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Leg 3
Caribbean Cruising |
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We left Antigua late on the 1st of January and sailed overnight to Les Iles Des Saints, just south of Guadeloupe. They are a small group of islands with their own culture and are trully delightful. We were particularly taken with this restaurant sign.
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We had the company of some pelicans in the anchorage and watching their clumsy fishing techniqe as they sploshed into the water all round the boat was great fun.We stayed a couple of days then it was time to move on, this time to Dominica. |
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We loved Dominica, the poorest of the Lesser Antilles, we found it was not so tourist orientated and much the better for that. We took a tour and this included a trip up the Indian River, where we were able to observe iguanas in their natural habitat. |
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These little birds were very tame and were feeding on the seeds of these beautiful flowers, all very colourful.
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We went by rowing boat through the mangroves and these huge trees with massive roots that looked as if they had been sculptured. The canopy overhead kept the air cool and it was almost like being in a cathederal.
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The island is covered in dense vegitation and, unlike most of the other islands, there is still an agricultural industry, mostly based round bananas. It was also fairly steep and we were afforded some great views of the interior... |
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...And the coast line. But time ws short and we had to hurry on, taking in St. Lucia, St Vincent, Bequia and Canouan....
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...before arriving in the Tobago Cays. You may have seen pictures of the Cays bathed in sunshine and boats sitting peacfully at anchor but when we were there it was blowing 35 knots with rain showers. Here are some neighbours trying to get back to their boat just after a squall had started.
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After that we visited Union Island and then Grenada where Sue flew home and we were joined by Chris Carver. We made a three day passage to Bonaire and after a lovely week of sightseeing and diving we went on to Curacao before leaving for the San Blas. We arrived of Sapebenega and anchored off the most beautiful island
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The next morning I was at the 'Airport' to meet Sue off her plane, which landed on the edge of the jungle, on a strip of concrete no wider than a road. The plane turned round, Sue and her luggage were deposited on the edge of the runway and we made our way to the dinghy, just 50 yards away, whilst the plane loaded a few more passengers and took off again.
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We were taken on a tour by the local indians which started up through the mangroves in a dugout canoe |
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We climbed up to one of their graveyards which are in the hills with lovely views. The custom is for the Kuna women to sit with their dead loved ones for a period of a month or so after their burial. They occupy their time making 'molas', or in other handicrafts |
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The villagers come round the boats in their dugout canoes to try and sell molas and other items such as fish and fruit
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They are lovely people and so friendly it was sad to be moving on but our Panama transit was booked and time was short
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We had two more nights in the San Blas and stopped in the most beautiful anchorage where the sea was warm and the most beautiful blue. We bought languistines from the local fishermen and cooked them on the barbeque, the sand was white and palm trees fringed the islands, our only complaint was that we could not stay longer
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