Tobago Cays To: rudys03@ibm.net X-Type: Email; Outmail Subject: LOG May 17th-May29th Snorkeling in the Tobago Cays is like entering an underwater Disney World. With every twist and turn we took, we saw many different species of coral and fish. The water on the inside reef is about 5-7 feet deep with sandy spots in case you want to stand and rest for a while. I have seen more different species of fish and coral than all my experience in snorkeling!!!! The coral does reach the surface in spots so you have to choose and pick your way. The gardens of coral look as if an artist and a landscaper got together to make this magical underwater world. On the outside of the reef, you see schools of fish with hundreds of fish dancing as in a ballet....all shapes and colors. I guess you can tell I liked this area!!!! Rudy, Craig and Kristen (from Chance) dove one day and I snorkeled. We saw a turtle and a couple of barracudas as well. The next four days was much of the same. One day Rudy spotted two nurse sharks...one about 4 feet and the other about 7 feet. Even though you know they are harmless, it is a little intimidating when they are swimming two feet away from you!!! On Saturday after Snorkeling again, we went to Palm Island. We called the doctor we met on Martinique, the one who we gave our two batteries to, and he came to pick us up in his electric golf cart. He gave us a private tour of this small island and showed us all the improvements he helped foster since he left France about 4 years ago. Then he took us to his house and showed us his paintings. Rudy and I were very impressed with his paintings of underwater fish and coral. He had them all over his house....every where. The smallest were 30x60 inches to the largest of mural size. The next day was Stacy's Birthday and I had the pleasure of waking her up so Rudy and I could sing "Happy Birthday" to her. We were awake early because the anchorage at Palm Island is not well protected so there was a bit of a roll most of the night. Since this anchorage was so rolly, we left for Union Island. We talked to Chance over the VHF, and we were told that their dinghy was stolen during the night in Tobago Cays!! We thought we were safe there!! The next day Chance arrived and we went into town to have lunch. After lunch, Craig called the police to report the stolen dinghy and was told that they had it. So all four of us got a bus to the police station. The government official was checking out Frigate Island and found the dinghy rolled up, the motor in an army duffel bag with Hamburg plane tags and an empty gas tank. Their dinghy and motor was ready to go... where no-one knows. After Craig and Kristen thanked the gentleman and gave him the reward, we went back by way of a pick-up truck. Rudy helped Craig put the dinghy together and I did my part by going boutique shopping with Kristen. We then ate dinner at our boat and celebrated for a few hours!!! The next day Rudy was a hero to another boat who dropped a windless handle overboard in 30 feet of water. He got it in the first try!!!! Chance left for Bonaire on May 24th and gave us a poster of one of the doctor's paintings for our help the day before. We were both touched by this and we appreciated it immensely!!! Now when I look at the poster I will remember not only the artist, but the Tobago Cays and especially Kristen and Craig!!! They were really fun to be with.....we will miss them! We left the next day (5/25th) for Petit St. Vincent and Petite Martinque. We left Union Island late in the morning for a 5 mile trip to the two small islands. We anchored off of Petite St. Vincent in a reasonably protected anchorage. The anchorage at Petite Martinique looked open and rolly!. Petite St. Vincent is a private Island.....it is a resort that houses its guests in separate stone cottages. When you want room service you raise a flag in front of your cottage. The bar was very nice and the menu looked exciting for dinner, but I bet it was expensive. The view from the top of the hill looking out over the anchorage surrounded by turquoise water was magnificent....we had to have a drink. We decided to eat on board with another great meal by Faith. We went back to the bar around 8:00pm to enjoy a piano/sax team that played familiar songs with a touch of Jazz. This is another island with a touch of class. We decided to bypass Petite Martinique and travel to Carriacou. Carriacou is part of Grenada even though they are separated by about 15 miles. We cleared in at the main town of Hillsborough with no problems. The town didn't look very interesting so we left for a brief snorkel at Sandy Island.....Faith found $50EC(about $20US) clinging to a rock in about 10 feet of water. She cleaned off the seaweed and was ready to go shopping. The snorkeling was good also! From there we went around the corner to Tyrell Bay. A well protected anchorage that sounded interesting in the Cruising Guide. Actually there wasn't much on shore. Hurricane Lenny did a job here.....not the wind, the waves! There were huge slabs of concrete lying helter skelter that were once a road that ran along the shore. Many buildings were damaged and some were still closed. The boat boys were still active though. One was selling fresh oysters...he opened them and we ate them! We contracted for 12 at $10.US, but when he got here it rained. He said he would open oysters at no charge until the rain stopped so he could stay dry. Well, he opened about 5 dozen oysters! They weren't very big, but they certainly were good with some of Faith's hot sauce and a little lime. We also bought a bottle of wine for $5.US from another boat boy, but we were not so lucky with it. On Sunday we went into Hillsborough to attend a church service at an Anglican church. The priest was a cruiser that ended up here several years ago! The service was a special once a month service usually done by a missionary. It was a first for the priest.....he told us he wasn't sure what was going on, but he was sure we would enjoy the service. It was scheduled to start at 9:00AM. It actually started at 9:30AM and lasted till after noon! The longest service we ever attended! It was different. Once again we were the only white people in the congregation and we were introduced during the service. When we returned to the boat it started to rain! It's been over 48 hours and we haven't seen the sun. The island needed the rain, but we really didn't! Tomorrow we leave for Grenada....bright and early. The winds are forecast to be about 20kts. with seas running 6-8ft. It should be an interesting trip. Watch this space for more news!