9mvaXenGYBL2btXBVGnFusoeE-0PSBOhDJ5jYpKqGGLGmHkdv1kBtQuT_dNvYWXt9icMtFYytDYCtj8M7QVFLP77UIbe5hQ37RIitOeRGBUh1MLdM/s400/GOPR1328-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seven thirsty explorers stepped up to the bar - probably more business than this bar owner had seen all day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbviM1CwWZ2Dj7mE9_Hqqbi-hIqO5-8lCyoGZSB9cQiqWG0nc-BaiOZCai1c6JtU9aruANkM3w-BUxeG6HzqmICiQN6jYazRdt5bTfo8Sm4ES8bTRn5P7Vghb6jBWOysxaBiJJZD5FJw/s1600/GOPR1327-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbviM1CwWZ2Dj7mE9_Hqqbi-hIqO5-8lCyoGZSB9cQiqWG0nc-BaiOZCai1c6JtU9aruANkM3w-BUxeG6HzqmICiQN6jYazRdt5bTfo8Sm4ES8bTRn5P7Vghb6jBWOysxaBiJJZD5FJw/s400/GOPR1327-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry in his happy spot?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.comSaint Andrew Parish, Dominica15.526467691869266 -61.276245117187515.465275191869265 -61.3569261171875 15.587660191869267 -61.1955641171875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-44501220261707968402016-05-29T15:09:00.000-04:002016-05-29T15:09:18.186-04:00How to Spend a Week in Les Saintes<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Laid low by a nasty cold that would just not release it's grip on George and myself, our two boats have been lying low in Les Saintes. What better place is there to be when you just don't feel up to much, certainly don't want to sail any distances, but still have one healthy person per boat who wants to avoid as much contact as possible with their sailing partner to try to avoid cold bug contamination?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The archipelago of Les Iles des Saintes consists of five little islands two of which are inhabited, just a scant eight miles south of the main island of Guadeloupe. These islands were originally settled by Bretony fishermen and have never had slaves, so the history revolves around fishing, possibly some smuggling and a defensive position for the French against the English back in the old days of naval warfare and the battle for trade supremacy in the sugar & spice islands.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today, Les Saintes is a holiday weekend destination for Guadeloupians (?) and there are more tourist ferries regularly pulling up to the dock offload passengers than we have seen anywhere else. The waters between the little islands is deep so big dependable mooring balls have been installed and for 10 Euros a night (7th night is free) you can tie up and save worry about dragging your anchor in the swirly winds that drift between the little hills and into the anchorage.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI42y5sDJS7qwoLjULIanXeoNB0OS53x4nWG0RPH3w3smmjDJv54XmdwpbqW0-DKHQQXbSI5tW-JBSDSsO8QMRsmEXlM8fK1KDZdFTVx1DZEJWIxBqA6lxvQNZljPP4eCw0dpMBK8Em6Y/s1600/IMG_0939-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI42y5sDJS7qwoLjULIanXeoNB0OS53x4nWG0RPH3w3smmjDJv54XmdwpbqW0-DKHQQXbSI5tW-JBSDSsO8QMRsmEXlM8fK1KDZdFTVx1DZEJWIxBqA6lxvQNZljPP4eCw0dpMBK8Em6Y/s400/IMG_0939-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of them most distinctive anchorage features - Bourg des Saintes has "The Doctor's House" that is built as the prow of a ship into the cliffside.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHOW2-SbKmkwQb0cUEFDCNSZF8ToPPuuWMdh0JjCkvgHMAhY21EOROfWRoItt0TvaYklaaTMeBDGOThwoZk_8TZd3ORA0QX7jGkb8XWyPcvbc97HimTKiiTm7-uCbJCl6ivqsJN9w2KQ/s1600/IMG_5778-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHOW2-SbKmkwQb0cUEFDCNSZF8ToPPuuWMdh0JjCkvgHMAhY21EOROfWRoItt0TvaYklaaTMeBDGOThwoZk_8TZd3ORA0QX7jGkb8XWyPcvbc97HimTKiiTm7-uCbJCl6ivqsJN9w2KQ/s400/IMG_5778-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main street at the north end skirts the beach, full of fishing and service boats. Liming under the tree at the picnic table is enticing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUYV2qvHCRUeGNb3USEoaYZNCiOypYch-xhnieN915ngJ2PkWZxrSDroMiitzZfVHBqri_k2A49J2FKKaZh1uTwxeiyx92eKmZUYJeXyM36y6GN5x0Xn2Poz-mXPRQ6chvVrD3w3AamA/s1600/IMG_5780-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUYV2qvHCRUeGNb3USEoaYZNCiOypYch-xhnieN915ngJ2PkWZxrSDroMiitzZfVHBqri_k2A49J2FKKaZh1uTwxeiyx92eKmZUYJeXyM36y6GN5x0Xn2Poz-mXPRQ6chvVrD3w3AamA/s400/IMG_5780-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saturday morning market time - this Saintois gentleman passed me in his bare feet heading up the concrete hill.