Shootin' the Breeze: DOMINICA

THE PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN ISLAND

LEAVING THE SAINTES

We had a great sail from The Saintes, with Rocking B and Zanshin, Rocking B arriving first.....there's always a race on amongst the guys!

THE BOAT BOYS

The Boat Boys await your arrival in Dominca, sitting on their wooden boats as you enter the bay. They come alongside and offer you their services for fuel, ice, laundry and island tours, at a price of course. With names like Lawrence of Arabia, Blessing, Providence and Friday, it reminded us very much of Africa. They're extremely polite and do not harass one if you do not need them.

We anchored off the beach in Prince Rupert Bay, Portsmouth, a calm anchorage lined with beach bars and restaurants. We had to clear in on the far side of the bay and while the guys were doing this we took a stroll to a great modern supermarket (IGA) in the area. We were surprised to find all the provisions we need and a great fruit and veggie selection.
The Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed here and one can visit the locations on the island where filming was done. We can see why they chose this island, it's beautiful around every corner.

DRINKS AT THE PURPLE TURTLE WITH ROCKING B AND ZANSHIN AND OUR BOATS ANCHORED IN THE BAY

THE LOVELY MARGARET APPROVING OF THE LOCAL BEER

RUM PUNCH FOR MICHAELA

Portsmouth Anchorage

We spent a busy week in Dominica with our friends Ken and Margaret (and Biscuit and Augie) from Rocking B and Arnd from Zanshin. We had a movie night on Rocking B, watching Captain Ron on a big screen, with popcorn, snacks......and air conditioning!! We did a South African evening with Bobotie on the menu on Katz and we found a tiny, local restaurant in the back streets of Portsmouth, called Emilia's Snuggle Spot Bar, serving delicious chicken, chips and hamburgers. We descended on the owner, Emilia, with 11 people one evening.

EMILA PREPARING MEALS FOR 11 CRUISERS

CHICKEN AND CHIPS AND SPICY CHICKEN WINGS FOR SUPPER

FERDINAND TAKING DRINKS ORDERS

THE CREW FROM DESPERADO AND LES IN SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT FISHING I'M SURE!

THE KIDS AND JERAMIE FROM GOLIGHTLY

We were so excited to hear Les Farge from Golightly on channel 68, calling on the radio a few days after our arrival. We had been in touch with Les before we left SA, asking about sailing and buying a boat in the Caribbean. We had been referred to him by our friend, Leon Swanepoel and had chatted on Facebook. Stephen hailed him before he could even drop anchor and we were having drinks with him and Jeramie at the Purple Turtle by that evening. And the rest is history......he is also heading to Antigua and is making his way down to Grenada for the hurricane season. It's so great to meet up with South Africans along the way, we can understand each other's 'language' and can have a good laugh about things only South African's comprehend.

US SAFFA'S CAN'T HELP BUT HAVE A GOOD OL' BRAAI

LES FARGE'S BOAT, GOLIGHTLY

The most beautiful part of Dominica are the rainforests high in the mountains that tower over the island. We hired a 7 seven seater car with Arnd and Rocking B and took a day trip into the forest. After driving up steep inclines, through dense tropical vegetation, we came across the Trafalgar Falls. There are two high waterfalls here and hot water sulphur springs. We loved the hot water pools as we hadn't had a bath in 5 months so hung around in them until we were so hot we couldn't take it anymore. To cool down we took a swim in the cold water under the waterfall which was wonderfully refreshing.
THE HOT SPRINGS AT TRAFALGAR FALLS

The springs made us feel really tired and relaxed and after doing some provisioning at Astaphans in Roseau a very sleepy crew headed back to Portsmouth.
This is how we filled up with water Dominica style......

GETTING HOOKED UP TO WATER

A GARDEN HOSE FROM A HOME ON THE SHORE IS LED UNDER THE SEA TO A BUOY IN THE BAY.

This is how we did our washing Dominica style......

STOMPING THE TOWLES CLEAN WHILE STEPHEN RUNS THE UNDERWATER HOSE

This is how we fueled up, Dominca style......

This is how we shopped Dominica style......

WE BOUGHT DELICIOUS FRESH FRUIT AND VEGGIE JUICE FROM THIS RASTA IN THE STREET

WE MADE FRIENDS WITH THIS LADY, I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER HER FOR HER GREAT PERSONALITY AND KINDNESS. SHE GAVE US FRUIT AND A GOOD LAUGH!!

This is how we get around, Katzendingy style......

Michaela and I did some really amazing hikes from our anchorage. We found an ancient fort hidden in the forest in the Cabrits National Park. The Caribs had fierce battles here and one got an eerie feel of the civilization at that defended their territory during the 1600's.

We also did a beautiful 3 hour hike on the Waitukubuli Trail, through the forest to the neighbouring bays. We came across a deserted beach with tributes to Nelson Mandela nailed to the trees, we felt so much pride that he is honored in this way, on this little beach in the middle of nowhere.

AAAARGHHH...WET TAKKIES!!

THIS IS HOME AT THE END OF OUR HIKE

We're sad to say goodbye to our lovely American friends, Margaret and Ken and their cute Schnauzers, Biscuit and Augie from Rocking B as they leave for Martinique and then to the Jazz Festival in St Lucia. We hope to meet up with them again when we head down island. One meets such great cruisers, such as themselves, that become so part of your life, in such a short time. We're all a bit crazy to give up perfectly good lifestyles back home and the passion to live this simple lifestyle creates an instant bond. We all have our own itineraries and have to move on...........