Dantigua - Day 3

There is a forecast of rain today so I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do. I have a plan for tomorrow for definite but today is going to need some thinking about.

I decide to get out as soon as I can and hike Mount Obama formerly known as Boggy Peak by the locals and named after some famous guy who probably came here once. Rain is forecast for midday so I reckon I can get up and down before that turns up.

The track to the trailhead is very much off-road and there's no way you are coming down here with your rental Mercedes. It's two and a half km to the trailhead and it takes a good 15 minutes to get there. I could have run there quicker if I parked on the on the road but the track eventually opens out to a parking area

The trail itself is not too difficult but it looks like it's not too well trodden. The start of it is not particularly visible and covered with long grass. In fact, if you didn't know it was there, you wouldn't really find the trail by accident. Once the long grass has been negotiated, there is a recognisable trail and there are ribbon markers on trees so it is easy to follow even if it is quite dense in places. The last kilometre then opens out onto a metal track where vehicles can go up to what looks like a mobile tower and that is really steep. So I need a a lot of huff and puff to get to the top.

There's a trail in there somewhere

The hike has certainly been worth the effort as the views are phenomenal.  Unlike Mount Liamuiga in St. Kitts which is basically a cash cow for the for the cruise ships and local guides, I only actually meet one other person on my way up and he's running the way down. This is my kind of solitude!! The colour of the sea is fantastic and I make a note that I must have a dip before I leave which I don't normally do.

View from the top - stunning

It's 10:45 when I set off back down again. There are clouds building up, but I'm sure I'll get at least into the canopy before the rains come and probably back to the car , if I make good time. Then it's into town to buy a fridge magnet, some flags and some lunch. Sounds like a plan I can work with!

The route down to the car is fairly quick and straightforward till I meet the nasty tree. I don't know what it's actually called but that's what I'm calling the bastard as it chews into my hand. I'm also startled by a pair of (what Google tells me) mongooses. I've heard a bit of rustling before these things suddenly hair down the hill and across the trail right in front of me!! New shorts please!!

There is still no sign of rain so I decide to go on a recce to Fort Barrington. This has been recommended by Zeus and it's a bit off the beaten tracks and not too busy. Definitely one for tomorrow or Monday.

Fort Barrington

Recce complete, I'm halfway to Fort James when I decide to change direction for the Kon Tiki bar. This is an offshore bar that has a boat shuttle to it. It's the sort of place that looks like it should be bouncing but from the beach everybody looks fairly chilled. There's probably some health and safety regulations that stop people having a good time offshore! Again this will be one for another day. For now I make do with a cheeseburger and a couple of Caribs.

Kon Tiki offshore bar

The promised rain still hasn't materialised but I have decided not to stay in Dickenson Bay, partly because I'm going to come back to the Kon Tiki bar on Monday and partly because I can hear Yorkshire accents!

I decide to tick another landmark off the list and head for the Devil's Bridge. This is just a geological formation where a gap is opened up in the rocks forming a bridge. I don my Gore-Tex jacket for this excursion because it does look like rain and also the waves are crashing quite high. And who wants to get drenched in seawater?

It is quite a good watch with the high waves crashing into the bridge and channels. I can't imagine it being this exciting when the water is flat calm. After about 20 minutes of watching the waves, do their thing and another 20 minutes of having a power nap in the front seat. I set off again for the last two places on my list for today.

Devil's Bridge - better viewing on a rough day!

There's one that I spotted on the way to Devil's Bridge. This being the new Sir Vivian Richards Stadium which looks very modern so I feel I should take a peek. Unfortunately the roadside is as close as I get to it. The gates are manned by security and at the back gates, you can't really see anything anyway. There is another stadium named after Sir Viv in St. John's but it looks in a state of dereliction. However, I do see a poster advertising tickets so maybe they do still play here after all. This is the ground where Brian Lara scored a record 400 runs against England, so it would be a shame if they knocked it down.

My last stop of the day is in St. John's to buy a couple of souvenirs and pay through the nose for the privilege. Happy with my purchases, not so much with the bill, it's time to head back. For some reason my internet connection isn't playing ball and Google maps can't keep up. But after a few twists and turns, I come to a turning that I do recognise. Scarily though it is a track that I ran down yesterday morning and is very, very technical. But with some RAV4 off-road power and some excellent driving, I make it up the hill in one piece. I'll keep that a secret from Zeus.

A property somewhere down the hill from me seems to be having a bit of a party tonight and there's some very loud reggae playing!! Which is great news. I don't need to put the TV on tonight. Time for a beer and to hit the lounger.

The music soon turns into party tunes and not as entertaining. So I close the door and find some more cricket on the TV. This finishes quite early and I am quite grateful for that as I'm pretty knackered. So after a wash and teeth brush I'm in bed and tucked up by 9:15!