Soufriere, St Lucia. 13 51.2N, 61 03.6W.

We motor sailed to Soufriere on Monday morning and picked up a mooring at the base of Petit Piton, a mountain created by a past volcanic eruption. We went ashore and visited the volcano site where the hot springs and sulphur break out on the earth’s crust and as we had booked a guide to take us up Petit Piton at seven on Tuesday morning, we had an early night.

The walk up Petit Piton is in reality, a scramble from the word go, using hands, knees and the ropes that have been secured to the more challenging parts of the walk. We were back on Sea Spray about midday and we then decided to go and spend some time in the warm water baths just outside Soufriere which was a very good idea for aching legs and arms.

Having been sufficiently re-juvinated, Louise and Ian then treated me to some beers and a meal out (at Skippers in Soufriere) to celebrate my birthday and so a big thank you for that guys. Ian took me back to the boat at seven and I was comfortably in bed reading by eight.

Louise says hi to Mum, sis and bro!