Here is a picture from July 15, 2014, the video did not upload.

Early morning rainbow.

 

July 17, 2014

Last night we received an email from Diana and Gilbert wanting to know if we were game for another walk to Concord Falls. Gwen and Guillome of Slow Waltz from Oakville, and whom we first met in the Bahamas, were also game. The six of us met at the bus terminal in St. George and then boarded a bus to Concord Falls. We had thought about taking a taxi to the first falls and then walking to the second falls. Unfortunately no taxi was available so we walked . . . an hour on paved road up hill and then 45 minutes on a path through the rain forest to the second falls. At times the path was muddy and we had to cross the river many times. Finally we reached the falls and they were gorgeous! We had picnic lunches, ate freshly picked mangoes and swam. We were beginning to dry off from the swim when it began to rain. We decided to stay in our bathing suits and start walking back. I never thought I would say it but we felt a chill coming out of the waterfalls with the rain falling. Of course on the way back, the path was muddier and quite slippery and I have the scrapes on my shins to prove it!

The second of three falls making up Concord Falls.

The pool at the bottom of the falls (freshly picked mangoes on the rock to the left).

Looking up to the top of the falls.

Jorge enjoying a fresh mango.

 

Kim with the Concord Falls behind.

After lunch and a swim.

Farmers cultivate vegetations on any flat area on the way to the falls.

Muddy path, sometimes ankle deep!

Crossing the river for the umpteenth time.

Jorge on part of the path leading to the falls.

 

Souvenier shops, paved road ends here at the first falls, rain forest path begins.

Ditto

By the time we reached the paved part of the road on the way back, the skies had cleared and as we descended it got quite warm again. By the time we got to the main road, we were ready for a cold beer which we enjoyed before catching the bus back to St. George.

We walked part of the way back to the yacht club from the bus terminal, where we left the dinghy, before finally catching a bus the rest of the way. It was almost a 4 hour walk today and our legs were beginning to feel it! It was a great day though and it was good to see Diana and Gilbert and Gwen and Guillome again.

We had dinner in the cockpit, enjoyed the sunset with our wine and then turned in by 2130.

July 18, 2014

It was very overcast when we awoke and the rain started shortly after 0800. It continued to rain until late morning, part of the time again forcing us to retreat into the boat from the cockpit. We even had a flash of lightening and quite a loud clap of thunder.

The rain had stopped by noon so we were able to take the dinghy to shore to partake in Friday Burger Day. The Cruiser’s WiFi has not been as good as promised so we hung out at the yacht club for the afternoon, doing internet stuff and watching some news on t.v. I also needed to post some snail mail again so off I went for a walk to the post office. Like I needed the walk after yesterday! We had a few rain showers off and on during the day but the temp was a comfortable 26C to 27C. Rain is forecast for the next three days with temp around 30C.

Back to the boat late afternoon for dinner.

July 16, 2014

We had a very subdued day today.

Upon opening our emails this morning, we were shocked first and then devastated to learn that a long time member of HYC and personal friend of 15 years had suddenly passed away the day before. We had enjoyed many good times with Ron and his wife Cheryl at the HYC clubhouse, on each others' boats, at each others' homes and at various other social events. He was strong with unwavering supportive during my health crisis a few years previously for which I was, and am, exceptionally grateful.

Our thoughts, prayers and love go out to his wife, Cheryl, and their family.

Rest in peace Ron. You will be missed good friend.

July 14, 2014

BUMMER!!

That's all I am going to say about Argentina's 1-0 loss to Germany in the final of the World Cup. The empanadas, salad and Malbec wine last night were good though.

We did some financial stuff and internet banking this morning on the boat and then went to town in the afternoon as we had some snail mail to post.

We had met an American couple at the yacht club while watching some of the soccer matches. We stopped by their boat and invited them for sundowners. They arrived to CS'ta Time shortly after 1800. We had sundowners, moon uppers and star glazers until 2300! They have been cruising for 10 years so had lots of stories to tell and we had a few of our own. It wasn't all boat talk though. We threw in some family stories, good jokes, political issues and had the world problems solved by the end of the night! 

July 15, 2014.

The morning was pretty much wasted away, well not really, I enjoyed reading my book and Jorge was reading news on the internet.

After lunch we went to town to the post office again. Diana and Gilbert had some mail sent in care of us at Port Louis Marina and it finally came in so we picked it up for them. We were also in search of distilled water for the batteries. We found some at the hardware store, returned to the boat and topped up the batteries. Sounds easy right? Well four of the six batteries are under the v-berth so we had to remove the bedding, mattress and boards to get to the batteries. The batteries are positioned in such a way that it was almost impossible to undo the caps. Jorge, after finally wiggling into a contortionist's position, got the job accomplished with him holding the funnel and the tubing and me pouring the water. It was almost as challenging for Jorge to get out of the position as it was getting into it LOL. Cruising has been described as "the privilege of fixing your boat in exotic places". So one has to ask why do so many people do it? Having a sip of wine in the warm evening air in the Caribbean Sea watching the sun set kinda says everything.