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ashore, the charming little village of Bourg des Saintes is chock-full of little restaurants, bars and boutiques - all incredibly charming and oh so French.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWAQl7q1d7no-NAL4hI6QF0zjNmVPyQ3ifVjRIvwOFBkSN1t7sbaJ-jAA_vShM-3Inva0hgNeOpozcssBS2ZwZcRPNKxZyiXBBYVlDnKRypV9PJy_ytf2atkhzJoWIoJtSeAdAHbYT_0/s1600/IMG_5782-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWAQl7q1d7no-NAL4hI6QF0zjNmVPyQ3ifVjRIvwOFBkSN1t7sbaJ-jAA_vShM-3Inva0hgNeOpozcssBS2ZwZcRPNKxZyiXBBYVlDnKRypV9PJy_ytf2atkhzJoWIoJtSeAdAHbYT_0/s400/IMG_5782-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nowhere else in the Caribbean do you find this European feature and a way of holding crumbling architecture together.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3gkqS0Sr7ZHOwF2g1vENEYWZinVW8PboI980p3uUhEcmkar1O9nZERJr9mv63C7MRtPGQZl94xCaGmIoZQETm0qwUTD1A8zwC9sUwAtZrmsyePOk6nvgCPxlNdSaxaVWm387h4jQaOg/s1600/IMG_5783-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3gkqS0Sr7ZHOwF2g1vENEYWZinVW8PboI980p3uUhEcmkar1O9nZERJr9mv63C7MRtPGQZl94xCaGmIoZQETm0qwUTD1A8zwC9sUwAtZrmsyePOk6nvgCPxlNdSaxaVWm387h4jQaOg/s400/IMG_5783-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To get from the hardware store to the superette you can walk around the long way or you can take this little narrow shortcut, if your bags will fit through the gap at the bottom.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5BFAKKHND7wPkLOVLIjFCP2jOFeJks0mcMtku3LO09JqUvvBksankzXLmQRT6AgShJpa66RUaBCCpEZrVjNxcRuS9RIQvUB2jEluMNeFhuhdyyv7fhP2j-FiqnMS-7QWHPBUEYvbaAQ/s1600/IMG_5785-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5BFAKKHND7wPkLOVLIjFCP2jOFeJks0mcMtku3LO09JqUvvBksankzXLmQRT6AgShJpa66RUaBCCpEZrVjNxcRuS9RIQvUB2jEluMNeFhuhdyyv7fhP2j-FiqnMS-7QWHPBUEYvbaAQ/s400/IMG_5785-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As in all the French villages, the RC church sits in a prominent spot at the centre of town. Every morning at 6:30 the bells start ringing and on Sunday morning you can hear the faithful singing from the anchorage.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsR9OuXYbvufxYxa8AHbOEZG_GRrSWvIcCTyf0jxsxXyJ9lS4kLJMgl11TikVBUBRwq7qdvNfXyhrszPEkYjjAD6AryrLYl7XCIOVzcLl7gzlnmFQCiAlrhU_tKknljOfKEYlxTf1ruA/s1600/IMG_5787-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsR9OuXYbvufxYxa8AHbOEZG_GRrSWvIcCTyf0jxsxXyJ9lS4kLJMgl11TikVBUBRwq7qdvNfXyhrszPEkYjjAD6AryrLYl7XCIOVzcLl7gzlnmFQCiAlrhU_tKknljOfKEYlxTf1ruA/s400/IMG_5787-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost daily, we visit the local market to pick up some fresh produce.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We came here a <a href="http://svmowzer.blogspot.com/2015/06/exploring-terre-de-haut.html" target="_blank">year ago</a> and little has changed. The islands ooze French quaintness, filled with tourists on scooters, and goats. This time, in the company of Jan & George (Wildcat) who have been here many times, we have sampled and enjoyed most of the best of the French restaurants, visited and become friendly with the local market proprietress, and generally practiced our French on many an unsuspecting vendor. Typically, the response comes back in English so our practice is not getting us anywhere fast.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtIjqPFl1mOPsTKKkrjzpOJW8gndMlTu1dqmHKffddWuXZaEyaN4FtLgMCPDoKHsttINJw7Xxhb5Dbqks5qMN8DWcrM6PTnAZgcNhoqf17Vc_rfKYWKCot_IbZ8KcyFzJCAJD-E2uQkM/s1600/IMG_5824-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtIjqPFl1mOPsTKKkrjzpOJW8gndMlTu1dqmHKffddWuXZaEyaN4FtLgMCPDoKHsttINJw7Xxhb5Dbqks5qMN8DWcrM6PTnAZgcNhoqf17Vc_rfKYWKCot_IbZ8KcyFzJCAJD-E2uQkM/s400/IMG_5824-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bright colours and pretty gingerbread trim of the houses line the street / pedestrian walkway.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADLStB-UABOD0YVO9p8DpzU83L5w7D8vPWd5qOYWI8oMnTlKda4bftOWDcXqtDnoYYCxPu4AkAhqg40VXVniTzWan9wuLpA7LacS6G6dEtPi5PLf4Gi-4OIJWeZQ7d9539vfNoEn7Yhc/s1600/P5190334-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADLStB-UABOD0YVO9p8DpzU83L5w7D8vPWd5qOYWI8oMnTlKda4bftOWDcXqtDnoYYCxPu4AkAhqg40VXVniTzWan9wuLpA7LacS6G6dEtPi5PLf4Gi-4OIJWeZQ7d9539vfNoEn7Yhc/s400/P5190334-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first of many delicious meals shared in the company of George & Jan.