CARIBBEAN: JULY TO SEPTEMBER 2005

Our partly dimantled engine, just taken off the boat.

Unlike most of the Caribbean, the waters around Trinidad are cloudy caused by the outflow from the Orinoco river. This however is the run-off after hurricane Emily passed to our north, an incredible chocolate colour. Although we didn't get too much wind we we did get a lot of rain that caused mud slides and washed roads away.

A Heliconia at the Asa Wright bird sanctuary.

An Agouti, also at the Asa Wright centre. We were rather surprised to see this animal because we thought they only come out at night.

Spot the snake! In the mangrove tree branches of the Coroni swamp were snakes and if you can find it in the picture it is a six foot long Boa Constrictor. Since they are blind in daylight it was quite safe but you really wouldn't want to be in the swamp at night.

Safe above the snakes and caymans this was taken in a viewing platform above the swamp.

Fort George looking roughly west. Chaguaramas (where we are parked) is at the end of the island. Beyond that are the Dragon's Mouth islands and in the far distance the high land is Venezuela.

Fort George again, looking roughly south down on the capital, Port of Spain

David and Deborah from Water Music, in the botanical gardens.

The birthday boys, Mike and Rick from Flying Cloud, at the bar at the Angostura factory. Mike's elbow is superglued to the bar.

Obviously we keep a close eye on the weather, including satellite pictures that we pull down on HF radio. Top left is hurricane Katrina, about to paste New Orleans - she's about three hundred miles in diameter. To the right of the picture are two more systems that went on to become hurricanes. The one furthest right is dragging cloud and moisture up from the Doldrums that will cross Trinidad in around 24 hours, giving us some rain and the odd squall. After these monsters pass we usually get many days of fine weather and little wind because they 'consume' all the atmospheric energy.