Dominica–The Saintes–Guadeloupe

From Domonica it was off to Guadeloupe via The Saintes. We checked in at The Saintes and spent a few days there. Lovely little island group. We explored on the land, had a few nice walks around the main Island and dropped Ben and Karl at the ferry as they had to head back to Martinique for work.After the Saintes we sailed North to Pigeon Island in Guadeloupe.
We miss you Mina (especially Balrog!)

A really nice anchorage between the mainland and island with clear water and lots of turtles/ While there we did a couple of dives at the Jjacques Cousteau marine park. Very cool. As we were leaving we picked up a buoy and did another dive on the Japanese Garden. We also said goodbye to Fritze, Heidi and Mina here who are heading toward the BVIs for a visit from Heidis Mum. Hopefully we will meet up with them along the way. Till then we are keeping track of their travels at http://www.alytes.de/
From Pigeon Island, a short hop up to Deshais on the NW tip of Guadeloupe. A nice little town with solid free mooring buoys. We stopped a couple of days, Hired a car and had a look around Guadeloupe, shopped, visited the doc and the vet and shaved Balrog. He was getting pretty hot and taking a long time to dry at night and between swims. He’s much happier now!



Jen had a trim too

Dominica–Portsmouth

Our friends Ben and Karl joined us in Roseau to spend a week or so sailing North. We picked them up at the local ferry terminal and set sail toward Portsmouth.

Sailing to the Northern end of Dominica we arrived at Portsmouth and picked up a mooring buoy. Fritze, Heida and Mina had already arrived in Alytes and organised for a river tour in the morning so we jumped aboard with them to explore up the Indian river. No motors are allowed in the river so our guide slowly rowed up and explained the wildlife and landscape as we drifted along.

Next day we had a dive at the next bay around and also snorkelled the pier where there were lots of fish and clear water.

 

Dominica - Middleham Falls & Ti Tou Gorge

Another trip with Seacat today for some trekking in the mountains. Again Seacat showed us the best of his island, with regular stops along the way to sample the tastes of local fruits, nuts and berries. We tried sweet grapefruit, Jungle MnM's (cocoa), and lots of other tasty morsels.
We trekked up to Middleham Falls which was a great 3hr trip and swam under the falls before returning and heading to Ti Tou Gorge. 

This is a cool place where you can swim up a narrow gorge and experience the power of the river falling into a giant whirlpool.
Afterwards we headed for a well deserved lunch at the riverview cafe for some yummy creole chicken.
Then we went to Trafalgar falls for a short walk to the hot pools for a lazy hour lounging in the 40 degree water which comes bubbling up from the ground.
On the way back to Sephina we stopped at a couple more places and finally arrived home a bit after dark. Well its new years eve and although we all could probably fall fast asleep at 7pm, we made the effort to head out for dinner and see whats happening around the town. Not much!
The restaurants were closed at 9 and with little on offer we returned to Sephina with Heidi and Fritze and cooked up spaghetti, drank wine and waited for the promised midnight fireworks. Well nothing there, we heard a couple of bangs but nothing resembling fireworks. Oh well we tried and welcomed in the new year as best we could after another great day in Dominica.