We spent nearly a month at anchorages in northwest Trinidad - mostly in the lush rainforest at Scotland Bay which is just inside a pass called the Boca or the Dragon's Mouth. Here the tide rips through the pass at 3-4 knots - and the sunsets are spectacular.
Between boat work and lounging around the pool at Crew's Inn we made several trips inland with other cruisers.
The first was to see leatherback turtles come ashore to lay eggs and, simultaneously, the hatchlings from earlier clutches emerging and making the dangerous dash to the sea. Both these things take place at night.
We wandered around the main city of Port of Spain - characterized by these wooden buildings covered with fanciful fretwork.
The best trip was to a world famous bird sanctuary called Asa Wright high in the mountains of the Northern Range. Hummingbirds and motmots (known to the locals as 'king of the forest') are two of the common sightings from the verandah looking down the lush Arima valley.
Before turning north we made a side trip to Venezuela in search of cheap fuel. It was something of a mixed experience - we did get very, very cheap diesel. But had some fretful nights worrying about pirates - here Argo is at anchor in Laguna Grande with scenery which reminds some people of the desert landscape of the Baja.The most expensive of our Venezuelan fuel was brought out to us in Porlamar on Isla Margarita.
This gentleman brings fuel from the dock to the cruising boats at anchor just as his father did - in the same 60 year old boat. And pumps the fuel by hand from 55 gallon drums into your tanks. In our case he pumped 3000 litres one hot afternoon.
