WE HAVE OUR FIRST GUEST ON THE BOAT!!!

 It's always exciting to have family and friends visit us while we sail the wild, blue yonder. My precious niece, Rebekah Phillips, joined us for 10 eventful days. We picked her up in St Vincent and sailed straight to one of my favorite small islands, Mustique. Very few of our friends have heard of Mustique as it's a privately owned island in the Grenadines where many of the rich and famous own properties, including Mick Jagger and Princess Margaret. Needless to say, it's manicured and fabulous, yet full of friendly folks. We took a 2 hour island tour with "Slick" who told us stories of many well-known personalities that he's had the privilege of meeting while working on Mustique the past 15 years, Janet Jackson and Denzel Washington to name a few. Needless to say, we had a very good time while driving by beautiful estates and dreaming of seeing Reese Witherspoon or Raquel Welch or David Bowie....  

We spent the rest of our time on Bequia. Unfortunately Hurricane Matthew sent us heavy rains and high winds for three days, so we stayed at the small Gingerbread Hotel/Restaurant (only 10 rooms) right on the beach where we could keep an eye on Always Sunday. Our rooms were  spacious with huge king-sized 4 poster beds complete with mosquito nets, which we gladly used, and kitchens, large bathrooms and a huge porch. We just brought our groceries from the boat and cooked in our room. It was very restful and I would recommend this place to anyone who loves the beach and wants to just relax. The diving is some of the best! I think Rebekah loved the snorkeling the most and was like a little fish, swimming for hours. We saw octopus, trunk fish, sea urchins, turtles, plus a lot more.

Rebekah is driving the boat!

That's an octopus in the center with two bulging eyes. The open shells are a sure giveaway that an octopus lives here. 

Rebekah is ready for the Mustique  Island tour.

Wild flowering vine seen along the roadside.

View from "The View" restaurant where we had a great lunch!

Old sugar mill ruins to the right at the resort.

Photo of the eastern side of the island where you can whale-watch in the spring.

George - just one of many box turtles roaming free.

FINALLY, BACK IN BEAUTIFUL GRENADA!

It's been 4 years since we were last in Grenada. Actually, it was our last family vacation with Danielle, and it was so special. We left on Christmas Day in 2012 with our niece Sharon (Danielle's other half) and the four of us spent an awesome time aboard a 45' leased catamaran with air conditioning!!! And so returning to these lovely Grenadine Islands has been bittersweet as all those wonderful memories with Danielle and Sharon come flooding back; watching them swing in the red hammock on the front of the boat, playing Banana Grams at night, snorkeling in the crystal clear waters, enjoying God's fabulous creation.....

We needed to give Always Sunday some special attention, so she was hauled out at Spice Island Marine Services to have her bottom painted and some additional repairs done. When you live on a boat, there's always something that needs work. Instead of camping on the boat out of the water, which is not very pleasant, we checked into The Grenadian Rex Resort for a long weekend and rented a car so we could check on boat repairs daily and buy provisions, and go to church on Sunday with our new boat friends Mike and Roycelyn Bowman from West Monroe, Louisiana. We loved being at the Rex with all meals included and afternoon tea and sandwiches. The staff was top of the line, the food was really well prepared, and I'm sure I gained a few pounds with desert 4 times a day. Who can pass it up when it's all inclusive!  

Downtown Granada where the cruise ships come in.

Beach at the Grenadian Rex - it's off season so we had this all to ourselves! 

Always Sunday going back in the water after her paint job.

It's always great to meet fellow Christians and Louisianians - Mike and Roycelyn

HIKING IN THE HASH - CARRIACOU IS BRUTAL!

Carriacou is one of our favorite islands. The people are warm and friendly, and the landscape is breathtaking. We met several new boating friends who invited us to go "hiking" with them. Boy, were we surprised to show up where about 200 people had gathered for an event that happens every 3 months in Carriacou, and takes place on other area islands as well. Runners and walkers get together more for fun and exercise than to compete, and we, as visitors to the island, were included in the festivities. The trial changes each time, and this one snaked around the island through newly-cut trails up the mountains, through the beautiful countryside on footpaths, and on unpaved roads next to pastureland and gardens. It was a wonderful way to see more of the inner island and to meet new friends along the way. It took us over 2 hours to complete the course, and at times I wasn't sure I could take another step uphill. We dug our fingernails into the dirt paths and grabbed tree roots to keep from tumbling backwards. Would we do it again? I think so..... once the poison ivy and blisters go away, maybe...

We survived!!!

Look at those views!

We're only about half way.

Sandy Island is one of our favorite anchorages. The snorkeling is awesome.

Ricky takes sunset photos every single night!

