drive time to Castara

SJKeeler · Post by **SJKeeler** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 5:31 pm

We are staying primarily in the Crown Point area for our holiday, but have rented a jeep and wish to venture out. What is the approximate drive time to Castara? How are the roads?

Thanks, Sharon

Paul Tallet · Post by **Paul Tallet** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 6:03 pm

Caribbean route via Mount Irvine/Plymouth (scenic) about 1 hour (45 mins if you are evil knievil).

Through the centre (unscenic but interesting all the same) 45 mins (30 mins fast).

Roads are awful ... but fun.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Jane H · Post by **Jane H** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 9:07 pm

Hi Sharon,

The roads aren't THAT awful - just expect the unexpected and watch out for pot-holes!

You shouldn't have ant problems in a jeep.

Jane

Paul Tallet · Post by **Paul Tallet** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 9:40 pm

Yeah ... expect the UNEXPECTED.

And with respect Jane, depending on your confidence behind the wheel, it can be difficult, especially if you are a newcomer and you take a wrong turn along the way.

Picture this, flight gets in 1 hour before dusk ... after you have fought your way through customs and finally found your car, it's dark, you're hot, tired, sweaty, short tempered (yet exhilarated at the same time) and itching to get to your destination whilst reading a map at the same time.

First day there ... dark ... you will come across potholes and unearthly sharp bends ... so drive with care ... we are all a bit dodgy when we first arrive, particularly if it is dark.

I intend to take care, it is almost a year since I took the journey to Castara and there have been many landslides in the autumn rains ... it will have changed.

Regards

Jane H · Post by **Jane H** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:08 pm

Hi Paul,

Take your point about arrival day - long flight, unfamiliar car, potholes, goats on the road, the heat, the flies .........

But Sharon did say they were staying around Crown Point and intending to visit Castara - so I'm assuming they are going to travel at a civilised time of day! In which case the roads aren't THAT awful!!!!! (Well - not if you're used to Oxfordshire or Northumberland anyway!)

Sharon - apart from going to Castara, do drive up to the north of the island especially Speyside and Charlotteville. They really are easy day-trips and you get a really good feel for the island and it's beautiful scenery.

Can't wait to get there myself in 10 weeks time.

Jane

Paul Tallet · Post by **Paul Tallet** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:38 pm

Ooops ... you're right Jane.

Should have read the post before I started ranting on about darkness.

Cheers

Steve Fifield · Post by **Steve Fifield** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:47 pm

Oops - Oh dear Paul. But we all make mistakes, don't we. Jane H said:

You shouldn't have ant problems in a jeep.

I agree, providing that you don't leave any fruit in the boot.

Steve F.

Cornelia Montgomery · Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:36 pm

First of all, I don't understand why you English people put fruit in your boots. Must be uncomfortable.
Anyway, I think driving on the north of Tobago is daunting. This guy agrees with me:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl= ... c2coff%3D1

So much for sheer dropoffs.

Paul Tallet · Post by **Paul Tallet** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 12:03 am

Well done Steve

I was going to mention that but having lost alot an incredible amount of credibility ... thought better of it ... but we know what Jane mean't !!

However, what is all this about wearing fruit in your shoes?

Bit squelchy methinks ... off to investigate Cornelia's clues.

Cheers

Paul Tallet · Post by **Paul Tallet** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 12:23 am

That link of Cornelia's is one of the most cynical appraisals I have ever seen of Tobago ... nevertheless interesting.

Firstly, that church ... I have seen it in Black Rock near Mount Irvine. To be fair, they have built a new church next to it.

The view from the rainforest is actually south east over Goat Island and Little Tobago and not north west.

As for the roads ... the writer is pretty accurate ... that sort of thing is commonplace up in the rainforest areas where landslides occur even during moderate rain seasons ... but not as dangerous as it looks.

Fascinating perspective though.

Cheers

Cornelia Montgomery · Tue Feb 01, 2005 12:37 am

I thought it was tongue-in-cheek. We here in Boston have the U.S. record for most nonfatal traffic accidents, so no superiority intended. You should see how confusing our signs are.

But bamboo to guard a fall?

Paul Tallet · Post by **Paul Tallet** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 12:55 am

Hi Cornelia

I liked it ... being a bit of a cynic myself.

Bamboo is better than thin air though ... only problem is you can't see it in the dark unless you have your headlamps on

I agree that sometimes there is too much information on our roads in the UK, Europe and maybe the US too ... no wonder that people get mowed down while we are trying to read all the safety and warning signs !!

In Tobago, you have to concentrate on the road ... it's safer that way don't you think?

Cheers

Kevin Hampson · Post by **Kevin Hampson** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 8:18 pm

Back to Sharons original post.

if you plan to have lunch in Castara give your self more than an hour to get there, there is lots to see on the way and a few chances to go wrong around Arnos Vale, Colloden and Moriah. The roads are not too bad really but you will get holdups and the lack of signs does not make your life easy. If you have the car for the day you can get right round the Island if you don't stay too long at in any one place.

One thing I don't know if it's happened to any one else but last time on the Island we had petrol problems and a few of the stations in the sticks did not have fuel, if we had started on a full tank that would have been ok but the car I picked up only had 1/4 of a tank full and I didn't fill up at Crown Point and ended up running on fumes befor we found a garage to put a few gallons in.

On the "Fruit in the boot" issue I was told that bananas can help if you get blisters, don't know it its true.

Regards
Kevin

Jane H · Post by **Jane H** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 9:41 pm

Steve - thanks for pointing out my dyslexic finger problem!! I must be in need of a holiday!

Paul - thanks for resisting the temptation to gloat too much!

Cornelia - maybe the roads don't seem too bad if you are used to driving on the right/correct side of the road. i.e.on the left. Anyway - they provide an interesting challenge, especially in the north, as you say.

Jane

Phil P · Post by **Phil P** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 1:11 pm

Take your time and you will have no problems on any of the main roads. The pot holes are nasty if you spot them too late, so don't be afraid to slow and steer round them. Check out the locals and if you get the chance to follow someone, do so at a discrete distance - they will show you the hazards.

There has been some subsidence on the road from Roxborough to Speyside which makes for an interesting journey, but they are well posted in advance and if our Nissan saloon managed to negotiate through then anything should.

Be aware that there are some pretty large earth moving trucks operating around Castara and Englishman's Bay and those guys love the gas pedal.
Keep your eyes and ears open

Phil

Joanne Green · Post by **Joanne Green** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:30 pm

When you consider the amount of damage 13" of rain in November in a 24hr. period did to the roads in the north, it's a miracle that they've been able to clear them all. It's really tricky, though. Because of all the blind curves, you really have to be watchful--especially for us Yanks who are driving on the "wrong" side of the road!! You come around a curve, only to find that you suddenly have only half a road. The other half has washed down the hillside! Most of the bamboo railings have been replaced by slightly more substantial wooden barriers painted yellow and black. Much more noticeable, but no greater protection than the bamboo rails!!