Grenadines

Unfortunately it had been ravaged by the storm surge of hurricane Lenny and was looking a bit worst for wear. Despite the restaurant looking like the leaning tower of Pisa food was being prepared in the kitchen although the building had been declared unsafe. We ate in a make shift beach hut and were not allowed to enter the building. The roast suckling pig had also been ravaged by hurricane Lenny.

Arrived at Bequia to clear customs and provision. The following day was spent at Tobago Cays. A group of small deserted islands protected from the sea by Horse Shoe Reef, where the snorkelling is superb.

On a tight schedule to return Simeon to the UK we returned to Bequia, for Diva's New Year celebrations. Only to find out that we were a day early,- hmmmm! Were we chilled out or what-great an extra day in Bequia.

Diva arranged an Old Years Party at Frangipani's Beach Bar. Which ended up at the local Jump Up. Where Bones made some enquiries about an old friend Skyjuice who had helped provision a charter boat some years ago. Old friends will be pleased to know that we met up with Skyjuice, and he is still in business.

New Years Eve was a surreal event. The Germans celebrated with parachute flares at 7:00 local time. The Brits likewise at 8:00, Diva tuned into the BBC World Service to hear the chimes of Big Ben.

Frangipani's Beach Bar was the venue once again for our New Years Party, with Caribbean Steel Band setting the mood.

Of course at 4:00 in the morning it was time for skinny dipping with no other than, you guessed those Angels.

The following morning it was now time to return Simeon and a seconded Angel Ellie to the UK. But on route we were able to stop off at Pettit Byahaut, St Vincent. Snorkelling through the enchanting Bat Cave, followed by a meal ashore was a fitting end to Simeon's Caribbean experience. A rough trip to St Lucia brought us to the Pitons where we sadly said goodbye to our crew. Now to explore the Leeward Islands.

Diva's plan was to spend New Year in Bequia, on route we overheard our friends Galatea of Stow on the VHF. We arranged a rendezvous in Cumberland BayDescribed as "An enchanting bay in the heart of St Vincent's wildest and richest land. A forest of coconut trees and bananas flows down the valley to the beach".