Dominica 6/17-19

We had an excellent passage and are excited to finally be heading on a southernly course where the trade winds fall off to 60dgrees and allow us to sail. Up until this point, we have been heading mostly east, into the eastern trades, and having to motor most of the way. We arrived in Portsmouth, Dominica at 0600 on Wednesday, 6-17. A guide approaches the boat upon our arrival (the “boat boys” get business on a first come/first serve basis), and we make arrangements for an afternoon adventure. Dominica (Dom-min-neek-a) is known as more of an eco-tour destination than anything else, and to protect its resources, the government requires that most activities be led by guides. We are pleased that Charlie Love is a full resource provider. Skip: Charlie got his last name after a trip to Boca Chica, DR. Go figure.
Charlie picks us up that afternoon and he takes us on a tour of the Indian River. As some of you may know, when Craig and I chartered in the Grenadines a few years ago, we specifically went to the bay where the Port Royal film set for Pirates of the Caribbean remains. We were excited to discover that this river was the location for filming the river scenes in Pirates 2…where they went to find the witch. The following day, Charlie took us to a dive spot at the edge of the bay. It was nice to get into some deep water, about 65 feet, pristine and undisturbed. We relaxed Thursday evening for an early morning wake up and departure for St Lucia. The boys mutinied over the cheese I bought in Sint Maarten…the refrigerator smelled like a chunk of Camembert so unfortunately, after afternoon snacks, it had to go…

Heading the right direction; I decide on pressure cooker magic underway..What was I thinking??

Night cometh; passing Saba; distant shot of Monserrat...

Rainbows at sea...cameras do them no justice.

Sunset in Dominica; Charlie Love

The land is so lush that coconuts sprout where they fall, except for the one the guide found and cracked open for us to drink...

A bird nest made from palm leaves and coconut husk. A bird that eats land crabs. Daddy: Toe in the hole may have been fun when we were kids but these beast crabs could take off a foot...too fast for pictures.

"Black water Hattie lived back in the swamp where strange green reptiles crawl. Snakes hang thick from the cypress trees like sausage on a smoke-house wall."

Name the artist and complete the verse in a comment if you know it!