IT'S A DOGS LIFE
SAILING AROUND THE WORLD WITH SPIRIT OF ARGO
IT'S A DOGS LIFE
SAILING AROUND THE WORLD WITH SPIRIT OF ARGO
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG)

The Grenadines: Canouan – pictures of the island

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R-starting picture for blog

I am here to welcome you to a bit of the island of Canouan….just don’t tell any officials you saw me there…know what I mean.  To start with we had to sail here.

We hated to say goodbye to Bequia, it was such a lovely island and the people were so friendly.
We hated to say goodbye to Bequia, it was such a lovely island and the people were so friendly.
We had good wind for a fast 'comfortable' sail
We had good wind for a fast ‘comfortable’ sail
Even with good winds we still passed the 'usual' charter boats that did not bother with those 'tiresom' things called sails.
Even with good winds we still passed the ‘usual’ charter boats that did not bother with those ‘tiresome’ things called sails.
Navigation around here is 'not that hard'. Do you think this might be an insurance scam?
Navigation around here is ‘not that hard’. Do you think this might be an insurance scam?

 

It was a fast trip to Canouan and most of it was protected by the islands to the west.
It was a fast trip to Canouan and most of it was protected by the islands to the west.
We anchored up into the far north of Rameau Bay, off a small beach and protected by a small reef out the point
We anchored up into the far north of Rameau Bay, off a small beach and protected by a small reef out the point
We named our little beach 'Conch Beach'
We named our little beach ‘Conch Beach’
Either end of the beach was covered in piles of broken conch shells
Either end of the beach was covered in piles of broken conch shells
Was this a special place where conch came to die?
Was this a special place where conch came to die?
A short path from out beach lead to the next bay
A short path from out beach lead to the next bay
Walking the short distance to the next bay you had to becareful
Walking the short distance to the next bay you had to be careful
We kept running into the local turtle population. And sometimes we caught them in 'compromising' situations!
We kept running into the local tortoise population. And sometimes we caught them in ‘compromising’ situations!
At the end of the short path was the beautiful white sands of the beach in Corbay
At the end of the short path was the beautiful white sands of the beach in Corbay
This beach was great for running around on.
This beach was great for running around on.
It was even better for aquatic sports, with good reefs out each point. Unfortunately it was a bit noicy as it is the 'off season' and they bring all the construction goods in through this bay.
It was even better for aquatic sports, with good reefs out each point. Unfortunately it was a bit noisy (as an anchorage) as it is the ‘off season’ and they bring all the construction goods in through this bay.

The human’s did lots of snorkeling and diving in both and bays and I will add their amateur photos and video at the end.

We then moved the boat south to Charlestown Bay off the town.
We then moved the boat south to Charlestown Bay off the town.  Here we could dispose of rubbish and pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables.

 

The town has a huge white sandy beach
The town has a huge white sandy beach
The town has two centrally located main jettys and regualar ferry services
The town has two centrally located main jettys and regular ferry services

 

Most people tie their dingys up to the Charter company and Resort dock to the north
Most people tie their dingy up to the Charter company and Resort dock to the north

 

Money, from construction work on the big resort developement in the north, has led to lots of new homes in the town
Money, from construction work on the big resort developement in the north, has led to lots of new homes in the town
With money coming into the island from the construction of a big resort in the north, there are lots of newly built homes and colourful shops
Also lots of colourful shops
Not everyones 'castle' is as big as the neighbours
Not everyone’s ‘castle’ is as big as the neighbours
Conch are so plentiful on the island they use them as building material
Conch are so plentiful on the island they use them as building material
Conch are even used as decoration around the beach bar. And yes guys, the local brew is very good.
Conch are even used as decoration around the beach bar. And yes guys, the local brew is very good.
The locals have to get water the same way as we do...by capturing the rain.
The locals have to get water the same way as we do…by capturing the rain.
You find, as you walk around the town and island, that there are almost as many goats as people.
You find, as you walk around the town and island, that there are almost as many goats as people.
Goats are one of the few animals that do well on a diet of dry brush and cacti
Goats are one of the few animals that do well on a diet of dry brush and cacti, except of course turtles.
It was quite cool finding giant examples of the minatures you can buy at home in the shops
It was quite cool finding giant examples of the miniatures you can buy at home in the shops
Cacti can be just as beautiful as other flowering plants
Cacti can be just as beautiful as other flowering plants
Some cacti are quite cute
Some cacti are quite cute
Some are very large and prehistoric looking
Some are very large and prehistoric looking

