Monday 3 June 2013

Pigeon Island Reserve to The Saints 24th May

Friday (!!!)  we sailed for six hours in variable winds. At one point we even got the pretty Multi Purpose Genoa out of it's locker to give it an airing- it hasn't been out since the Atlantic crossing!  Of course as soon as it was set the wind came up so it was furled again -along with all the other sails- as a rain front came through with  strong puffs (30 knots) and big waves.  Still I managed a Hot smoked salmon 'Sub' with fresh french bread for lunch AND Devils Chocolate cake at tiffin time, not bad eh?
      We picked up a mooring at 'teef time.    Iles de Saints , named because there being so many small Islands the explorers couldn't find enough saints names for them all!  Hey Ho! A pleasant few days with no wi-fi and intermittent tropical rain to keep the tanks topped off. It was rather rolly on arrival so we ate aboard.
   I also took some pictures of the 20 or so competitors in the round the Islands race.

 Saturday we went ashore for a cafĂ© au lait and general look around. They really go in for electric cycles here!

 Many artisans stores with gaily coloured fabrics and crafts.

 That evening we ate ashore in a pleasant restaurant which had tables around various water features.  No trouble from mosquitoes and the rowdy noise from the frogs made conversation impossible.   Sunday we hiked up hill to the Napoleonic fort for some history.

 1782 Admiral Rodney was here wresting the place from the French along with what I think must have been one of Sir Francis Drakes grandchildren, namely Francis Samuel Drake.  From old records someone had made a model to show 10,11, and 12 o’clock on the day of the battle.  The men o’ war had their ships name on the sail and boats were either red for the Brits or white for the French, it was most impressive.  As were the outside grounds, almost as good as the Botanical Gardens (on a smaller scale).

 The DOWNHILL walk was more to my taste.  It was spitting again by the time we had coffee.
Later….What a tasty Sunday dinner a leg of New Zealand Lamb obtained in the small local supermarket
  Monday was a grey day so we moved to the smaller Islet a Cabrit for more snorkelling. Pleasantly wall to wall fish! Plus we did get to see the mother and baby dolphin too.
Tuesday back to Desaires to sign out and we see the OC Club burgee flying next door so pop over to introduce ourselves to Jane and Tony aboard S/Y ‘Capisce’.  Then the passage to St Lucia.
Many more snaps in the latest folder on Picassa 'The Saints.