July in Grenada

Our last installment ended with Tristan flying back to Victoria after a great visit on Idyll Island. He had to return to his responsibilities of earning money working as a lifeguard and as a vineyard worker to help support himself at college, while his wayward parents fell back into the relaxin’ lifestyle of Cruisers in Grenada. It really is a great island with friendly people, just enough challenges in finding parts and provisions to keep things interesting and to have something to complain about. Highlights included meeting old friends, Jim and Renate (well, Renate is not old) who finally caught up with us after being a couple of islands behind us since January! Of course they started in Florida – in November… They anchored their boat, Emerald Seas, right beside us so we were able to keep an eye on them and vice versa. We had lots of good times and just hangin’ out floating around in the water keeping cool. We also consumed a few bottles of wine that had somehow survived the trip from St. Martin. Emerald Seas is an Island Packet 37, a solid, seakindly boat that is looking after them well. They also have a fancy new dinghy, a Walker Bay Genesis hard bottom inflatable (RIB) with a 15hp outboard. Jim told us how well this boat performed and Derek was particularly interested because our Avon RIB of the same size (11’), with the same engine goes fast but cavitates badly when trying to turn on the plane. So a couple of days later Jim and Derek are heading off to town in the Walker Bay to buy some boat bits. Jim gets her on the plane and then asks, “Want to see how well she turns?” He cranks over the steering handle and within a nanosecond, Derek sees Jim disappear over the side with the most amazed expression on his face. Derek was laughing so hard he could barely get the boat back to pull Jim out of the water. Luckily no one was hurt and yes indeedy, that boat does corner like its on rails. After that we noticed that Renate seemed to do most of the dinghy driving…

No season in Grenada would ever be complete without at least one visit to Gouyave (we went twice) - the Fish Capital of Grenada. Every Friday night they close off several streets and dozens of vendors set up to sell many types of fish cooked any way you like as long as its fried. Actually, we found a tasty wahoo pizza and a snapper steamed in foil with veggies. But the fried flying fish were pretty darned good! And then there's the free rum sampling....

Its a great scene and everyone is really friendly and havin' a good time, Mon!

Looking for one more piece of fish....

And the beat goes on ....

Another fine dinner on Emerald Seas. Jim and Renate look pretty happy with their cruising lifestyle!

Before we left Grenada, we were lucky to have good friends Bruce and Laura on Amaryllis sail in from the USVI. It was great to see them and have another chance to say “Farewell”, before we headed west and they back to the US for a couple of months. In Grenada, we also reunited with Lynn and Randy on High States, whom we met last year just as we were starting out from Soper's Hole in the BVI. They are also from Victoria. Fortunately, we don't have to say "So Long" to them just yet, as we are going to buddy boat with them through the Venezuelan Islands to Bonaire.