Arriving in Grenada is like arriving at home.\u00a0\u00a0 Through the years we have had so many good times here.\u00a0 We have local friends, and we see so many of our cruising friends.\u00a0 We know where to shop, where to walk, where to swim, where to catch a bus (and which ones) and where to eat.<\/p>\n
But things evolve. \u00a0Things change, albeit slowly. \u00a0De Big Fish in Prickly Bay is closed and undergoing a major enhancement — reportedly to become an upscale restaurant under new management. \u00a0Roger has enhanced his rum shack, but has weekend competition. \u00a0The bridge to Hog Island is suddenly open and vehicles are driving across and parking in the southeast corner of the island so their passengers can party on the small beach there.\u00a0 Whisper Cove has more tables than ever, but continues to serve delicious meals.\u00a0 Mount Hartman has begun actively attempting to attract vessels to their under-used marina. \u00a0Bob at Clarkes Court Marina has lost out to the banks and must depart; new owners are already bringing in equipment to convert to a boatyard.\u00a0\u00a0 The docks will go and a breakwater will be built.\u00a0\u00a0 And if Bob\u2019s dreams can be realized, the Oasis bar will be floated away to another location in Clarkes Court Bay, where Bob will start again with a small marina.\u00a0 Bob was still on the premises while we were there; we attended some of the very last hamburger nights & potluck nights that will ever be held at Clarkes Court Bay Marina. \u00a0A tremendous blast of wind on Father’s Day dislodged the mooring for the middle dock at the Marina, causing it to rotate around the ramp and pinning a wooden sailboat up against the rocks for a time. \u00a0Bob is not the owner anymore, and no one else has stepped forward to pay for any damage to the vessel.<\/span><\/p>\n We stayed busy while we were there.\u00a0 A large group noodled practically every morning off the beach at Rogers. \u00a0Ann gave a lesson on board <\/span>Tusen Takk II<\/em> on how to cook duck; the entire crews of <\/span>TT2<\/em> and <\/span>Receta<\/em> and <\/span>Asseance <\/em>enjoyed the results.\u00a0 I took Devin & Liz (<\/span>Moosetracks<\/em>) on a hike with the intention of showing them a high vantage point; alas, a former dirt road was so overgrown we had to divert to easier destinations. \u00a0We twice walked to Mickey’s Jamaican Jerk Chicken stand, once w\/ Ann & Steve (Receta)<\/em> and Heather & Don (Asseance)<\/em>, and once on our own. \u00a0We got together w\/ Mike & Cynthia (Minx<\/em>) in several venues, including Clarkes Court Bay Marina and Taffies and Whisper Cove. \u00a0We visited Nimrod’s for rotis twice.<\/span><\/p>\n And of course we saw Dwight & Stevie, the local fishermen who have become our friends.\u00a0\u00a0 I have already written about our nights at Stevie\u2019s sister Charlene\u2019s establishment.\u00a0\u00a0 (See previous post.)\u00a0 We also had Dwight & Stevie over for dinner late one afternoon; Barb went to considerable trouble to secure turkey and the fixings so we could show them what an American Thanksgiving meal is like.<\/span><\/p>\n So it was with some reluctance that we left Grenada earlier than planned; we could not resist the opportunity to cruise down to Trinidad through conditions that were unusually mild when weather and sea forecasts promised soon-to-arrive long-lasting nastiness.\u00a0 We left at 2 am on June 19 (Corpus Christi Day) and arrived in Trinidad at 3:30 pm, where we gratefully paid the holiday \u201covertime\u201d fees to Customs and Immigration.<\/span><\/p>\n But I\u2019ve gotten ahead of myself.\u00a0\u00a0 To read about our stay in Trinidad, see our next blog post.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t