2/11/2016 We left Des Haies, Guadeloupe at 0625 and bounced around in the waves until we got south of Guadeloupe. The wind kept backing, allowing us to sail almost the entire way into the harbor in Prince Rupert Bay, Dominica. The PAYS organization arranged a Yachtie Appreciation Week and we got moorings for free for a week. Several special tours and events were planned. We got to see Martin again and had a great time in Dominica once again. Kalani and Growl Tiger joined the party and we met more members of the Salty Dog Rally. We also met Magoe and Clair on Macario, their huge catamaran. We had a happy hour on their boat for the Salty Dog Rally people and we were invited too. Tom and Barbara from Kalani and Greg, Josh and Joan from Growl Tiger were there too. Unfortunately, the wind was up and Kalani's dinghy came untied and floated out. After 2 hours of looking for it in the dark, the searchers gave up. Even though Tom and Barbara went out about 20 miles looking for it the next morning, they could not find it. They were able to order a new dinghy and outboard and got it in less than a week. Meanwhile, we had several adventures on land including another PAYS BBQ and tours and some hikes. We found a laundry connected to the Catholic church that helps some of the local ladies earn a little money and we got clean clothes once more.
A hike up to Fort Shirley. The fort is now used for group retreats, meetings and educational programs.
 |
| Part of Fort Shirley, Portsmouth, Dominica |
 |
| Looking at Prince Rupert Bay from Fort Shirley |
 |
| Bunk rooms in the new part of the Fort |
 |
| Canons to protect the Bay |
 |
| The bunk rooms |
 |
| Greg and Josh check out the aim of the canons |
The PAYS BBQ
 |
| Our table at the BBQ |
 |
| Everyone enjoying the music |
 |
| Liz Ann and Barbara on the dance "floor" |
 |
| Friends from S/V Pratique won a floral arrangement |
We took the dinghy over to Secret Beach and snorkelled and spent an afternoon on a secluded beach by ourselves. Unfortunately, the seas were up and the water was cloudy so the snorkeling was not very good.
 |
| View from Secret Beach |
 |
| Our little spot of private beach |
 |
| Boat passing by the hole in the rock |
We got a ride to Roseau, the capital with a government office worked who came to speak at the PAYS opening ceremony for Yachtie Week. He showed us some of the devastation from the tropical storm last August and took us into town. We spent the day walking around Roseau and had lunch at a little local spot called the Orchard. We caught the bus back but had to wait until it filled up for them to leave.
 |
| Flowers in a local driveway |
 |
| Looking at Roseau from up the hill |
Greg went on a snorkel trip organized by PAYS one day and we went on a tour of Titou Gorge, Trafalgar Falls, the Botanical Gardens and the Soufriere sulphur springs. We had lunch that day at the Rock Side Cafe.
Greg's snorkeling trip:
 |
| Starlet Coral |
 |
| Maze Coral |
 |
| Blue Tang with Brain coral |
 |
| Sand Dollar |
 |
| Spotted Moray eel |
Our tour with PAYS:
 |
| A washed out bridge from the storm 6 months ago |
 |
| Along the wwest coast of Dominica |
 |
| The lighter water color shows where the river empties into the sea |
 |
| A WOODEN pipe carrying water to the hydroelectric plant |
 |
| Looking down into Titou Gorge |
 |
| Liz Ann tring to brave the ICY cold water in the gorge |
 |
| Looking out through the end of the gorge |
 |
| Greg in the gorge |
 |
| Looking through the narrow gorge |
 |
| The larger waterfall at Trafalgar Falls |
 |
| The double falls |
 |
| Tree landed on a bus at the Botanical Gardens |
 |
| Huge Banyan tree |
 |
| Walking up Jack's Way trail in Botanical garden |
 |
| Friends form Pratique in the sulphur springs |
Our hike along the Waitukubuli Trail
 |
| Looking out over Douglas Bay |
 |
| Beautiful spider web with colorful spider |
 |
| Beautiful home facing Douglas Bay |
 |
| Found this neat little restaurant called Poonkies |
We met the owner of Poonkies, Trevor who showed us around his restaurant which he built himself all of wood. We didn't get to eat here because we didn't have a way back at night time but plan to go back next time.
 |
| River behind the restaurant |
 |
| Trevor was cooking breadfruit out back |
 |
| Entrance to Poonkies |
We had a great time in Dominica as usual, but it was time to head on south.................
