With our two beautiful friends here in the Caribbean for a few more days we decided to add another island to their belt before they left. A quick click for a flight and they were headed out from Barbados to St Lucia for the last 4 days of our time together.With a small bitter sigh of regret we packed up and left Bridgetown to head on to Vieux Fort.
Now this incurred much regret on my part for two reasons:-
...we packed up and headed onwards.
A happy 16 hour sail on a broad reach sent Croc Bones scooting into the night sky. There were fireworks that intertwined with the stars above during my watch that were marking the start of celebrations for Whit Monday. A local religious holiday that is followed by a massive food festival that lines the streets and made the sail really enjoyable.
We arrived and crashed into deep sleep until early afternoon. After the customary eventfulness of going through immigration and customs ( a back and forth go-here-go-there-wait-go-back-wait-stay-more wait annnnnnnnnnnnnd done) we spent the evening catching up with our friends and staring blissfully out into another breathtaking, burning sunset.
An early rise the next day sent us on our way up to Souffrire. Now its a Win-Loose situation this 'being in the wrong place for hurricane season' malarkey. We win because there is no one around and we get pretty much the whole of paradise to ourselves... but we loose because we are now on constant alert for weather warning and are paying close attention to the NOAA website.
Souffrire means "Air of Sulphur" and the smell definitely backs that up. After dropping anchor outside a bat cave!! OMG, very freaky and cool! We started with a climb up Petite Piton.. the smaller and non-tourist traveled Piton mountain (after starting up you can very much see why). 650m of huge boulders, sheer cliffs and tight crevices means you need to be on top form and have your wits around you to get up. We very cleverly (ehem) climbed at midday and devoured the 12 litres of water we took with us. 4 hours later and feeling a bit worse for ware our boat boy posse made up of Kevin, Darren and Xpert (Jarvis thought he said he was an X-man) took us to the local mud and Sulphur baths to ease away aches and pains .....
..and to throw hot mud at each other. Finally topping the day off with a visit to the Piton Waterfalls which were closed, not that that seemed to hinder anything. We splashed and played without a care in the world until the sun started to go down and then headed back to end an amazing day with a full belly of food. The owner was this awesome local guy who very excitedly told us he had, for 15 years, lived right by where my Mum and Jarvis' Dad had been born in London. What a small world.
It's an incredible feeling having every moment take your breath away more than the last... i can only hope it doesn't stop anytime soon.
Tia and Jarvis, Over and Out
Now this incurred much regret on my part for two reasons:-
- We only had 1 week of rest compared to having 3 weeks at sea. This did not sit well with me (I am thinking it should always be at least a 1:1 ratio)
- I honestly couldn't imagine anything better than Barbados.... Turtles, Happiest people in the world.. i mean, why would I want to leave!?
 |
| hello to the Jolly Rodger 2 in Bridgetown. I think this is our boat role model. One day we will too be as Piratey as this bad boy, until then "Ahoy Me Harties" |
...we packed up and headed onwards.
A happy 16 hour sail on a broad reach sent Croc Bones scooting into the night sky. There were fireworks that intertwined with the stars above during my watch that were marking the start of celebrations for Whit Monday. A local religious holiday that is followed by a massive food festival that lines the streets and made the sail really enjoyable.
We arrived and crashed into deep sleep until early afternoon. After the customary eventfulness of going through immigration and customs ( a back and forth go-here-go-there-wait-go-back-wait-stay-more wait annnnnnnnnnnnnd done) we spent the evening catching up with our friends and staring blissfully out into another breathtaking, burning sunset.
An early rise the next day sent us on our way up to Souffrire. Now its a Win-Loose situation this 'being in the wrong place for hurricane season' malarkey. We win because there is no one around and we get pretty much the whole of paradise to ourselves... but we loose because we are now on constant alert for weather warning and are paying close attention to the NOAA website.
Souffrire means "Air of Sulphur" and the smell definitely backs that up. After dropping anchor outside a bat cave!! OMG, very freaky and cool! We started with a climb up Petite Piton.. the smaller and non-tourist traveled Piton mountain (after starting up you can very much see why). 650m of huge boulders, sheer cliffs and tight crevices means you need to be on top form and have your wits around you to get up. We very cleverly (ehem) climbed at midday and devoured the 12 litres of water we took with us. 4 hours later and feeling a bit worse for ware our boat boy posse made up of Kevin, Darren and Xpert (Jarvis thought he said he was an X-man) took us to the local mud and Sulphur baths to ease away aches and pains .....
 |
| We climbed the one on the left |
..and to throw hot mud at each other. Finally topping the day off with a visit to the Piton Waterfalls which were closed, not that that seemed to hinder anything. We splashed and played without a care in the world until the sun started to go down and then headed back to end an amazing day with a full belly of food. The owner was this awesome local guy who very excitedly told us he had, for 15 years, lived right by where my Mum and Jarvis' Dad had been born in London. What a small world.
 |
| Bat man?? |
It's an incredible feeling having every moment take your breath away more than the last... i can only hope it doesn't stop anytime soon.
Tia and Jarvis, Over and Out
No comments:
Post a Comment