Crew from Norway

Crew from home town Norway

January 28th. I met my friends from Fredrikstad Norway at the airport in Fort De France Martinique.

They come to sail with me for two weeks. This was planed a year half a year ago. so both

them and myself had been looking forward to this long time.

They came at night in a little rain, but as they said, what a nice warm rain.

Back home it was minus 10 degrees C.

They could carry 2 x 20 kg each as lugage with air France, so they had asked me what to bring from Norway.

I made a list to them consisting 3 dish washing brushes ( which you can not buy here)

Anti biotic  , allergy pills and Norwegian mayonnaise.

So they did, but they also had bought me a lot of gifts, such as:

Bottle of Ankerdram Aquavit, Gammel Dansk snaps, Norwegian chocolate,

local mackerel in tomato sauce and news papers.

I was over welded about it. We party til late and had lot's of fun.

After a few Gammel Dansk and Aquavit they gave me a cigar and blinds.

My gray hair in a year I suppose.

Notice the ear ring.

Sunny and the others had this snow color when they came.

This changed during the two weeks.

Another first day in the sun body.

First day we sailed to St. Lucia.

Here is Finn on the wheel.

We arrived Marigot Bay and Chateau Mygo in the afternoon, were we parked on the bridge.

This was Sunday, and we had a pizza which they never had that good before.

Monday we went on a around the island tour with our own hired taxi.

We went to Suffrie hot springs, and LaDera restaurant and hotel for lunch.

Here are some pictures from the day.

On the way there was a man with his pet.

Don't remember what kind, but he had it since it was little.

You get it around your neck, and pay a little for the treat.

Here is Sunny and the snake.

And Per Olav.

This was the 'Wice' man he said.

He owned nothing, and therefore had no problems.

Well, we all have our philosophy.

We met him on the way to the hot springs.

The story is that you get 10 years younger by putting this sulfur mud on you.

We kind of felt it also, or maybe it was the Pitons beer.

The pool is VERY warm, so it takes some time to get into it.

Next stop was LaDera. A famous restaurant and hotel.
This is were Ophera Whitfrey stays when she is at St. Lucia.

At LaDera overlooking the Pitons.

The whole crew.

We were invited to Doreen's new house on the top of the hill for a swim.

Here is the Zephyr crew.

What a beautiful place, with the great look down to Marigot bay.

In the afternoon we went with captain Lemon to Castries for shopping.

Lemon has a speed boat taxi.

Me and Captain Lemon.

Next day we headed for Bequia. On the way we stopped at

the Pitons south of St. Lucia. This famous two mountains is a landmark of St. Lucia.

We had breakfast here since we started from Marigot Bay 05.00 in the morning.

One of the two Pitons.

The local beer from St. Lucia is also called Piton, and has the picture on the label.

 

 

Piton beer and Norwegian Anchor dram.

After, we crossed over to St. Vincent, we had a quick stop at Walilabou Bay.

This is were they filmed the 3 first films of Pirates in the Caribbean with Jonny Depp.

The anchorage restaurant which also was part of the movie.

This is were there was 3 skeleton's hanging with a sign.

Pirates be warned.

At the Pirate retreat bar at Walilabou Bay.

When we arrived St. Lucia and Marigot Bay, I had ordered crew T-shirts with

Zephyr logo on it.

This is in front of the oil lamp I got.

We arrived Bequia and Port Elisabeth in the afternoon,

and had a ankerdram to bless the anchor.

Finn taking the picture.

We took at taxi around Bequia, and one of the stops was at the turtle farm.

Mr. Bill is saving the eggs from a spice of turtle which is treated to die out.

He keep the small turtles til they are old enough to be put back in the water at the same beach

he picked eggs.

Mr. Bill who started the project 9 years ago.

Explaining what he is doing for the turtles.

They had several pools for different sizes turtles.

Next stop was at the Bequia Beach Hotel.

A very nice resort at the other side of the island.

Sunny and Per Olav enjoying the lunch.

Beautiful Bequia Beach Hotel.

Good food but very small portions.

Nina and Finn at the top of Bequia

This was our taxi around Bequia island.

Admiralty Bay Port Elisabeth Bequia below.

About 200 boats anchored.

At Frangi Pani restaurant they have a steel pan band playing every Thursday.

We had ordered table for the BBQ dinner.

The band is only kids, but they are really into it.



We got a mooring VERY close to the bar. About 10 meters.

Picture without zooming in from the boat.

Tried to download a video, but after one hour downloading,

and not completed, I gave up.

To bad, because one young boy drummer was really fun to watch.

At Bequia you can stay on board for months if you like.

You can buy everything from the vendors that come by boats to see you.

Here we are getting diesel and water.

They also take your garbage.

 

 

Miranda laundry service pick up your laundry,

and comes back with it nice folded.

Friday morning we sailed down to Tobago Cays.

One of the high lights on the trip.

One the white sandy beach by the turtles.

Everybody ready for snorkeling.

Sunny didn't see any sharks, but many turtles and fishes.

On the top of the little island.

Sjeik Finn is protecting his head for the sun.

One the island there is a lot of iguanas.

About 70 cm long. ( two feet)

Overlooking the outside reef.

