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BeachDreamR - David McQuerry

David McQuerry Every man comes to a point in his life where he craves an adventure. Some climb Everest, or make a cross country journey, or sail around the world. For me my "Island Adventure" begins July 29th when I travel to the island of Bequia for 24 days.

The first question out of everyone's mouth when they here about my adventure is: "Why Bequia and where is it?"
Bequia (pronounced Beck-way) is located in the far southern part of the Caribbean almost to Venezuela. It's part of the island state of St Vincent and the Grenadines which is an independent part of the British Commonwealth. The island known as "The big little island" is only seven square miles with a resident population of just under 5,000. It's a long skinny "Z" shape about 2 miles accross at its widest and only 1/4 mile wide at its narrowest. It's the northern most and largest of the Grenadine chain and a popular anchorage for sail boats and motor yachts year round.

English is the official language and the currency is $EC (Eastern Caribben dollar). $1US = $2.60EC. So that means the "dollar bus" that runs by my apartment costs only about $.38 to ride almost anywhere on the island. August is hurricane season in the Caribbean, but Bequia is far enough south to be missed by most of the harsh weather. Average temp. for August is 86 degrees and the ave. rainfall is about 8 inches.

The question of "Why Bequia?" is a harder one to answer. When the dream of this trip was first hatched over a year ago, Bequia was one of the first islands I turned to. Having been an avid reader of "Caribbean Travel and Life" magazine for 10 years now, I was looking for a spot off the beaten path. One not visited by major cruise ships or international flights. After looking at everyplace from Costa Rica to Belize to Bahama's out-islands to Grenada, I finally narrowed it down to two locations-St Croix, USVI and Bequia. St Croix had an edge on ease of getting to, but what made Bequia so appealing was its remote location and intimate homey vibe. To learn more about Bequia visit: www.bequiatourism.com

So, for 22 days Bequia will be my island home. I hope you'll check in daily to see photos and read my journal as I live out my island adventure.

Bequia's calling,
David

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Joined on: May 19th 2008
Last Login: November 27th 2009

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Blogs & Travel Journals

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I'll miss you sweet Bequia. Sweet, sweet Bequia, My Caribbean island home. I'll miss the blue of your seas, And the green of your hills, The white of the sails of your ships at anchor. The rainbow of colored houses that dot your land. And the red of your ever-present mimosa trees. I'll miss you sweet Bequia. Sweet, sweet Bequia, My Caribbean island home. I'll miss the sound of your waves Crashing onto Friendship beach, And their gentle lapping onto your bronze sands of Lower Bay. The winding motors of the "dollar buses" As they speed up and down your steep [View Full Entry]

BeachDreamR - David McQuerry | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
290 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 7 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 22nd 2008 | 104 Views | [diary=314377]

welcoming people
green hillsides
island beauty

Greetings from Bequia, This morning I ran barefoot in the packed sand and surf on Friendship beach. I paced the beach off and judging by my time its a half mile from end to end. So back and forth and back and forth a few times and I had in four miles. Then I just fall in the water to cool down. It doesn't get much better than this. Mid morning we get some much needed rain. Admiralty bay is glassy slick while the rain falls down. After about an hour, the rain has stopped but its still cloudy and breezy. [View Full Entry]

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343 Words | 1 Comment(s) | 4 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 20th 2008 | 96 Views | [diary=314231]

Alethea, Auntie Pearl, & Kim
the Almond Tree
Cocoa

Spring Bay
Spring Bay
Voted "Most photogenic"
Mornin' mornin' Today begins my last three days in Bequia. I plan on spending them re-visiting some of my favorite spots and just sitting in the shade and soaking it all in. I started the morning with a 45 minute swim. I hope from my time that it was about a mile and a quarter. There are some kind of sea birds diving in the water just about 10 yards away. They are trying to catch some fish, but none of them comes up with the prize. Then after answering some emails and writing the blog I am off on another [View Full Entry]

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345 Words | 1 Comment(s) | 8 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 19th 2008 | 114 Views | [diary=313912]

the "road" less traveled
vivid colors
Spring Bay

Greetings from Beautiful Bequia, I'm sorry I missed a day. I'll try to catch you up today. Saturday, Aug. 16: I'm having mixed emotions. I'm missing home, but am sad to think that may days here in paradise are numbered. I miss my family and friends and my "real" life back home, but as soon as I leave I know I'll be missing my Bequia home. This afternoon there was a wedding reception for a local couple at De Reef down at Low Bay. All the turistas cleared the beach in front of the restaurant and sat back and smiled at [View Full Entry]

