Leaving Grenada

I am not sure if we wore out our welcome, but we sure wore out our Grenada courtesy flag.  This concludes our second season in Grenada hiding from hurricanes.  With three years of fulltime boat living/cruising under our keel(s), we have spent more time in Grenada than anywhere else.

In preparation for the long trek back to the United States, Motivator moved from her summer home at Port Louis Marina to the south end of the island to Spice Island Marina where she was pulled from the water.

The bottom was sanded and recoated with two coats of new bottom paint.  All the zincs were replaced and the running gear was cleaned and polished.  Additionally, I had the gentlemen with big arms and big buffers clean and polish the hull below the toe rail.

With constant supervision, Motivator was ready to go back in the water in only 4 days.  Considering the “island time” factor, that may be a new record!  Overall, we were very satisfied with the work performed.

Back in the water, we decided we were ready for some quiet time before we left Grenada.  So, our first stop was about a half a mile from Spice Island Marina at Prickly Bay Marina where we took a mooring ball for a few days.  Prickly Bay provides easy access to Grenada’s bus system and three good restaurants.  The Dodgy Dock Restaurant quickly became our favorite breakfast hangout.  But, the anchorage is very rolly, so we were ready to move.

Our next stop was Mt. Hartman Bay which is very quiet but not as handy to shopping and services.  Boats are protected from swells by reefs that guard the bay and make the entry a little challenging.  Our only shore neighbor was a small fishing camp (blue skiff) where in a week’s time we saw only one guy fishing on a Sunday morning.

Mt. Hartman Bay is one of those places where a good dinghy comes in handy.  “Little Toot,” Pollie’s name for our dinghy, served us well for trips into Secret Harbour Marina.  Also, we could easily go around the corner and through the reefs to Roger’s Beach Bar on Hog Island, Whisper Cove Marina (best steaks ever from Meat & Meet), and Clark’s Court Bay Marina.

To stage for our departure, do final provisioning, and to check out with officials we moved back around to the anchorage outside of St. George’s Harbour.  We also managed to get invited as guests to one final swim/happy hour at the pool at Port Louis Marina where we said goodbye (for awhile) to the friends we have made in Grenada.

“If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen out there.”

                             Captain Ron Rico

Grenada Bus System

Grenada has an extensive road system, but the roads are narrow, winding, and the island is extremely hilly.

At first we relied on our fold-up bicycles, but we found the hills a little challenging for the bicycles and we couldn’t get far before one of the locals stopped us to ask about the bikes.

Also, we found the traffic to be a little daunting.

And, you drive on the left side of the road with frequent roundy rounds instead of traffic signals.

So then we found the Grenada Bus system.  We can get most of the places we need to go for $2.50 EC ($0.94 U.S. Dollar).

Courtesy of Grenada Board of Tourism

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending how you look at it, the Grenada Bus System has been upgraded to mini-vans retiring the colorful buses of yesteryear.

Main Bus Terminal in St George’s

The buses operate out of the main bus terminal and their routes are identified by a number in the upper right corner of the windshield.   Legally, the buses are only supposed to pick you up and drop you off at designated places, but we have found that to be universally ignored.  We have never hailed a bus because they hail you by shouting or honking or both, and we have never waited more than two or three minutes for a bus.  If you want a stop before a designated place, simply knock on the roof.

Unlike the colorful trucks of yesteryears, the Mini-vans are a little harder to identify because they are smaller and many don't have signs indicating final destinations.  These mini-vans, or mini-buses don't have a uniform color and don't run on a specific timetable, but you can recognize them by their number plates.  Privately owned buses have names and/or slogans, such as "White Invasion" or "Too much ah dem."

Many of the taxies are also mini-vans, but they do not have the number on the windshield, or a conductor.   The conductor is a young man that rides next to the sliding door, operates the door, take your money, and yells from the van soliciting riders.  It is also his job to ensure 20 passengers fit into a 14 passenger van.

We discovered the distinction between a bus and a taxi when a taxi stopped for us and then a bus pulled up behind and the conductor jumped out and admonished the taxi driver for trying to deceive us and steal his business.  Unlike in the states, the bus drivers and conductors in Grenada are highly incentivized. 

Shademan

For special events, i.e., cooking class, we arrange for a private bus.  Above Shademan  is taking our $10 EC ($3.75 U.S. dollars) for a ride to a marina at the south end of the island that is not serviced by the bus system.

I am applying for the job as Shademan’s conductor.

The U.S. could learn a lot from the Grenadian bus system.