It was time time leave Antigua once Wendy had left to fly back to England. I got clearance from customs and immigration at Jolly Harbour and after settling marina fees I reversed Sea Bear out of the berth, always an interesting exercise in a long keeler and went and anchored outside the harbour ready for an early departure in the morning. The weather had reverted to norm now, wind about 15 knots rather than the 25’s we had been having and next day I had an uneventful passage to Monserrat where I anchored in Little Bay. Ashore I completed entrance formalities and realised I was a day late for the St Patricks day celebrations. many of the early settlers were Irish and the tradition is still strong and Guinness drank in the bars.

A swell was finding its way into the anchorage so the night was not peaceful but anyway next morning I went ashore determined to explore the island. I walked up to the ” main road” intending to take a bus but got offered a lift by someone who had seen me land and on the way he told me something of the island and the changes caused by the volcanic eruptions. He wasn’t going all the way to Salem but stopped another car who he reckoned was going there and they gave me a lift the rest of the way, good kind, friendly people on this island.

At Salem I walked up to the volcano observatory an interesting little walk in its own right arriving at a fine viewpoint of the volcano and the ruins of Plymouth in the distance. I walked some way back towards Little Bay, but at a fork in the road, no signposts of course I sat and waited for the bus. They are a good way to see something of the island. It is mountainous and very forested with plenty of wildlife only a bit of a nag about the safety of the boat made me return to Little Bay, There, seeing the boat OK I had a lunch of fried fish at a beach front bar a beer and an interesting chat with some locals.

Monserrat from Little Bay

Beach Bar Little Bay

view towards ruins of Plymouth

Forest & Volcano

Little Bay Monserrat