Almost the end of another season.

I seem to find it harder and harder to keep up with the blog these days. No longer weeks, but months pass by before I find myself writing another. It’s not that nothing is happening; life is good and we keep busy. But as time passes it becomes harder to share the day to day, or the special events that have made up the past few months. It has been a very unusual hurricane season. As June approached with the start of the storm and rainy season the bays were abnormally quiet. But much of that changed as TS Brett threatened to approach the Windward Islands. We took the necessary precautions including digging out our huge Fortess anchor. But luckily for Grenada, and for us, it headed exceptionally far south, towards Trinidad giving us a wide berth. But at the time no one knew which way it would track or the best place to go to avoid this storm and so the boats were still scattered throughout the islands. 

Of our 4 anchors on board the Fortress FX 125 is the biggest!

By mid July TS Don was threatening our quiet little island, but once again Grenada dodged another storm as this one petered out before it reached us. Come Carnival time (and an incredibly long holiday weekend for Sim and everyone that works), boats started to arrive en-masse and the bays started to fill. ‘Camp Grenada’ started in earnest with lengthy radio nets and a plethora of cruiser activities from volley ball to Mexican train Dominos to yoga and pool tournaments- the list is endless for those who want to get involved. The winds died, the heat increased and we all started to complain about the temperature and humidity, but life quietly rolled on as usual.  Sim has been particularly busy with work at Palm Tree Marine, as have all the marine related businesses.  It seems there has been no quiet spell for them.  Friends have returned and friends have left, as always happens to those of us who lead a transient life.

Hog Island anchorage...you can just make out Wandering Star at the back, middle left with white sunshade and green kayak lashed to the side.

But the focus of the season has been on what we have had to witness as our neighbouring islands were destroyed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria further north.  Irma, the first hurricane in recored history to maintain intense 185mph winds for a sustained 24 hours and Maria the fastest storm developing from a Cat 1 to a Cat 5 in just half a day. Both ravaged and ransacked our northern neighbours not only causing havoc and destruction of small islands, but also lead to the looting that followed in the aftermaths. Not to mention the idiotic bureaucracy and shameful hand greasing from those in power. It has been very sad indeed and the only good is seeing the spirit of the people rise against adversity and the good will of others trying to help and send aid.

The Flying Buzzard taking much needed supplies up to Dominica.

Right now, as hurricane season draws to an end, we hope to see no more of these dreaded storms. We are still happy to be in Grenada - we love her quirks and nuances, sights and sounds and the friendliness of a small island. I love the walks – whether that is hashing at the weekend exploring the countryside, or during the week locally with friends. Grenada looks stunning right now with all the rain we have had; a carpet of deep green covering the entire island.  

Hog Island anchorage surrounded by blue skies and tropical green hills.

My mum and dad are currently visiting – a few days on the boat with us, a couple of weeks at the nearby L’ance Aux Epines Cottages set in gorgeous tropical gardens and a last few days at the scenic and peaceful La Sargesse a little further away in St Davids.

Mum and Dad ❤

Hanging out with Mum and Dad at Hog Island and L'Anse Aux Epines.

Me and Mum at La Sagesse.

Sunset at L'Anse Aux Epines beach

The beach at La Sagesse 

Gorgeous Grenada - some photos from my hikes.

Forests, waterfalls, old colonial buildings.....so much to see.

Walks around my local area, Woburn and Phare Bleu with my friends Tracy and Sharon.

Hashing at the weekend - a wonderful way to see parts of the island you wouldn't otherwise get to see.

The stunning Grand Anse beach -  with Manuela and Lupo. 

