Roseau, Dominica

We had originally planned to head down to the capital Roseau yesterday, but we felt a little lazy. So instead Kevin changed the oil in the engines and we took a walk around Fort Shirley in Cabrits National Park. (I know, I know we keep saying "no more forts" but another cruiser was adamant that we should check it out). Half of the fort is being beautifully restored while the other half has been left to the forest, with huge ficus trees growing out of the limestone fortifications and everything overgrown with vines. It was an interesting contrast and a nice walk through the forest followed by a relaxing evening before setting out this morning for the 20 mile trip to Roseau.

So tonight we are sitting once again on a mooring. I know some of you are thinking "Are they crazy, after what happened in Saba?" You would think that with our luck we would avoid moorings like the plague, and trust me we tried. When we first got to the anchorage, a boat boy named "Roots" came out to greet us and offered us his mooring. We asked him what was holding it and he said "A huge concrete block. Dis mooring ain't go nowhere, mon." At first we told him we'd think about it and we motored around the anchorage looking for a shallow spot to drop the hook. But the depths were ranging from 70 to 170 feet -- we don't have enough chain to anchor in water that deep! Roots' mooring was really close to shore, in only about 25 feet, so we radioed him back & told him we'd take it. Kevin dove on it and with him watching the mooring I backed down on our engines at 1600 rpm just as we would to set our own anchor. The mooring didn't drag, so we think we'll be okay here.

We took a quick look around town and took care of business with customs. (We have to clear in/out of every port. The bureaucracy in former British colonies is merciless. God only knows what they do with the multiple carbon copies of everything. Not a computer to be seen.) We also had a chance to hit the local farmers market and loaded ourselves up with mangoes, pineapple, watermelon, cucumber, peppers and tomatoes. Its kind of odd that we actually bought mangoes since they grow everywhere and had fallen all along the streets and sidewalks on our way to and from the market. But at less than twenty cents apiece (in US$) I probably can't complain. Quick price comparison: anyone know what they cost back in the states at Fry's?

Where we are:
Location=Roseau, Dominica
Lat=15 17.242
Lon=61 22.621