Dominica
As the ship approached Cabrits National Park on the northwest corner of Dominica, a rain shower passed overhead, wetting the deck. This island is mountainous, lush, green and beautiful, and rain showers happen frequently, as do rainbows. Along the coast there is 100-150 inches of rainfall annually, and in the mountainous interior, 300-350 inches of rain each year.
This morning we explored a nature preserve in the rainforest. As we approached the trail, we drove past numerous small farms growing bananas, oranges, grapefruits and coffee. One could easily have the impression that anything green could grow here. In the forest, many of the largest trees have buttresses that help support the mass of the tree on the relatively thin soil. There are tree ferns, and many other plants that grow not from the ground, but cling to the trunks and high, tall branches in the forest canopy. Epiphytes save the energy of growing their own massive, woody trunks, and just grow attached on the exterior of their large neighbors. We heard parrots calling, and at times we glimpsed them flying far overhead. Dominica is home to two parrot species found nowhere else, and they are protected.
After lunch on the ship, Lennox spoke to us about the history of Prince Rupert Bay, Fort Shirley, and Cabrits National Park. He has been very involved in the fort’s restoration over many years. We spent the afternoon exploring the fort which is located above the ship’s berth, and snorkeling in the marine preserve a stone’s thrown from the ship. On the sea floor, we found large boulders with the healthiest corals of our voyage so far. In deeper water, there were enormous barrel sponges. Creole wrasses courted one another, and some of us saw these fish pause to be cleaned by other, tiny fishes at a cleaning station.
Sea Cloud II left her berth shortly before sunset, and headed to the north. We will be in the French islands of Iles des Saintes for tonight and tomorrow.
As the ship approached Cabrits National Park on the northwest corner of Dominica, a rain shower passed overhead, wetting the deck. This island is mountainous, lush, green and beautiful, and rain showers happen frequently, as do rainbows. Along the coast there is 100-150 inches of rainfall annually, and in the mountainous interior, 300-350 inches of rain each year.
This morning we explored a nature preserve in the rainforest. As we approached the trail, we drove past numerous small farms growing bananas, oranges, grapefruits and coffee. One could easily have the impression that anything green could grow here. In the forest, many of the largest trees have buttresses that help support the mass of the tree on the relatively thin soil. There are tree ferns, and many other plants that grow not from the ground, but cling to the trunks and high, tall branches in the forest canopy. Epiphytes save the energy of growing their own massive, woody trunks, and just grow attached on the exterior of their large neighbors. We heard parrots calling, and at times we glimpsed them flying far overhead. Dominica is home to two parrot species found nowhere else, and they are protected.
After lunch on the ship, Lennox spoke to us about the history of Prince Rupert Bay, Fort Shirley, and Cabrits National Park. He has been very involved in the fort’s restoration over many years. We spent the afternoon exploring the fort which is located above the ship’s berth, and snorkeling in the marine preserve a stone’s thrown from the ship. On the sea floor, we found large boulders with the healthiest corals of our voyage so far. In deeper water, there were enormous barrel sponges. Creole wrasses courted one another, and some of us saw these fish pause to be cleaned by other, tiny fishes at a cleaning station.
Sea Cloud II left her berth shortly before sunset, and headed to the north. We will be in the French islands of Iles des Saintes for tonight and tomorrow.
