12:29.014N 061:28.942W
12:35.742N 061:24.942W
In Tyrrel bay we took the bus again to Hillsborough
to look for more electrical wire for the SSB radio, hydraulic fluid for the
autopilot, bananas and potatoes for the cockpit hammocks and fresh meat if we
could find it. We spent some time with Alex & Daria
(“Aleria”) anchored next to us (this is the 4th time
we’ve ended up as anchor neighbours since Santa Cruz, the Canaries!! All
coincidence, and nothing to do with the fact that Alex makes a mean and lethal
Rum Punch onboard ….)
At nights it has been gusting in excess of 30 knots
(boats have been dragging onto reefs taking out other boats with them nearby)
so sleep has not been restful and one or the other of us has been popping out
to check our holding every hour or 2).
On Friday 29th, on the bus back to Tyrrel
Bay, we hopped off at Paradise Beach, and found ourselves standing, at last, in
the centre pages of the brochure picture for the Caribbean – this is what
we sailed 5,500 miles to experience. A mile long empty beach of pure
white sand and clear, turquoise water lapping our toes. Squealing with
delight, we ran along the beach, swam, raced back to Talulah and got her ready
to sail first thing the next morning, anchoring just off Sandy
Island, opposite Paradise Beach…
Sailing in these parts often requires one of us to
stand on the bow with polarised sunglasses, looking out for reefs. As we
dropped anchor off Sandy Island, we saw our friends, Andre and Yves from
“Panorama” (we met in Grenada) following us. After
diving down to check the anchor was well set, (which we always do), we had a
glorious day of snorkelling, swimming and exploring Sandy Island (it takes 5
minutes on the tiny deserted island!), as the only 2 boats anchored here
overnight, we all sat on Talulah and had sundowners watching a spectacular
sunset. Andre then suggested a “pot luck” supper …
hoorah, I thought, and got busy baking soda bread and making salads and stews
of what little vegetables we had left. An hour later Andre and Yves
appeared back on Talulah carrying a huge chest freezer with them. Heaving
it onboard, they started unpacking Japanese plates, home-made soy sauces and a
feast of home-made crab and caviar noodle spring rolls, seared fresh tuna, cold
champagne and good French wine and cheese (they are from Quebec) …. My
bread, aubergine stew and potato salad were not quite of the same calibre, but
were politely tasted nevertheless. All was enjoyed and we feasted like
kings. It was heaven. (Fresh food is hard to find out here,
surprisingly even fruit and vegetables, unless you are lucky enough to come
across a small roadside stall selling freshly picked fruit… )
Afterwards, at midnight in the moonlight, we went
ashore to Sandy Island to make a fire. A mountain
of rubbish was collected, along with driftwood, and the fire duly lit.
After an hour or two of fire-gazing, we clambered back into our beached
dinghies with heavy eyelids and heads, and returned to our respective
boats…
We spent another day and night at Sandy Island,
chilling and swimming and snorkelling, and this-morning (Monday 1st February)
headed over to Hillsborough, dropped anchor and checked out of Carricaou / Grenada with
customs and immigration. After buying a few provisions we had a bumpy 3
hour beat in Force 6 up to Union Island, where we are about to check in for our
next few weeks cruising around the Grenadines and St Vincent.
Paradise Beach,
Carriacou, with Sandy
Island in the distance on
right
Pamela Anderson eat your heart out!! (by Shane)
Buddha on a log, Paradise Beach
(Eat your heart out The Hoff – by Ali)
View from Talulah at anchor, Shane snorkelling off
the reef, Sandy Island
Sunset, anchored off Sandy Island,
with The Sisters rocks silhouetted
Andre & Yves (“Panorama”) come to
Talulah with a heavenly feast served on their
Japanese plates (with Ali’s home-baked
baps…)
Men make fire with rubbish collected, Sandy Island,
woman goes hunting..
Men made fire, drink beer, woman still out hunting
… life good…