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now that our colds have pretty much released their grip, we have started getting out once again for daily walks with George and in two mornings we have pretty much exhausted the main island of Terre-en-Haut. We have picked up and dropped more moorings than we can count between the various anchorages, all dependent on the direction of wind and swell and have even completed a few little boat jobs to keep us going. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVzE8KAvq-4Ue1Twgh9zyggkSzrtqtcJ-1aNBGvIeHmnI1w5zw7ZqL45m7-E4CmBTiP7e7IQRZXarfNq4nJ0IxiKEiqRoPFXOMY0fBs14xgjzmP-8hjYPnqoe9N34Ntljzu-ySLqjgJk/s1600/IMG_5802-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVzE8KAvq-4Ue1Twgh9zyggkSzrtqtcJ-1aNBGvIeHmnI1w5zw7ZqL45m7-E4CmBTiP7e7IQRZXarfNq4nJ0IxiKEiqRoPFXOMY0fBs14xgjzmP-8hjYPnqoe9N34Ntljzu-ySLqjgJk/s400/IMG_5802-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Repairing the clew of our genoa sail, still totally in love with my Sailrite machine!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pan de Sucre anchorage is tucked behind a little mini-piton with basalt towers.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlBEWqIa0RgHZ8KJ2ZxRiDWwpM8jD-icoAi-oPVN8p_lYVmrtjLwvaY9PIhXm0DudFy02jZvgCOE27NEMtCTaKEWFOtuWznVlef-wNCcC7fS_fxJZRwqZjnqRNVO80r-OvierN2r7DlA/s1600/IMG_0934-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlBEWqIa0RgHZ8KJ2ZxRiDWwpM8jD-icoAi-oPVN8p_lYVmrtjLwvaY9PIhXm0DudFy02jZvgCOE27NEMtCTaKEWFOtuWznVlef-wNCcC7fS_fxJZRwqZjnqRNVO80r-OvierN2r7DlA/s400/IMG_0934-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Named for it's shape - Pain de Sucre (sugar-loaf).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub21ZkD6iA30KCqPuOm78zJLqQGTnoPzQbgz42rxo4ggOU11pnnzUDonGDwrpcR-2z1pWet9dyo5tS6i2LdJ8sd0w4Tm85MioS9VvlxgoenqZfd23Ieh6wlgf3VHPkIwin3AdSV9z4pA/s1600/IMG_0948-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub21ZkD6iA30KCqPuOm78zJLqQGTnoPzQbgz42rxo4ggOU11pnnzUDonGDwrpcR-2z1pWet9dyo5tS6i2LdJ8sd0w4Tm85MioS9VvlxgoenqZfd23Ieh6wlgf3VHPkIwin3AdSV9z4pA/s400/IMG_0948-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wildcat arrives in the anchorage all set to pick up a French mooring ball.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDTo-BYkU8nj4JVvnixlnYFuCTfFoIs5dxhcORVFB9HGgFn1cgmYKICg5ptJxVPUWPM5R2bLFhq0g5UXZS8KIpiAyq1vH1pshbGJqHd9CZiY3C0JJHhHxAT50JsDkQVCzO4RQcxvxL2c/s1600/IMG_0932-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDTo-BYkU8nj4JVvnixlnYFuCTfFoIs5dxhcORVFB9HGgFn1cgmYKICg5ptJxVPUWPM5R2bLFhq0g5UXZS8KIpiAyq1vH1pshbGJqHd9CZiY3C0JJHhHxAT50JsDkQVCzO4RQcxvxL2c/s400/IMG_0932-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reminiscent of a sunset on St. Lucia when a cruise ship sailed right in front of the sun and obliterated the green flash - not sure we can blame the island but the effect was the same.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On Ilet a Cabrit we hiked up to the fortifications for a sunset view, and just a teensy little green flash (too small to get on camera.)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizy2uyO66Ac3-w-vSYqBMPWrfjo3dHCDiUgGd2n8RscN8NTdobSaZosfEhRA7vdjrWS2P0yphKHtkSqkcUTnS9aUPI4MdHfC7Y7bgfRqCMF60J9uWUh3uh_n4VEC1ylmgvZcFJfCo868g/s1600/IMG_0940-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizy2uyO66Ac3-w-vSYqBMPWrfjo3dHCDiUgGd2n8RscN8NTdobSaZosfEhRA7vdjrWS2P0yphKHtkSqkcUTnS9aUPI4MdHfC7Y7bgfRqCMF60J9uWUh3uh_n4VEC1ylmgvZcFJfCo868g/s400/IMG_0940-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our backyard view - more goats!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRTBlVDbyxOylna-4JIKCKkNAftIQW9Z6K1TUaPFT3LMrua4OlunBV-dXu_o7V1TyjZauKKAvWqtvG83q8W8csv8XOjleFBgQVZzJysB1oRVhToiCAH38exxfxwHkN_heeYiQpk73wJo/s1600/IMG_0944-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRTBlVDbyxOylna-4JIKCKkNAftIQW9Z6K1TUaPFT3LMrua4OlunBV-dXu_o7V1TyjZauKKAvWqtvG83q8W8csv8XOjleFBgQVZzJysB1oRVhToiCAH38exxfxwHkN_heeYiQpk73wJo/s400/IMG_0944-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dock is just a little rough shape - we chose to beach the dinghy instead.