Bedtime was early as it had been a late evening the night before.

We are at GYC and I forgot my cable to download pictures from the camera to the computer, so pictures will follow the next time I blog.

July 8, 2014

We finished watching the unbelievable match between Brazil and Germany. Suffice it to say, the Brazilian lady sitting beside Jorge was almost in tears at the end of the game!

July 9, 2014

We spent the morning doing not much of anything. We had lunch, dinghied over to the empanada bakery and then to the yacht club to watch the match between Argentina and Holland. Diana and Gilbert caught a bus from their anchorage on the south side of Grenada at Hog Island and joined us at the yacht club for the game.

Jorge and Kim pre-game.

Jorge and Diana - friends before the game.

More Holland fans than Argentine fans.

Kim and Diana still speaking at half time.

An out-of-focus but happy Jorge and a sad Diana after the game.

Supper of salad and empanadas with vino aboard CS'ta Time post-game.

July 10, 2014

Mon Dieu did it ever rain this morning! Not just the 5 - 10 minute shower we are used to but at least an hour down pour and it was pretty intense. We weren't even able to sit in the cockpit and enjoy breakfast, we had to retreat inside the boat.

Jorge went to the yacht club in the afternoon to get internet. I stayed onboard doing chores, ie dishes, cutting and chopping making a mango salsa to accompany pork chops for supper. When Jorge returned to the boat we had planned on going into town but because it was still raining (off and on) and windy we decided to watch a movie instead. A fellow cruiser downloaded some of his movies onto our computer so we picked "Hang 'Em High" to watch (the movie that made me fall in love with Clint Eastwood!)

After the movie the rain had stopped so we had appetizers and drinks in the cockpit. Jorge spotted two boats making their way into the anchorage. When viewing them with the binoculars, he discovered it was the Grenada Coast Guard towing a 42' cat that had demasted! Not a pretty site. The furler was half in the water as was part of the main sail. The boom appeared to be laying on the bimini and we're not sure exactly where the mast was but it sure wasn't in its usual spot. It was a charter boat, what a way to ruin your vacation.  Good to know that the Grenada Coast Guard is ready and available.

July 11, 2014

Jorge subscribed to Cruiser's WiFi so with the aid of the booster we now have internet onboard and we no longer have to pack up the computer and go ashore to "keep in touch" with the world. (Unfortunately while doing this blog, the pictures were not downloading so it will be off to shore to download the pictures, darn.)

We attended Friday Build Your Own Burger Day and then caught the bus to CK Superstore Warehouse where we browsed and found the price of beer cheaper than anywhere else. A local drove us to Budget Marine where we again browsed. Onto True Blue Resort and Marina. Friends are coming for a visit in November so we were checking the place out.

Jorge at Friday Build Your Own Burger Day.

Bar at True Blue Resort getting ready for the final.

Kim in front of the reception at True Blue Resort.

Ditto.

House across the street from True Blue Resort.

The rainy season has certainly brought out the colourful vegetation

Aluminium forest (boats on the hard at Spice Island Marine).

Local seagull at Grand Anse Beach.

 Back to the boat for dinner and a quiet evening.

July 12, 2014

This morning we went to the bakery to buy empanadas for tomorrow (the bakery is closed on Sundays). I have bought them for every Argentine game and they have won every time. Superstitious maybe, but I'm not taking any chances. Besides I love heating up someone else's hard work and just making a salad for supper.

We then went to Grand Anse by dinghy in search of a good bottle of wine to celebrate Argentina's upcoming win over Germany on Sunday (or dare I say to drown our sorrows should they lose).

We had lunch onboard, then went to the yacht club and watched Holland beat Brazil for 3rd place. Poor Brazil, they must be devastated! Hooray for Holland (and Diana).

Back to CS'ta Time for dinner and another quiet evening.

July 13, 2014

Oh boy, what can I say! Jorge is wound up like a top. Argentina vs Germany for the World Cup this afternoon! Diana and Gilbert are planning on coming from their anchorage to watch the game with us and I am sure the yacht club will be packed. We are going tearly to stake out good seats!

Reminder: new email address is: sealordjg@gmail.com

July 5, 2014

Today was a day strictly put aside for soccer. We had two matches to watch, Argentina was playing at 1200 and Holland was playing at 1600. Both teams won! Yeah for us and yeah for Diana and Gilbert (Diana has Dutch connections.) However, the gloves are off for the game on Wednesday as Argentina plays Holland!

Jorge in his normal front row seat for the World Cup games at GYC.

 

 

(Diana took the above pictures. I am a complete dummy when it comes to computers. I was lucky enough to be able to copy them from an email but can't get them right side up!)

 



We said good-bye to Diana and Gilbert after the game. They had decided to move on. I’m sure we will meet up again somewhere down the “road”.

July 6, 2014

We spent the entire day on the boat. Jorge was installing Wirie-AP and I attempted some cleaning. It was a warm day so we were slow in doing the boat jobs. Wirie-AP was installed. Jorge just has to hook it up to power and start the system.

