Markers and signs along the way

Birthdays, with a few notable exceptions, have just been another day for me for quite some time. This year I wanted something a little different, which is why I decided that Carriacou would be a special enough place for my 62nd birthday.

This year the admonition, “Be careful what you wish for… “ becomes quite real.

Since my first trip to the Caribbean in 1986, I have always fantasized about living here, but having been able to recognize the massive challenge that such a move would be, I knew it was, in truth, a fantasy. Now that I’m here I can see the challenges are even greater than I first imagined. …still the urge to live here hasn’t diminished, in fact, with certain factors taking a sour turn at home, it has even increased.

It’s difficult to write positively about something that has caused hurt and a serious loss of faith & trust in people & things I once held dear, which is why this missive is so long in coming.

During my birthday maroon on Saturday May 7th, I heard that Dave might have a little something special happening on the following Monday. He had recently returned from a voyage to Antigua and St. Barts for their classic boat regattas. Dave raced his new vessel, New Moon, in these regattas and while on St. Barts became acquainted with the captain of the Picton Castle, Daniel Moreland.

The Picton Castle was sailing for Grenada after the regatta and Dave invited them to stop by Carriacou where there’s a long history of traditional boat building. The day after my birthday maroon (or was it the day before – time is kinda funny down here) I went into town and was greeted by the sight of a large square-rigged sailing vessel in Hillsborough Harbor, the Picton Castle.

The Monday following the birthday maroon, Dave arranged for the captain, crew and many of the trainees on board the Picton Castle to come by Bayaleau Point Cottages for some traditional Carriacou Fish Broth

It was a great afternoon and evening meeting and visiting with some of the trainees and crew of the

The Picton Castle

Picton Castle, a 180′, 3-masted, square-rigged, a real tall ship that was heading home to Nova Scotia after her 5th round the world training voyage.

This was the same evening I received an email that told me that my trust had been misplaced with people and an organization I once thought of very highly. It was the following morning that I was invited on the Picton Castle for their cruise to Grenada – a door closes and a window opens…. what a unique opportunity and perhaps a sign of things to come….

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