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkikiIkCeNyT0vR8G6BrDt7xzFc8p9bM0iIn3rIdxEtNnV3xR1KnUTLfS-2T7FA6nkQuhjcZ2mVlCSVCoF3AR83oGf35_x2VrJ3zfw2XtV6H0rSTcue13jsj70JghehS2kMlNAa4rdUqQ/s1600/IMG_5794-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkikiIkCeNyT0vR8G6BrDt7xzFc8p9bM0iIn3rIdxEtNnV3xR1KnUTLfS-2T7FA6nkQuhjcZ2mVlCSVCoF3AR83oGf35_x2VrJ3zfw2XtV6H0rSTcue13jsj70JghehS2kMlNAa4rdUqQ/s400/IMG_5794-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Late afternoon view from Ilet a Cabrit, looking back on Bourg des Saintes on Terre-en-Haut.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFm3-m2T_VO8uVh_yVfC6UxywSvZEFw2bgn2bCYQRuJwl8UT9b8VYcnoN5nVq8Bx1vvjFECxSCLbCXT5yARrrdlF371xS91NBV3yXllBNOStakykto2kouS6PVYkNygEOSrrI5WEcVzyQ/s1600/IMG_5796-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFm3-m2T_VO8uVh_yVfC6UxywSvZEFw2bgn2bCYQRuJwl8UT9b8VYcnoN5nVq8Bx1vvjFECxSCLbCXT5yARrrdlF371xS91NBV3yXllBNOStakykto2kouS6PVYkNygEOSrrI5WEcVzyQ/s400/IMG_5796-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We weren't the only ones enjoying the sunset. This little goat was taking it all in too. To be honest the place is overrun with goats, over grazed, and everywhere you walk the air is ripe with goat droppings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwZ4AXbtGKugrvX0Yu9aNSSLzXlWfOWgas0dyOpgGsmelq7Qci-2yQBgMsShiN3AgplYsEbNWer91qHwjJ1nLQOCHqKxjKHz3YANjgRfWrZ-8AxfZ1tXuEC9p4IwS3xKen1_UDA6-EPY/s1600/IMG_5793-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwZ4AXbtGKugrvX0Yu9aNSSLzXlWfOWgas0dyOpgGsmelq7Qci-2yQBgMsShiN3AgplYsEbNWer91qHwjJ1nLQOCHqKxjKHz3YANjgRfWrZ-8AxfZ1tXuEC9p4IwS3xKen1_UDA6-EPY/s400/IMG_5793-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden hour light shining down on the little village below.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58kCVNM3b1hl_FVV2qzyM2c1cz1p4vy8uzCtQjBsXCmgKHqepCw-9Tl4IM1XvBKpZchc1KASCObeXdMDWIV4NTRN5hfAqB0PzEQb_dtjJdsgdzAZed4BbwHQwt8bQ_IgJDZS9vwfvN_Y/s1600/IMG_5799-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58kCVNM3b1hl_FVV2qzyM2c1cz1p4vy8uzCtQjBsXCmgKHqepCw-9Tl4IM1XvBKpZchc1KASCObeXdMDWIV4NTRN5hfAqB0PzEQb_dtjJdsgdzAZed4BbwHQwt8bQ_IgJDZS9vwfvN_Y/s400/IMG_5799-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another beautiful sunset in paradise.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After time at the Ilet a Cabrits anchorage we headed back over to the "main" island to visit a few more French restaurants. Apparently Friday was Emancipation Day holiday and Sunday was French Mother's Day, so this was a final blow-out weekend for the tourist trade. We navigated through the crowds thronging the narrow laneways and still managed to find quiet places off the beaten track. Of course, as it typical we only had to wander 500 yards off the main street and there was not a tourist in sight!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1M_7STvkRYdrtaSBxb6dKzMPinyi2p5VyUT-PEPwUxLdBn7_B9eovZO6p-yqF62R8WyMS5vfR_wyw8EovY3jrIHaLvVGmtCM8emaRVSr5jhClXw0HfN1LFZpHiYaHFm2-Hztews4SFuc/s1600/IMG_5810-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1M_7STvkRYdrtaSBxb6dKzMPinyi2p5VyUT-PEPwUxLdBn7_B9eovZO6p-yqF62R8WyMS5vfR_wyw8EovY3jrIHaLvVGmtCM8emaRVSr5jhClXw0HfN1LFZpHiYaHFm2-Hztews4SFuc/s400/IMG_5810-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the view from Fort Caroline at the north eastern corner of Terre-en-Haut.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_IXP0F-8xhy_lwHINH4ikkGbulO0r7CU1ukHmZjRl8a6bW8kGDOKOruM1dfck8PlkWm11_d6uxd6FgONEm0kQljdPBhS1VYnFExOYYgoRNj0exAOQAF16fpcEP-JBa9RBazBaYUbVVg/s1600/IMG_5818-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_IXP0F-8xhy_lwHINH4ikkGbulO0r7CU1ukHmZjRl8a6bW8kGDOKOruM1dfck8PlkWm11_d6uxd6FgONEm0kQljdPBhS1VYnFExOYYgoRNj0exAOQAF16fpcEP-JBa9RBazBaYUbVVg/s400/IMG_5818-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting on top of this hill, Caitlin sent a text asking if we around for a Saturday morning chat. Coverage was spotty and my photo wouldn't go through. Caitlin - this one's for you!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KDW3yqHzLTS-uzisSwSWAVnOGkRUkSTWiG6o2VgRlb3LAVNgzwYv7Qsj9E-5CZOH2ZvsBQ-iWfYWHOS2iA0s96a0DV-gt2ykiL9yZO0QzMno_iPrja3Jy8ZUBhHd_qSJ32tn9_UgGP8/s1600/IMG_5820-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KDW3yqHzLTS-uzisSwSWAVnOGkRUkSTWiG6o2VgRlb3LAVNgzwYv7Qsj9E-5CZOH2ZvsBQ-iWfYWHOS2iA0s96a0DV-gt2ykiL9yZO0QzMno_iPrja3Jy8ZUBhHd_qSJ32tn9_UgGP8/s400/IMG_5820-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who knew there were French Rasta's?