Bequia

March 23rd...early...

We had a few restful days in Admiralty Bay, Bequia...there was no internet on the boat and the internet in town was painfully slow as well. After being spoiled in Dominica...it was a difficult adjustment...moving the boat five times...to get the best signal and then still not being able to get any more than 11Mbps anyway. P&J sailed in on Friday morning...it was great to catch back up with them. Saturday we went to see a turtle sanctuary on the other side of the island...it is managed by one man who use to be a diver and has now retired to helping preserve the turtles. There were the green turtles and the hawksbill turtles. Of course I was taking pictures...and more pictures...and then a few more pictures! He was explaining how the island has gotten poorer in natural resources...the fishermen have "fished out" the resources and whaling is still allowed. The very reason so many have moved here and tourtist's come here is for the beautiful underwater experience..the "nature" experience. It seems the locals by their many years of overuse...abuse... have brought the island to a turning point. It is a nice small island...they have a wonderful bakery with FRESH baked rolls...the market is open every day except Sunday...of course everything in the market is brought over from St Vincent (a wet island) so everything is more expensive too! There is really not much else on this island noteworthy except for warm weather, it's dry, and it's views. After the turtle sanctuary the driver took us up to the Old Fort up on a hill.This was one of the two "watchdogs" at the home. There was suppose to be a free movie...but the movie did not show up. The owner of the place allowed us to walk about his home and rental grounds, beautiful place... with spectacular views of Petite St Vincent... and way in the background Mayreau and Union. Sunday P,J, and I went snorkeling over at moon hole...the rock homes that use to be lived in...pretty much now abandoned...perhaps one or two are being lived it. Where we snorkeled there was one staghorn coral...some brain coral...almost all of the soft corals were broken and gone from long ago...a variety of fish...but not in abundance...or very large...all very small fish species. No one was up for diving so I couldn't check "below" the visual...which was probably 30 feet or so...

So, we are headed out this morning with P&J to Mayreau...to the Tobago Cays...and then to Union. Hopefully some snorkeling in the Tobago Cays as it is a Nature Park...and diving, perhaps around Mayreau and Union. We probably won't have internet again until we reach Carricou...about a week!