Two trips to the candy store

Two trips to the candy store

Monday Dec 4^th to Wednesday Dec 6^th, 2023

After our adventures on Anguilla, we were feeling somewhat tired on Monday morning.  One of our ambitions was to go to Grand Case, the gastronomic capital of the French side of the island.  However, two adventurous days in a row seemed a step too far.  Instead we went by dinghy through the cut into the lagoon behind Marigot.  After a fairly long dinghy ride to the Dutch side of the lagoon, we arrived at the dock of Budget Marine.  This is claimed to be the biggest marine store in the Caribbean.  It was very impressive! We managed to get the large zinc for our boat, a replacement dock line (for the one that our mooring attachment has nearly severed) and some anti-chafe tubing to protect lines in the future.  Considering the wide variety of “boaty” gear we showed decent restraint.  Budget Marine makes that large chain of US boat stores (West Marine) look like a clothing shop.

Our trip to the lagoon took us past a place selling diesel and gasoline.  After lunch Mike took the jerry cans back to the fuel dock via dinghy.  Topping up with diesel was part of our preparation for the next leg of the journey.  The weather forecast was suggesting a departure late on Wednesday, so we still have one whole day for an outing to Grand Case.

After the usual morning routine, we went to shore and walked up to the main road.  We managed to find the actual bus depot and found the correct bus.  Once we thought we had arrived in Grand Case we hopped off the bus.  A kindly couple pointed us in the right direction and we found our way onto the beach.  A local resident recommended Lolo’s for lunch.  We felt that 11 am was a bit early for lunch so we walked along the beach, and returned to Lolo’s shortly after noon.  The whole place was hopping.  A large group occupying two tables seemed to be soaking up all the attention of the wait-staff.  Meanwhile, we watched the action at the BBQ grill and serving area.  Three or four women were in command and ribs were being grilled, chopped and plated along with a large selection of sides.  When our food came, we thought we might have over done it by ordering ribs and chicken!  It was a massive plate of food!  It was fantastic! Mike actually managed to eat all of his food.  I made a valiant effort but couldn’t finish.  Fortunately, we went for a walk right after lunch otherwise we might have been napping on the beach for the rest of the day.  

Today, Wednesday, we walked to the port office and checked out.  Then we walked to the “Super U” for some provisions.  (Grocery stores on French islands are nearly another candy store for foodies).  Back to the boat for lunch was followed by more “selective” provisioning.  We have been making preparations to leave this evening—the dinghy is on the foredeck, the sail cover has been removed.  Hopefully all goes well. 

Gloria

Panorama of the beach at Grand Case

Gloria on the beach at Grand Case

An English lady from Torquay who kindly agreed to be the foreground subject in this photo, as well as giving us some good advice on where to walk.

Teenage kid diving off the pier

Marigot Bay from Fort Louis after sunset

Sunset from Fort Louis

The mooring field in Marigot Bay, with the walls of the Fort Louis Marina in the foreground. Cotinga is the third boat out from the sea wall near the left of the photo.

It looks cute ... BUT it's a cat ... go figure!