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimt9sSEUFCoQoXogeQ6Vlvi0rPrsn_K4q2_x1RTiTuyO1ySChg2cvvKmHmrwzFjHD91uIEaDrodvehCXwinTd5MIVo2ldSelsOVlPDpN0nyyy136mp9s5EUZlWHgaiIz9epApPBhpQEg/s1600/IMG_5821-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimt9sSEUFCoQoXogeQ6Vlvi0rPrsn_K4q2_x1RTiTuyO1ySChg2cvvKmHmrwzFjHD91uIEaDrodvehCXwinTd5MIVo2ldSelsOVlPDpN0nyyy136mp9s5EUZlWHgaiIz9epApPBhpQEg/s400/IMG_5821-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George and his new friend - it was love at first stance :-)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our time on Les Saintes is winding down and I'm not sure our waistlines can take much more of the fine French dining on this island. We're now just waiting for the weather to clear so we can passage once again south to Dominica for a quick revisit.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIXPBkrJAkd3MMSgUTwVGKwEBH2v23b75gH5-gzsY6dvNzezAReMSuH9l47EUDd_9ffIgSElzSsfKW8MpW8Cuhkl1gNWiMuZ5g8ozptV1bTajB5wxdxNCD0aEFRZHGy48dqLrOTvEQcw/s1600/IMG_5823-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIXPBkrJAkd3MMSgUTwVGKwEBH2v23b75gH5-gzsY6dvNzezAReMSuH9l47EUDd_9ffIgSElzSsfKW8MpW8Cuhkl1gNWiMuZ5g8ozptV1bTajB5wxdxNCD0aEFRZHGy48dqLrOTvEQcw/s400/IMG_5823-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, it's Les Saintes and I said there were goats everywhere!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.comGuadeloupe15.866241564066629 -61.58523559570306815.744073564066628 -61.746597095703066 15.988409564066629 -61.42387409570307tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401446941115989958.post-28838718417778740732016-05-23T18:03:00.000-04:002016-05-23T18:08:57.604-04:00Blasting Down to Dominica<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just to get this off my phlegmy chest - anyone who comes to the Caribbean with a cold and intends to visit our boat needs to go into immediate quarantine. I'm flying the yellow flag over them until they test completely harmless! For the second time this winter we (well only me this time) have been laid low by a virus which we now have ZERO immunity to and therefore have spent the last week alternately sweating in the 30C+ heat and wanting to cuddle up with a blanket and nurse my sorrows back to health.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Enough whining - I know there's no sympathy out there. So what have we been up to since we left Nevis on May 11th? Well, four days of travel landed us in Dominica on Saturday just in time for the Jazz & Creole Fest on May 15th. We could have done the distance easily in one big jump but it was more fun to hop through the various islands and once we got to Deshaies on the north end of Guadeloupe we joined back up with Jan and George on Wildcat, who became our travelling companions once again.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7i7lqx_L_UFUCfpHzRuvEVjncReggY8FEeFtdBezEwpPeycIy5HCL9Jdg0HR4oUQqQ3cy6nHw4-F011oD4l-yWki5tMugst_aOcKa3ya3MSz8kuCTjIW1gke9fh720WX5z54bNZIcPbY/s1600/Nevis+to+Dominica-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7i7lqx_L_UFUCfpHzRuvEVjncReggY8FEeFtdBezEwpPeycIy5HCL9Jdg0HR4oUQqQ3cy6nHw4-F011oD4l-yWki5tMugst_aOcKa3ya3MSz8kuCTjIW1gke9fh720WX5z54bNZIcPbY/s400/Nevis+to+Dominica-WM.jpg" width="323" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four nicely spaced hops adding up to 135 nautical miles. The longest was Day 2 at 42 miles and the hardest was Day 4 when we had tons of wind and high seas.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3GrEZto5SWAsWiQ96Uxm9G2sNQC8lQFSXX3pERLozeG5VktUgjtObgC4GKXe3flDr3j4OjzRv0Xgi5g_rTm6FGTeQMyDmxEgtIj9hkyvgGLeBKhn9eZtyusq39Tl8pA9q2yWpesxXBs/s1600/P5150160-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3GrEZto5SWAsWiQ96Uxm9G2sNQC8lQFSXX3pERLozeG5VktUgjtObgC4GKXe3flDr3j4OjzRv0Xgi5g_rTm6FGTeQMyDmxEgtIj9hkyvgGLeBKhn9eZtyusq39Tl8pA9q2yWpesxXBs/s400/P5150160-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With George & Jan - rum punch in hand, all ready for the music to get going.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDt-c3EldVfWvOpAKJnoZomWX20l4K3oSEXbt5rkP0FPDRVsmdhAX1iXoxYhBUZwkj_PNmE_Y8OHj_Ui-YmYlOvyhbU7B11Oj8aglwxkso4sYoj3sIgi5TernI8FhLNg-aOA3ypcAKHE/s1600/P5150174-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDt-c3EldVfWvOpAKJnoZomWX20l4K3oSEXbt5rkP0FPDRVsmdhAX1iXoxYhBUZwkj_PNmE_Y8OHj_Ui-YmYlOvyhbU7B11Oj8aglwxkso4sYoj3sIgi5TernI8FhLNg-aOA3ypcAKHE/s400/P5150174-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most exciting part of the evening was when George was interviewed by local Dominican TV - the tall white guy really stood out at this event.