07-17-2011: Grenada, part 3

So it's been a while since we updated the blog. 

What have we been doing? 

Well to start with, we've relaxed at the pool at Port Louis Marina:

Then of course, we've had to attend a few dockside parties:

And dinner at the marina restaurant:

Fish Friday at Gouyave is a big event.

They have many booths lining the main road.

We had a great time despite some rain.

Enjoyed the fish cake (EC$1) & bake (EC$1).

The bake is like a fried biscuit.

Good meal for EC$2 (75 cents US):

The marina hosted a Can USA party on July 3,

to celebrate Canada Day & Independence Day.

First time we've danced in many months.

Here's George & Joanne (RomantaSea) feeling the music:

And more wild & crazy guys:

And this little girl enjoyed taking the floor with the queen:

Since we're "stuck" in the marina,

we hadn't seen the famous Prickly Bay.

So we bussed it to Budget Marine
& walked all the way around to Prickly Bay Marina:

Lots of pretty Flamboyant on the way:

There's a nice beach en route:

Here are some boats in the anchorage:

 And the queen at Prickly Bay Marina:

We took the dinghy around the point

to Grand Anse Beach.

Grabbed a Diet Coke & Jamaican beef patty

at Garfields beach bar/ restaurant:

Note cricket on the TV:

Then had a swim - beautiful:

About this time, our old cruising buddies Ultra & SolMate showed up.

They anchored outside St. Georges.

Sabbaticus anchored at Hog Island.

Of course, a dockside party was indicated:

We couldn't miss the Mango Festival,

held at the nearby stadium:

SolMate (Carryn & Brandon) brought Bella,

their Portugese Water Dog.

Bella was a hit with the kids:

On the way back to the boat, we stopped at the North Pole Bar.

Proprietor George is a character.

Here he is with Bill (Ultra):

Carnival is a big deal in the islands.

Grenada's carnival is in early August,

but the preparations have been underway for months.

We took a bus up to St. Pauls to watch

the Lime Commancheros practice:

The event included an "Oil Down".

Here's the pot cooking:

And the queen & Chase "chowing down":

We saw the ladies in the back rooms making all the costumes:

Another night, the marina hosted a party

where we previewed this year's carnival costumes:

Wow, this is a pretty long blog.

But I can't sign off without telling you about our first "Hash".

Hashing is big in Grenada.

Their motto is "drinkers with a running problem"

The deal is, every Saturday (or other Saturday)

about 100 people gather to run or walk

along a predetermined trail

consisting of mud, mud & more mud.

About 150 of us gathered at Grand Etang:

The trails are marked with piles of shreded paper:

At first it's easy going:

Then it gets steeper:

And steeper:

Margaret & Joanne are having fun:

A little mud on the butt:

That mud's pretty deep:

Hang onto that rope Joanne:

Cross that stream:

Almost home:

Connor's shoes died on the way:

Hey, that was fun!

And now the party:

That beer tastes so good!
Joanne (Ultra), Kevin (Sabbaticus) & the queen:

Chicken or pork?

Then they rounded up the beginners (us),

showered us with beer

and declared us "no longer virgins":