Friday 13th October
Carlisle bay
Back on board we set off for Bridgetown, the capital. It is only 10 miles and we can’t sail it the wind is against us. Still it is pleasant, we are near the coast and you can see that there are quite stunning places all along the shore. The anchorage in Carlisle bay, just outside of Bridgetown is huge. Plenty room to swing, and we are going to need it. The wind is up and we are always weary of dragging. We park ourselves in front of the city beach, white sand and attractive thatched beach parasols.
Saturday 14th October
The first night in a new anchorage is always disturbed especially if the wind is strong and the rain beats the deck. We have set up the anchor alarm and both Ian and myself get upo during the night to check up our transit. After a particularly strong squall, around 5.30 am, just at daybreak, we realised that we had dragged quite a bit. The rocks of the entrance of the Carenage are looming dark and menacing... a bit too close for comfort. We have to re-anchor and the wind is still strong. That’s it , we are grounded for the day. We do not feel comfortable with spending the whole day exploring Bridgetown as we had planned, just in case. So we potter around on board. I guess we still need to rest after our all nighter... not as young as we use to be! Hopefully it will be quieter tomorrow.
Sunday 15th October
This going to town on a Sunday is Ian’s idea of bliss... the shops are shut and the street deserted. Except for a few older men sitting in parks, keeping chicken that is. Ah, but Ian has not thought of church... and when we reach the old town the service in the cathedral is in full swing and it was nice to just sit and listen to the choir, and watching everyone file out in their Sunday best. Little girs in pretty frock and older ladies wearing some amazing hats. The architecture is brilliant, the streets downtown are clean and colourful. I guess people make street messy and there is no one about.
We decide to go along the beach towards Garrison, one of the older place, with again historical buildings. The sands is the consistency and colour of icing sugar, a pure joy to be walking on it. There are very little construction on this side, only low key beach bar with a few umbrellas and even fewer people. The only blight on the landscape are the overbearingly square buildings of the Radisson and the Hilton, just at the end of the beach on the point.
We have to walk on the road now and the red brick Garrisson comes into view. Obviously still in use and extremely well kept. We do have a chuckle when we reach the top of the hill and discover that all the cannons are pointing to the horse racing track... wondering if the nags are going faster around under threat of the big artillery.
The rain clouds are gathering and by the time we reach Hastings, it is chucking down, we could be on a Sunday walk at home. Still we press on, a bit of rain is not going to stop us. Again the buildings are stunning, loads of different styles and colours. We reach the board walk and by this time we are absolutely drenched and it does not look like it is going to stop anytime soon. And nothing is open so we catch the bus back into town, get in the dinghy and we all went home and had a cup of tea!
