One Wet Day in Dominica

Many years ago - when digital photography was in its infancy, hence the quality of these photos - I spent a long hot sweaty and very wet day on the Caribbean island of Dominica.

The reason we went ashore from the Star Clipper was to explore the Indian River which originally got its name because the Kalinago (Carib Indians) lived in the green rich hinterland it serves.

The river was important to them - they used it to transport goods for trade with sailors and travel by canoe along the island chain.

The wide coastal wetland features near the town of Portsmouth spectacular buttressed Bwa Mang trees - and I’m told the Indian River is among the most picturesque of Dominica’s 365 rivers, although it was hard to say the day we were there because it was raining so heavily.

A number of local boatmen, rowing river boats with wonderful names, take you past many types of wild life and plant life as you travel slowly up river. On a dark wet day with black clouds and plenty of lightning strikes it’s a bit like Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.

Apparently various scenes from Pirates of the Caribbean were filmed here - although on sunnier days, I imagine.

The target for our voyage upstream was the famous 'Bush Bar' where you more or less have to try the signature rum drink. Apparently they also serve smoked fish and a variety of other drinks, juices and local cuisine - but I didn’t see any.

Hesp at the famous Bush Bar miles up the Bush River

However I was very very careful with the rum - which was, in my opinion, almost hallucinogenic in its strength, Several of my friends were soon worse for wear. And I mean, really really out of it. So much so that later myself and the late Jeffrey Rayner went aboard another sailing ship as the guest of the captain where we wined and dined until midnight - whereas the Indian River victims went straight back to the Star Clipper for a long lie-down full of strange dreams…

And, blimey, didn’t I look a lot younger back then…