David McQuerry
BeachDreamR
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