Antiguan Bungalows

Like some parts of India the basic unit of accommodation in Antigua is the bungalow. They are often small and brightly painted, can be made from wood or blocks and normally have a small veranda. They are usually topped with a tin roof

There is something very appealing about the design of these houses and many are charming in there uniqueness. In the warmer climate the veranda is used like a conservatory might be on a European house and is often a hangout in the heat of the day

Galleon Beach

Galleon Beach is my favorite hangout in Antigua. It formes part of the English Harbour area that is UNESCO listed and a National Park. It's a stunning little bay in the south of the island and mostly deserted at the moment although there is a tasty looking resort right on the beach



I park my wheels at the entrance to the bay and it's less than 25m to the sea

As the crow flies it's 1.5km from where I am staying but the actual trip is quite extreme and ends in a hill that is the limit of what I feel comfortable with on Genny. As with anywhere hot and sunny tarmac melts and cracks. The final descent is about 500m of dead steep white-knuckle terror. Maybe that is what keeps the crowds at bay. The obvious approach would be by water taxi

Over the last couple of days on every swim I have encountered Green turtles. These lovely creatures feed on the sea grass that grows throughout the bay. They seem happy to ignore me as long as I keep a distance and I can get quite close when they surface to breathe.

I feel I have an affinity with these animals ever since I read 'Turtle Diary' by Russell Hoban

Today we went sailing

Today I abandoned Genny on the dock to set sail on the "J" class yacht "Hanuman"

Hanuman is a 2009 recreation of the 1937 classic Endeavour II. These yachts were originally built for America's cup racing and she will be racing again in the 35th cup races in Bermuda May 2017

Shirley Heights

Shirley Heights is a restored military lookout and gun battery. Fantastic views over English and Falmouth Harbours. Once again great loos - what has this blog become?

Nelson's Dockyard

Nelson's Dockyard is the poshest bit of English Harbour. It is also by far the most charming

As with all the marinas it is gated but there are shops and restaurants so everyone who looks like they gonna spend money are welcome

The area is a large inlet capable of sheltering many boats and surrounded by mangroves. Nelson chose this area as the main hub for the British during there "exploit the Carrabean" phase

This LINK should show you a map of the area

This is where all the beautiful people are - great loos though :-)

Antigua

4:30 am start and a taxi to the airport for the 7:00 flight. On time landing at Gatwick -2 degrees and they had transferred my wheels to the connecting flight. That was not the plan so I refused to leave the assistance trolley till I got Genny back. It finally arrived but with both my carefully crafted taillights smashed off. They would be retrievable but later with the aid of hot glue and a soldering iron

I was now running late for my flight to Antigua so set to max speed I scorched the north terminal, security and gate 568 at full speed. It is such a contradiction seeing the disabled guy burning rubber in a pedestrian area. Yesterday in a rush to catch a bus I overtook a cyclist in lycra going up a steep hill - so cool, bet he was secretly raging.

8 hours 20 mins on the Antigua flight- I took advantage of all the free alcohol and watched the Johnny Worricker trilogy with Bill Nighy, Rachel Weisz, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Winnable Ryder and Michael Gambon on my tablet.

It is tiresome looking at that tiny seat-back screen watching the progress map - Love the way the auto-correct changed Winola to Winnable makes her sound like a prise.

This flight is freezing. I left home in the dark to a frosty start wearing thermals, an old thick Tk-Max wool jumper with holes in it, a summer jacket and thermal long John's. The plan was to ditch the surplus in Gatwick for the exotic trip as there is no room in my tiny luggage to keep it for the return. I'm still in the thermals and jumper having only jettisoned the wooly hat. We are about ½ way there now on the tiny map travelling at 807km/h and -56c degrees outside temperature time for episode 3 “Salting the Battlefield”

Hurray - just arrrived at last with Emily to collect me in style eh?

Genny has a new home in the sunshine

More tomorrow after supper with Emily, rum and "ting" and a long overdue sleep xxx