Farewell Guadeloupe

It was another fun-filled but relaxing week including lots of sea swimming, scuba diving at Les Îles des Petite Terre for Laurel ("one of the best dives of my life"), hiking on Basse Terre for Flora's parents whilst Skipper and I were left OIC of Flora for the day, and a visit to the Aquarium so the rest of us could also admire the tropical marine life.

It has been a wonderful holiday for us all. But alas, Team Hodgkinson departed yesterday, Sunday. All squashed into tiny rental car, Flora planning the route to the airport. Don't let her near GPS til she can map read please!

Meanwhile for the crew of Follyfin, it has been a day of tying up loose ends, paying our dues and generally preparing for our next passage. Tomorrow, Tuesday, she sets sail for Antigua. We have decided to sail up the east coast of Guadeloupe, a route less frequented by cruising folk. It should be a beautiful beam or broad reach for most of the 66nm passage. We'll see.

However, First Mate found time for some extra-curricular activity... taking her courage in both hands, she tried scuba diving herself.

Encouraged first by Ivor when we met on Grenada in December, and then by Laurel this last week, I am so glad I did. My 'baptême de Plongée' in the lagoon outside the marina was magnifique! So many fish and so brightly coloured, even at 3m depth. And the coral... Must do it again - a New Year's resolution!