Wearing shoes
Calema
Mon 6 Jan 2003 11:37
shoes on yesterday to climb Petit Piton a 750m lump of rock and scrub rising
straight from the sea in the southern part of St Lucia, near Soufriere. We
were advised to take a guide who came in the form of Wayne (or Stonelove if
we use his rasta name) who managed the climb effortlessly in bare feet and
can, he informs us, do the round trip in just over an hour. We took just
under 4 with suitable rest and kodakking at the top. It has hard to see any
way up from the beach but suitably placed tree roots and some very dodgy
fixed ropes got us past the trickiest bits. Needless to say the view from
the top was spectacular although a slight haze made it impossible to see St
Vincent to the south or Martinique to the north. We finished off the jarring
decent with a bathe in a warm volcanic spring while Stonelove smoked his
second joint of the day (he smokes every day whether he needs it or not -
and looks very fit on it).
This is our 8th day in St Lucia so we are going to clear customs today with
a view to heading to Bequia either today or tomorrow. St Vincent is the next
logical stop but most people advise giving it a wide berth to avoid numerous
boat boys who will approach your boat from within a couple of miles from
your destination to sell their services, fruit, carvings, necklaces. They
can be very tenacious and we have heard of a boat with as many as 9 small
craft hanging on to it looking for handouts and trade. I always fear that
too strong a NO may result in reprisals so am keen to avoid the experience.
We have been using mooring bouys put down by the coral conservation society
for a minimal cost. The joke is that there is infact very little coral
around here as it was all blown away by the swell from hurricane lenny 2
years ago. Having said that, the snorkelling is great, the best sighting so
far being a biggish sea snake which we are told is not poisonous.
Have been mostly eating on board but had a fantastic meal at a beach
restaurant last night. They picked us up from the boat, left a guy on board
to keep an eye on it, let us fill up jerry cans of water, gave us an armful
of fresh fruit and gave us a fantastic meal - all for about 30 quid. We were
sold on the place when wesaw Benny Jr walking to the water's edge to clean a
fresh tuna in the afternoon. It was served in a creole sauce with bread
fruit, sweet potato, plantain, turnip, beans, carrots, chrisophine and
dasheen (oh yeah and rice). The obligatory rum and tonic was served with
baked slices of coconut with salt which were quite delicious.
The owners (Benny and Marceline) are now about to pick us up in their boat
and take us into town for customs and and shopping. There are some rip off
artists around (lots) but it's great to find some real islanders who are the
most friendly and hospitable people you could hope to meet.
I hope to post a few more pics once we get down to Bequia (no internet cafs
round 'ere). I hear Benny's outboard - must dash.