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The music festival was pretty good, although the fashion parade was probably more interesting than the music in fact.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The real treat happened the next day when we gathered with Wildcat, </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the crew of Ursa Major (Dan & Denise), </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and the crew of Sea Quester (Mike & Jenny) with their visitors from back home - I won't hold it against them that one was responsible for our later cold infestations. Martin (Providence) is one of the PAYS members in Dominica - this group of "boat boys" has banded together to create and secure and amazingly fun atmosphere in the northern anchorage at Portsmouth and have changed the experience completely for cruisers who visit Dominica. If only St. Lucia and St. Vincent in particular could pull themselves together in a similar fashion. Martin picked us up early in his boat and we then loaded into his taxi van to begin an incredible land tour of the island and a couple of its spectacular waterfalls.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmMJnuWFCM6vwqlOFTfLmHwnd7Mj61RvpHtoT-Sh0DReFg6DuDu8_bKAjLSUYWy_r2v0-wsWPSB-rhTlYVU4ZP92w9GQm0bComT5g9-bjO8xKL5oFScO0otU7S3IX8_s8TewlK3Yo2F0/s1600/P5160177-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmMJnuWFCM6vwqlOFTfLmHwnd7Mj61RvpHtoT-Sh0DReFg6DuDu8_bKAjLSUYWy_r2v0-wsWPSB-rhTlYVU4ZP92w9GQm0bComT5g9-bjO8xKL5oFScO0otU7S3IX8_s8TewlK3Yo2F0/s400/P5160177-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I was giving clearance for takeoff while Martin checked everyone was aboard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJisO5OGkLTCMGvc4tS_20hR8kYIKFurA_bPpRo9TkhWnTcAYgk_N8c9LN5Q3roEbh4SB0Q6EhtowH0YZzNhLkzBvoDuQwTM566Jkvb9cXWTLSWjmSnbXS2n6fnV6wtko5qCpl3VBfeU/s1600/IMG_5734-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJisO5OGkLTCMGvc4tS_20hR8kYIKFurA_bPpRo9TkhWnTcAYgk_N8c9LN5Q3roEbh4SB0Q6EhtowH0YZzNhLkzBvoDuQwTM566Jkvb9cXWTLSWjmSnbXS2n6fnV6wtko5qCpl3VBfeU/s400/IMG_5734-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first stop was overlooking the pretty little fishing town of St. Joseph's and its long sweep of beach.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxGQvBONK2sbgJ7MMOQur1BIp-FcW6cf1LfOcWN_BWgMh1tGGlbKk0YustJR4HHAsBwWIXnsEo1K5RH3sZnfd-tRFzXhdT_nOJvpQcx9uhaFW3tL9dDlAl4XhtUEzydlQpc1ldj5Q-ME/s1600/IMG_5737-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxGQvBONK2sbgJ7MMOQur1BIp-FcW6cf1LfOcWN_BWgMh1tGGlbKk0YustJR4HHAsBwWIXnsEo1K5RH3sZnfd-tRFzXhdT_nOJvpQcx9uhaFW3tL9dDlAl4XhtUEzydlQpc1ldj5Q-ME/s400/IMG_5737-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin produced a large back of mangos which he proceeded to encourage everyone to eat without getting "too messy". Have you ever tried to eat a mango without getting juice everywhere?!!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first waterfall highlight of the day was Spanny's Falls. This is actually a series of two waterfalls and after paying Mr. Spanny 10EC for entry we set off down the track to the falls. We were high up in the dense rainforest, so of course it was raining on and off.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spanky's Shop also supplied us with sustaining cold beer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_-LHma52mGymC_tFuk5TKqkoy-JO4Nf4izHtlx1QcLraEG6vTCzcEJyXtpnyZZGo_JVz-NEP5Fk2vam4p5bAiTe8uVyFFNDhGXROXvn5pdwkDG7nT8MLmR3ua0SxKuronuun6nump9c/s1600/P5160181-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_-LHma52mGymC_tFuk5TKqkoy-JO4Nf4izHtlx1QcLraEG6vTCzcEJyXtpnyZZGo_JVz-NEP5Fk2vam4p5bAiTe8uVyFFNDhGXROXvn5pdwkDG7nT8MLmR3ua0SxKuronuun6nump9c/s400/P5160181-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry & George didn't want to get their hair wet!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFubR05X9FeoaM3I-4YlZv0aFB5FruHXku42YijB70gsWbjfnAAsRnTQ9lo0zE-BrDN5CiZGgTD1McRyRNhSu5LAfP-ij9x2sTHJXI-9ZBhdS_jOQnDa5qJvT8ElGke4GSMdKLToc7_U/s1600/IMG_5754-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFubR05X9FeoaM3I-4YlZv0aFB5FruHXku42YijB70gsWbjfnAAsRnTQ9lo0zE-BrDN5CiZGgTD1McRyRNhSu5LAfP-ij9x2sTHJXI-9ZBhdS_jOQnDa5qJvT8ElGke4GSMdKLToc7_U/s400/IMG_5754-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George helpfully pointed out the first waterfall to us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for a swim - of course this mountain-fed water is clean, clear and COLD.