Great Bird Island, Antigua 17:08.64N 61:43.67W

 

The New Year has started with a bang.  Firstly Robert and Dani's engagement followed by a lunch visit to the home of Mike and Almarie Tyson (OCC Port Officer) who live overlooking the magnificent east coast of Antigua

 

                                   

 

Montserrat Volcano.  The gas escaping on the right is new and this whole cone may collapse imminently.   

                                            

That was followed by a helicopter flight (Andrew's Christmas present to us all) around Montserrat and its very active volcano. It was very sad to see the devastation of the previously beautiful capital Plymouth destroyed in 1997 by a pyroclastic flow.  The volcano is more active now than it has been for some time and it was announced two days ago that a major erruption is expected as the cone is predicted to collapse.  This was all a very exciting experience and was a wonderful present.

 

 

Buildings burnt out and buried in Plymouth in 1997.

 

We have now sailed round the north side of Antigua where there are low islands and reefs creating shelter from the ocean and some lovely anchorages and interesting pilotage.  We have been snorkling, walking on the islands and generally chilling out.

 

 

 

  Oriole anchored off Great Bird Island, Antigua.