Well the humans decided it was time to say goodbye to Saint Lucia and head to the next island south, Saint Vincent.
Saint Lucia had been a wonderful contrast of tourism, secluded gems, haves and have-nots. We had heard Saint Vincent was very similar including geology. Unfortunately the season is moving on, and we need to too, so we had to pick only one place to stop.
Cumberland Bay, in the North, and Young Island Cut, in the South, were both suggested to us. ‘ Do not bother stopping at the run down tourist trap of Wallilabou’ we were told. So the human’s decided they had to check this out.
It was a wet and bumpy channel crossing this time of year.
We had strong easterly winds and were exposed to the full Atlantic swell on the beam (side of the boat).
We were very happy to be in the lee (wind and wave shadow) of this beautiful rugged island.
The first thing we noticed, on our approach to Wallilabou, was the rock outcrop on the point. We were all sure that it was in the film ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’.
As we entered the deep bay we found that we were to be the only boat there. We decided it would be safer to take a bouy right outside the local restaurant rather than try anchoring alone in a corner.
There are advantages and disadvantages of travelling ‘out of season’ as we are now.
The advantage is you have less competition of good mooring sites, discount prices and tourist sites and beaches are less crowded.
The disadvantage is you lose the atmosphere and energy of a crowd, you lose the ‘safety in numbers’ feeling and you are often the sole target of the boat boys.
Despite my barking and false charges the human’s still had 5 boy guys hanging off the boat gunnels either offering to take lines, sell them something or fetch them something. Once they do not buy anything, they get the hint and all disappear.
After cleaning a tuna, we bought off a local fisherman (he hung around for all the head and skeleton), we headed ashore in the morning to check out this tourist trap we were warned about.
Although the set was a little run down, it was not as bad as we were warned.
Considering they are just false fronts, held up with scaffolding, meant to only last the length of the filming, it is surprising they are still standing after 8 years.
The main set pieces are managed by the restaurant attached to them.
The restaurant does pretty good up keeping the set pieces considering that they do not charge any entry fees and only ‘hope’ that you patronise their establishment.
The restaurant has a load more movie bits and a few of the local tortoises.
The set pieces further down the shore have not fared as well with out management.
The highlight for the humans was the famous outcrop at the entrance of the bay.
They took to their ‘trusty’ kayaks to investigate.
Now that we know what the local boat boys do to sailors that do not buy from them, we headed off to Bequia before the afternoon.
