More Dominica Pix

During Gayle's visit, we decided to take the boat about 15 miles down-island to Roseau for a few days. Roseau is the capitol of Dominica, and a good place for provisioning. We took a mooring ball near Sea-Cat's dock, from which we could take our dinghy into several of the local docks for shopping and sight-seeing. Sam took a few days off to go with us aboard KINGDOM. We returned to Portsmouth for Gayle's return flight.

While we were in Roseau, Gayle arranged for two days of SCUBA diving with the local dive shop boat. Sam, Susan and I stayed aboard Kingdom.

The four of us did go down to Champagne Reef in the dinghy for an afternoon of snorkling. Champagne Reef is so named because there are volcanic steam outlets among the reef formations. This looks and feels like you are swimming in a warm glass of champagne. The water, of course, is crystal-clear. The fish were amazing in their variety, and we saw eels, as will as a colorful school of squid. Unfortunately, we did encounter some tiny jellyfish, nearly invisible to the eye. We all were stung, but Sam and Susan were hit the worst. We were told later that these were "String of Pearls" jellyfish, and that they had been blown in from offshore by a recent storm. We had not encountered these before in our dives there, or anywhere else in Dominica. We were also told that the the only antidote to their stings is the urine of a certified dive-master. Hmmm...

Sam and Walt prepare the lines for mooring off Roseau.

Sam took us into the mountains on a rain forest hike. This is the entrance to the Morne Diablotin national park trail.

I have no idea what this plant is, but Susan says it is a "Birdnest Antherium"

Along the trail, we observed lots of bromeliads, including orchids growing wild. There are also two rare species of parrots on Dominica, one of which lives in the rain forest. We spotted a pair far up in the forest canopy, but they fled before we could really photograph them.

The scale of these trees is enormous. It is impossible to photograph one of these in its entirety. The trunk of this particular specimen is easily 30 feet in diameter. It is like being among the giant redwoods of California.

Happy hikers - Sam, Gayle, and Susan

This lone lightning-ravaged tree is actually perched on the edge of a cliff, overlooking a deep river ravine. But the forest canopy is so high and so thick, it decieves the eye into thinking this is just a little dropoff. Note the giant bromeliad at the base of the stump.

Sam took us on another interesting (and Very Challenging) hike. We started at the top of a mountain spine, and hiked (actually, slid, slipped, and fell) down a trail that led us downward about 1000 feet to the Chaudrie Pool. It is a lovely swimming hole formed by a waterfall at the bottom of a steep ravine.

This is the starting point for the trail down to the Chaudrie Pool. Note the cloud-covered peak in the background. Believe it or not, the Dominicans consider this upland to be "farmland". They grow bananas here, and plant terraced vegetable gardens.

At the Chaudrie Pool, we found another specimen of the Dominican Mountain Crab. This one is bigger, and appears ready to defend his territory from all comers.

I swear, these guys are so bright and colorful, they look like they're made of plastic. I was fascinated by them.

Molly needed a good nap after the hike through the rainforest, and then down the mountain to the pool. I had to carry her up and out - she slept peacefully the whole way.

One of the greatest swimming holes I've ever been in anywhere. Very cold, very pure water.

Sam, checking his phone messages at the bottom of the ravine. Good thing there were no urgent ones...

Old guy

Gayle, fiddling with her camera after our swim.

Chaudrie Pool - need we say more?

This is a view of Prince Rupert Bay from the Cabrits Peaks. One of those little white spots down there is our boat.

A last, larger view of Prince Rupert Bay. One of our favorite anchorages in all the Caribbean.

Dominica offers great natural beauty; friendly and hospitable people; great diving among incredible reefs, and a large, comfortable harbour. What more could a cruising couple ask for?