My friend Hen and her visiting friend Annemarie, Ernard, McDowell, and I hired Henrik and his van and took our favourite road trip known as The Northern Link. It connects the west coast and the east coast of the island along the north coast. It climbs over Morne Aux Diables (2,826ft) and has stunning views both north to Guadeloupe and Les Saintes, and south across Portsmouth to Morne Espagnol. The summit is the crater of a dormant volcano.
The weather was cool, and as we headed to Penville and Vielle Case became quite misty. We drove through the clouds and decided not to stop and take the ten-minute easy hike in to see the Cold Soufriere where the sulfur bubbles up through the rocks. We did stop by the side of the road to view the truly awesome verdant mountains and valleys. On to Pointe Michel and the Chocolate Factory. There Allan Napier grows and makes the best chocolate anywhere. We were graciously welcomed, given a tour, and shown the process - from tree to pod to bean to drying to curing to bar. Annemarie bought several bars to take home to the UK. I bought myself a large bar of ginger chocolate.
Then we headed to the village of Calibishie, walked around a bit, had a lovely leisurely lunch by the rolling Atlantic Ocean, and watched a man out in the ocean collecting winkles (wigo in patois).
From there we drove to Bense and spent some time there. Both McDowell and Henrik knew everyone and were warmly greeted. We had intended to go from there to the Chaudiere Pool but decided that since the road was all chewed up by the big trucks working at the new airport site, and we were tired and satiated by the overwhelming scenery we would save it for another trip.
Home to Portsmouth, well satisfied with our day and the outing.
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