13:00.5N 61:14.5W

Hi all!

 

We are currently enjoying the full Caribbean experience on Bequia, but before we got here, we visited Grenada and Carricou:

 

After Tobago, we sailed to Grenada, Prickly Bay, which we anchored in. It was quite crowded and we just managed to find a spot near a restaurant called De Big Fish. Pretty much the only boats there were sailing boats, but of many different sizes, shapes and types. There were loads of restaurants near the bay, but we had to walk for about 10 minutes to get into town. While in town, we’ve discovered that all the taxis blow there horn to pedestrians to advertise their services. The Grenadines don’t seem to realise the joys of walking!

 

In Prickly Bay, Kerry and I met some kids on a boat called Cape, who invited us join them for Mexican Train Dominoes and a movie at a restaurant in the neighbouring bay, called Secret Harbour. The kids names were Bryn and Beth and, with a girl called Natasha, we all set off on the 10 minute walk to Secret Harbour. We met loads of other sailing kids there, like Emma, Tanzi and quite a few more. It was really nice socialising with kids our age! We played volleyball with them and a few other adults the next day. I was pretty rubbish at hitting the ball, but our team still one quite a few of the games!

 

On Monday 9th Mum, Dad, Kerry and I went on a tour around the island with Henry’s Safari Tours! It was really amazing and we found out all about the spice trade in Grenada. As we were driving along, our guide Dexter told us about the buildings we were passing. Our first stop was at a rainforest, but we didn’t go in, we only looked at the centre there that explained about the life in the rainforest and the large lake near it. Next we went to a nutmeg factory. Grenada used to export a third of the world’s nutmeg and was given the name ‘The Spice Isles’. But sadly in 2004, Hurricane Ivan destroyed 90% of the crop and the nutmeg industry in Grenada never really went back to it’s previous state. However, the factory was still really interesting to watch. I was quite surprised at the lack of machines; the only modern equipment was the shell cracking machine! After that we travelled to a nutmeg plantation, which was kind the same as the factory; a shadow of Grenada’s former glory and quite sleepy.

 

Dexter with us at the nutmeg plantation.

 

There we looked at the stages some of the spices such as cocoa, nutmeg, cloves, mace, etc go through before they can be sold, . Our final stop was at a waterfall, which was quite pretty. The water was a bit cold, but it was a very nice to swim in fresh water around the waterfall pool.

Having a splash about in the waterfall pool.

 

Then we sailed to Carricou on Wednesday 11th.

 

Tyrrel Bay in Carricou where we stayed 2 nights.

 

The sail was a bit rougher than Kerry and I were used to, most of our recent sails had been smooth and with no leaning over! At Carricou we picked up a mooring. The next day we explored the town, which wasn’t very busy, and then had lunch at The Slipway Restaurant, where I had one of the best hamburgers yet! I also picked up a large pink conch.

A dog having a snooze by The Slipway Restaurant.

 

We didn’t spend very long in Carricou because we sailed the next day for Bequia. It was another tilted sail and the wind was too strong for the wind generator, so it freewheeled at high speed. It was quite safe, but it still made a rather annoying noise while it span. Dad then managed to ‘catch’ it (with a boat hook) and tie it down.

 

On arriving at Bequia we moored on a buoy and jumped in the water which was warm and amazing clear; we could see the bottom of Admiralty Bay!

Bequia’s town is filled with souvenir shops or stalls. I bought a T-Shirt and a wrap-around skirt and lots of books from a large second hand bookstall. Bequia is not only good for shopping, for it has some really nice beaches. We went for a snorkel by Princess Margaret Beach and picked up some lovely shells and saw a large free-swimming eel!

Mum with her newly bought grasshopper hat!

 

We’ll be staying in Bequia 6 days more and will be heading to St Lucia, which we will be staying in for Christmas, with a charter boat and some family!

Until next time,

Robyn