At night we had BBQ lobster on the beach. This is always

a very good treat.

Creative lamps, made of a water bottle with sand inside and a candle.

At Tobago Cays you also have a lot of vendors coming over to you, offering
bread, fish, T-shirts, jewelery, beer, wine, cigarettes etc. etc.

This is Walter. He deliver worm bread in the morning,
and sell T-shirts. We bought 15 T-shirts, so he was smiling with his golden teeth's.

After two night at Tobago Cays, we sailed down south to Union Island.

On the way we anchored at Palm Island, which is famous for the most white sand beach

in the Caribbean, a beautiful blue water.

Palm Island beach.

There is a 5 star resort on the island.

One apartment ( condo) cost from 5000 USD and up per week.

We just had one pinecolada each, which was 62 USD for 5.

But it tasted good, because we drunk it before we got the check.

After lunch on board, we lifted anchor and motored over to Clifton harbour

at Union Island.

This is were rasta man Janti has built his own island, called Happy Island.

It is always nice to take my guests there. Everybody gets really exited about

all the work he has put into it.

This time the island was crowded of people.

The kite surfers were making a great show in the harbour.

Petikely one guy was amazing. He was jumping  over the people sitting on the edge.

Finn has a video about it, but haven't got it.

On the way to Happy Island in the dingy

Happy Island.

 

 

Rastaman Janti who built his own island.

We were hoping to have dinner at Happy Island, but he was over booked.

So instead we had a lot of rum punch, and danced all night.

We had the island by our self after a while.

Later Janti came up with five fish dinners.

Happy campers at Happy Island.

 

 

And more happy campers.

Nina was totally sweat in the end.

This was the most south island to visit.

After one night at Clifton, we went around the south tip to the west side of the island

and stopped at Chatham bay.

Can't find any pictures from there.

We went straight from Chatham bay Union to St. Vincent, and stopped

one night over at Walilabou bay.

Coffins from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean.

We had to check out of the country St. Vincent and the Grenedines

at Walilabou bay.

Of course there was pirates which was the custom and immigration.

Giving immigration the passports.

One night we had Captain dinner on board.

And of course Champagne.

Nice dressed up for the captains dinner.

The two weeks with my Norwegian crew went way to fast. It was a sad day when I followed

them to the ferry from St. Lucia to Martinique.

Hope to see them soon again.

Dominica

North to Dominca.

After one week down to the Grendines, Claus and Chira had to go home to Denmark.

Barbara and Maurizio decided to go with me to Martinique and Dominica for one week.

I had to be at Martinique the 28th. of January to meet my friends from Norway, so this was perfect

for my schedule.

We had a little rough ride between St. Lucia and Martinique, but we made good speed.

Martinique was getting bigger in the horizon

We landed first at Grand Anse de Alert, were we cleared custom.

Stayed one night, and then sailed to St. Pierre up north.

We got there 10 minutes after the tourist office had closed at 2 pm. The tourist office

is were you clear custom, and we needed to clear out before we could sail to Dominica.

This was at Saturday, and the tourist office is not open at Sundays, so we were forced

to stay until Monday . It turned out to be a pleasant delay.

Got to know some of the locals, and had a good time with them.

They have carnival at Martinique the same time as in Trinidad, ( 21-22 of February) and they

practice every Sunday four weeks before.

Don't  know why the men was dressed up like girls, but it sure looked funny.

Well this was real girls.

This is not......

Not eider.

Monday morning we went to the tourist office and cleared out, going to Dominica.

You don't go to Dominica to see beaches, but to see the beautiful island ashore.

We made first stop at the capital Roseau for one night.

We arrived late in the afternoon. Went into town and had dinner. The town was

a different experience than other towns I seen in the Caribbeans.

The houses was mainly built of wood, and looking like they did 100 years ago.

Some well kept, others looked like they would fall apart any time.

Sorry, we all forgot the camera.

Next morning we sailed north to Portsmount. After a nice sail trip up the coast,

we were welcomed by the water taxi and tour company, Cobra.

I had called them up on the VHF, because I had red about them in the Chris Doyle pilot book.

After tied on to a mooring, we went on a river trip by rowing boat.

Very nice, you almost felt like being in Africa.

Rowing up the Indian river.

Beautiful colours.

And in the end of the  river was a bar.

A hurricane hit Dominica in 1979 and 1980, and did a lot of damage to the island.

Many ship was flushed ashore, and they are still there, making the waterfront looking

like a ship grave yard. I heard that a company from Venezuela has got the

contract to cut the ship into pieces, and remove them.

Sad look.

 

About 8-10 ships like this

Thuesday party at Chateau Mygo

Party at Chateau Mygo.

Every Thuesday and some time Thursday there is a live band at Chateau Mygo.

It attacks alot of people, and it is a good party.

Here are some pictures from before Barbara, Maurizio, Chira and Claus went

with me to the Grenedines.

Joker, the lead singer.

The drummer, which  also sings very good.

Shaid, the son of  Dareen who owns Chateau Mygo, steps in some times

and play guitar.

The dance floor is quickly full of guests.

Martina and Barbara..

Claus and someone.