![]() The Commonwealth of Dominica covers an area of 750 km2, with the highest point being Morne Diablotins, at 1.447 metres. The population is around 80.000 of which 86.6% are Black, 9.1% Multiracial, 2.9% Island Caribs and 1.3% European or other. 95% are Christians. It was colonised by Europeans, predominantly by the French from the 1690s to 1763. Great Britain took possession in 1763 and the island republic gained independence in 1978. Due to the hostile original inhabitants; Kalinago, and the geography with mountains, quite some nature have been preserved on this Caribbean island.
DIARY As I can't see anything to the sides anyway, I shift into race-mode, and the few taxis and a bus I catch up with, are real quick to pull over. I reach the hotel at nine, and get a cosy apartment with well equipped kitchen in the living-room, a bedroom and bathroom. I find the local convenience store, and buy a can of milk, put over the kettle and start working.
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Then
I find the Boeri Lake Trail. It is through true rainforest - so true,
it actually start to rain quite heavy, while I struggle to keep upright in
my flip-flops on the steep and rocky trail. Having a camera in one hand and
The peaks started being covered in clouds, and now, they have pulled down to where I hike - or I have gone up to them. Here are a huge amount of Anolis, and I guess here are several species. Besides from them, I only see a few butterflies. I would not have been surprised to see a few dinosaurs crossing the trail.
The
The trail cross several passes before it reach the
apparently dammed lake of Boeri. I was actually following a pipeline
up here, and it made in wood! Around half a meter in diameter, treated with
tar and still functional. Well, I knew the trail was the main advent, not
the lake, and I return.
Despite the rain and difficult trail, it have been a great track, and back at the car, I set the GPS for the nearby Middleham Trail. On the way, I stop a few times, one time to get a picture of a colourful freshwater crab. When I reach the trail head, it is starting to rain, I am out of drinking water and hungry. I head back to town, only eight kilometres away.
The
Then I start walking around in the real quiet streets of old Roseau. I figure I might be lucky to get some pictures of the old buildings without cars in front. Here are a large area with old and pretty "used" houses, Some are ruins, other are newly restored.
Up
I return home with my shopping, and at three, I'm back at Middleham Trail. The sun is shining now, and I head into the forest. This must be on the other side of the mountain, as the vegetation is different. Here are huge trees and less under-growth - although it is still pretty massive. Middleham Trail is part of the long Waitukubuli National Trail, and still within Morne Trois Pitons National Park. I don't see many animals, but I get close to a Dominican Ground Snake; Erythrolamprus juliae. After a good hour of tracking, I reach the beautiful Middleham Fall. It fall 84 metres, and despite it is quite narrow, it is impressive. I try to get a photo, then I head back, as I don't want to be caught out here in the dark. Further more, I need time to get through the 500 photos of the day. They all look the same: A green wall. Tagging is done in large batches. Boeri Lake Trail, Roseau, Middleham Trail and Fall
1/4. When I turn into the mountains, it changes into deep green, but still almost vertical mountainsides. Here are only a few buildings at first, and a lot of nature. I try not to make too many pictures, as they tend to look alike anyway. Even the many rivers, heading out to see are a bit alike by now.
Just as I reach the little bluish pond, it start to rain. I spend a lot of time, trying to get a fairly descent photo, but the lack of light is a problem. At least, I don't have to deal with fat Americans. When they start to arrival, and in huge numbers, I head on
My next target is along the north-eastern coat, and I get
to cross the mountains, to get there. It
I pass a single big clearing with a few cows on, but most is left alone. Then I reach the east coast, which is quite wild: Huge waves and rocky beaches. Some have black sand, others seaweed. Most have a lot of driftwood. One of them have the usually almost round lava rocks, and some strange red flint-like ones too. They look so much out of place.
The I get closer to some serious big mountains, steep as the smaller ones. Everything is volcanic, and not that old. I reach what almost look like a fjord, cutting deep into the land. Around noon, I find a nice beach with palms on, and sit and eat my usual lunch in the shadow.
When a great view get me to stop next time, I hear
parrots. I wait patiently, and are rewarded with seeing they fly over my head. It
is the national bird;
I
am now reaching the northern coast, and the road is as promised;
great! It is a bit like the eastern coast, just bigger, winder and more
beautiful. I stop at a fiver, where some huge trees are standing in the
water, and their stems are fantastic.
It
In an effort to reach the most northern part, I head into
a blind road, leading there by the west coast. It passes several small
villages and reach the water every time. At the end, I reach Cannor
Heritage Park and
The
sun is getting close to the sea, and it is time to head home. I drive along
the western coast, and closes my eyes, as I will get back soon. This coast
is significantly dryer than the other side of the island.
Emerald Pool, Central Mountains, Northern Coast
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