We’re up and about and checked out with lots of time to spare. We had tried for a quick checkout so we could get to Carriacou today but that couldn’t be done so we’ll just have to grin and bear it.
Cabby waits for us at Spice Island Mall but not too happy about the delay. We need cash and a SIM card and while FLOW’s cell service is pretty good, their onsite customer service is downright glacial. Well we give him a good tip.
We get to Moorings in Port Louis harbour where I meet Queeneisha (yeah, that’s her name) for the first time – I’ve spoken/emailed with her quite a bit.
“Did you get my email Mr. Graham?”
“No, sorry, I haven’t checked.”
“We’re so sorry, there was a technical problem with the boat you booked. So we upgraded you to a brand new 45 foot Leopard cat. I hope you don’t mind.”
I think we can cope with that.
We have some time so the four of us trundle over to the food shop and load up. It takes all our hands to carry the stuff and it’s a bit of a walk but we cope with that too.
Mom takes Ben to get something to eat while Audrey and I wait for the boat to be ready. Soon enough they take us out to see the cat and load our gear. Christy and I knew what to expect from a brand new 45 foot Leopard but the kids didn’t. Their eyes were agog when they see the boat and go aboard. Audrey says “honestly we were thinking it would be something semi-sketchy at best but this is something else.” Pretty much luxury by our standards. Beauty boat. Air con, mountains of space, buncha refrigerators including one just for water.
We get the one-hour boat overview from Moorings and before you know it we’re off and sailing. Not going far, just to Dragon Bay and Moliniere Point, where there is an amazing underwater sculpture park. We find the last (only) mooring ball in Dragon Bay and swim over to the park. Pretty amazing and the water is very clear. Kinda spooky seeing the sculptures there. Quite a few divers but not really necessary, you can see everything by snorkel. (We get some video on the return trip in a few days.)
Ben and I go ashore as there is supposed to be a good restaurant there. Nope, it’s not operating anymore but they still sell drinks. S’ok, we go back to the boat where we eat, have a few rum punches and Dad continues his domination of every game we play.