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASBpunsItPEC5z1rLIA18VzxCR4205fEUtClcdAk8j5r78B8za-rdvCKYZ5dQqftiC8NQ_8brfDqvDk7eS2JUFfg1VxhjO1YMQcxjbOqPyhmWKVwoPK394Gft-UkMoXNEtDbk1PBewJY/s1600/IMG_5753-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASBpunsItPEC5z1rLIA18VzxCR4205fEUtClcdAk8j5r78B8za-rdvCKYZ5dQqftiC8NQ_8brfDqvDk7eS2JUFfg1VxhjO1YMQcxjbOqPyhmWKVwoPK394Gft-UkMoXNEtDbk1PBewJY/s400/IMG_5753-WM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now time to hike up over the hill to the second waterfall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now down the hill - everyone carefully held onto the ropes to negotiate the slippery, moss and fern covered rocks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jan & George approved - first waterfalls of the day were a success!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The one tricky bit we hadn't thought out was that the day we took the tour was WhitMonday Holiday in Dominica. I think Martin was a little worried he wouldn't find a lunch meal for us but once we assured him we were happy with roti or BBQ from a roadside stand, there was lots of choice available. Sustained, we headed up to the next stop at the Titou Gorge.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-VwVL6s29E-r-Sf9cHtrK3uVgBwC566JiZ_aP1rPVa6RRA4iLBPnebfdb-af8-0hEi1KMoxovjWN5BnberFMf5SnGiHb6AC9C3l2EgSBsnNL-IayokbaxEiQQsE4SbxAnNTRTG3JO0g/s1600/P5160256-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-VwVL6s29E-r-Sf9cHtrK3uVgBwC566JiZ_aP1rPVa6RRA4iLBPnebfdb-af8-0hEi1KMoxovjWN5BnberFMf5SnGiHb6AC9C3l2EgSBsnNL-IayokbaxEiQQsE4SbxAnNTRTG3JO0g/s400/P5160256-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quick stop for a photo op - Martin and the ladies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_nnHBmF3B5v60-cUyxFP913CHh3CzJwLeF-D1u_t3G9cccdbHdP5wEMZUoX0yWLX3G5XmvqqWPdhsww_aY2SWD6E7YrB0AQeAq4iFZNEqZoOtz8NRBen32ci4SO4gM2DLGtcmZvenu8/s1600/IMG_5762-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_nnHBmF3B5v60-cUyxFP913CHh3CzJwLeF-D1u_t3G9cccdbHdP5wEMZUoX0yWLX3G5XmvqqWPdhsww_aY2SWD6E7YrB0AQeAq4iFZNEqZoOtz8NRBen32ci4SO4gM2DLGtcmZvenu8/s400/IMG_5762-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This man was having fun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarpm0XPoPyfY9lZ3fZLMcEyyF_P3D2wlcKZiCeXqQAasSIQdZonJgcX8tDWsGswOg3BXdXFG6mTSmWlhFmDXjsFM3JrjIEwinCJIB2cZdpBjimV93GiOwksJVz8vDmUDDmIyUv4hnK3c/s1600/IMG_5770-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarpm0XPoPyfY9lZ3fZLMcEyyF_P3D2wlcKZiCeXqQAasSIQdZonJgcX8tDWsGswOg3BXdXFG6mTSmWlhFmDXjsFM3JrjIEwinCJIB2cZdpBjimV93GiOwksJVz8vDmUDDmIyUv4hnK3c/s400/IMG_5770-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But then boys will be boys - the men had to have more fun too.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We made our way up the valley to the same place that we had started our hike to the <a href="http://svmowzer.blogspot.ca/2016/01/mother-earth.html" target="_blank">Valley of <span id="goog_1867935381"></span>Desolation and Boiling Lake</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1867935382"></span></a> with SeaCat back in January. We had even dipped in the pool at the bottom of the gorge to cool down after that marathon, but we didn't have the energy to do the swim at that time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This time we dropped into the (COLD) pool and peered warily through the crack in the rocks that Martin assured us was the gorge. The water was surprisingly calm and we all set off wondering what would open before us.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHJqN3BzKVCSK5Se_Lhp7TVu5TN1t7udXt5isyr90urmfZeV6BTbb8qMub3WK8rM5Khog_SG_G2XPvtcCcMY9P7eZmE2kyL7PYgP5wH3SxVIL-J8Ac_0jfRo8C_LrivZ8FjdX60i3ncU/s1600/P5160260-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHJqN3BzKVCSK5Se_Lhp7TVu5TN1t7udXt5isyr90urmfZeV6BTbb8qMub3WK8rM5Khog_SG_G2XPvtcCcMY9P7eZmE2kyL7PYgP5wH3SxVIL-J8Ac_0jfRo8C_LrivZ8FjdX60i3ncU/s400/P5160260-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to swim - this looks pretty sedate.