Lover's Beach

Well, Saturday, Dec. 13 we climbed Mt. Nevis and then went home and scrubbed the crap out of our skin. It was like the mountain had become a part of every crevice of the body. We grabbed a few Carib's and headed to Lover's Beach before meeting friends for a last hurrah dinner. We had never really gone to Lover's Beach before because from the road it looks a bit icky. However, the road view is extremely deceiving. Lover's Beach is a very narrow strip of sand between the Caribbean and Atlantic sides of the island. The waves are nice and the sand is very fine. There is also a salt pond at one point where there are a lot of egrets. We saw donkey tracks too, but no sea turtles. Apparently the turtles nest their eggs on this beach, so we were careful where we walked. After Lover's Beach, we headed to Pizza Beach for a Some Ting Hot pizza with friends.

High atop Mt. Nevis

Well, this was my last trip for awhile to Nevis. I arrived Saturday evening and we went out for a wonderful meal at the Gallipot followed by drinks and music by a local string band at Oualie Beach. Sunday we were up bright and early to climb Mt. Nevis. This is the one adventure we hadn't accomplished in the last two summers. Our friends, Bob and Andrew, who also teach at MUA were our guides. It was a muddy, wet and hilarious adventure. When you look at Mt. Nevis from the water, you think "Oh, nice hill".

We started from the point pictured here, which is just outside the trailhead.

I was thinking "Oh, this is a nice hike" in the picture above. Well, Nevis peak is 3,232 feet high. So, this is a mountain and the trail at times is narrow and winding and extremely slippery and muddy. At the lower elevations one walks through forest, but about half-way up, the transition to rainforest is apparent as you hike through the ferns. That's the picture below at the transition point between forest and rain-forest. The foliage is magnificant and the views from certain points is stunning. I had to fight a sense of vertigo several times. We hiked all the way up to a particularly scary point for me called the "Big Rock". That's were the picture right above was taken from. That is Charlestown (the capital city) below. I think we got muddier on the way down.

We made it though - although my new manicure was definitely worse for the wear!!

Last trip to Nevis for awhile

I am two days from taking off for Nevis. I had my fingers and toes manicured today and am packed. Actually, I have been packed for a few days already. Just need to clear up the details and finish this week of work. I know Brian is ready for this portion to end as well.

I am looking forward to this trip to Nevis probably moreso than any other so far. I am not sure if it is because Brian and I will be alone or because it is the last one for awhile. Regardless, I will see everyone on the beach at Oualie!