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
Grenada

Sight Seeing, Grenada and SVG – Company is calling

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Got a bit of tidying up to do!
Got a bit of tidying up to do!

Company is coming to visit us in our quiet little anchorage on the south coast of Grenada.

Looking down on Woburn Bay and Hog Island Anchorage (on the other side of the bridge).
Looking down on Woburn Bay and Hog Island Anchorage (on the other side of the bridge).

My Uncle Steve and Aunt Helen are coming to visit.

I am a happy camper
I am a happy camper

As they are avid sailors, and hope to travel in their own boat in a few years, the humans thought they would enjoy a sailing trip to the Tobago Cays in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

Captain Uncle Steve
Captain Uncle Steve

But sailing trips are never ‘easy’.  The sailing part is the easy part.

There first thing to consider is customs and immigration.  To sail between countries you must visit entry and exit ports to fill out paperwork and pay for cruising licenses.

The last port you can ‘check out’ of Grenada is Tyrrel Bay in Carriacou.  So we sailed there first.

The sailing is the relaxing part
The sailing is the relaxing part

There is no place to ‘check into’ SVG in the Tobago Cays, so you have to stop at Clifton Harbour, Union Island along the way.

To return you have to repeat the whole process.

Paperwork is not the only worry on ‘sailing trips’.

Uncle Steve and Aunt Helen trying to stay cool on the front of the boat
Uncle Steve and Aunt Helen trying to stay cool on the front of the boat

Too much sun is a worry.

I know how to alleviate the pain of sun burn.
I know how to alleviate the pain of sun burn.

Too much booze.

'Happy' serving over-priced drinks on his conch shell island, Clifton Harbour, Union Island, SVG
‘Happy’ serving over-priced drinks on his conch shell island, Clifton Harbour, Union Island, SVG

There is also lots of stress involved in finding a safe place to anchor,

Find us a sandy spot among all those boats Uncle Steve
Find us a sandy spot among all those boats Uncle Steve

Getting the boat in and out of tight spots,

I am turning, just be patient.
Helms man Helen.  I am turning, just be patient.

and of course the stress of living on a small boat.

My bed is under here somewhere
My bed is under here somewhere

The humans will never make it as Charter boat skippers, and were fired, but I was the perfect company.

Just take me for a walk and I am happy
Just take me for a walk and I am happy
Hunting for iguanas in the Tobago Cays with Uncle Steve
Hunting for iguanas in the Tobago Cays with Uncle Steve

Company-iguana in trees

Do not forget to look down too
Do not forget to look down too
Mexican train dominoes.
Mexican train dominoes on the beach is a must.

 

Company-rainbow over Tobago Cays

Sunset-tyrell bay

Back in Grenada Uncle Steve and Aunt Helen finally got a chance to relax and see the sights in comfort.

First stop was, of course, one of Grenada’s many natural waterfalls.

Annandale Falls are set in beautiful rain forest and gardens.
Annandale Falls are set in beautiful rain forest and gardens.

 

The falls have a perfect little natural pool for swimming.
The falls have a perfect little natural pool for swimming.

What next?

Well there is the Belmont Estate, a typical cocoa farm.

On the plantation they teach you, not only about the fermentation and drying of cocoa beans, but also about many of the important fruits and spices that grow on the island.
On the plantation they teach you, not only about the fermentation and drying of cocoa beans, but also about many of the important fruits and spices that grow on the island.
Most of the beans grown here are used by the Grenada Chocolate Factory to make their world famous chocolate. Worth a taste!
Most of the beans grown here are used by the Grenada Chocolate Company to make their world famous products. Worth a taste!

You are high up in the Mountains here, so it is worth a visit to the Grand Etang National Park Crater Lake.

A wind swept lake in the clouds
A wind swept lake in the clouds

And everyone must visit a rum distillery in the Caribbean.

River Antoine Rum Factory produces a strong white rum called Rivers. It is run much as it was in the mid 1800's. A giant water wheel is still used to crush cane.
River Antoine Rum Factory produces a strong white rum called Rivers. It is run much as it was in the mid 1800’s.
A giant water wheel is still used to crush cane.
The cane is still fed into the masher by hand.
The sugar cane is still fed into the masher by hand.
The waste fibre from the crushed sugar cane is dried and burned to heat the cane juice.
The waste fibre from the crushed sugar cane is dried and burned to heat the cane juice.
Large wooden scoops manually move the cane juice from one big cast-iron bowl to the next as it gets hotter.
Large wooden scoops manually move the cane juice from one big cast-iron bowl to the next as it gets hotter.
Then it is left to ferment to produce alcohol.
The fermented juice is then distilled.
The fermented juice is then distilled.
This process greatly increases the alcohol content. Ice sinks in high proof Rivers Rum.
This process greatly increases the alcohol content.
Ice sinks in high proof Rivers Rum.

Before I knew it, it was time for Uncle Steve and Aunty Helen to return to England.

I really enjoyed discovering abandon air fields.
I really enjoyed discovering abandon air fields with them.
Finding isolated beaches for long runs
Finding isolated beaches for long runs

 

And just spending some time together.
And just spending some time together.

 

The world seems a like more empty now that they are gone.
The world seems a like more empty now that they are gone.

 

 

 

 

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