Before leaving Grenada we used the Shademan (a rather fabulous local legend) to give us all an island tour. Normally we get hire cars but here it’s a lot more complicated than just booking one, so we had waited until Dai and Sue arrived so we would would all be exploring it for the first time together. Having the Shademan meant it was completely bespoke, so he avoided all the ‘touristy’ places, and instead we visited smaller, more off the beaten track places and we were given an amazing commentary on the flaura and fauna of the island.

After visiting the oldest rum factory on the island which was still all run manually, we had the dubious delights of then sampling their rum. After we retrieved Sue from the floor we each bought a bottle of the 80% proof rocket fuel that had just floored Sue. I’ve no idea why as it was up there on my top 5 most revolting things I’ve tasted.

After a great day of sightseeing and 6 months after arrival, we finally left Grenada and started back up North.

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A few hours North of Grenada we arrived in Carriacou. After checking in at Tyrell Bay we grabbed a beer and met this great gang of guys in their late 70’s. Every night they would meet at the bar to eat dinner which they took in turn to cook. They would have a catch up, drink a couple of beers and return the next day to do it all again.

Needing to stretch our legs we all went off for a walk. Sue acquired a pet goat and we all carried on our walk like it was completely normal. Upon finding Paradise Beach, we promptly abandoned Dai, Sue and her goat, shot back to the boat and brought it around to anchor in front of it. It was too beautiful not to.

Dai and Sue treated us to a wonderful beachfront meal at the Paradise Beach Club for Lee’s birthday and the next day we popped across on the dinghy to Sandy Island. The teeniest but most beautiful island ever. A lazy day afternoon was spent on the island and the rum punches onboard finished off a perfect day.

Wishing we has spent more time in Carriacou whilst we had been in Grenada, we sadly bid it farewell to carry on back up North to Tobago Cays, via an overnight stop in Canouan.

Tobago Cays was everything we had promised Dai and Sue. Apart from Sue nearly being killed by a boat boy who didn’t see her in the water, going into shock and being fed brandy and sugar to bring her round. That was an added extra.

Quickly made happy again by swimming with the turtles, checking out all the starfish and then another amazing beach BBQ we said goodbye again to Turtletastic Tobago to nip up to Bequia.

Having friends visit, you are always desperate that after having travelled so far they have the best time. Having such easy going friends who would sit in the cockpit every morning after an early swim and say how wonderful it all was made it very easy.

Everywhere we went, they loved. But with Bequia having such a special place in our hearts we were keen for them to love it as much as we did. And fall in love they did. From the snorkeling, swimming, restaurants, village, walks and floating bar they too seemed to have found their happy place.

Whilst we were in Grenada Lee had been bitten by something and when in the UK had to go to the walk in centre twice. His leg had a large, unpleasant abscess on it that would not heal and 3 courses of antibiotics had done nothing. With it getting worse we decided to visit the Dr in Bequia.

After walking to the little cottage hospital that was full of dogs sleeping in the shade (singularly the best hospital I’ve ever been in) we saw the Dr who promptly told Lee he had a nasty staphylococcus infection, prescribed 2 lots of different antibiotics which we collected and off we went on our merry way. Within a day it was healing.

Spending a few days in Bequia was not a hardship at all, but with Dai and Sue having a loose time frame of a 3 week trip and a return flight from Antigua, we very reluctantly left to head North again. This time for Martinique.

After a rather unpleasant overnight passage where yet again we cursed the truly terrible weather forecasts out here, we passed the pitons of St Lucia just as the sun was rising.

Arriving in Martinique was a nice return to a Caribbean type of normality with hire cars, huge supermarkets, amazing food and great wine.

After a great few days in Martinique where we ate and drank too much, played Mexican Train, went on long walks and toured the island, it soon became time to do the final leg up to Antigua. This was the longest trip in one leg Dai and Sue had sailed, and after making good time we arrived in Jolly Harbour, Antigua 27 hours after leaving Martinique.

Dai and Sue immediately went up to Shirley Heights for the sunset BBQ and steel band whilst we stayed on board with idiot dog who can no longer be left alone as he is an utter arse.

We left the best till last and on their final full day, Dai and Sue went off to see the piggies! Completely overwhelmed with happiness the day was finished off on the beach finding conch shells and drinking rum punches.

After over 3 weeks of laughing, sailing, exploring, eating and drinking our way up the Carribean islands, we finally said our sad goodbyes. As Dai and Sue flew home to Devon we set sail again, but this time back South to Martinique to catch up with Ghostrider for Christmas.