 

The humans hiked over to the east side of the island to have a look at the 'largest reef in the Caribbean'.
The humans hiked over to the east side of the island to have a look at the ‘largest reef in the Eastern Caribbean’.
It was a truely impressive size.
It was a truly impressive size.
The humans tried scrambling down the hill side to see if they could get access to snorkle the reef. Unfortunately strong winds made the shore line rough and it looked like a 'very very' long swim across the lagoon, against the wind, to get to the reef.
The humans tried scrambling down the hill-side to see if they could get access to snorkel the reef. Unfortunately strong winds made the shore line rough and it looked like a ‘very very’ long swim across the lagoon, against the wind, to get to the reef.
There is a dingy channel at the south end of the reef. But you need 'settled' conditions to get your tender in there and anchored up on the reef safely
There is a dingy channel at the south end of the reef. But you need ‘settled’ conditions to get your tender in there and anchored up on the reef safely

 

So the humans, reluctantly, gave up on the idea of getting to the east reef. Instead they went off to explore the south end of the island including Friendship Bay
So the humans, reluctantly, gave up on the idea of getting to the east reef. Instead they went off to explore the south end of the island including Friendship Bay

 

From this end of the island you get a great view out toward the islands to the south. You can see Mayreau, in the middle. Union is the taller island behind Mayreau and Carriacou on the left. You can now see how close the islands are to each other
From this end of the island you get a great view out toward the islands to the south. You can see Mayreau, in the middle. Union is the taller island behind Mayreau and Carriacou on the left. You can now see how close the islands are to each other.
With 'no chance' of getting onto the eastern reef the humans decided to head for the Tobago Cays next. You can see, this small group of islands protected by a horse shoe reef, is only a few hours sail away. Jamesby island is in the middle. Petit Bateau and Petit Tabac look like one island on the right. Baradel island is on the left.
With ‘no chance’ of getting onto the eastern reef the humans decided to head for the Tobago Cays next. You can see, this small group of islands protected by a horse shoe reef, is only a few hours sail away.
Jamesby island is in the middle. Petit Bateau and Petit Tabac look like one island on the right. Baradel island is on the left.
Canouan has been fun as I have made a new German girlfriend. Yes I am still picking up a women in every port I can.
Canouan has been fun as I have made a new German girlfriend. Yes I am still picking up a women in every port I can.

For those waiting for a sun set to have a drink…sorry I have neglected you.   Get the rum out!

Sunst-first picture

sunset-close up

And last, but not least, the amateur underwater photograph.

Hold out to the last, because there is a short video.

 

The humans found the reefs on the north west side of the the island very unspoilt
The humans found the reefs on the north west side of the the island very unspoilt
Barrel Coral
Barrel Coral
Anyone hiding in there?
Anyone hiding in there?
Sea fan
Sea fan
What's over here?
What’s over here?
Some colourful soft coral
Some colourful soft coral
Some more lovely soft corals
Some more lovely soft corals living with a hard coral aptly named Brain Coral

uw-soft coral

uw-soft coral (2)

I think they took a lot of pictures of coral, because it couldn't swim away on them. But now it is time to see so sea critters
I think they took a lot of pictures of coral, because it couldn’t swim away on them.
But now it is time to see so sea critters
Of course a sea slug was slow enough to get pictured
Of course a sea slug was slow enough to get pictured
This lobster is not running, because he knows he is 'out of season' and illegial to capture now.
This lobster is not running, because he knows he is ‘out of season’ and illegal to capture now.
How about a sting ray. Is that exciting?
How about a sting ray. Is that exciting?
How about a spotted morey eel. Is that exciting?
How about a spotted moray eel. Is that exciting?
How about swimming with an Eagle Ray?
How about swimming with an Eagle Ray?

 

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