Carracou Monday 10-10

We were able to start sailing but was sorta mediocre to start but when we left the protection of Grenada we had to roll in half the foresail and still had water coming over the bow.  Shades of the Gulf of Mexico.  I neglected to close the port lites since the start was so calm and an unusually high wave sent water over the bimini and thoroughly soaked our bed.  We got into Terrel Bay which already had about a hundred boats anchored so we took the last open spot we thought.  Huge catamarans came in close behind us and dropped the hook.

Terrell Bay

Tuesday we walked a tenth mile up a sheer cliff of a driveway to get to the road to town, we only had to stop & catch our breath twice.  The little beach front town only has restaurants & bars with most being closed.  Luckily the marina restaurant was open for lunch and we had a Grenadian lunch.

another sunset

Wednesday we walked up the driveway (which somehow wasn't so steep today) and caught a bus (minivan) 3 miles to the next town of Hillsboro which has businesses like pharmacy, hotels, service industries, fish markets and as many bars and restaurants as any small town in Wisconsin. We tried to have lunch in a restaurant with balcony overhanging the bay but only got coffee & juice and after waiting 45 minutes for the waitress to return for our order, went back to the boat.

Grenada from the rest. deck

waiting on the waitress

Union Island, Grenadines from the rest. deck

 A sailing school schooner  full of college kids anchored behind us and spent 2 hours diving & swimming off the boat.  When they came back on board they scrubbed the deck before dinner, next morning they scrubbed the deck before breakfast.  None would take a job on my boat despite my insisting I could teach them much, much more.

recess, look at the bow

Thursday is wood fired pizza nite at the marina and we ate with new cruising friends, James & Charlotte Caldwell.  They have a gorgeous Sea Horse motor yacht which they sailed from Olympia, WA thru the Panama Canal, up the east US coast then down here on the same path we took.  Until she saw their boat, Sally was lusting after Katy Krogens, now she doesn't know which to covet more.

Sea Horse  M/V Pegasus.52

snorkeling on statues and fish friday

We said our final goodbyes to the marina so Joel & Derrick came down with a dingy to help us out of the mooring/slip.  Derrick, who is the dock master is probably the best boat handler I have ever encountered and he eased us out without a sweat.  Sorry to leave there but the immigration officer was threatening to keep my US passport and make me a Grenada citizen, which wouldn't be all bad.

We motored up the 3 nm to Moliniere Bay and grabbed a free mooring ball in the midst of a heavy squall.  We had high winds and rain most of the night with powerful rollers slamming against the rocks 100 yds from us.  I was wonderful music to sleep by but the same rollers made us hold onto the bed to stay in it.  We had a very fitful night.

Got up lazily and dropped the dinghy around 9 to snorkel the statues.  Runoff from the squalls last night had the water as pristine clear as chocolate milk.  I was able to hold the camera down arms length to take pictures of I didn't know what.  When we got back to the boat I was able to photo shop them to be able to see a few rocks.  Maybe this afternoon will be better.  

our lullaby

beetza

another one of them beetzas

This afternoon was a little better but still no statues.  Y'all should google them in case tomorrow is no good.Tomorrow was no good either, hope you googled it!  We tried twice to see them, could not although it was a little better.

at least I can identify

first sunset since June, could not see from the marina

A little after sunrise next day

At about 1500 hrs dropped the ball and motored to the next town, Gouyave, about 5 nm north.  Every Friday is Fish Friday, most of the town of about 3,000 turn out for a street party.  Many restaurants have a booth to sell seafood caught by the local fishermen.  It is not for the tourists but they tolerate us, and let us eat.  They usually have a steel drum band for entertainment. 

her excitement was overwhelming

When we pulled into their harbor a squall hit that lasted about 30 minutes and then rained off and on all night.  We were soaked to the bone so we got our dinners and went back to the boat to eat in the dry.  Evidently the steel drums might rust so the revelers had to make do with a dj & canned music.

the squall that welcomed us to Gouyave

a side street leading away from the  beach

about half of the fish friday booths

red lobster, grenada style

Sally's rain hidey hole

We decided to give the life-size statues one more shot and motored back to the park.  This time the water was more clear and we found them and had a wonderful time snorkeling among the rocks.  I felt it was much ado about nothing but it is promoted as a must see, so we did!

together we can't

together we can

more of the same

Sally's BFF fish

parting shot

About to head north

Time has come for us to mosey on up the west coast of Grenada.  We have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our stay.  The marina staff have gone out of their way to make us welcome, they answer all my stupid questions and no matter how many questions are never outdone.  This place is absolute paradise.  We said our goodbyes to all the workers who went out of their way to make our stay so enjoyable.
Today we plan to take a bus to the south tip of the island where there is a decent (by caribbean standards) IGA grocery to provision for the low populated islands will little or no facilities that we are about to visit.
We will turn on follow-us-spot every time we are moving so y'all keep up if you want, and try to let y'all know when we start.
This morning the marina staff brought us fruit, herbs or bush tea as a send off, made me warm all over.

our bounty brought by the marina staff

another road trip, but up the west side

Saturday Oct 1, found us boarding a tour bus with Ed & Cheryl Carter for a trip us the west side of the island.  As before, it was absolutely gorgeous.  We hugged the coast going through many small towns that a pretty much like all 3rd world small towns, too narrow streets, too much traffic and too many people aimlessly wandering down the street, oblivious of traffic.

nothing wrong with her neck, it's alive (brought to mind several old jokes!)

took this just to show the sweet potato patch in the background.  The girl drank the coconut milk & then split the nut  to get to eat the meat.

