I'd arranged with Alexis to join an Indian River tour, so he picked me up in the early hours of the morning, at 8AM, and I joined 2 Canadian gentlemen for another tour of the river. They were on a 36 foot Bénéteau and heading down-island toward Cartagena and this would be their only day on the island before continuing south.
The tour was very nice, we were the second boat in and all the crabs on the shore were still out and about, unlike the previous trip where they'd already retired for the day. We had a fresh juice at the bar at the end of the road and Alexis informed us that the river would be closed because they were going to do some filming that day, he was going to see if he would find work and we joked that he was going to be “discovered” by the film industry and have to give up his day job!
Back on the boat I got my dive gear together and used the last 1500PSI in my tank to start work on cleaning the hull. There was almost no wind and little current, so cleaning was made a lot easier as I didn't have to continually chase the boat as it swung at anchor. The first pass was with my industrial-sized scraper and that took care of most of the nasty sharp stuff and even more disgusting green fuzz. At times I couldn't see anything as the water was so cloudy but then the boat swung a bit and I could scrape another pass and see the detritus float away - hopefully making a good meal for something downstream. After the rough work I was going to give the hull a pass with the Scotch pad, but only had enough air (and energy) for the propeller assembly and rudder and part of the keel so I'll have to do one more dive before the hull is once again, albeit temporarily, no longer a lush forest but a barren desert.
I'd arranged to meet Alexis ashore to talk about taking two guests at a local hotel to the Îles des Saintes and we had no success in meeting up with them, but did have a tasty pizza for dinner at a place run by one of his cousins.
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'15.05"N 61°27'21.55"W ]Indian River park entrance
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'15.05"N 61°27'21.55"W ]Looking out to sea from the Park entrance
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'15.95"N 61°27'19.96"W ]Rowing up the Indian River and looking back
Alexis dressed for rain and guiding us up the Indian River in the early morning hours.. [15°34'16.48"N 61°27'18.95"W ]Alexis ready for rain
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'17.12"N 61°27'17.55"W ]Quiet Indian River shoreline
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. (2013-04-16 08:20:43 NIKON D7000 with a "18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6" lens. [f/5.6, 1/13s] ISO 250 Focus 15.00m)Bird hunting for unwary fish
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'20.66"N 61°27'10.27"W ]Placid river waters
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'20.26"N 61°27'8.44"W ]Intricate roots holding the shoreline
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'19.92"N 61°27'7.3"W ]Crab scampering off to shelter
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'19.48"N 61°27'6.76"W ]Can you spot the 2 crabs?
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'18.93"N 61°27'6.37"W ]Foliage over the river
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'18.64"N 61°27'6.2"W ]Roots of a fallen tree exposed
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'18.05"N 61°27'5.69"W ]Bloodwood roots
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'17.62"N 61°27'5.59"W ]Roots
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'17.14"N 61°27'5.63"W ]These widespread root systems hold the banks
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'16.92"N 61°27'5.78"W ]Crab waiting for us to pass
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'16.92"N 61°27'5.78"W ]Alexis showing us an unwary crab
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'16.92"N 61°27'5.78"W ]Alexis carefully handling a crab
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'16.92"N 61°27'5.78"W ]Indian River crab
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'16.92"N 61°27'5.78"W ]Alexis, our guide, returning a crab
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'16.86"N 61°27'5.83"W ]Blue crab in the tree roots
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'16.63"N 61°27'6.22"W ]Eerie root patterns of a bloodwood
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'15.12"N 61°27'0.88"W ]Indian River dock
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'15.12"N 61°27'0.88"W ]Indian river Panga
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'15.12"N 61°27'0.88"W ]Flowering jungle plant
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'15.12"N 61°27'0.88"W ]A type of banana plant
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'15.12"N 61°27'0.88"W ]Bird of Paradise (Strelizia)
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'15.12"N 61°27'0.88"W ]Flowering plant
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'15.12"N 61°27'0.88"W ]Colorful blossoms in the jungle
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'15.58"N 61°27'0.69"W ]Bloodwood roots
Tour of the Indian River in Portsmouth, Dominica (Version 2.0, since it is my second time there). We went through as the second boat and the air was still, making a good photo-opportunity for several birds and crabs. [15°34'16.34"N 61°27'6.67"W ]Bird stalking prey
My dive gear ready for cleaning the hull. The green Scotch pad is in my shorts and the scraper is on my fins. [15°34'52.64"N 61°27'56.42"W ]Dive gear for hull cleaning
A classic yacht, crewed by 4 Frenchman that I met on the Indian River tour, leaving Portsmouth. [15°34'52.64"N 61°27'56.42"W (facing SW)]Classic schooner yacht