Beez Neez now Chy Whella - To Hillsborough

To Hillsborough

Beez Neez now Chy Whella

Big Bear and Pepe Millard

Tue 30 Jun 2009 22:44

En Route to Hillsborough

We knew if we didn't leave Admiralty Bay, Bequia today we would have to stay for about eight more days. The yacht tom-tom was full of "los, troughs, tropical depression, big swells and ten foot waves". Many American yachts came in to nestle in tight. We jumped up on Tuesday 30th June, anchor up and we were off by seven. Within an hour or so two catamarans and a yacht had followed on, it seems no-one wanted to go first as usual.

At the end of the peninsular I took these pictures, just to the right of the big hump is a unique place. It is not until you get a closer look that you see a tiny hamlet built into the rock itself.

Moon Hole

Sadly during our stay in Bequia there were no tours to this enchanting place, so I have used one of the advertisemants I found on the net to give a taste of the place. Tom Johnston was an archtect.

The concept: Evolution. The villa "Generation Gap", like the other 19 houses on the Southern peninsula of Bequia known as Moon Hole has been created as a piece of art, a live-in sculpture in harmony with the surrounding Caribbean nature. The trees that were growing here and the rocks that have been here and will always be here were not forcibly removed by manmade machines. Instead, the houses grew and adapted themselves to their surroundings so that each developed a personality of its own. Building materials are stone, exotic woods, whalebones and flotsam treasures.

The caretakers of Generation Gap are Jim and Sheena Johnston. Jim is the son of the visionary and creator of this whole project, Tom Johnston. Jim and Sheena will be perfectly happy to help you arrange any requirements you have during your stay. The whole peninsula is private property so you can make your stay as reclusive as you want.

Accommodation: Generation Gap, your villa, is near the beach, has a living/dining and bar area, a spacious kitchen, three large bedrooms with two king size beds and one queen. Each bedroom has its own full bathroom and patio.

Amenities: You'll have daily maid service; laundry, cooking and supplies can be arranged through Jim and Sheena. There is no electricity at the whole of the peninsula, the stove works on propane gas and lighting is romantic kerosene lamps. (So don't bring your electrical appliances!). From $1200 a week.

The lounge, views and one of the bedrooms

Another bedroom, a sitting room and patio

Another day, must be another flag, this time of Grenada, Skipper doing his hoisting as Carriacou comes into view

We sailed past Union Island

Next season we may spend a couple of days. Great names here include to northern tip, Blood Point. The natural harbour is Chatham Bay and the southern point is called Miss Irene Point.

En route time to read up about the island of Carriacou. Lying just north of Grenada it is a useful stop off to clear in and fill in the health declarartion that we are not carrying Swine Flu. Time for a game of Upword. I was put off my stroke, not just because of my letters, but catching a small barracuda that we released as I don't like their smell.

It turned into a cracking sail and we rounded the last bend into clear sight of Jack a Dan Rock doing 7.2 knots

We anchored close to the big jetty and spent the afternoon watching the action. Beez with Jack a Dan behind her.

A walk to the top of the hill and there below is Hillsborough the biggest town on the island. The island has a population of about 5000 a few descended from Glaswegians the rest from Africans. The islanders are a proud and independent people and are known as the friendliest in the Caribbean. Kayryouacou was the islands original name - Carib for - Land of Reefs. Just north lies Petit Martinique, home to about a 1000 and is said to be per capita the wealthiest of all the Caribbean islands. Neither of the islands have any rivers so all drinking water is "collected from the sky".

Our first night in as predicted a tropical storm hit. The first photograph may look a little fuzzy and not a terribly good picture until I say it was taken at 03:10 and the picture to the right was our actual view ( the yacht next to us show his mast head light - the tiny white dot ) the heavens lit up to the point of giving us arc-eye. The thunder and lightening rolled into one and was solid for an hour or so. The rains actually ironed out the surface of the water. Looks like we are here for a few days.

The next day dawned glorious, sunny and hot so we went off to explore Windward (own blog). The following day the storm clouds started to gather once more and Friday the 3rd of July we had it most of the day, winds gusting at thirty four knots enough to pick Baby Beez up in the air like a child's balloon. We battened down and every time there was a break in the weather heads appeared like Meercats out of the yachts around us checking, retying and hoping.

Today is Saturday the 4th, Independence Day. We wish Lesley and Nick a wonderful day today as they tie the knot, Congratulations to you both. We are going to stick our noses out to see if we can chance going to St Georges, Grenada.

ALL IN ALL AN INTERESTING FEW DAYS