Voyage to Nevis, Part 2

It was windy and wavy when we started to think about getting ashore on Friday morning. WW and Les went in to clear in and make us legal. Then WW decided the best approach would be to take Django over to the dinghy dock and get Anthea off there, rather than putting us all and the wheelchair into our new (smaller) dinghy Grommet for the long bash through the waves. This we did, only to discover that the swell by the dock was pitching Django around like a coconut. Somehow, with lines screeching, wind howling, surge surging, Django dancing, we got Anthea ashore, together with Les and the wheelchair. Our guests had arranged to meet a man about a rental car while we took Django back to her mooring, then returned in Grommet.

Anthea and Les were escorted by a port security guard, who had witnessed the unloading and was full of helpful advice, up to the road to wait for the car chap. She proved invaluable at fending off the vulturine taxi drivers who haunt the port area. She installed Anthea by a roadside bench where a gaggle of local women continued to berate any predatory taxi driver (they seem to be particularly rapacious in Nevis) who came too close. Les got the car arranged.

We loaded ourselves into the car and, it now being after noon, the gentlemen felt the first business of the day should be a beer. We went to a little outdoor bar, next door to the birth place of Alexander Hamilton, that WW and I have visited before. Very pleasant.

Chips and beer at our first stop.

Then we headed off to the Botanical Gardens which are full of exotic Eastern statuary, beautiful grounds, not quite as large or as flowery as Deshaies, but beautiful withal.

Anthea and WW examine one of the quillen (sort of a liony thing)

guarding the gift shop entrance. The fountain behind is made from

old sugar evaporating bowls.

Botanical Gardens statuary.

A personal favourite: stacked fish.

The conservatory.

Anthea and Les in the conservatory.

Pretty orchids in the conservatory.

We lunched quite late at the Thai restaurant in the gardens, then made our way back to the dinghy dock. We left the wheelchair in the car and developed a system for getting Anthea down the ladder into Grommet. Last year, we developed the dinghy-to-big-boat system, so no inventiveness was required on our arrival. It was, by now, about 5:30 p.m. Les and Anthea toddled off for a little lie down. By 8 p.m., we reckoned we wouldn’t see them till Saturday. WW ate (and claims he enjoyed) cold fish pie. I was still full of delicious Thai food.

We were, once again, in bed before 9.