A pleasant morning saw Stephen and I climb up to Fort Louis which overlooks Marigot bay on the west of St Martin.  Wonderful views over much of St Martin’s west coast.  A little light refreshment and we were off to St Bart’s (a.k.a. St Barthelemy).  The passage up to the northern point of St Martin predictably demanded motoring into the wind, but we had not expected the wind and sea to be quite so adverse for the crossing to St Bart’s, so stopped overnight at Isle Fourchue just short of St Bart’s to give ourselves a rest before it became dark.

 

Snorkelling around the boat showed up a sting ray rummaging in the sand, and a turtle sitting on the sea bed almost under the boat, chewing idly at some vegetation, as well as a few snappers, blue tang and grunts.  The turtles appear for a minute or so on the surface to catch their breath before disappearing down into their watery world for more food, or just a rest on the sea floor.

 

The following morning, Stephen and I climbed through cactus scrub to the top of one of the higher volcanic peaks on the island for the views of St Bart’s, St Martin’s and adjacent islands, before completing the last few miles of our interrupted journey to St Bart’s.

 

Fort Louis, Marigot

 

Isle Fourchue