Martinique

The more time we spent in Martinique to better we liked it, despite it being french and only speaking french.  Kinda like a cat, totally indifferent to anyone except when they want fed or want someone to finish what they started.  The main problem with them is there is no french word for shower or deodorant and when in the same building with one it is suffocating.  Other than rudeness and B.O. it is a beautiful island, lush vegetation and dotted with small farms or huge commercial operations growing bananas or pineapples.

dinghy dock in St Anne

church at the end of the dock over 300 yrs old

We met new cruising family Marsha & Fred Anderson, S/V Take it Easy and Fred was in the hospital to treat something wrong with his leg.  We rented a car to tour the island and invited Marsha to join us. On the way over her dinghy motor took a break and we had to activate Towboat Jerry & pull her in.

Towin,  towin,  towin on the river 

The day with Marsha was more fun than should be allowed by law.  We drove up the east side where will will not be able to go in the boats and then on up to Mt. Pele, that killed 30,000 people during its last eruption in 1902.

mt. Pele

one of many small farms

typical street scene

Most of the roundabouts had sculptures or art in the center area and two of the best are here

Honors the banana workers

Honors the fishermen

After we got back and gave up the car we went to Le Marin to the grocery that had a dinghy dock.  I very, very seldom lock the dinghy and did not this time cause it is slow, different & has a small motor.  As we walked up the dock I saw a guy with no shirt, a day pack, bottle of wine, cheese & bread and a battery powered cork screw (how did he keep it charged).  He looked homeless and shared a little cheese with two stray kittens so he had someone to talk to.  I really started worrying cause ours was the only dinghy on the dock.  I circled around the store and took his picture so I could show the police if he took it.  It was the shortest grocery run ever & when we got back he was gone but our dinghy wasn't.

honors the winos

Two delightful people came over in their dinghy and introduced themselves becoming more new cruising family.  Ken & JoAnne Reed, S/V Allicat, Fred & Marsha, Sally and I walked over to the other side of the island to a beach for lunch.  

beginning of the trail

happy or gay beach,  note lizard on cactus

tiny restaurants & bars at the beach

homemade ice cream vendor with ringing bell in hand

the group, as happy to sit as to eat

Ken & JoAnne headed South so Fred & Marsha with us tagging headed north.