Trades back in business again.
Oriole
Mon 28 Feb 2011 12:27
Prince Rupert Bay, Dominica. 15:34.94N
61:27.80W
Certain good friends would describe
our lunch on Wednesday in the Marine Restaurant in Bourg des Saintes as a
"blowout". Well it certainly blew the euros out of our wallets but was very
good, and we had taken some fairly serious exercise by walking up
to Fort Napoleon earlier, and to Fort Josephine on Isle Cabrit on Tuesday
so we felt we had earned it, and so when in France .............
Cruise ships racing through the
Saintes Up
at Fort Napoleon
where there is other wild life too.
The short passage from the Saintes to
Dominica was fresh and bouncy and one rogue wave fell into the cockpit and
soaked the unsuspecting Dani who was snoozing/sunbathing in the stern. She was
not quite sure what had hit her, but from her look she could have thrown the
helmsman (JL who also got soaked)) overboard. On our arrival in Prince Rupert
Bay we were welcomed by our Indian River Guide friend Martin who was waiting for
his English cup of tea and biscuits.
We teamed up with the crews of
Macdaddy, Breezing Up and Homarus for one of Martin's eco-tours of the north
part of the island. His knowledge of wild plants, trees and their
medicinal and gastronomic uses is encylopaedic and kept us fascinated all
day.
Martin harvesting
cinnamon.
Nuts! ............... cashew
nuts.
Robert being shied with coconuts in the Hampstead River.
Friday morning at 0700 the same team
were collected from their respective yachts and taken up the Indian River, one
of the highlights of a visit to Prince Rupert Bay. The swamp bloodwood
trees which line the river have the most extraordinary root systems and the
whole place featured in Pirates of the Caribbean 3 has a decidedly eerie
atmosphere. Martin had offered to make us all a fresh coconut rum punch
and so he and his wife joined us on Macdaddy for the most delicious
concoction, the making of which as closely monitored by the
confirmed alcoholics. This was followed by dinner, also on the
sixty-five foot motor yacht Macdaddy, the only vessel in the "fleet" capable
of accomodating twelve people on comfort.
The tradewinds have returned with a
vengeance and the Cook's Tour has been rearranged to give more time for the
delights of Dominica while the pressure gradient relaxes and the winds gusting
30-35 knots return to something more reasonable for those used to the more
stable floating platforms on which they earn their living.
On Sunday an hour's strenuous walking
brought us to the Chaudiere Pool in the forest under the watchful eye of Mount
Diablotin where we luxuriated in the cool fresh clear water before a picnic
lunch, and even more strenuous walking getting back out again. Last night
the boat boys put on a very well organised bbq (now weekly) with chicken, fish
and salads with a disco and dancing and as much rum punch as you could drink all
for £12 a head in a great new barn like shelter they have built. The crews
from most of the boats in the anchorage were there and it was a great
evening.
Rob and Dani in the Chaudiere
Pool
followed by picnic on the
rocks.
Swamp bloodwood in the Indian River