Dominica — April 30-May 5, 2014

Dominica is an eco-wonder.  We spent five glorious days there, arriving on Wednesday, hoping for a PAYS BBQ but learning that there were not enough vessels in the anchorage to warrant the event.   We went on two hikes with Steve & Ann (Receta), the first on a major portion of section 11 of the Waitukubuli National Trail, and the second, joined also by Heather & Don (Asseance), to the Source, the spring from which the Indian River originates. The first was much more difficult than the second, passing as it did up and down narrow ridges that did not always permit creating switchbacks.  We had intended on turning off section 11 and cutting over to the Source to end the first hike, but we missed our turn and ended up extending the hike by several hours.  I was a tired puppy with sore ankles by the end. After a day of rest, as I have indicated, we tried again for the Source, succeeding this time and having a much easier time on a gentler, wider path that was actually a dirt road.  On the way back down, Steve and I ducked down into an adjacent creek and took pictures of the interesting formations. Martin, one of the PAYS “boat boys” invited Steve & Ann and Barb & me to visit CALLS, a struggling operation designed to rescue/rehabilitate young locals with otherwise unpromising futures.  We ended up making contributions that would fund the education of one or more for a year.   CALLS struck me as a humble but worthy organization.