15:34.888 N  61:27.966W  

Thursday 7th January

After a three hour sail we arrived in Prince Rupert Bay, Portsmouth on the west coast of Dominica. As we approached the bay we were greeted by a boat boy who introduced himself as Andrew, his boat was called Sea Bird. The boat boys main business is river tours and other tours of the island, as well as other services.

We dropped our anchor and soon had three small boats by us selling fruit and vegetables. So we ended up buying some mangos, passion fruits and grapefruits. Yum!

A few other BWR boats were anchored in the bay so we arranged a trip up the Indian river with Andrew. As you enter the river you have to row as out board engines are not allowed in order to try and protect the wildlife. The river quickly narrows and gets completely over hung by huge swamp trees on both sides. Their massive roots spread out above the soil and down into the water twisting into interesting wavy designs. Long vines dangle in the river and we could see fish in the water below but we didn’t see much other wildlife, just an Iguana and some Herons.

Andrew also arranged a tour of the island for the afternoon. Our taxi driver Winston was very knowledgeable  stopping the mini bus along the way showing us the banana plantations and picking lemon grass, basil and other herbs growing just off the road side. He took us to Chaudiere pool, a perfect tropical pool set amongst lush vegetation. It is fed by a small waterfall and surrounded by rocks. The pool is about 15 ft deep and we had to hike for about 30 minutes down a steep path to reach it. Paul, Mark, Pete and John jumped 20 ft from the rocks above into the pool, the not so brave of us just enjoyed a swim in the pool. We had a longer but slightly easier hike back and Winston again kept stopping to cut off some Cinnamon bark for us and a Coco pod which he broke open for us to taste the seeds. On the way back we stopped at the Red Rocks. The Red Rocks are compacted mud that have been formed from an earthquake and has been etched into strange shapes.

Winston was an absolute star even getting his friend to open up a small bar that was set up on the veranda of his house for us to have a beer. A perfect setting on the beach! We arrived back in Portsmouth where Andrew was waiting to take us back to our boats, all this for $EC 60 About £20!

Tomorrow we head further down the coast for an overnight stop at Roseau.

Mark hoping for a part in the next Mamma Mia movie (left)      Boat boy Dan on “My Way” (right)

Wrecks from hurricanes 10 years ago

Our tour boat (left)                    The oldest living person who was 128 lived here (right)      

Hiking to the pool

The pool 

Red Rocks