Wow - a lot has happened! Sorry this is so long.

We had a good sail from Prince Rupert Bay Dominica up to Les Saintes - it's only 20 miles so not too onerous. We were lucky to get a mooring ball. Secured the boat and then went in to clear customs and have a look around. We found some cool things in the grocery store and retired back to the boat. 

Had a bit of a rocky night on the boat so we switched mooring balls to one that looked better the next morning.

We had met Jason and Roberta from Dobro Dani back in Dominica who are doing a cool sabbatical. They purchased a boat in Croatia and are in the process of sailing it back to Vancouver - or around the world - not sure yet. So later that night we went over for sundowners on their boat. Fun couple. Hope to see them more down the road.

Next day rented scooters and created seniors-bike-gang mayhem around the island.

Clearing in

Look out! Comin' through

Limin'

Stinky Sargassum Beach

French lunch

Visiting Dobro Dani

Had a rockin' and rollin' night - worse than the last so at 7 we were all awake and decided to head off to Pigeon Island, 20 miles up the coast of Guadeloupe.

Mike and I started talking about rollmops (pickled herring with a pickle) in Les Saintes but none of the Les Saintes stores had them. So we were on a mission when we got to Pigeon Island. We anchored and quickly made our way to the grocery store in the little marina/hole-in-the-wall. We found many things but sadly no rollmops. Actually, Charlotte found some but they were pickled in a cream sauce (weird, right?) and we just weren't ready for that.

Snorkeled in the Jacques Cousteau park and saw some lovely corals and different fish. The current was quite strong so I didn't last as long in the water as Charlotte with her powerful strokes (and fins.) Made our way back out to the boat for an evening of stories, reading, wine and dinner. The next morning headed up to Deshaies to continue our search. Didn't find any but we did find 12 Euro beers at Club Amer. I guess thanking them for providing free internet for the harbour.

Looking down the beach from Club L'Amer

Expensive and delicious beer. Thanks Mike!

From the Death in Paradise set

Same

Spent some time wandering around the town, looking at the landmarks from the TV series Death in Paradise. You really should check it out. Lots of fun.

We had been looking at the weather and the best day for travelling north to Antigua was going to be the day before their flight home - leaving us no time to explore English Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard. So we broke a cardinal rule - and chose to sail 42 miles on a day that we shouldn't have. The forecast was for high winds (18 to 25) and confused seas. And guess what??? The forecast was right. We double reefed the main and significantly pulled in the genoa. So now the wind wasn't a factor but the seas were all over the place and no fun at all. We got a good thrashing. And to top that off, we were hit by 5 or 6 squalls that threatened to drench us.

So we did that for 8 hours - no fun at all and certainly no fishing - but upon entering Carlisle Bay we found calm water, nice sunshine, good internet and a beautiful sunset. So file that one away.

Carlisle rainbow

Bobbin'

Murphy lounging on the beach

We went into Falmouth in the morning to check in and see the fabulous private yacht collection of the rich and famous. It is impossible to describe these boats. There must be billions tied up in these fancy toys. Crazy.

So we've relaxed in Carlisle, enjoyed more of the same in our base at Hermitage Bay near Jolly Harbour and had a quick island tour.

Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium

One of the cross Atlantic rowboats getting ready to be shipped back to England

Sister boat - Windswept Dreams getting ready for painting

Betty's Hope windmill restoration project

Pam standing next to a copper sugar reducing pot

So they're gone! Put them on the plane this afternoon and last I checked they were getting ready to land in frigid Toronto.

We had a super time showing them around our Caribbean stomping grounds. Appreciated their help, good nature and generosity. What great traveling companions!!!