Northward Bound

We raised anchor at about 8 a.m. on Thursday morning, and started our return voyage to Antigua. The weather was sounding pretty dicey for our crossing on Saturday -- high winds from the wrong direction, big seas -- so we planned to stop at Pigeon Island for a snorkel and lunch, then head straight to Deshaies. If the picture improved we would go for it, otherwise Whit was reluctantly considering the option of returning from Guadeloupe. Reluctantly because it would entail a fairly substantial expense.

Our run up to Pigeon Island was lovely until we got in the lee of Guadeloupe, when it became a solid motor up the coast. We tucked ourselves into a little cove on the south side of Pigeon Island and had a marvelous snorkel...far better than the one we'd had (on the wrong side of the island) when we'd visited before. We then continued our plod up to Deshaies.

In the morning, Chris Parker's forcast had been revised most favorably: winds moving to the east at about 20 kts, seas 6 to 8 feet (or something like that) for Saturday. We decided to stay the extra day so we could show Whit and Frisha the beautiful botanical gardens. We walked up the hill to them and spent a delightful hour or so wandering through the flowers and forest. It was interesting to see knew things in bloom. The last time we'd been here was in November.

Boys and Birds: WW and Whit with lorikeets at the botanical gardens.

KMH, WW and Frisha in the botanical gardens.

Frisha wanted to purchase a colourful Creole tablecloth, Whit wanted to go for another dive, WW wanted to check the weather online. I was happy to amble about with Frisha and give her unwelcome advice on her tablecloth selection. So we all had a mission and, after lunch, we returned to the village to fulfill them. Whit's dive place was closed...we had arrived too late and the boat had already left. WW succeeded in confirming the promising weather for the morrow. Frisha bought her tablecloth despite my interference.

Almost-full moon over Deshaies.

It was a lovely night on board. The moon, one day from full, rose above the hills behind Deshaies and lighted the crowded anchorage. We had an early night in preparation for our 30-mile crossing in the morning.

Thanks, again, the Whit and Frisha for the photos.