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1350 Words | 3 Comment(s) | 8 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 18th 2008 | 118 Views | [diary=313589]

Captain Lewis
the "party girl" recovers
the wind in our sails

Mornin' Mornin' That's a traditional Bequia greeting. The people here are so freindly. I've really enjoyed the hours I've spent just walking up and down the roads and smiling and waving to the islanders. You know some places in the world one might be alarmed if you were confronted by a young man carrying a machete. But here on Bequia its a common tool. Everywhere I walk I see the long blades use for everything from eating utensil to lawn mower. Just an opening thought to get your day started. Day 18....Today I walked up a road called Cinnamon Garden. I [View Full Entry]

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352 Words | 3 Comment(s) | 8 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 16th 2008 | 133 Views | [diary=312806]

Neighboring Islands
wonderful view
Its all about the view

Greetings from Beautiful Bequia Today was pretty uneventful. Just another day in paradise. I don't know if I had mentioned it to everyone, but Tuesday evening I couldn't find my cell phone. The last time I remembered seeing it was at 4:00pm. Marcia had tried to call me Monday night, but couldn't get through and now she wouldn't be able to contact me Tuesday night so I was afraid she was going into panic mode. Wednesday morning I was scheduled to leave at 8:00am on the Mustique trip, but I had them hold the boat for me while I checked with [View Full Entry]

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414 Words | 4 Comment(s) | 8 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 15th 2008 | 83 Views | [diary=312442]

St Hiliary Point
Carved heads
totum fence post

Good morning from beautiful Bequia. I know what you are thinking "day 16"? Yes, that's right. I've been informed that I had two day 11's. So recounting makes this day 16. I have to admit the days are beginning to run together. Everyday in paradise makes it hard to find something new to report. Today I get to go back on the "Friendship Rose". This time to Mustique. Mustique is the home of the super rich and famous. People like Mick Jagger and Tommy Hilfiger have their vacation homes there. On board today are three other people from Sunday's sail. Before [View Full Entry]

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656 Words | 1 Comment(s) | 10 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 14th 2008 | 98 Views | [diary=312132]

world famous Basil's
"the Village"
"Modest Mustique Home"

Monday afternoon I asked Allen, who is the villa rental boss and runs the Friendship Rose, if there was anything I could do to work my way toward passage to Mustique on their Wednesday day sail. Were there any decks to be scrubbed or hull that needed to be repainted or any maitanence for the ship that no-one else wanted to do? He thought for a minute and asked, "what can you do"? I told him I could do about anything if I set my mind to it and had a spot of training. He asked if I was a diver. [View Full Entry]

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931 Words | 2 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 12th 2008 | 87 Views | [diary=311379]


Today I'm going on the day-long snorkel trip to the Tobago Cays know here just as "the cays" (pronounced Keys). We'll be sailing on "The Friendship", a 100 foot sailing schooner built right here in Bequia. On board for the day is a variety of nationalities. We have French, Canadian, Swedish, Italian, British, and even another American. His name is James and he's a medical student on his way to Grenada for the coming semester. Sixteen adults and 5 kids. Just enough to be entertaining-not so much as to be annoying. We board the ship at 7:am and are welcomed with [View Full Entry]

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704 Words | 2 Comment(s) | 9 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 11th 2008 | 97 Views | [diary=310949]

moonhole homes
sails unfurled
Tobago Cays

Hello from beautiful Bequia, I'm sorry I missed a day so I will be sending out two entries today. This morning on my way over to the harbor I'm joined in my walk by one of the neighborhood dogs. There are hundreds of dogs here on the island and they all look like they have the same grandparents. I think they need some new blood in the gene pool. He follows me all the way across the island which is over 2 miles. When we reach the Gingerbread he lays under one of the tables and I get the idea this [View Full Entry]

BeachDreamR - David McQuerry | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
525 Words | 2 Comment(s) | 8 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: August 11th 2008 | 72 Views | [diary=310909]

sail making shop
beautiful model boats
A craftman's shop



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