Lobster feast in Salt Whistle Bay, Mayreau

We waited for low tide to go snorkelling with James. We discovered yesterday evening that he is terrified of swimming around boats, we had to entice him into the sea, to cool down after our hot sweaty time on Union island. He is not hugely confident in water so we thought we should take a gentle easy snorkel. It all went well until I spotted a shark again. As I wear a full mask I couldn’t easily shout out, and by the time I got their attention it had gone, which was a relief as I think it might have terrified poor James.

We departed in the afternoon, heading to Salt Whistle Bay on Mayreau, which is only a couple of miles away. James is obsessed with planes and seems to be taking a major shine to boats, so Rowan let him helm the boat, so we went the long way around the island to give him more time. We passed Saline Bay with the ferry dock, which he was very pleased to see as he often works on the Mustique ferry.

Salt Whistle Bay only had 3 boats in it, last time we popped in it had a lot more boats, it really is a pretty little bay with a few little local bars, and the ruins of an unsuccessful resort. The South African boat, Wandering Albatross had invited us to join them for a lobster meal on the beach. They rowed over for a drink and then took us all in their immaculate dinghy to the beach. I am wondering if we will ever become true yachties, as being neat and tidy seems to be the common characteristic! Freddie the Rasta boat man who organised the meal looked pretty disreputable but was a character. He never batted an eyelid at Jame’s transition into local dialect. It was a Saturday night and not a single person in any of the bars, just us. Freddie’s place is called ‘Last Bar Before the Jungle’ a little bar sticking out into the water, with only wild bush beyond it.

We feasted on our lobsters, which I always find underwhelming here, but it was a fun evening listening to more of Kirsten and Gary’s tales of travelling the world.

Salt Whistle Bay in twilight

The local bars

James, Kirsten and Gary

We paid Freddie well as it does seem rather desperate for these locals who rely totally on tourists. Once we finished eating, there was no hanging about as he was keen to switch off the generator and go home…… he told us he would go home for a shower and a relaxing smoke of weed. His poster we spotted in the bar seemed appropriate.