Family farewell
Irie
Thu 3 Apr 2008 15:24
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Rodney Bay
Wednesday 2nd April
Another week seems to have flown by, and the log has
unfortunately been relegated in the league of demands on time. Jill, Andy, Amy
and Alice flew off on Sunday afternoon, and then we delivered Kate and Millie to
the airport yesterday; suddenly the boat seems really empty - peaceful would
also be a good word except that the wind has freshened all day, it's now
blowing over 20 knots and a lumpy swell from the north east is creeping around
the top of the island and into the bay. It's been a good couple of weeks,
not least as it's certainly the longest and one the best times we've ever
had with Jill and Andy, and it's been a great chance to catch up with
the two stunning young ladies who have blossomed from our little
nieces. They've been great value, and remarkably tolerant of the constant
demands for attention from Millie. With a Rodney Bay brief, but
somewhat by chance, Jill chose an excellent hotel with a
great situation in the Bay Gardens. It's been perfectly located for
all of us: right on the beach, has an excellent pool and just two minutes walk
from their room is Iggys Bar, situated on the cut leading to Simpson Bay and
with a protected dinghy dock from where we could pick them up. The only downside
was Iggys' excellent value Happy Hour(s) - well we had to justify use of
the landing somehow.
After Wednesday's land based tour to the rain forest,
on Thursday we all piled onto Irie and set off for Marigot Bay. There was a
small delay waiting for much needed laundry from Foxy Johnny, but eventually it
arrived, still red hot from the dryer and with a wonderful, clean, salt free
aroma. It's a ten mile trip down island, passing the capital, Castries and
then picking out the narrow, well concealed entrance. Inside is a shallow reef,
a sand spit clad with palms and then a small, mangrove-fringed lagoon with
a bijou marina. It's so well hidden that a British admiral was
able to secrete his ships in here, disguised with palm leaves, as an
avenging French fleet chased down the coast. It's
also very sheltered and a hurricane hole when it blows. We picked up a mooring
on the way in, and were rapidly pounced on by a longboat selling local
artifacts. Christopher (Rasta name Bushman) and his sidekick David, had an
outrageous line in patter, but were quite engaging in a 'really want to sell you
something' way. He said his name was David, but that only emerged
after he had asked my mine, and it's likely that it was commercially
flexible. Anyway, it enabled us to exchange Rasta greetings, bond for life, and
barter amicably for three attractive stone turtles, one for each of the girls.
Ashore for lunch, we ate well in a little waterside restaurant where the Happy
Hour lasted all day - a strange business tactic, but none the less enjoyable.
There was just time for snorkelling and a bit of beach before we set off back
for Rodney Bay, arriving as dusk fell, yellow sun and anchor slipping
into the sea as one.
Friday saw another Pigeon visit, though with a couple of
goes at setting the anchor before it dug in. The bottom is hard stony with
occasional sand patches, and the CQR lies on its side without biting. At some
stage we'll try the Fortress that should bite better in this ground. The swing
from the spinaker pole seems a great sucess with Tarzans and Janes of all
ages, though marks for noise outweighed thoses for style. Friday night Andy and
Jill took us all to Buzz seafood restaurant. It was great food in a lovely
environment, and when Millie dozed off, the staff made a bed from two
chairs and cushions, so that she slept peacefully while we wined and dined
. Saturday was the Breakwells last full day, and spent mainly on the beach and
round the hotel pool. The morning was enlivened with a banana boat ride for
the four of them plus Katie, and the evening wound up with a farewell drink and
dinner aboard Irie. Sunday morning Katie launched into fitness mode, paddling
ashore, running three miles on the beach and then swimming for twenty minutes,
though she then spent the next three days complaining about sore calves.
Around midday we waved the first contingent off to catch their Virgin flight,
then settling in to enjoy Kate and Millie's last couple of days. Millie
has had a great time. Living on the boat for a couple of weeks has been no
problem, despite clothing and toys and books strewn all over - and that's just
her mother! Generally she's been asleep by seven or eight, not then surfacing
till daylight a around six. She's been on the go all day, retains
everything she sees, and was delighted to spot the various 'pirate ships'
that sailed in and out of the bay. On Monday we taxied into Castries for a bit
of shopping therapy, though the duty free shops were a) rather
disappointing and b) full of trippers recently disgorged from the two huge
cruise ships towering over the town. A key concern of these visitors seems
to be to debate the cost of everything in extremely loud voices. Back on
the boat, the dinghy was moored aft and bucket-filled with water, creating a
large seaborne paddling pool for Millie. This was a great success, and when the
time came to empty it out, we all took a bucket and as the level dropped, Millie
proclaimed that she had emptied her end first.
Packing on Tuesday was a brief affair, leaving time for a
couple of hours on the beach and today Millie swam in the sea for the first
time, having been wary of the waves up to now. All too soon it was time to hose
the sand off, climb into Charlie's taxi and head off or the airport, an hour and
a half away on winding roads. We arrived with time to spare, and much to
Millie's excitement, watched a number of planes land, including a big Virgin
747. At last we made our way to departures, made our farewells, and watched
them head through the dark sliding glass doors for the long flight home. It's
been a great time, and we're really sad to see them go.
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