Monday 1st March (Lini’s Journal)
Brindabella's Web Diary
Simon Williams
Mon 8 Mar 2010 13:47
morning. It was calmer than our last stay here and with the sun now
high and bright the sea looked inviting breaking onto white sand on
the shore. Five seagulls sat in a row on a surfboard tied to a mooring
buoy just beside us. The town was lively with lots of jolly people
around as we checked out what was available in the various shops.
Several minibuses full of laughing children passed by with horns
hooting and heart shaped notices on the windows. I wasn’t able to
catch what the event was but it added to the bustling atmosphere.
Pattie’s Deli stocked cooked meats and cheeses Si hasn’t seen in his
sandwiches in a very long time, croissants and pastries were piled up
in baskets and her freezer contained fish and low fat meat; great. We
made mental notes before finding an ATM then the Marketing Board shop.
These shops are brilliant selling locally grown basics at great prices
and always seem to have very friendly folk shopping there. I talked to
one lady about the tiny mangoes I feared would be all stone as we
filled our basket with a mountain of fruit and vegetables. The drought
is affecting the size and availability of lots of produce now. While
queuing at the checkout another lady asked us if we’d tried the Bois
Bande. “The what?” we asked. “The Caribbean answer to Viagra!” she
replied as laughter broke out all around. Another lady then added that
locally they soak the bark with peanuts in brandy then drink the
brandy and eat the nuts for an unforgettable evening. I never have
this many laughs in Waitrose! Did we resist the temptation? That’s for
us to know and you to wonder! Si then went to clear us out of customs
while I continued shopping in a supermarket where I bumped into
another lady looking at the teas.”Oh, look at this, Lover’s Tea”, she
said. “That’s nothing”, I replied, “I’ve just been told about Bois
Bande in the veg shop!” With that she collapsed into hysterics and
warned me to be very careful if I had bought some. She told me an
hilarious story of one poor chap who apparently took a little too
much!!! What an entertaining morning. Still sniggering I zipped back
to the deli and bought Simon Serrano ham, Feta cheese, bagels, proper
yoghurt, a cherry turnover and some frozen fish, then met him back at
customs.
The people of Carriacou certainly lived up to their reputation of
being the friendliest ever and I felt rather sad to be leaving after
such a brief visit. There was a good breeze now blowing however and
after quickly stowing our provisions we hoisted the mainsail, weighed
the anchor and shot off beating into the wind. Inevitably, for the
second time today I caught no fish for supper.
Petit Martinique is the northern most island of Grenada and a
stones throw away Petit St. Vincent is the southern most island of the
Grenadines. We have permission from customs to stay here until 10.30am
tomorrow and made use of the fuel dock, topping up with diesel and
water before dropping the anchor in the bay. The gap between the
islands has only a reef between here and the ocean swell, so I predict
a rolly night. These idyllic islands just had to be seen though and
after us both falling asleep this afternoon, I’ve requested an early
morning walk tomorrow.
I take great delight watching the setting sun and the rising moon.
Tonight over a G&T the sun sunk behind Carriacou in delicate shades of
pink and grey with an interlude for pasta before a full glowing moon
popped up from the hilltop on Petit Martinique. For a while it seemed
to hover looking like a giant satellite dish before rising into the
light cloud which is swept over continuously from the Atlantic. For
such a small island there were many boats coming and going through the
evening but at least by bed time the wind had eased sufficiently for a
restful night?