From Carriacou to Canada

Winds, goats and more…..

Chatham Bay, Union Island (St Vincent and the Grenadines )

Beautiful anchorage, sandy beach, nice snorkeling…idyllic one would think but…only a few restaurants on the beach. That’s it. No shops, grocery stores, garbage bins or water spouts to fill our tanks and no roads. And the winds blowing off the mountains all around was mind blowing …no pun intended . Can’t imagine what a hurricane sounds like. 

To get to the next town over, we had to walk up a very rocky steep goat trail that seemed to go on forever. Finally arrived at the top to a paved road, then walked down and around the mountain for an hour before coming in the next town where you could provision, have lunch, dispose of trash and clear in or out of Customs and Immigration. Good workout for sure.

The biggest shock was seeing the price of an average can of diced tomatoes…$18.00 Canadian dollars. Yes not a mistake. It was not $1.80. No big surprise that it stayed on the shelf. Just changed the menu 😳

As we were thinking of heading further south to the next chain of islands, we got a text from our Danish friends with awful news. Their kayak had either gotten loose or stolen in the night. Since their boat is small, that’s what they have instead of a dinghy to get to shore. Now they had no way to get off the boat other than pay for an expensive water taxi or swim to shore. So off they went with a dry bag, and swam to shore. Not practical for bringing back groceries 🤣. Luckily a neighbor gave them a ride in to go to Customs to clear out of the country and we met up with them in Carriacou so that we could help with transportation.

Luckily they were able to purchase a 2nd hand kayak from a fellow cruiser, but they do miss the old one. We’ll keep an eye out, who knows, maybe it’s floating out there somewhere and we’ll spot it.

The island of Carriacou is quickly becoming a favorite of ours. It’s north of the main island of Grenada. The people have to be the friendliest we’ve ever met. The are very proud of their island and they go around welcoming you and saying they hope we enjoy the island. It’s peaceful, clean, lush with beautiful mountains.

Let’s not forget the goats. There must be thousands of goats everywhere. The people don’t eat much  of it’s meat. Rumor is that some scholar many years ago said that their milk and the meat were poisonous. Even though they probably know differently now, it’s ingrained in them and you don’t see  much goat meat in grocery shop or on the menu in restaurants. So goats have free range and roam the island without worry that they will be someone’s dinner.

A few days ago, we were walking on the Main Street when someone called out to us by our boat’s name. Small world; it was a lovely German couple that we met in Morehead, North Carolina when we first started our journey. We were docked next to each other at the city dock waiting for heavy nor’easter winds to abate before moving on. Unfortunately we didn’t get to spend time with them this time,  but I sure we will see them again and share a pint or 2.😊

We had planned on going to Grenada for 3 or 4 weeks, then start heading north, visiting the islands that we missed on the way down and stopping at some of our favorites, but we have made the decision to haul out the boat in Carriacou and return to Canada. We have some family priorities that are important to us and we wish to be there at this time.

This island is a hurricane hole and hopefully we’ll return in the fall to resume our journey.

We are heading to the great white north at the beginning of next month.

To be continued next season.

P.S… update; Our Danish friends have recently lost not only their kayak but each a pair of sandals. Since we’ve known them, they have lost other sandals, hat, cellphones, jewelry, sunglasses, margarita and champagne glasses just to name a few items . So the jury is still out if the kayak was stolen or ? 😂😳

Cheers 

Mike and Pierrette

Thorny cactus…who needs a fence

Fantastic view, Carriacou 

Beautiful… Carriacou 

Colorful Fruit and veggie market

Our restaurant terrace 

Honah Lee at sunset 

Best margaritas in town

Tyrell Bay, Carriacou 

Chatham Bay, Union Island SVG

Awesome colors 

Steep hill

Oh yes …need a rope to climb this driveway 

My cutie 

Rugged, Carriacou 

Moss covered trees 

Our anchorage, Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou 

View on one of our walks, Carriacou 

My handsome dude

Heading to our anchorage in Chatham Bay, Union island 

Carnival in Carriacou 

A day at the beach for this girl

 

Goats, goats and goats 

Things we will miss 

Hopefully our cottage rental one day….

Washing his dog (whom didn’t appreciate it )

Beautiful 

Found this beach… all to ourselves, north part of Carriacou