PART 2, Carriacou and Tobago, 15 June to 6 August 2018

Ladyrebel
Wed 15 Aug 2018 22:08

Carriacou and Tobago

15 July to 6 August 2018

Crew:  Ken Robertson, Jenny Thomas

PART 2

We were now anchored at Store Bay on the South West corner of Tobago.


View from Lady Rebel whilst at anchor in Store Bay


View of anchorage from the beach

It was here we caught up with Peter and Celina (the locals we’d met in Union Island).  Peter took us to Scarborough to Customs and Immigration to check in again – a requirement even though we were still on the same island!  Peter also took us to the dive shop to buy our own dive tanks.

Goat Racing in Buccoo was a must see!  It’s a big event in Tobago, though only occurs a few times a year in the purpose built stadium.  Various forms of entertainment occurs between races from games to singers to dancers to steel pan bands.


Buccoo Bay



                                                                                                Crab Racing!

An island tour was also a must do, so we flagged down a local ‘taxi’, negotiated a price and spent the day absorbing the knowledge of David, our tour guide.  We visited Fort St James, the Humming birds, Castara, Parlatuvier, Blood Bay, the rain forest, the Gillpin trail, Roxborough, Argyle Waterfall and Scarborough.




Castara Bay                                                                                                         Castara Waterfall


Parlatuvier Bay


Parlatuvier Beach from the jetty


Road to Gillpin Trail in the Rainforest                                      Raining in the Rainforest!

Argyl Falls

Bamboo Trees on path to falls

 

 

It is not permitted to visit Buccoo Reef under one’s own steam, so we embarked upon a glass-bottom boat trip having been informed the focus of the trip was the snorkelling.  This however was not the case.  The focus was ‘partying’!  The driver was drinking rum and smoking weed from the moment the boat left the shore. 

We visited Pigeon Point to collect supplies, had a short snorkel in the Coral Garden, had a swim in Nylon Pool and a BBQ on No Man’s Land, all for 95TT, approximately £10.00/person

Store Bay Beach with glass bottomed boats and La Mischief and Lady Rebel in the background


Pigeon Point                                                                                                       Coral Garden


Snorkelling                                                                                                          Very Shallow Nylon Pool


Buccoo Reef                                                                                                       No-Man’s Land


Waiting for BBQ                                                                                                The driver with his rum and drinking partner!

What a small World!  We had met a family firstly in a restaurant, then at the goat racing and now at No-Man’s Land.  Each time we saw them we chatted a little more.  Jackie, English and her husband Andres, live in Northampton in the UK.  They also own a gorgeous property in Tobago spending 50% of the year there.  The conversation progressed to previous employers and the subject of Aston Martin came up.  Andres suddenly announced he knew he’d recognised me from somewhere!  He was the Design Director for John Lobb shoes who had a brand partnership with Aston Martin.  He remembered coming to the factory at Gaydon six years previously and me serving him coffee and looking after him prior to his meeting with various Aston Martin Directors!! 

Jackie and Andres were fascinated by our ‘life-style’ so we met for a meal, saw their amazing home and invited them aboard Lady Rebel.  We exchanged stories and learned a lot about Trinidad and Tobago from them.

Wednesday 1 August was Emancipation Day in celebration of the abolishment of slavery in 1834.  Tobago was the first country in the World to declare a national holiday to commemorate this. We joined their celebrations on Pigeon Point where they put on a show of singers, dancers, drummers and steel pans, many telling the story of slavery.  There were various stalls selling local street food, including crab and dumplings,  arts and crafts and a procession to round off the day with locals in various traditional costume.


Drum Explosion


Tuning the drums by heating and stretching the skins.


Andres and Ken taking in the atmosphere                                             Steel Pan band


                                                                                                                Crab and Dumplings


Bands playing into the evening                                                  Steel Pans leading the parade

We went for a local meal with Steve and Dee and their two guests to celebrate Ken’s Birthday, which culminated in drinks and cake aboard La Mischief and a midnight swim.  I’d obviously momentarily forgotten about the shark that had been spotted earlier in the day swimming below La Mischief!

Peter and Celina brought their sports fishing boat ‘Charge-Up’ (meaning drunk!) round to Store Bay so we joined them for sundowners and returned the favour aboard Lady Rebel another day.


Charge-Up anchored nearby

On Monday 6 August it was time to check out of Tobago.  We flagged a car down to take us to Customs and Immigration in Scarborough and it was coincidentally David, our previous tour guide!  Whilst in Scarborough we walked the steep, but worth while, incline to Fort King George.  Whilst waiting at the bus stop to return to Store Bay, who should drive past but Jackie and Andres, who kindly gave us a lift back.


Pictures from a collage in Scarborough Town, Leather Back Turtle and Seine Fishing


Fort King George                                                                                              Overlooking Scarborough Town

We sadly waved goodbye to Tobago at 2200 hrs for the 65 mile overnight passage to Trinidad arriving at daylight the following morning, ready for our next adventure!

                                                Store Bay

 

 

 

 

 

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