Pete’s sister Gill left us last week from Fort De France in Martinique. It was great to see her but we couldn’t believe the time went so quickly.

After staying a few days in Fort de France, we crossed over the bay to Anse Mitan, which is a popular bay for local boats. Some of the facilities advertised had been destroyed in a hurricane a few years back, including the marina where you had been able to check out of customs.

We sailed north to St Pierre to find an alternative customs office and were delighted by the spectacular scenery further north, which was dominated by high maintains and rain forest. Mount Pelee overlooks the town of St Pierre and last erupted in 1908, completely destroying what had been the capital city. When we were there it just sat with its head in the clouds.

 

Mount Pelee                                                                                         St Pierre

 

After a night there, which was a remarkably calm and still anchorage, we travelled about 30 miles further north to Dominica. We moored in Roseau, the capital and spent a peaceful evening with no wind to turn the generator, which was bliss on the ears but bad news for the batteries.

Today we joined up with Lesley and Bobby from the Island Packet Grainne to visit the tropical rainforest. The tour guides and taxi drivers are all trained in knowledge of the flora and fauna as well as first aid by the government. Consequently our guide, who also owns the mooring we are on, was extremely well equipped to show us around.

 

 

 

                            A rainy day in the forest                                                        Water the temperature of good hot bath!

 

The rain forest was fantastic despite heavy rain and we also enjoyed a bath in a hot spring heated from one of the 7 active volcanoes as well as being shown lemon grass, coffee grapefruit, guava, cinnamon and ginger growing wild. The island is so steep sided the bay is too deep to anchor, hence the need for a mooring buoy. Hydrogen sulfide from the volcanoes wafts over the boat, permeating all the cabins. The island is far less cultivated or developed than any of the islands we have yet visited and is consequently stunningly beautiful. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip so far.