Look ma - no diesel! (And no I don't mean we ran out of fuel!)

The Sunsail Jeanneau fleet at English Harbour.

 

The alarm went off at 0500 and we were up. Engine started at 0530 and we weighed anchor and were out of English Harbour at 0600. The winds were as predicted. We set the course and set the sails. We had an average wind speed of 15 to 17 kts. Full main and reduced genoa and we averaged 6 kts all day. The wind was directly 90 degrees on our port side. One tack all the way to Guadeloupe! We traveled how many miles and how many months to get to this point? It was perfect. We had hot Caribbean sun, warm Caribbean winds and warm Caribbean spray. What more could we want? We made the trip to Deshaies in 7 hours, approximately 45 miles. We were smoking! OMG I love those trades (when they work in our favour). We set anchor at 1330, straightened the boat out a bit, lowered the dinghy and went ashore looking for an ATM machine (Euros) which I might add worked with our first card on the first try. We then found Customs and cleared in. Having accomplished that, we set about wandering through town. What a quaint, well kept, pretty town! We found a bakery, found a restaurant with internet and then headed back to the boat. We were very happy with the day! Having had an early morning, it was an early night.

Approaching Deshaies, Guadeloupe.

Walking bridge over the Deshaies River.

That's CS'ta Time immediately to the right of the little palm.

Approaching the dinghy dock at Deshaies.

 

We were up around 0800 having had a wonderful sleep. The anchorage was very quiet and well protected. After breakfast we planned the next step in the cruising and then went ashore. The guidebook mentioned a walk up the Deshaies River to some waterfalls. After getting the general directions off we went. We didn't make it. The walk along the river got a little too dense with foliage so we turned back, found a very small waterfalls with a small pool at the bottom of it and decided that was where we were going to get cooled off. We had brought soap and shampoo and had a great refreshing wash. We then had a picnic and I had another dip before we left.

Waterfalls and pool for a refreshing dip.

A Tarzan's vine in Jorge's hand (some 60' long).

After lunch at the waterfalls.

Foliage along the river.

Jorge teasing a young bull along the river with his red bathing suit.

We went to the bakery as they had an outside t.v. where we had beers and watched a soccer match, one of the semis in the European Championship. Jorge was happy.

I am blogging and Jorge went to clear us out. Tomorrow we are heading to Les Saintes, still part of Guadeloupe but we have 48 hours to leave the country. We will stop there overnight before heading off to Dominica.