Scotty’s birthday today. We’re going to go “up the river” in our new dinghy. We’ve heard it’s a nice enough journey in a dinghy through this canal that separates the two halves of Guadeloupe.

We set off before noon in pretty rough seas all the way across the bay (gonna be worse coming back but at least we stay dry in the new dinghy). It’s a pretty long way just to get to the river. Then a pretty long ride through the mangroves to the other side with not a lot to see in between. 4 or 5 power boats with groups also going through – apparently an amazing water world on the other side.

Just before we exit the river there is a sign saying “welcome to this amazing ecosystem” or something similar and the two power boats that have been cruising next to us hit the gas and take off to the north west. Guess that is where the good beaches are. We remark it must be like going to the Manitou Islands in Lake Nipissing on a Sunday afternoon.

However the bay is too big and the island that may be the main attraction much too far for our little motor. It is already sounding a bit wheezy after 45 minutes of constant use. We check out a nearby mangrove island that is a bird sanctuary with pretty shallow water all around. We turn around and head back the way we came.

I boot it a bit, probably faster than you’re supposed to go but we don’t give off much wake.

As predicted the bay on the Milu side is pretty rough but the new dinghy chops through it no problem, just a little uncomfortable but mostly dry. If this was our old dinghy we both would be soaked.

I’m glad to be back at Milu and give the little 9.9 a rest. Christy wanted to stop in the city but I feared the wind would get worse and the little motor might just quit. I think it needs new plugs.

She later tries to talk me into going to town to see a carnival parade but I don’t want to push the little motor, especially returning after dark. Probably a mistake on my part, we hear the next day the parade was colourful and I can hear fireworks at night.

Glad we made the trip up the river but no need to do it again.