I love Customs & Immigration
Eowyn
Wed 23 Apr 2008 14:40
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This update is sent from Store
bay Tobago in position 11:09.46N 60:50.45W.
Plymouth was a pleasant anchorage but
we had to move for the fishermen who were seine netting for bait fish. This is
back breaking exercise so the cold beers we proffered were gratefully
accepted!
 We had to taxi to Scarborough to inform Customs that we were heading for the
North part of the Island. I again asked if we need check with immigration -no!
he said emphatically.
We motor sailed to Charlotteville
where I dutifully reported to Customs - or tried to - on the dock a fast patrol
boat with 9 officers on board , directed me back to the yacht. An hour later
they arrived and proceeded to search the yacht, albeit with some courtesy. I
returned to the Customs office to report in and again asked if we need see
immigration - no! was the answer.
The next day we headed to Anse
Bateau, passing inside the Melville Island and avoiding the hidden rock in the
narrow passage. We anchored between Anse Bateau and Goat Island. Whilst here, we
had a hike with a guide on Little Tobago to see the tropic birds amongst others,
Chris and I had 2 excellent drift dives and Steve and Jacqui took a kayak for a
while.
 On Sunday we had a great sail to
Parlavutier, an idyllic village with an photogenic waterfall
  On Monday, we returned to
Charlotteville to let them know we were leaving - the Immigration Officer then
berated us (me) for not having reported to him - despite the fact that the
Customs Officer who said I did not need to was standing next to him. I humbly
apologised for my sins and after phone calls to head office and a severe
reprimand they decided not to arrest me.
Despite this, Charlotteville is a
delightful small town and completely unspoilt by the 21st Century.
 Sailing Southwards, we anchored ad
Castara with a view to eating ashore, but the surge was too much on the beach,
flooding Jacqui's camera in the course of our landing. We continued on
Tuesday, eventually anchoring again in Store Bay. Ashore we visited the posh
Coco Reef hotel with a view to booking Jacqui's 21 birthday meal there but the
snooty atmosphere and an outrageous 125TT $ fee for beaching the dinghy put us
off. We are going the Karawak Village tonight, an altogether friendlier place.
Jacqui and Steve fly home tomorrow and Monday, weather and Customs permitting,
we return to Grenada
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