1/02/2011
Darci was finally reprieved from the JetBlue phone lines and rescheduling chaos of JFK during a blizzard and rejoined her floating home in the tropics on New Year’s Eve.
We quickly headed off to the island of Bequia, first of the Grenadines and white sand beaches. Diving was a priority as the water was clear and a small dive shop available.
Not as clear as we had anticipated, it still felt good to blow bubbles together again in warm water.
The island of Bequia is only twelve miles long and has a perfectly protected harbor for yachts. Most head directly here when entering the country, bypassing the more traditional St. Vincent altogether.
Restaurants, guest houses, and white sand beaches make it a tourist destination and polar opposite from the mainland of St. Vincent five miles away.
Bequia also boasts the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary on the remote windward side.
Run by Brother King, they take endangered eggs from nests on the beach and raise greenback and hawksbill turtles until they are old enough to be returned to the wild.
Ranging in age from a few days to fifteen years, the turtles are then released as they are now old enough to breed.
There were a few old timers in the twenty-five year range as well, now mascots and no longer able to be set free.
The sanctuary is a great place for promoting environmental conservation and education for locals and tourists alike, and the stunning views are well worth the short walk from town.
Only protected in the marine reserve further south in the Tobago Cays, turtles who return to Bequia to lay their eggs are in constant danger from poachers, man and animal.
What do you feed captive turtles....? Starkist and Bumblebee!
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