Ranch Escapade – the only bar on the beach

We went to the recommended snorkelling spot on the map and it was ok, but nothing special which Rowan was very disappointed about. We tried another place and it was similar, Rowan said he just wanted one more look in the deeper water entering the channel. He had a look and was delighted to find it was amazing. I jumped in, it is definitely the best coral and most fish life we have seen, including a couple of nurse sharks. I’m getting remarkably brave about them even though one of the fisherman has shown us the bite on his leg from one (to be fair I think he was after it’s baby!). It was a stunning snorkel.

Mikey and Nicola in the orange boat (who we have discovered from our friend Neil, are pretty well known characters and run the Pikey Project, an amazing music and video production company), left early as did the gin palace which was a great relief to us as it had endless jet skis and noisy toys! We had the bay to ourselves briefly.

Two other boats arrived and so we asked both of them to join us at the only bar/restaurant on the beach called Ranch Escapade. They were both up for joining us which is great news for the restaurant. Mikey had told us the restaurant is really struggling with so few boats about. One couple were Swedish from Gothenburg, just a bit younger than us, both having a year off work. We were picking their brains as Hannah’s boyfriend Noah is from around there we think. The other couple were American, our age, both on second marriages, a bit intense, he is all about racing and boat knowledge, a tad boring! Oops hope he never hacks into this blog! We had great sunset drinks on the deck, it is not called Windward bay for nothing! Luckily they have a lovely restaurant with plastic awnings so we could eat in shelter. Rowan and I had red snapper which was the best fish I think we have had so far. Just a couple of local guys running the place, we discovered we had met the one owner at Leonie and Jake’s farewell drinks at Saline Bay a couple of weeks ago (the couple we gave a lift to Bequia, who got sick the whole way across!). It was a fun night out, meeting more interesting people.

Ranch Escapade

Thank god the gin palace left!

The Sargasso weed is terrible at the moment

Queen Triggerfish near a lovely Barrel Sponge

Keep in mind he is quite far down!

This sponge is blue, called Vase Sponge I think

Huge schools of fish

I love these Squirrel fish with their huge eyes. We see them each time at the same bit of coral.

Grey Trigger fish, the only place we have seen them

Just so much going on.

Ranch Escapade

Our three boats with the Tobago Cays in the background

The happy gathering