This is part of the ninth section of our around the
world trip.
Complete Trip Overview & Map
Coming from Dominican Republic
30/4/03 There was no wind and we motored towards the island
of Grand Inagua in the Bahamas sharing the overnight watch. The captain, Leonard
and Elsa (the new passengers) fished along the way, trolling four lures but
without success until the afternoon when a dorado, about a metre long struck
and with a couple of surface splashes was brought alongside but the hook
pulled free before it was aboard. A couple of hours later a yellow finned
tuna was landed, by Leonard, 16.7 kg. A raw fish delicacy he and the captain
were eating slices as it was being filleted.
We were anchored up, cleared customs and immigration and had permission from
the police to use the motorcycle for a couple of days. Unfortunately the
public wharf was too shallow but we will ask at the commercial wharf tomorrow.
My relationship with the captain has deteriorated further to the extent that
we are not enjoying the boat. A clash of personalities, each of us too independent?
1/5/03 We radioed the salt company to use their small wharf
but as the electricity ashore was out we could not contact them. We were
however finally given permission, by a man on the wharf, to unload the motorcycle.
A lucky occurrence as we were later advised that permission to use the private
wharf is not usually given and this was our only option on the island. The
salt company produces a million tons of salt a year, highly mechanized, with
enormous stockpiles. The bike easily unloaded, a quick check by police and
we were heading out to the eastern shore for a picnic lunch. The island has
the highest concentration of flamingo's in the world, boasting 60,000, we
saw a few hundred, large deeply coloured birds.
Another dirt road to another beach where a few locals were returning with
their catch of grouper, crayfish and lambi (conch meat). We bought a decent
sized cray and were later informed by the seller it was out of season so be
careful. The afternoon was spent atop the old stone light house surveying
the almost swampy, flat island. The bike reloaded in the evening and we were
hurried to leave before dark, heading for Jamaica.
2/5/03 Still no wind, under power, rotating three four
hour shifts of two people we motored uneventfully all night and today. The
only excitement a pod of pilot whales on the still waters and a few coastal
freighters in the night.
Move with us to Jamaica
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Story and photos copyright Peter and Kay Forwood, 1996-
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