Around Rodney Bay and Pigeon Island

Stargazer of Southampton
Susie and Adam (both think they are skipper)
Sat 22 Jan 2011 21:19
Spent most of the past week sprucing up the boat - floors varnished, stainless steel polished, goose barnacles (almost) removed, sails swapped and engine tinkered with. . .. .
 
We've moved back out to the anchorage so that we can now have a 'holiday' after our hard work.  Went to climb the two points on Pigeon island yesterday - they arn't that high but it was very hot.  There is a litle old fort on top of one of the peaks that was used for defending the island against the pesky french and various other ruins from when the British had the island.  
 
After successfully climbing up and down the hill - went to a cafe on the beach for a Roti which is a West Indian thing - like a big pancake folded and filled with curried stuff - stuff being vegetables in our case, it was nice - like a giant samosa so we'll have some more of those.  There are some very nice little beaches on pigeon island so went for a dip to cool off post Roti - this was our FIRST swim in the Caribbean, pretty rubbish as we have been here a week - finally we have reached water that is warm enough for swimming without any kind of wetsuit 27 degrees - hurray!
 
Saying that - it really knows how to rain here - the weather is pretty varied, always warm - but sometimes - usually in the mornings you get the squalls that we had out at sea - they come through accompanied by a torrential downpour, usually only lasts 20 mins or so but windows and hatches have to be frantically shut.  Mostly we have only had an hour or so rain a day with the rest fine, the skies are usually full of big fluffy clouds which gives a nice break from the sun when it disappears for a bit.  The trade winds that took us here blow constantly which is good as it makes the evenings cooler, it was hard to sleep in the marina as it was sheltered and still but out on the water we have a constant breeze blowing through the hatches.
 
Here's some pics of the bay. . . .
 
 
Adam looking over the bay and anchorage from the top of Pigeon Island - we are anchored over the far side of the bay
 
 
Susie conquering  the highest point on Pigeon Island
 
 
Adam investigating the Caribbean Sea from the Beach
 
 
Along the top of Pigeon Island with the causeway that links it to the land on the right - that was only built about 30 years ago
 
In the bay are the villages of Gros Islet is a mixture of houses from brand new to tumblesdown shacks, there's also Rodney Bay 'village' which is really where the shops and restaurants are grouped behind the main beach of the bay.  There are a few big hotels here - Sandals and another one on the main beach - but overall it's pretty quiet and relaxed here.  There are a couple of big supermarkets where we have been happy to get fresh fruit and veg again, although people selling veg were also in the marina so we bought from them as well.  There are lots of hills behind the bay with houses dotted on them - but mainly the hills are forested.
 
Friday night Gros Islet has a street party - we went last Friday for a look around, lots of people and lots of BBQ's - they seem to like BBQ's out here
 
Today a cruise ship actually anchored with the many yachts in Rodney Bay - it was some kind of strange sailing cruise-ship, but not the prettiest thing in the world