Chris'Big Birthday!!

Karma Daze
Chris and Penny Manley
Tue 21 Jan 2014 14:15
Yesterday (Jan 20th) was Chris’ 70th birthday which we celebrated in Marigot Bay in the Rainforest Hideaway Restaurant.
 
After leaving Bequia in the new year we headed back to St Lucia, stopping at the Pitons, Soufriere and Marigot bay.  We then spent a few days anchored in Rodney bay before heading into the marina to await the arrival of Verity, James and Bethan, Matthew and Caroline, Anna and Helen.  All flying from London except Helen who was coming from Toronto.  All arrived on Jan 18th – well almost all.  Helen managed to miss her flight with a mix up over gate numbers and a stroppy gate person , so she arrived a day later.
 
We went to the airport to meet them all – and had the demon taxi driver who insisted in driving as close as possible to the car in front and overtaking at the most hair raising moment.  But we survived and the taxi ride back to Rodney Bay was mush pleasanter.  The airport is in the south of the island and Rodney bay on the north about an hour and a half away.
 
Monday, with everyone on board we had a nice gentle downwind sail, just on the genoa, to Marigot and picked up a buoy in the lagoon.  Chris then opened his presents – everything he’d asked for and more – followed by birthday cake and Prosecco.
 
The meal in the evening was excellent.  The Rainforest Hideaway is in quite a magical setting in the mangroves and can only be reached by dinghy.  We think it is one of the best restaurants in the Caribbean.  Anna and Helen decided to stay on board overnight and the others got a taxi back to their hotel in Rodney Bay.  Caroline and Matthew will return this morning to sail back with us to the marina.
 
Birthday pictures to follow.