JUMPING THE GUN, but this prize winning shot of a Hawksbill turtle must start off Deb’s posting. She took it in the Tobago Cays, part of St. Vincent & the Grenadines on her second day visiting us on Moody Blues.

“Jeez, California to Miami to Puerto Rico to Grenada (check into customs) to Carriacou (check out of customs) to Union Island (check into customs) to Tobago Cays and jump in! I loved being on Moody Blues and sailin’.”

“I liked the shot of Jenio w/ the Q flag, because I enjoyed the flag changing drill it was a kick and I believe this is then I woke up from, our 1st crossing. By the way I am enjoying the coffee cup I bought for Allen I love all the different flags, next time I am bringing a CA state bear flag to fly as your guest fly.”

“The 2 big boys “Onyx and Artesomthing.” This shot doesn’t really show how big they were, but whatever, they are always bigger in real life!” 

“Ah, this might be my favorite. You guys are the cutest fish in the sea!” (Susea here, I love it too.)

“The shot of you with Cosmos the K & J Tours driver is adorable (right Bon~Bon?). “

“Then our “Woody” surf shot is friggin adorable.”

“Jenio our fearless leader at the water fall, he looks like he’s been to a Grateful Dead concert.”
“I like the shot of the “Bounty of Grenada’ Who knew chocolate came from a big old pink pod.”

“Love this, it’s a great memory. You 2 look really happy. The waterfalls were bitchin.”

“I am still rolling around. Yes I did see you guys from the air however I was sort of upside down and couldn’t get a photo of the boat etc… but I saw a little ant jumping up and down and I can only guess it was you.

“However, my very favorite shot is in my memory of you and Jenio dancing in your saloon my last night. I really and truly enjoyed myself. Thank you and Jenio for your hospitality (or is it Yacthpitality) and your generosity of sprit, but most of all for putting up with me. Red, Right Returning. Safe Passages.”

                                                  (Geoff Craigen, s/v Beach House Photo)

FLASH BACK: Deborah safely arrived on Tuesday, 02-16-2010. We were beside ourselves. We gobbled her up, got in the bus and took her to Port Louis in St. George’s, the capital of Grenada for a good night’s sleep. After all, we are 4 hours later in the day than California, her home-port.

The next morning, Deborah woke after a sound night’s sleep aboard Moody Blues berthed at Pt. Louis Marina.  It’s a lovely marina with great showers, beautiful grounds, gift shop, 7–11 type shop, good restaurants, a beach and parrots.

This parrot thought we had food for it. Not . . . but still he (? or she) flew into the fence to check us out. (I was lucky enough to collect a few of his off-cast, colorful feathers from the two parrots . . .)

Deborah had said she really wanted to “Go sailing,” so we decided to take her to the Tobago Cays in the St. Vincent Grenadines. This meant checking out of Grenadian customs and into St. Vincent customs. Then out of St. Vincent Grenadines into Grenada’s Grenadines, but hey, making tracks is what she wanted to do.

But, due to the time factor we didn’t even give her a chance to see Grenada itself, but immediately took off north. 

The conditions weren’t optominal: 20–25 kts of wind on the nose and 1.7 meter waves. Basically it was a nightmare (for me), but Deborah had some great seasickness pills (Scopane) and wasn’t fazed . . . in fact, she slept–a lot!–and when awake, looked aft, not forward, so the sea seemed melancholy and she’d smile and then take another nap–topside where a fresh breeze tickled her nose and left her lungs extradinorinary clean.  

We arrived into Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou (still a Grenadian Grenadine) at sunset. It was not a green flash sunset, but spectatular in any event (especially being out of the rough sea conditions).

All in all, I cannot tell you how flabbergasted I was over Deborah’s unfazement of the crossing. I rode the horse (sat on the cockpit’s table and hung on for dear life) and ended up saying to Gene (before we got out of the lee of Grenada), “Should we turn around?” He said, “Are you kidding? If we go back, we don’t come back.” I looked at Deborah, crashed out, as peaceful as an angel and decided if she could handle it, so could I. So we kept on keeping on.

Deborah didn’t said one negative word, other than, “I think I’ll take a nap,” (not that that’s negative) and she never upchucked. She just slept as we ploughed through the pounding sea with  Moody Blues’ nose  buried in the rambunctious Caribbean sea.

The water that cascaded along the rail, overbearing the scuppers on the starboard side of Moody Blues, was frightening–to me, the chicken. Deb laughed at it. That gave me courage.

Next day we came around the point, passed Sandy Island (above) and went into Hillsborough, Carriacou.

Here’s Gene checking us out of Grenada. 

Here we are checked out of Grenada and heading back to Moody Blues to go check into the St. Vincent and its  Grenadines. 

Deborah and I stayed outside while Gene checked us in. Here is Deborah walking the main street of Union Island.

Local Union Island flora.

Local fruit and veggie stand in the Union Island’s plaza.

This is a restaurant in Union Island. Our time frame didn’t allow us to go there, but it sure is picturesque.

Underway, Deborah drove Moody Blues. As you can see, Gene isn’t flipping out so she must be doing a spot-on job. (You go girl . . . )

Actually, as you can see, Deborah became very comfortable at Moody Blues’ wheel. Whatta salty dog!

We anchored in the Tobago Cays, amidst such beauty it was awesome. This photo above is just a hint to its beauty.

Unfortunately I don’t have an underwater camera so I can only give you a tiny, itty-bitty taste of the flavor we bathed and snorkeled in.  It was phenominal.                                          

Our hike from Salt Whistle Bay, Mayreau, to the Village took us up a steep hill and at the top was a church with a sign leading us to a vista of the Tobago (Toe-bay-go) Cays. Breathtaking isn’t it? 

This attractive church, Mayreau Catholic Church, was at the top of hill. Ouu a sign for the Cays. See it?

Can’t miss it, huh? What a treat it was to walk around the tiny church to discover the panoramic view of the cays. 

We’d be leaving the next day for those Cays, now a National Park. Ten bucks to anchor; twenty-five for a mooring buoy.

Makes you sigh doesn’t it?

Notice the white mooring buoys in the water. They mark the snorkeling only area where dozens of tortugas – turtles feed. It was fascinating to watch the large Green Turtles come close to us, dive and munch on sea grass. Even more wonderous is to watch them surface and take a deep breath and dive. Amazing . . .

The catamaran Cat Tales.                                 We met Cat Tales in Mayreau.

Laurie of Cat Tales.                                       Dawn of Cat Tales. Very fun people.

Windy.

Palm fronds chattering like a wind chime.

As you can see, catamarans are very popular in the West Indies.

Remember runabouts are the mode of transportation on all these islands and cays. Above is the T-shirt guy. He makes his own designs and runs about selling them.

Sail More!                                                      Work Less!

I don’t know what Gene said, but this guy loved it!

I loved all the colors on his boat.

Lovely evening after a terrific day of snorkeling and playing. But back to Mayreau Catholic Church:

Pretty place to worship.

Alter.                                                             Cross.

Bell.                                                                Offering.                                                          

Side view of Mayreau Catholic Church.                      Map of the Windward Islands.

Flowers.

Moody Blues anchored in the Tobago Cays.

(This post is dedicated to my cousin Diane Thomas who Dawn of Cat Tales reminded me of.)