Dreamtime goes to Grenada

6/26/2006 through 8/31/2006

After our stay in Carricou, it was time to head down to Grenada.  It was a brisk and wonderful sail, especially nice that Kick-em Jenny, the underwater volcano at the northern tip of the island didn't give us much of a problem.  We also caught-up to and passed a 50' catamaran while we were both under sail, which is the greatest feat in Morgan 33 OI sailing history!  We thought about stopping along the western coast of the island but opted for heading around the southern tip to Prickley Bay.  Had a time of it heading east into wind and choppy seas but some artful tacking got us there just fine.  It was another one of those "small world" moments as the first boat we see as we arrive is 'Alleluiah' with Tito and Roberta onboard.  Hadn't seen them since Georgetown in '02, so it was great catching up with them. Meanwhile, we get an invite from “Lioness” to join them and about 20 of their friends for an all-day island tour - for a mere $10US, you bet we will... onwards to the spice processing plant, where the nutmeg is separated into it's components and dried, culled and packaged for shipment to places like McCormick's and Shilling, for further processing.

Nutmegs on a drying rack

A look at the local herbs & spices

Grading of the nutmegs

Mace, the lace-like inner covering of the nutmeg

The Grenada Chocolate Factory

The Distillery

Mona monkeys living in the wild

Sugar Cane being crushed for the Rum Distillery

Took a tour of the Rivers Rum Distillery where the "old" ways still hold sway.  A waterwheel is used to power the grinder which pulverizes the sugar cane in preparation for boiling and extraction.  Wood, mostly hardwood grown on the estate is used to fire the boilers.  Very interesting, but the rum is "iron jack" style - real rotgut, white lightening stuff. A tour of Grenada wouldn't be complete without a trip to the Chocolate Factory, which is organically run using solar power for suplemental energy.  The chocolate is excellent,  in fact it was as good as the rum was bad.  They made 2 blends, 60% and 71% pure chocolate.  The 60% had a bit more sugar.  We found both delicious, however, the 60% was a better choice for dessert with brandy.  The Mona monkeys come out for handouts as we drive back towards Prickley Bay.    The Annadale Falls rounds out a very long day.  Wonderful natural scenery.

Ginger

Annadale Falls

Heliconia

Had the crews from 'Scott Free', 'Casa del Mar', 'Que Rico', and 'My Lady Kathleen' in town for the carnival.  We were invited down to share their "hospitality" headquarters at the Tropicana Inn, right down on Lagoon road.  It was great fun to watch the big costume parade and enjoy the beautiful eats.