TOBAGO ISLAND EXCURSION

THE TOBAGO BRANCH (upper level)

Last week we spent a couple of mornings cleaning and organizing the branch meeting house.  The chapel is on the main floor and the office and primary room are on the second floor.  Sister Linton and I are leaving for the afternoon to take an excursion to the Caribbean side of the Island.

This is the Branch's full time lawn mower

Everybody has a goat or two.  They keep the grass down, provide milk and meat.  Our branch goat will butt you if you get too close.  

CANNON USED TO DEFEND AGAINST PIRATES IN THE 1700'S

There are forts everywhere.  They were used primarily to protect the sugar and cocoa plantation shipments from the pirates that came from the Americas.

OVEN TO "HEAT THE CANNON SHOT"

The shot was heated red-hot before firing it from muzzle-loaded cannons for the purpose of setting fire to enemy warships.  It was a powerful weapon against wooden ships where fire was always a hazard.  It was mainly used on shore batteries and forts and fired at enemy ships..

ONE OF NETTIE'S FAVORITE HOUSES

This little home was tucked back into the trees and was as neat as a pin and perfectly charming!

CRAFTS OF THE CARIBBEAN

This store hung over the ocean cliff and specialized in hand carved containers and ornaments.

MY FAVORITE FLOWERING TREE

These trees are on the main highways of the island and I was finally able to get close enough to for a decent picture.

AN EXPLOSION OF COLOR

TOBAGO HILLSIDE SUBDIVISION

Couldn't resist taking a picture of this spot carved out of the trees.

THREE HOUSES 

HIGH-RISE MAILBOX FOR CLYDE KING AND THE LEWIS BOYS

THE ISLAND OF ABANDONED CANNONS

DESIGNED FOR DEATH - CORRODED FORTRESS FOR BIRDS

I came across this cannon sitting in a field of tall grass and was startled when I looked into the barrel and saw a nest of birds. 

TREES GROW OUT OF THE STONE WALLS

I LOVE THE FLOWERS OF TOBAGO

BEAUTIFUL RED BARKED TREES

WE WERE WARNED NOT TO TOUCH THE BARK

We were told that a couple of missionaries touched the "red barked tree" and were burned by caustic sap. 

 A VISIT TO SISTER DOOKRAN'S HOME ON BLOODY BAY ROAD

Sister Dookran's home is about an hour drive up the coast from our branch chapel.  The road winds through jungle with open vistas of the Atlantic Ocean.  When you park your car, the first building you see is the abandoned cocoa production building shown above.  Chocolate was a major island export until a hurricane stripped the island clean of vegetation and the agricultural economy was replaced by tourism.

ESTATE GUARDHOUSE

Wasn't sure what the little box-house was for but there was a man sitting inside who was more interested in his music than us white folk walking by.  This is the beginning of the trek to Sister Dookran's home.  

LETTUCE GARDEN

HOUSING BELOW THE PATHWAY UP

CITRUS ON THE TREES 

CUT OPEN WITH MY FOOT INSERTED FOR SCALE

Had to pick one on the way back to the car to see what was inside.  Smelled like a citrus and looked like a citrus with a very thick skin.  The elders said it was still green and when ripe it is delicious.

A FLOWER IN THE SHADOWS

SISTERS CAMPBELL AND SCHLINDER LEADING THE WAY

THE SPECTACULAR JUNGLE TRAIL 

ON AND ON WE WENT

I COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW BEAUTIFUL IT WAS

SHADES OF GREEN EVERYWHERE

SISTER LINTON FOLLOWING THE TREK

BAMBOO STAIRWAY HINTS OF A HOME ABOVE

LOOKING BACK

 THE FRONT YARD

AT HOME WITH GRANDMA DOOKRAN

 AND THREE GRANDKIDS.  

HAPPY, HAPPY FAMILY

BEAUTIFUL GREAT-GRANDBABY 

THE KITCHEN SINK OUTSIDE A WINDOW

SISTER DOOKRAN'S BELOVED MANGO TREE

SISTER DOOKRAN 

A VERY HAPPY FLOWER

This gentle lady broke her foot in a fall last year and limped on it until it healed.  The doctor wanted to re-break it and set it straight but she said it was good enough.  She saves a few dollars a week and puts it into a savings account so she can make her first temple trip to the Santo Domingo temple in the Dominican Republic. She faithfully attends the Tobago branch each Sunday by hailing a ride down the canyon.  Most of the people in the branch do not have cars and they 'catch travel' - meaning a taxi.  She was the first church member in Tobago, having been baptized in Trinidad six years ago.