Martinique

We had a bit of bad luck to start 2017, our fridge failed with a leak in the joints to the evaporator. It meant we had no refrigerant and would need to have the system vacuum cleaned and refilled. After a long discussion with the engineers in La Marin we opted for a new evaporator too as our had a repair that was due for replacement. so with new evaporator and new filters we were vacuumed and refilled. 

The new evaporator going in

New evaporator fitted

We said goodbyes with Uproar as they were not joining us for the trip around to Fort de France (FdF). We left for the day sail and arrived safely to meet up with Euan Mara and Out of Africa. We had a shopping trip to the Mall area and in particular Decathlon sports store. We all had quiet the top up on swim wear and snorkel gear so it was well worth while. We shopped a bit more in the mall before catching the bus back to FdF. We noodled several days off the beach and had a few BBQ's on Out of Africa.

Men watching girls try swimware

The FdF library, we got in this trip

Euan Mara with a moon rising over the fort

We then sailed across to Trois Ilets (Three Islands) to spend a few days and do a few walks. Our first walk was to the Patisserie that John & Jo's friends run here, it's absolutely thriving and we enjoyed breakfast coffee and cakes with Sam and Coreen. We then ventured down to the Cane Museum which unfortunately was all in French so we just toured the grounds and looked at the old steam engines that hauled the sugar cane.  We walked back along a path through the mangroves and past some lovely picnic spots and scenic spots.

Now that is a great presentation at Coreen  and Sam's.

Train drivers?

The Cane Museum

A lovely stray kitten

A great seat now.

Ladies love trains too?

We heard from local of a town "fete" which being held that night so we took a rare trip ashore at night to see it. The town was very busy and the streets quiet packed with folks. They had a stage for judges and lots of fancy lighting too. The parade was wonderful, lots of costumes and some great music. It went on we think for two trips around town, so we managed to see everything twice!

Free hats all round at the town fete

The church was right in the center of it

The clay men

A transformer"

Traditional costumes

Great dance moves too

Euan Mara was now running a little late as they are crossing back to the Med this year and wanted to explore the Virgin Islands & have a good look around before crossing the Atlantic. So with heavy hearts we had our goodbyes with them as they left ahead of us.

A fond farewell for for Keith and Linda

We had one last walk around the golf course and up to the horse stables and the Marie Antoinette museum. The golf course was pretty run down and we discovered they are probably closing as the course gets too waterlogged, such a shame. We did Make it to the riding stables and watched several groups riding and enjoying their morning. We also walked on to the Marie Antoinette museum but as we had been last year we didn't go in a second time. The park gardens nearby was closed and looked a bit run down, again such a shame to see tourist attractions that were carefully planned and expensively built run down like this.

A frisky horse

Some love for the horses

We then sailed  north to St Pierre, at the tip of Martinique a favorite stop before the jump north because it's the last anchorage heading north on Martinique. The sail was pretty nice until the mountains blocked the wind and we motored the last 1.5 hours. We anchored in our usual spot quiet a distance south of the pier. Well would you know it Euan Mara were still here. So we arranged an impromptu BBQ on Out of Africa with the fish Moosetracks had caught on the way up. A great night and a lovely send off again for Keith and Linda. 

Another nice sail

Dinner for many

We were desperate to do the Canal de Beauregard or the Slave walk as it is somethings known as we have always missed it. As John and Jo had done it several times it was ideal for us as they knew the way. We took a local bus to the start at Font de St Denis and the drive kindly dropped us off at the head of  the road down. We walk maybe 30 minutes to the trail start virtually all down hill on the road. The canal walk was closed at the beginning as the tunnel has collapsed, so we bye passed the first 100m or so. We then started the trail which literally walks along the 0.5-1m wide canal wall most of the way. There are often shear drops of several hundred feet if you miss your footing so we waked very carefully in places. The scenery is absolutely outstanding though and the trail very easily followed of course. There was one part which has collapsed and we had to wade in the canal up to our knees to make it around. Easier than it sounds in retrospect. Then we continued on to the end and were rewarded with fabulous valley views and a great walk. On completion we sat and had a picnic lunch of French cheese and baguette we had bought fresh before leaving, oh what luxury! We then set off for the 1-2 hour hike back to the boats. Again a nice surprise was the fresh fruits hanging on roadside trees and vines. We found Papaya, Passion fruit and Pomegranate just growing on the verges of the road, of course we took a few samples.

The start of the canal walk

John assesses the broken wall 

Typical drop to the left

The views are stunning and the drops get bigger

A beautiful valley below

A good view of the trail - John nearly at the bend

Finishing up in the long gass

The totem poles as we return to St Pierre

We took our last day to visit the Volcano research station and museum just outside St Pierre. There was lots to see on the history of mount Pele and audio in English for the guides too.

The volcano resistant museum building

We hope you year is off to a great start too.