Anegada - One flat island

August 1st was Festival Week on the island. Its a 3 day Stat Holiday in the BVI, where the BVI celebrates its emancipation. Its absolutely crazy - all the people come out, there is a rise and shine parade every morning at 4:30am, and the parties go on into the early morning. Its very colorful and exciting, but also very noisy and unpredictable. Some photos of the festival: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=194625&id=164902712399

We opted for the quieter scenes. Upon sunrise, we took the earliest 1 1/2 hour (22 miles away) ferry to Anegada. The remoteness of Anegada is what makes it so attractive. There is only approximately 250 permanent resident living on the island! The island is protected by the 18 miles long Horseshoe reef which is the fourth largest reef in the world. Because of the reefs, sailing a boat to the island is nearly impossible unless your an expert. There are hundreds of shipwrecks around Anegada - a divers dream.

Because Ben was away at training with KPMG in the Cayman Islands, I was responsible for all the planning involved in the trip. Late one night, I did some research on the internet and mastered the best trip to Anegada - go to the French Deli, pick up some fancy cheeses and meats, pack a bottle of wine, and some towels in a backpack. When we get to the island, take a taxi to Town, rent two bicycles from the 'convenience store', and bike over the the bakery to pick up some breads and journey across the island to all the beaches. Sounds like a good day right? That's what I originally thought! Working against me were the following:

A) the scorching heat!

B) the fact that it was festival week and absolutely everything was closed

C) the island is 10 miles long and 2 miles wide, with undeveloped sandy roads.

The morning of our trip, without Ben's knowledge, I made a swiftly change in plans - scrap the bicycles, and rent an air conditioned car instead! Best move I have ever made!

We started to sail the ferry away from Tortola, and as we went deeper into the blue ocean, the Captains crew asked everyone outside to come and sit in the interior cabin. Sooner than I could say the word "wave!" we were gawking through the windows of the boat at the overflowing ocean that was reminiscent of the deadliest catch TV show.

We arrived to the island with a few other local, and some other tourists. Ben asks me where we are going, unsure myself, I calmly told him that for now we are following the tourists in front of us to see what they are doing - hahaha. I called the car rental place, no answer. I called the bicycle rental place, no answer. I called the bakery, no answer. oh crap! Did I pick the right day!

As we walked away from the ferry dock, we came across a couple of remote variety stores advertising bicycle and car rentals! Yay! NOT! They were closed! This is where I learned to always call in advance.

In desperation, we turned into the Anegada Reef Hotel, showed up to front desk and asked the lady if she could help arrange a car rental for us. As a convenience to hotel guests, the hotel provides car rentals! We forked over $75, and were given keys to a white suv parked outside that the lady pointed to through the window. No inspections for damage, no check to see how much gas is in the car, hand made linoleum floor matts, beer cans dangling in the back seat - yup this was definitely a Caribbean rental car. Ben had to literally sit on the clutch to get the car started!

We are ready to go! First stop - I dont know - the roads are not marked.

This decorative pole, along with the cow in front, lead us to believe that we were at Cow Wreck Beach.

If it were up to me, this decorative driftwood would be making it back to our living room as decoration.

Our next stop was Loblolly Beach

The choice is yours...

Camping fort on the beach. The stairs were completely damaged to the top. Determined to see the views from the top, Ben convinced me to give him a boost to the first level.

View from the top was worth the scrapes Ben received coming down from the fort

Looks like oil spill? Turns out to be a school of fish.

In the center of the island are salt ponds which are homes to seagulls, iguanas and pink flamingos.

The closest resemblance to a dual lane highway. Unlike the rest of the islands, Anegada is completely flat. Dirt roads + random pools of water + neglected rental car = an entertaining doom buggy relay!

True to its words - Anegada was heaven on earth.