L'Aventura Voyages

We left the rain behind in Deshaies - except for a feisty squall that popped the top two slugs on our main. All patched up yesterday. So, the sun shone in the enchanted islands called Les Saintes. An idyll of lush green vegetation, picture perfect red roofed houses, French style and Creole charm. Sue had her tooth repaired by a very friendly dentist and we then passed 3 gentle days in seclusion at Grand Ilet. Lovely. And I did a big tick off the list by cleaning through the port engine cooling system - hurrah.

The gang are just off with Martin Carriere for a guided tour of a bit of Dominica. Lucky things.... I've got to work. We made the short trip across yesterday - romped through several tuna schools, none of which offered a fish and are giving Portsmouth a second chance: we really didn't like it last year. Got very hassled by boat boys. But either we or Portsmouth have changed. Thus far it seems pleasant and relaxed - despite there being a boat robbery a couple of nights back. And Martin remembered taking us up the Indian River with my cousins Mary & Dougie some 11 years ago. He remembers two tiny children.... Said tiny's are sitting large in his bus just now!

Anyway back to Les Saintes. Sadly we saw the end of a dream when a couple who rescued us from our lightening strike, over two years ago, dropped anchor at Grand Ilet and announced that they were selling their boat and returning to the US. 30 years of planning and two years of travelling had just gone up in smoke: the Captain loved the life afloat but his partner did not at all, at all. Brave, brave souls both. The one for enduring two years of discomfort and the other for abandoning his dream - both sacrifices for the other's sake.

We sadly watched them sail back north before making our preparations for our second try of equatorial Dominica 15 miles to our south.