We were treated to local music from the beach in front of the anchorage. It started mid afternoon and lasted until midnight! I’m not sure what the celebration was all about but it was a bit too loud and went on a bit too long to our liking.

The schooner "Mandalay" next to us in the anchorage at St. George.

 

July 7, 2014

We took the dinghy to the dinghy dock at Grand Anse Beach in the morning to pick up a few grocery items I had run out of and to buy some beer.

Sea grapes, ripe when deep purple.

A whole tree of sea grapes.

Love is blind.

(A palm and a sea grape tree growing together on Grand Anse Beach.)

Jorge enjoying a pipa in Grand Anse (pipa is what the Costa Ricans call coconut water.)

Hey Bill and Lynn, does this look familiar?

We had lunch back on the boat and then went into the yacht club. Jorge needed to catch up on some internet news.

July 8, 2014

Jorge went into Island Water World this morning to pick up something he needed for Wirie. We had lunch and then tried to start the system. Unfortunately we hit a gliche. We took the computer to the yacht club where Jorge fired off an email to the support team. We are awaiting their answer but in the meantime will watch the Brazil/Germany game. (So far a blow out for Brazil, losing 5-0 at half time!)

July 1, 2014

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!

Today was a busy day. We were leaving the marina today so it was breakfast, showers, a walk to the bakery for empanadas, pump-out, top up with water, settle the marina bill, and dinghy down which all went according to plan. We left our slip at 1030 and headed for the anchorage. We knew from the two weeks we were here previously that the holding was not great but it took us four attempts at four different locations before the anchor would grab! Jorge was finally happy with the holding but it was already 1130. Argentina was playing their next game at 1200 and we still had to put the motor on the dinghy and get to the marina. It was a mad rush but we made it to the bar with only minutes to spare. What a nail biter of a game it was too, literally for Jorge! But the outcome was favourable for Argentina, winning it 1-0 over Switzerland in added time of overtime. Phew.

After the game, Diana and Gilbert, Jorge and I headed to the dinghy dock at Grand Anse Beach. There were Canada Day Celebrations scheduled for 1100 but they had finished by the time we arrived around 1500 but the four of us had our own celebrations. We then walked to Spiceland Mall and then to Master Grill where we ordered pizza for supper. It was dark before we got back to the dinghy dock with full tummies and leftovers for lunch.

Coconut Beach Restaurant (closed on Tuesdays, but we enjoyed their patio anyway).

Beach soccer.

Kim and Diana in our Canada Day outfits.

Jorge with the girls.

Lush vegetation on the beach.

Land crab.

And I thought we just had to worry about hurricanes!

July 2, 2014

Adjusting to life at anchor, re-establishing sea legs. Surprising how fast they are lost! We cleaned the lines and fenders we used while in the marina and then stored them away. Jorge located some aluminium pieces that he used for the solar panels as he was going to use them for the installation of the Wirie-AP. Leftover pizza for lunch, then off to town for fuel for the dinghy and generator. We stopped at the yacht club for internet and I walked to three grocery stores before I was able to find balsamic vinegar but that was okay, it was good exercise.

When I got back to the yacht club, Diana and Gilbert had joined Jorge. We decided to do happy hour aboard CS’ta Time so off we went. We enjoyed wine/beer, munchies and watched the sunset. Another good day.

July 3, 2014

Diana radioed us in the morning and asked if we wanted to join her and Gilbert on a hike to Concord Falls. Of course! We first stopped in town at the Tourist Board and got up to date brochures on Grenada. We caught the local bus and travelled about 9 miles to the falls. From the road, it was quite the walk, seeming like we walked across half the island - all uphill! Actually it was all uphill but we took our time walking so as not to overdo it and to enjoy the scenery. We arrived at the first of three falls after about an hour walk where we had a picnic lunch. The day was mostly overcast and by this time we had cooled off so we all decided that we didn’t need a swim. We contemplated walking to the second falls but as it was a 45 minute walk one way we decided to come back another day. Next time we will leave earlier in the morning, take a taxi to the first falls and then walk to the second falls and maybe even the third!

Now the walk begins!

 

The road was lined with banana trees,

mango trees,

colourful vegetation,

perfumed flowers,

billy goats and

more billy goats!  

 

 

Down and

down some more to the base of the falls.

First of three sets of falls at Concord Falls.

 Looking from the top down.

Local boys.

By the time we got back to the yacht club (where we had left the dinghies) we were in dire need of a drink so we enjoyed cold beers before heading back to the boats.

July 4, 2014

Happy July 4^th to all our American friends!

We had a lazy morning but did manage to get off the boat and to our empanada bakery for Friday Build Your Own Burger Day where Diana and Gilbert met us for lunch. Jorge was anxious to get to the yacht club for the noon hour game so he inhaled his burger and left by dinghy. Diana and Gilbert went to Grand Anse to do some shopping and I enjoyed the walk to the yacht club. Laundry was on my list of boat jobs today as was blogging. I’m in no rush though as we will be staying for the next soccer match starting at 1600.