Match racing on the J24's - Sim, Jason and I won every race. :-)

1 Year in Grenada.....& 13 Living on a Boat.

Wandering Star in Hog Island, Grenada

Hurricane season has officially started bringing the much needed rain that goes with it. It's amazing how quickly the land has changed from the brown of the winter months to lush green again. Everything is starting to flower and look tropical again. The only down side is the heat and humidity. The change of seasons brings a change of sailors too. Many fly home to spend summer in their home countries but the bays fill up with others arriving for hurricane season. Camp Grenada begins again in earnest. Let the fun and games begin! Insert rolling eyes. We are settling into our second year of living here, the longest we have stayed anywhere. And approaching 13 years of living on a boat. Who'd have thought this is what I'd be doing at 40! I guess we kind of always knew Grenada would be a place we'd settle for a while. Though how long that will be is anyone's guess. 

It's another bank holiday here in Grenada. There are 13 public holidays compared to 8 in the UK! Any excuse for a lime  ;-)  We've had a chilled weekend together....something of a rarity these days when one of us is always dashing somewhere. I even dragged Sim on a hike around Grand Etang in the rain forest which, to my surprise he really enjoyed...Though he has made it clear it wont be a regular thing. It was wet and muddy and full of mosquitos but totally stunning. I love discovering more of this island, the people, the places, every nuance of it. It continually seems to change with the people that come and go and it's subtle difference in seasons. For now we just enjoy.

Sim and myself at Grand Etang...thanks to the PalmTreemobile. 

I lured Sim on the walk with the promise of no hills.....you think he'd know better. And what is that bug!?

Bamboos and broken bridges.

More bamboo, Heliconia,  Alpinia and Anthurium

The rain always brings the rainbows

More rain!

The boatyard where Sim works aka 'the goatyard' - thanks Sarah :-)

Walking the bridge between Hog Island and the mainland

A Sunday afternoon on Hog Island with Stan and Cora and Andy playing on the rickety stage.

One of our nights out at the Tuesday Jam at the Brewery.

Hot And Sweaty September

September has been an incredibly hot and sweaty month in Grenada. How Sim and those that are working in the boatyards manage - I don't know. The wind has been surprisingly light and there has been very little rain - unusual indeed and all conducive to favourable hurricane conditions. Which we saw in the early formation of Tropical Storm Mathew to the east of Grenada before it turned north and into the hurricane that is causing havoc and devastation in Haiti, the Bahamas and parts of the US east coast. Our thoughts are with those it touched.

Days have morphed languidly into one another. Weekends come and go. Its hard to think back chronologically now. We've had full moon parties, BBQ's, live music, walks, hashes, various nights out. We moved Wandering Star when 'Mathew' threatened in its early stages around to Benji Bay in Clark's Court. Grenada scraped through unscathed from the storm and we moved back to Hog Island again.

Now we sit here on a squally day as a 'tropical wave' passes through. The boat lolls listlessly in a swell creeping into the bay. But dinghies are buzzing about and Grenada is hive of activity. Here are some photos from the last couple of weeks....

Sim and I tried to walk the ridge to the north of Hog Island. The views were good when you could see but it was very overgrown and not much fun with too many prickily plants and spiders to tackle to be enjoyable. Instead we walked through the Dove Sanctuary to Secret Harbour Marina and back. Spotting a huge moth as big as my hand.

The full moon party at Benji Bay on 16th September had live music and face painting by the very talented Sarah of 'Steel Appeal'.

The calm before the storm in Benji Bay. And squalls passing through with the tail end of Tropical Storm Mathew. I spent a week on board waiting to see what would happen, while Sim went to work everyday. Lucky for us it amounted to nothing for Grenada.

                                  Beautiful Hog Island anchorage 

The hash last week was by Annandale Falls. It was a celebratory hash number 950. From a scenic point of view it was one of the most enjoyable passing fields of tropical flowers, fabulous views, forests of bamboo and waterfalls.

Trudy from Manurava joined me on this hash.

Fields of 'Bird of Paradise'

Amazing views

Cool shady forests of bamboo.

The stunning Annandale falls

Last Sunday Stan and Cora of Ruff Enough and friends played some funky tunes on the rickety stage at Rogers on Hog Island.

                                                 Roger's, Hog Island

Enjoying a few beers

Wandering Star at sunset.