On a narrow spit of sand on an cay off the West Coast of Carriacou lies Sandy Island, that, in 2010, Grenada established as the Sandy Island/ Oyster Bed Marine Protected Area (SIOBMPA) to protect, preserve and re-establish the area's reef, mangroves and sea grass beds. And (much to my delight) jellyfish.
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Our morning Happy Yoga was somewhat interrupted when much to our surprise, the doors of the home on Happy Island opened, and Janti stuck his head out in a quizzical type of look that almost said, "What you doing on my Island, Mon?"
We quickly apologized for intruding, asked for Morning Yoga permission, which was granted with a smile, and we got ourselves set up, and twisted out of shape (or into shape, who knows?)
along with some photo-op type of interruptions, which all made that Morning Yoga on Happy Island complete.
Shortly thereafter we landed our dinghies ashore on Union Island, met Charlie Brown who took our garbage bags at 10EC, and then welcomed us to the island. It was a short but very hot and humid walk to the airpot where we busied ourselves filling out the paperwork in order to clear out of the Country. A walk back to town where the Capt'N unknowingly aided and abetted a local in the stealing of a Bottle of Coke from the Bakery Lady, and then it was off to visit the Fruit and Veggie Ladies, who were all screaming and yelling for our attention.
Always willing to spread the "wealth", we visited one vendor who was quite insistent on knowing exactly WHEN we were eating which fruit and which vegetable, so she could properly arm us with the proper ripeness. I picked up a pineapple and she quickly screamed at me, "No, not that one" shaking her head at my, hmm, silly-ness, of course.
Have to admit that her Grapefruit and Pineapple have to have been the best we've eaten in a long time. Even the Capt'N (who has adopted Dalynn's name for Paw-Paw, calling it Poo-Poo), had to admit that it was the best Poo-Poo he'd ever had. Ever.
A short while later we were anchoring in Hillsborough and proceeding with clearing into the country of Grenada. And with a shake of the head we're completely amazed at how quick time flies. Our second season in Grenada is about to start. Wow.
With customs procedures complete we were free to get a few provisions and then it was another move the boat moment, after the shot lived rain squall of course. By Sandy Island we dropped the hook in very shallow waters a touch close to the comfort zone given given the blowing and blustery windy conditions and the lee-shore.
The radio cackled to life and Glen announced that there was a Jellyfish Alert in progress. Not being a disbeliever, but perhaps hoping to wash the heat of the day away, I tempted fate and headed into the water myself. Giving my eyes a few minutes to adjust and I didn't see not-a-one, which I promptly and quite happily announced to Dave.
I ducked my head back underwater again, allowing the refreshingness to wash the salty sweat of the day away, where I noticed a dozen. No, a million. No, a gazillion of the invisible see through globules floating by in what had to be the biggest mass of jellyfish cloud to be recorded in Banyan history. Ever.
"Never thought I could jump out of the water that fast, did you?" I said to Dave, who eyed me quizzically as I materialized out of nothingness on the deck, and nursing two stings already turning red and large on my left tricep. I radioed back to Amoray to second the jellyfish alert.
Glen called us later, to see if we were up for a morning hike on Sandy Island. Dave took one peek at the terrain, and promptly agreed,
you do see why, don't you? This was the Capt'N's type of hike !! Dalynn agreed on the sole condition that we end the walk with an Ab Ripper session. Ok'd by me.
And so, we followed the long stretch of sand,
to the end of the island, where the sand quickly gave way to the natural form of debris,
and back again,
the windswept palms noisily keeping us company,
the birds keep an ever watchful eye,
while perched atop the dozens of statues built by who knows who, who knows when,
all on a lazy afternoon I bet. We collected sea-shells along the way,
in an effort to replace our current (dirty) currency of a coin collection, with more Feng-Shui'd and Zen like tokens, for our Wizard games !!
We walked to the other end of the island,
where it was written in the sand,
that given we'd run out of island to walk, there would soon be some killer ab moves in our not too distant future.
After lunch it was time to head round the bend to Tyrrel Bay, a huge well protected bay, and it didn't take us long (and what a relief) to get settled in these very calm waters. A hesitant swim later proved to be jellyfish-free.
We went ashore for an afternoon walk, following the road North towards the village of L'Esterre where we found,
the cutest beach-bar. Ever. "Off the Hook" on Paradise Beach
with its own personal view of Sandy Island,
and where we found the perfect sign with which to tease the Capt'N.
You know how many walks we've undertaken as of late? Some of which I haven't even gotten to blogging about? Yet! Well you can bet your every sand shell and every sand dollar, that on each and every one of them, the Capt'N is forever reminding us on which side of the street we can safely walk on. To that end, his nickname has (on some days) been changed from Eeyore to that of "Safety Dave".
And then it was time to walk the beach the long way back home,
where the day was only found to be complete after another quick splash in the water in order to wash all that sand away.