So much for keeping up to date with our blog! We've been busy with lots of visitors since December, so I've been a bit distracted! Now... let's finally finish with this story!The next morning we got up & took our time having breakfast before heading over to Tobago Cays for snorkeling. (The other 2 boats that we were traveling with had already left.) Tobago Cays is a marine park south of St. Vincent consisting of 4 small islands and a series of reefs. There is an area 
marked off where you can swim near the beach with the sea turtles! Scott & I had been here numerous times on Windjammer's Mandalay... but I think the turtle area is fairly new. We anchored our boat in about 40 feet of water with our friends (and about another 8-10 boats) nearby. Then we geared up & jumped in the water! It was about a quarter mile to the beach area, 
so that's where I headed directly! (Still not real sure of my swimming ability!) I took a short break on the beach, then went 
back in to look for the turtles... which weren't too hard to find. At the time, there might have only been about 5 in the area. We probably kept seeing the same ones all afternoon. They didn't seem to be bothered by our presence at all, although they wouldn't let you get close enough to touch them. It was fun watching them nibble on the grassy patches on the bottom of the sea! On my way back to the boat, just after I left the corded off area, I even saw a spotted ray swimming below me! It was all pretty exciting!
marked off where you can swim near the beach with the sea turtles! Scott & I had been here numerous times on Windjammer's Mandalay... but I think the turtle area is fairly new. We anchored our boat in about 40 feet of water with our friends (and about another 8-10 boats) nearby. Then we geared up & jumped in the water! It was about a quarter mile to the beach area, 
so that's where I headed directly! (Still not real sure of my swimming ability!) I took a short break on the beach, then went 
back in to look for the turtles... which weren't too hard to find. At the time, there might have only been about 5 in the area. We probably kept seeing the same ones all afternoon. They didn't seem to be bothered by our presence at all, although they wouldn't let you get close enough to touch them. It was fun watching them nibble on the grassy patches on the bottom of the sea! On my way back to the boat, just after I left the corded off area, I even saw a spotted ray swimming below me! It was all pretty exciting!We stayed there at anchor for the night, and had dinner aboard one of the other boats... about 12 of us on the largest boat in our group! It was a fun gathering, and we ended up meeting a man who actually lives about 5 houses from us! We all helped to clean up afterward, and later headed back to our boat. (Bedtimes on a boat are often earlier because of having to generate electricity... and by the time it gets dark, we're all exhausted!)
On Sunday morning the 4 of us took the dinghy to a little reef nearby for more snorkeling. The water there was very shallow, and I was a little nervous about the wave action, and afraid I might brush up against something that might sting, so I was happy to just hang out in the dinghy waiting for the rest to get back! But Scott came back for me & said that I shouldn't miss this reef because it was a pretty good one! I should be able to swim around the outer edge of it, which was much deeper... and still see all the good stuff. So I ended up joining the gang. (And I was glad I did!)That afternoon we packed up the snorkel gear & pulled up anchor. We were heading back to Union Island for the night & would check out tomorrow before sailing back to Grenada. We had a chance that evening to check out a little sand bar called Happy Island ... a really interesting place! The owner even greeted us to tie up the dinghy when we arrived. If you ever have a chance to get to Union Island, be sure to check it out!
On Monday morning we prepared for the long sail back to Grenada... and watched Seaduction head out (again) before us. A little later, our friend on the other (larger) boat came over on his dinghy needing help... He was having engine trouble and the mooring he was tied to came loose, so his boat drifted onto a reef in the harbor! He needed a tow to get off of it quickly before it damaged anything! A few of the local boat boys must have seen what was happening, because they sped by on their motorboats to help. I bet it only took them about 10 minutes to resolve the problem, and then he was on his way! So once again, we were the last ones to leave.
The ride back was pretty uneventful... we knew it was going to be a long one. 
Going home, we planned to come down the east side of the island which is closer to their home anchorage. This would be a change of scenery at least! So we settled in for the approx. 8 hour sail, trying to get back before dark.
Going home, we planned to come down the east side of the island which is closer to their home anchorage. This would be a change of scenery at least! So we settled in for the approx. 8 hour sail, trying to get back before dark.We got back just before sunset and after anchoring, gathered our things for the short dinghy trip to the dock. Our car was across town at the yacht club, so Barbara & Dave would give us a ride. Today was a holiday in Grenada, so we had a little trouble figuring out how we were going to "check in" with Customs tonight. We thought we'd try doing it at the airport, but that was not an option. So they called someone in & were meeting us at the yacht club for check-in.
The only other excitement we had before we parted was when we came INCHES from hitting a cow on the road from the airport! It was dark; it was big; it was "scary"! Fortunately no one (including the cow) was hurt!
So overall, it was a pretty fantastic weekend adventure with our friends Barbara & Dave! We all seemed to get along quite well, and we survived all the little "hiccups" along the way! We hope to do it again with them sometime!
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