Guadeloupe to The Saintes

True Colours
James Scrimshaw
Tue 25 Feb 2014 01:09

Position 15:51.97N 061:35.20W

First, a catch up on Guadeloupe.  So on Friday morning, as we tendered to shore, we diverted and spoke to the couple in the boat that had a close (very close) encounter with us the previous night.  Bob and Lesley are from the Yorkshire Dales and are effectively permanent live-aboards.  We stopped and had coffee with them, and subsequently went on a walk with them and another couple (Jim and Janet from Canada).  Walk to the beach turned out more like an obstacle course, but eventually we made it, had a few beers, and returned via the road, followed by beers on the boat.

Saturday we visited the local botanical gardens – avoided walking there by taking a courtesy car, and  had a pleasant couple of hours strolling through the gardens (plus carp pond and parakeet area) before going back to the boat.

Yesterday we met up with Bob/Lesley & Jim/Janet again and had a more gentle walk with them, again followed by beers, this time on Jim and Janet’s boat.

Impressions of Guadeloupe?  The anchorage at Deshaises was definitely a wind trap, and Guadeloupe seems to have its own climate – which includes frequent heavy rain showers.  All added up to one of the less relaxing stops.

Today we left at 07.00 and motored around the west side of Guadaloupe in almost zero wind, before heading up and making the short crossing to The Saintes where we picked up a mooring at Bourg des Saintes. at 12.15 (31 Nm)  Paid our mooring dues and ordered Croissants and Baguette for delivery to the boat tomorrow.  Soon after we arrived an Amel 54 came in two moorings away;  they had been next to us in Deshaises, and we had communicated by extravagent waving.  So we went over to them as we were going ashore, just to say hello, and later met them in a bar and had a beer with them.  All in all, The Saintes looks more promising for a relaxing time than Deshaises.

Pictures – a couple from the botanical gardens, view of the beach from the top of the strenuous climb, and lighthouse as we say goodbye to Guadseloupe.

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