PETIT ST VINCENT IS AMAZING!!!

The beautiful private island of Petit St. Vincent was probably the very first Caribbean boutique island, opened in the late 1960's. The grounds, cottages, restaurants, beautiful sandy beaches and areas left untouched for wildlife make this a fun place to explore. We arrived during the season that they are closed (mid August - October), so we missed eating in their restaurants, but were granted permission to hike to the highest peak for grand views of the island and looking across to neighboring Petit Martinique. We also toured a few of their cottages so we can recommend them to family and friends looking for a place to be pampered in paradise!

Resort at PSV

Shy Porcupine  "Puffer" Fish

Photo of our boat taken from mountaintop with Petit Martinique in background

 

Rugged side of PSV

Moving through the many islands of the Grenadines...

Iguanas hoping to share our lunch at Palm Island

After lots of diving in Bequia and visiting with new friends, we decided to escape to a secluded place for a slower pace. We anchored with only two other boats in sight in Tobago Cays. This is a group of small, deserted islands protected from the sea by a huge reef called "Horseshoe Reef." We loved snorkeling with the many turtles who let us get pretty close without making a hasty retreat. We also saw many large Southern Rays there, as well as a few Reef Sharks and Nurse Sharks.

Look closely at the top right corner and there's part of a pretty large Nurse Shark. 

Turtles everywhere!

This was our backyard for several days.

Map showing St Vincent down to Grenada

 Our next brief stop was to Mayreau, where we stayed one night in Salt Whistle Bay.

Our friend, Heiko, from S Africa is kite surfing

Amazing Diving in Bequia!!!

Ricky and I have recorded almost 100 dives in the Caribbean, and we're always looking for great diving when we visit the islands. Unfortunately hurricanes in the past few years have reeked havoc on the coral in most of our favorite dive sites. Well, not so in Bequia! We dove 4 different sites and were pleasantly surprised. My underwater photos aren't great, but here are a few...

French Angelfish watching me watch her

Sunken Ship at Devil's Table - So Many Fish!!!

One of my favorites, Smooth Trunk Fish

Baby Drum swimming over Brain Coral

 Most of our friends have never heard of Bequia. It's near St. Vincent, and is still somewhat of a sleepy fishing village, isolated enough to be unspoiled. The fishermen still have a whaling season and hunt the whales in open sailing boats with hand-thrown harpoons. They also build traditional wooden fishing boats on the beach under the palm trees.

Admiralty Bay

Typical style cottage

Rather isolated community of Moonhole, founded by late American architect Tom Johnson, originally built under a natural arch known as "Moonhole." It was abandoned when a large boulder fell and crushed the ceiling, landing on the empty bed. Other houses have been added over the years with similar style: no straight lines or right angles, no glass in the windows, lovely outdoor patios, huge arches, and fantastic views. It is now a vacation destination.

The Beautiful Windward Islands...

The history is fascinating as we hop from one beautiful island to the next, and it's no wonder that the French and English and Spanish countries all fought over these amazing islands.

Martinique was called "Little Paris" at one time, and is the birthplace of Napoleon's own Josephine, whose father owned a 200-acre, 150-slave plantation. The harbor of St. Pierre was home to a magnificent theatre and many well-to-do shops and businesses who catered to ships coming to pick up rum, sugar, coffee and cocoa.

In 1902, Mt. Pelee started spewing ash over the island, giving the residents ample time to evacuate, but instead of leaving the island, many came into the city because their governor ensured everyone that St. Pierre was in no danger. He was wrong! An estimated 30,000 people burned to death in the volcanic explosion that released more energy than an atomic bomb, leaving only two survivors in the town center: a cobbler and a prisoner in a stone cell. Twelve ships anchored in the bay were destroyed, with one escaping with a few survivors. Many of the ruins remain, and most new buildings have at least one wall from the old city ruins.

Theatre Ruins

More city ruins

Quaint town of Anse d'Arlet

 St. Lucia is one of our favorite islands, and we couldn't wait to anchor between the twin peaks of her famous Pitons again. We rented a car and spent the day driving around this mountainous tropical forest with hair-pin curves and steep embankments. They raise a lot of bananas here. We walked through Mamiku Gardens and hiked up to see the ruins of a 1600's rum plantation, then had a blast zip-lining through the forest. We anchored near the fabulous Jalousie Plantation Resort where we had a lovely lunch and enjoyed the lovely beach and manicured grounds.

Sunset in The Pitons

Taken from Jalousie Resort

Ricky getting a foot massage from baby fish  

Flowers in the gardens

Flying through the jungle with the greatest of ease.....

We made it through all 12 courses!

The Pitons as seen from Soufriere Bay