Beez Neez now Chy Whella

Windward

Big Bear and Pepe Millard

Thu 2 Jul 2009 22:55

Frog March

The day we arrived Skipper had gone to clear us in as usual. I got lunch ready and we settled in to the rest of the afternoon swimming off the back of Beez, playing games and generally waiting for the weather. The following day we stayed aboard, finally the first time I set foot ashore I was frog marched by my captain to the Police Station. That was a first. I had to present myself to fill in my health questionarre. Facing Immigration men in masks was not the start I had envisioned. Oh Well.

Doors like this always make people nervous. After my form filling it was into the Tourist Office (nice flag) filled with helpful, smiley ladies. They suggested an island tour at £50 each. We smiled and bade our farewells. The island just isn't big enough to justify £100 and just not enough unique history. So we walked to the bus stop and paid £1.75 for the pair of us to get to Windward in the north of the island.

Off the bus the first thing to strike us was the black sand. The shipwrecks just like in Portsmouth, Dominica. Strange that the rocks on the beach were pale in colour.

Just next to the jetty there was this sad reminder of tragedy that can happen to innocent people.

We wandered along the road in search of Anse La Roche Beach, supposed to be stunning. First thing we saw was a "one careful owner", this time though a dog kennel. Complete with happy, tail wagging chap

We sat and ate lunch on the jetty and laughed at this label from my Sprite bottle - "For your wellbeing walk 30 min daily and keep smiling" and Proudly made in Grenada.

Back on our search for the beach we saw a novel bus stop. An old mast made into a bench. Down the road from the bus you can see the Catholic Church.

We knew the path to the said beach was well hidden, unbeknown to us we left the road just fifty yards too short. Walked down the steep "path" and across a swampy home land to thousands of fiddler crabs. We did get to a beach that was covered in weed and very muddy. "this can't be right". I saw this crab on the beach - loose term and tried to tidy off the weed to get a better picture of him, he got very cross with me, claw flaring but Bear put his feathers right with a nice stroking. Back we went with the mud oozing, with no shoes on it was a very strange feeling. We found a family walking their dog and they pointed out the way.

"Follow the conch shell path". Once found we followed and ended up on another crowded beach.

We wandered to the wreck at the end, saw a turtle eating in the grass just off the reef

There were hundreds of hermit crabs so we sat and watched them for a while. Went for a long swim and decided to wend our way. Just as we got back on the conch shell path we were invaded by a big swarm of sand flies, just like being bitten by a red ant and then it takes a day or two before the itchy lumps get to their zenith, much to look forward to.

The village had a nice feel about it, the people we met were welcoming. The houses a mix of old and new, wooden, brick and plaster.

You just never know what you are going to see next. This chap just ambled across the road, his tail was about five feet long.

Bit Berger paints but I liked this house that had amazing sea views. Bear like the scaffolding against this house and the fact that no one had twigged, stepping out off the front porch, there was a sheer drop if you stepped off wrong.

Our joint favourite won because of the unique fence

Bear did not fancy this rickety pathway to the fron door with the drop off the side. Great views though.

We saw many of the tropical flowers in the gardens of Windward but this purple one was a bit different

A very typical scene we have come to love about the Caribbean

Windward has long since made its way by traditional boatbuilding. In the middle of this garden you can just see the humble beginnings of one and a bit of "tender loving care" required.