Tuesday 13th April (Lini’s Journal)

Brindabella's Web Diary
Simon Williams
Thu 22 Apr 2010 20:17
After a leisurely trip ashore to check out, I nervously waited by
the anchor: Our neighbours had gone ashore and I was convinced our
anchor was now under their boat. Si motored slowly forward and after
initially heading straight for their stern, our chain then thankfully
swung off to starboard and up she came with meters to spare to our
neighbour’s boat. It was just a very short hop round to Anse de
Colombier and hopefully a less rolly anchorage. The winds are forecast
to increase and swing round to the south-west with no protection in
Gustavia. The showers continue but it was incompetent crew that
dampened the skipper’s mood. The very fat rope loops on top of the
mooring buoys were too large for our boat hook. Si then had to thread
our line through the top as ‘Short Arms Lowman’ doesn’t stand a hope
of reaching. I still say I should lasso them. All secure though we
admired our surroundings with green hills all around, a golden beach
in the bay, apparently fab snorkelling along the rocky shores and a
walk along the cliffs to Anse des Flamandes.
After lunch the stones and I had a little lie down as last night’s
dinner obviously contained more fat than we thought, then feeling
better a while later we got ready to explore. With dark overcast skies
and more rain threatening we donned swimwear, quick dry clothes and
Tilley hats for our trek along the cliffs. We tied Shovell to a large
rock on the beach hoping he wouldn’t go walkabout again then set off
over the hills. The walk was delightful; the thousands of yellow and
white butterflies adding a ‘Fantasia’ feel to the whole setting. They
swarmed around like spring blossom falling from trees in gusts and I
half expected cartoon bunnies and Bambis to pop out from the cacti.
The views were fantastic over the craggy rock headland and along the
coast to the long sandy beach at Anse des Flamandes. The path led into
a road behind the beach front properties and then to a dead end at the
far end of the beach where signs were posted to keep the riff-raff out
of the classy hotel complex. There were no signs however above the
white marble walk way through the other hotel so we marched on through
and onto the beach where waves rolled in wildly in the brisk winds.
Lobsters lay on loungers no doubt a little annoyed at the English
weather on their Caribbean holiday. The light rain was a refreshing
relief as we walked with effort in deep sand along the shore then back
over the hills. The sun was now shining again with perfect timing for
a swim off our beach looking out to Brindabella; a great end to our
lovely walk and we were also back on board in perfect timing for a
sundowner before dinner. With a stack of laundry still hung from lines
zig-zagging through the boat I hoped for fine weather tomorrow.