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming up against the current - still all together in the confined dark spaces.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back at a last glint of sunlight as the towering rocks closed in all around us.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Its really hard to capture the place on camera but George did an excellent job don't you think? The gap in the rocks, which started out pretty narrow to begin with, gets tighter and tighter until at the end it suddenly opens up and there is a huge waterfall jetting its way into the stream. It is only at this point that the water is rushing against you at the surface and swimming becomes a real workout. Henry and I didn't go across but George and Dan were able to get across the base of the waterfall to look back at us clinging to the rocks just downstream.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikclvUf9Zr3MTr0_jU8SRXSXFlNTY7QTt3R09_Q2_AEvRB7QP5SnDEJl85s-g-HEoXW6P3Aza_t3O3cLunYvePirLnqQ4iW6AZwEckmZb_51yrlUK4NZOOZcR7-iLmKhPpEEIE1wbl2uU/s1600/P5160278-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikclvUf9Zr3MTr0_jU8SRXSXFlNTY7QTt3R09_Q2_AEvRB7QP5SnDEJl85s-g-HEoXW6P3Aza_t3O3cLunYvePirLnqQ4iW6AZwEckmZb_51yrlUK4NZOOZcR7-iLmKhPpEEIE1wbl2uU/s400/P5160278-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the rush of water from the waterfall heading through that little triangle of an opening in the rocks. Look carefully and you can spot some of us hanging onto the sheer sides of the gorge.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wow - two amazing natural sights in one day and a lot of driving to get to them, but made even better with Martin's interpretation and stories of life on the island.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the next couple of days we continued to enjoy the natural beauty that is Dominica and had a great time introducing some new friends to other hikes at the north end of the island. We managed to get in a nice morning hike to Cold Souffriere with Dan & Denise and Philippa and Ian (Zooropa) - fellow Canadians who are also heading south on their beautiful new Antares.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To be honest, we did the Cold Souffriere the smart way this time - we took a $4EC ($2CAD) bus to the top of the mountain and then walked down. Hard on the knees but a lot easier on the ticker and the legs!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1ClvU2FY02X4iGixVYg3EGCAMmhwZhFsZNLtjnyqt6MwI9ruYla2EGkbLrejGF_1sVZQ8_iVTcnRk57fzJF55wpSVktq-KKF6PV8ipoNnmjDHsnbRldTrEF2i2DLqpUztBFgyXbcERE/s1600/GOPR1288-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1ClvU2FY02X4iGixVYg3EGCAMmhwZhFsZNLtjnyqt6MwI9ruYla2EGkbLrejGF_1sVZQ8_iVTcnRk57fzJF55wpSVktq-KKF6PV8ipoNnmjDHsnbRldTrEF2i2DLqpUztBFgyXbcERE/s400/GOPR1288-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George, Henry, Dan, Denise, Philippa, Ian - stepping out of the clouds that wafted over Morne Diable.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One last treat before we left, we joined Wildcat and SeaQuester to share a rare evening of camaraderie and music with Martin and I feel honoured that he joined us on Wildcat - we have made a lasting friendship on Dominica with this charming and caring man.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone joined in on choruses where we knew the words.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivm2NhCRGbi5vGdE-9TqlMm0UU22jO2GH7dqyBJZG8xcSOLCrqyN2AfqfcJnojmOnH0RQFVXQS8d4eDw56xFBcRzwA5ubM_P3kyfk_5kIoKodhjZJ-4DOs1_MBpmUx4MV84cvctOFntiY/s1600/P5180321-WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivm2NhCRGbi5vGdE-9TqlMm0UU22jO2GH7dqyBJZG8xcSOLCrqyN2AfqfcJnojmOnH0RQFVXQS8d4eDw56xFBcRzwA5ubM_P3kyfk_5kIoKodhjZJ-4DOs1_MBpmUx4MV84cvctOFntiY/s400/P5180321-WM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What really gave me goosebumps though was when Martin sang some traditional Creole songs and finally the Dominica National anthem.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A weather window was opening up for us to make a reversal of direction and head back to the The Saintes for a few days so we wrapped up this visit to Dominica, knowing that we'll be back very soon.</span>s/vMowzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042581938137654897noreply@blogger.com