Concord Falls

secondary fall

cute little fishing village beach

part of rum factory 

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Grenada lawn mowers

catholic church from mid 1700's

petroglyphs over at least two years old

he almost got the color right

We also went to a chocolate factory, rum factory and back to the same volcano crater lake.  Cutty would stop every mile or two to collect another herb or fruit and tell us all the good/bad qualities.  When we got back I was telling customs & immigration about it and the immigration lady gave me some herbs to make tea with. I googled it and I think if I drink it every day I will live forever.  It was Santa Maria bush and makes a wonderful tea, so I told a few people I liked it and tomorrow I am getting lemon grass, moringo leaves, big thyme, rosemarie and bay leaves delivered by the locals that work here at the marina.  Each person touted the qualities of their favorite herb and wanted me to drink it. On my way to infinity  or least longevity!

Wednesday, 9/28/16  raining, waiting for more from invest 97L, a tropical depression that was predicted to hit Grenada as a hurricane, and the whole purpose for us to spend so much time here was to avoid hurricanes!  It is going about 50 miles north so we are on the "good" side but will still get plenty of rain.  The only reason I'm writing this is utter boredom, Sally is washing all the windows for the same reason.  We spent a day buttoning up the boat for the high winds and waves and now will spend a half day unbuttoning, a lot of the buttoning was neglected chores that should have been done long ago.  12 years ago Ivan ripped Grenada a new one and now everyone overreacted, cancelled schools and closed businesses and boarded everything up.

St.George's from the marina restaurant 

The mega yacht (350') built for Steve Jobs came in to the marina yesterday to wait out the storm.  It has enough stainless on the bow to wrap my entire hull.  The boat looks like an office building on the water, one of the crew said it is the most hitek boat on the water.  Jobs died before completion.

Sally went on a hash, several hundred people clambering up a slick mountain for no apparent reason other than calming ones masochistic cravings.  I had to put up with her complaining and moaning for two days, now she is thinking about doing one this weekend but even more difficult.  Goes to showya!  I plan to do just like I did on the other one, relax under the air conditioner.

Hash sign up

The rain slacked off enough for use to walk up the hill behind the marina and have some gorgeous views of the island.

Port Louis Marina,  Encore is the closest boat to the tree in the middle, by the red roof

city of St George's from the top

survived bombing during the US invasion.  It is over 10' in diameter

Grenada's national flower, Bougainvillea

Searching for tea time but ended with happy hour

I climbed the hill behind the marina, a luxury hotel once stood there till the airborne got here.  Nothing but scenery, grass and a few bushes remain.  The intent was for me to find some bush tea leaves.  When I picked a few of unknown variety a couple came up getting their exercise.  I asked them what I had picked which brought a little laughter from them.  I forgot what it was but it was not for tea.  They proceeded to show me the tree of life which is used for tea on the anniversary of someones death to celebrate life.  And then they identified all the rest of the plants and their uses, so I invited my new friends Denise & Nigel to the boat for a cold presidente.  We had a great visit and look forward to their return.  If I experience much more of the Grenadian culture I will qualify for citizenship.  Denise is a nurse from England who spends her annual vacations here and Nigel is from St George's and serves on the Grenada Olympic Committee.

St George's Bay with 3 tall ships

Denise & Nigel

monday 19 sept ROAD TRIP

Today we went on a Cutty tour of ½ the island with three other couples & a single guy.  We mostly drove the backroads and visited the drivers home wine making facility/home.  In addition to wine he had many fruit trees which he showed us each variety, tasting most.  Some of these were unknown to us till now and most were edible.  We went to a chocolate factory which made Sally happy till we left.  From there we drove to a rum factory to make me happy.  This distillery lays claim that the process (and most of the equipment) had not been changed since the early 1800's.  This was true firewater without much water and illegal to be carried on an airplane since it is classed as explosive (80-85%).  They got us to taste a sample at the end and it is almost like ever clear or moonshine, just made from molasses instead of corn and will burn all the way down.

water wheel power

  They still use the water wheel to power the crusher and burn the dry stalks to distill it.  Then we were to a waterfall hidden back in the woods and several of our group swam in the pool beneath the falls.

 Then on up the mountain/volcano to the crater which contained a huge lake. (it is supposed to be active)

 It was all downhill from there to St George's & the boat.  On the way down we saw a "thank you" wall!


We were worn out from a wonderful tour & experience.

St. George's from ahigh