Grenadines 2018

Wednesday7February

4th awakening in the middle of the West Indies. Once again with a rainbow.

We continue our advance and begin to turn east, we are at the southernmost point of our route and will soon start to turn back towards Martinique. For now, we join 4 km away one of the most popular places in the region: Tobago Cays.

Tobago Cays is located in the coral barrier of the West Indies, giving its turquoise color to the sea.

We are going to leave Magix for 2 hours for a little walk on the mainland of the islet Petit Rameau.

After leaving us on the beach of Petit Rameau, Jules returns to the boat. He will join us on the other side of the island which we will first cross by its width. The islet is only 500 meters long by 200 meters wide.;

Small climb from where the superb colors of the blue lagoon are revealed, protected by the Horseshoe Reef.

Access to the other side of the islet is via stony paths that cross the flora that has survived the local climate. Notably, tillandsia utriculata.

A rainbow lizard (Ameiva ameiva) camouflages itself but does not escape the lens of my camera...  

Another ameiva lizard in full tanning.

Here we are on the west side of the islet.

And here is the return of the handsome Jules! With ease!  

He leaves the tender to Thierry who will return to Magix, to come back and pick us up in a little over an hour.

We will now return to our starting point, not by the same path, but by skirting the entire small coast for a short kilometer to the South.

Birds also have the right to their little piece of paradise. Here, American oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus). And during this time, our little piece of paradise is earned by passing through paths that are not the least steep...

Objective achieved, we are back on the beach facing Magix. Carole takes the opportunity to levitate on one leg, very happy to find sand under her feet.   All that remains is to wait for Thierry's return.

And here he is, right on time!

Back on Magix. The clouds are becoming threatening which brings out even more the blue of the lagoon.  

And I take advantage of a little time to go diving with mask, snorkel and fins in these magnificent waters. And I won't regret it... because a sea turtle will cross my path! Completely shaken up, I will feel the call of the depths and follow it and swim by its side while keeping my distance so as not to disturb it. Its majestic swimming will intoxicate me... All this in apnea obviously, until I realize that hypnotized by the situation, I was forgetting to go back to the surface to take back the oxygen that was starting to run out...    . Fortunately, I will return to the surface in time. Sometimes you have to beware of your emotions and quickly regain control.   As my camera is not amphibious, only my memories will keep this memorable moment!  

After the nap, we leave again for exploration on the small neighboring islet named Baradal. This time, it is not with the tender that we reach the beach, but swimming for the bravest, and in an inflatable canoe for me and Carole!

After my sea turtle, here is a superb land one... It is a red-footed tortoise, Chelonoidis carbonaria. It can live 60 years!

After this charming meeting and the tour of the islet, we return to the fold on Magix. Tomorrow, we leave Tobago and start our return to Martinique.

Thursday8February

After breakfast, we retrace the path northwards and will cross day after day the stages already passed in the opposite direction. But this time, we do it all in one go until Bequia.

Jules is maneuvering, between two readings of The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas.  

It will take us more than 4 hours of navigation to reach Bequia, where a stop is mandatory to go report to customs our departure from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

As three days ago, we have to weave between the boaters to find a mooring spot in Port Elizabeth.

The view from the toilets!  

And hop, this time we reach the beach by swimming.

Short stop in front of a storyteller, on the importance of nature if my memory serves me right...  

Small climb at the end of the beach to raise the viewpoint on the bay.

And return to the boat.

And here we go again to join Magix by swimming at the same time as the Sun takes its bow.

Magix has its little accessories. A barbecue in this case, impeccable for starry evenings!