Adventure in the Aveo

Tuesday 6th July

Location: Port De Plaisance, Marina Bas Du Fort, Pointe a Pitre, Guadeloupe.

Bob rented a luxury car for us last night, actually I’m just kidding about the luxury, it was a little Chevrolet Aveo. I don’t really know why I’m laughing, as I was the one squeezed like a sardine into the back with no doors, no window’s to open, and absolutely no legroom.
We drove out looking for adventure! Edi was at the wheel; his nerves can’t quite cope with either Bob’s or especially my driving. It was a beautiful sunny morning as we sped along the wonderful Guadeloupe highways, at quite possibly the greatest speed ever experienced by the little Aveo. Edi was determined to put it through its paces, and test it to the limit, he did! We climbed mountains, traversed ditches, drove through deep running water, and loaded it to full capacity with provisions and alcohol. At the end of the day we were all suitably impressed with the performance of the little car.
In the morning we drove into the rainforest, just as we had done on our previous visit to this beautiful island. We were all entranced by the beauty of the jungly vegetation with the lush trees, flowers and foliage. Anything would grow here, and seemingly does; the conditions are absolutely perfect for propagation. The flowers are larger than I have seen on any other island, and the fruit more prolific, mangos litter the roadside; the massive tree branches are bending over under the weight of them. We followed signs that lead to a racing circuit, but decided against putting the little Aveo on the track.
A road leading into another area of rainforest plunged and climbed so steeply, it thoroughly tested the little Aveo’s capabilities, as well as my nerves! At one point we had to drive through a river, Edi stopped the car and we all got out and paddled in the cool water. The noise in the forest from the insects, frogs and birds was quite deafening.
From the rainforest we drove back along the coast road, stopping for lunch at a little restaurant overlooking the bay, where we enjoyed some interesting local dishes, and wonderful views.
Our next stop was high up in the mountains where local farmers were hard at work, carefully tending their neat rows of vegetables. Each individual vegetable plot was attractively surrounded by perimeter bushes of beautiful bright red flowers.
The view from the mountain into the valley below, and the ocean beyond was quite breathtaking. The tip of the mountains were blanketed in thick cloud, and the wind was quite strong, but it was comfortably cool compared to the blistering heat back down on the coast.
We drove back down the mountain and out to see the little lighthouse we had spotted when we sailed past previously. Local people were diving off the rocks around the base of the lighthouse, and some were snorkeling. There were people having picnic’s and flying kites with their children, it was obviously a very popular place.
Our fun day out finished with a stop at one of the local supermarkets to provision for the next three weeks of our trip, we plan to buy fruit and vegetables on Dominica as there really won’t be anywhere else to shop affordably until we get to Bonaire.