Retrospective blogging!

Christine's Atlantic Circuit
Peter Lansdale
Wed 4 Jan 2017 21:41
Sorry, but I am all behind (don't even think of going there!).

So, we were in Laborie at the southern end of St Lucia, with the Peters trying to check out of St Lu in Soufriere. That didn't quite work..officialdom needed the boat there...so there followed a panic motor-sail to Vieux Fort by Skip and myself, while Peter N drove Sandra and Alexia to the airport. We had to go there too, as the immigration chappie at the port can't be bothered with the afternoon shift. Hey ho. Peter rejoined us onboard and the next morning saw us leaving St Lucia and making the bumpy 7 and a half hour crossing to St Vincent. Still in what he termed "galley slave" mode, despite rough seas and being on land legs for some time, Peter managed to produce lunch onboard - an impressive feat given the circumstances and a life saver in my case.

Saint Vincent, even from the sea is very different. Where St Lucia is very 'rainforest green' and mountainous, once you pass the Soufriere Volcano at the northern tip of the island, St. Vincent shows gentler slopes and what looks to be almost pasture land along the windward coast at least. After rocking and rolling, we arrived and checked in at Blue Lagoon Marina on the south eastern tip of the island.

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Looking across to the Marina

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Now...a bit of history...nap time for those who aren't interested. I was in St Vincent 37 years ago "helping" Nikki, a friend from my Brussels years, who had to move her late father's boat up to Antigua to be sold, after having arranged minor repairs and administered major TLC. Things having moved on a bit since then, I had no clear idea of where we were then compared to where we berthed on 30th December.
A chat with a friendly local the following day confirmed that I was in the exact same bay, which had changed almost beyond recognition. The great thing was that I was able to send Nikki photos and to let her know that the couple who took her under their wings at a very difficult time are still around, having returned to Grenada. We have to be there to pick up friends arriving from UK, so hopefully I will call in and see them on her behalf. I was told "Go to Prickly Bay, Grenada and ask for Alan Hopwood". How good is that?

Peter left us the following morning to explore the island and to make his way down to Grenada. We wish him safe and happy travels and hope he produces a blog of his adventures

So, this takes us to New Year's Eve and a very nice dinner in a restaurant close to the Marina. A lovely evening and an early-ish night. I missed "the bells" for the first time ever,



That is probably why we were both in a fit state to sail across to Bequia this morning. A mere 8 miles and I am pleased to say I was in the driving seat the whole way (what? nautical terms? I was turning a wheel to move the boat hence I drove! )

Anyway..I have fallen in love with the place in just a few hours. We might stay.

More anon,
L&P


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