Another Day in Bequia

We head the beach for swimming and kayaking.  Our ship's tender drops us off on the pier, next to the wharf where the ferries travel frequently back and forth to Kingstown, St. Vincent, about 16km (10 miles) away.  We again follow the Belmont Walkway around the harbor to Princess Margaret Beach.

 Ferries loading up

 Back on Princess Margaret Beach

Today, after a hour-long swim up and down the beach, we decide to kayak.

 Out on kayaks

But, we're really waiting for lunch so that we can try the famous lobster pizza at Mac's, around the corner to the middle of the Belmont Walkway.

 Turn right at the sign and head up to Mac's Pizzaria

There are only a few tables on the patio where the pizza is served, but the view is fabulous.

 View from our table at Mac's

Yes, they have other pizzas, but the specialty is lobster pizza and we have to have it!

Lobster pizza

We waddle back to the pier, hop on the last tender to the ship, and return to Barbados to end another great journey.  We do, however, bring back two slices for the Captain, who had told us the day before that he had never tried lobster pizza.

 Rough winter seas

 After a brief squall, a double rainbow

We're off to the next island!

A Brief Stay in Bequia

We spend two beach days in Bequia (pronounced Beck-way), the second largest island in the Grenadines (7 square miles (18 sq km), with around 5,000 people).  We arrive in the afternoon, anchor in Admiralty Bay, one of the most protected natural harbors in the Caribbean, and head ashore into the Port Elizabeth waterfront.  The main street along the waterfront has a few vendors and restaurants, with a focus on pizza (more on that later).

Walking down the main street in Port Elizabeth

Taxi and bread/croissant/pizza delivery to your boat

And, what is main street without a few goats!

We're heading to Princess Margaret Beach, a 500-yard stretch of smooth, soft, white sand with great swimming, a small restaurant, and, in the middle, a vendor selling beer and soft drinks.  The path to the beach is a charming 10-15 minute walk along the harbor on the Belmont Walkway.

Belmont walkway

The walkway wanders past shops, houses, hotels, and across another beach before heading over the hill.

Along the waterfront and across the beach

 Up the hill and back down

Around the corner and there we are

Along the way, we pass the Bequia Coast Guard.

 Coast Guard

And, as we cross over the hill we get great views of Admiralty Bay.

 Admiralty Bay

Then, we arrive at Princess Margaret Beach and head into the water for some swimming and kayaking.

Princess Margaret beach

We swim, have a Hairoun beer (brewed on St. Vincent) or two each, and settle in for the rest of the day.

Tobago Cays in the Southern Grenadines

We stop for a day in the Tobago Cays in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for snorkeling, beach wandering, and a day of leisure in a tropical paradise.  Our ship anchors just outside the Tobago Cays Marine Park, near Petit Rameau island.  The Park is a 50 sq. km (19 sq. mile), sand-bottom lagoon surrounded by a series of beaches and uninhabited islands.  We are here to explore the coral reefs, but will also keep our eyes open for sea turtles who nest in the park.

Snorkeling!

We transfer from our sailing cruise ship, the Wind Star, to the Sky Flirt, an 85-foot catamaran, to get over to the reefs that hold great fish sightings for us.

Transfer by small raft to the Sky Flirt

Sky Flirt waiting for us to come on board

Sky Flirt is operated by Wind and Sea, located in Bougainvilla on Union Island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.  Union Island is about 200 km (125 miles) west of Barbados and directly north of Grenada.

We sail around the island and anchor near the reef.

 Coral reefs from above

In one stretch where the current is strong, the Sky Flirt drops us off on one side of the beach, we snorkel over, cross the beach, and snorkel the other side back to the Sky Flirt, which has moved.

The beach is quiet before we get there

Minions crossing

Snorkeling back to the boat after crossing

As we all waddle across the beach in the mask, fins, snorkels, and yellow vests, some poor woman who previously had the beach to herself for topless sunbathing looks aghast as the minions waddle across with our snorkels, goggles, and fins and head back into the water on the other side.

And, as we get back on the Sky Flirt, we spot a turtle.

Turtle!

The crew then treats us to rum punch, while the captain raises the sails and does a loop around the islands, before heading back to our ship.

 Serving rum punch while the Captain sails

Captain sails, crew checks email (modern times)

The islands in this area are all beautiful, although most boats seem to anchor at the reef where we were snorkeling

 Beautiful, uninhabited, islands and beaches

Boats at anchor near the Tobago Cays Marine Park and reef

 Even a small storm passes by as we sail.

 We sail between more beautiful islands

Storm passing

But, now it is time to return to the mother ship and end another great day and a new adventure.

 Coming back to the Wind Star