CURRENT LOCATION: Anchored in Mosquito Cove, just outside the entrance to Jolly Harbour, Antigua
17 04.505' N, 061 53.541' W

Yes, the water is really that blue. Here on the west side of Antigua, the depth of the water, the sandy bottom, and the brilliant sunshine conspire to make shades of blue which are simply unbelievable. Paddling through this liquid electric blue is a surreal experience. It is as though our reality is enhanced through Technicolor magic.

Today we took the kayaks around the corner to check out Five Islands Harbour. One of the great things about exploring by kayak is the ability to get very close to the shoreline to experience the incredible sights where water meets land.



A couple of weeks ago, we kayaked past Five Islands, and found that one of the islands was populated with pelicans. The young ones have grown since our last visit (note: the downy white birds are juveniles):



Below, we are perched just beyond the two of the five islands which are furthest away from Jolly Harbour. The gap between the two small islands frames a view of our anchorage in the distance over a mile away:



From there we paddled back toward the mainland and a unique outcropping of rocks known as the Baker's Cellar. Here we can paddle into cuts in the incredible red and pink rocks ...





... and check out caves (just watch out for the waves):



Past Baker's Cellar is another outcropping of a different type of rock called Stony Horn. Here we found a blowhole, or more accurately a blowcrack:





The entire coastline is spotted with beautiful beaches. We kayaked off the beach in Hermitage Bay, the only part of the entire Five Islands Harbour area which is developed. We turned back toward Stony Horn and found our own private beach to land and take a swim:



We are most certainly not taking these last few weeks in the Caribbean for granted. Instead, we resolve to fix into our minds afternoons like this one. Such memories will sustain us when we return to the wonderful world of working for a living.