Trekking To Bathsheba - A Journey Across Barbados

Bathsheba, the name evokes images of a mysticalevery weekend, surfers can be seen practicing their
place and in Barbados it is a special place. Bathshebamaneuvers on the waves while spectators lounge on
on the east coast of Barbados has dramatic beautythe beach.
with wide sand beaches on a rugged coast withSurfing is not the only activity that takes place at
striking rock formations. As beautiful as Bathsheba is,Bathsheba, indeed the invigorating salt air combined
the journey to this quaint seaside village is equallywith the rock formations encourages you to explore
enchanting.the beach and the surrounding village. The constant
Driving to Bathsheba from Bridgetown takes onebreezes are ideal for kite flying while the trails off the
across Barbados going from the south coast to thebeach lead you among the rocks and to cliff tops
east coast. Going to Bathsheba can be described as athat provide dramatic views. Along the beach are
trek as the narrow roads, old style woodengrassy areas that are perfect for picnics and
arrow-shaped signposts and striking beauty of theweekend camping and are fully used by locals. The
countryside force you to reduce your speed andwooden houses surrounding the beach seem to fit
soak in the visual sights. It is a drive along narrowperfectly into and enhance the environment,
roads through small villages and towns, many ofencouraging you to wander through the village.
whom are set in the midst of sugarcane fields. In aScattered throughout are restaurants and bars able
sense this drive exposes you to the "true Barbados",to refresh a parched throat or provide a meal for a
away from the frenetic pace of city life and theweary traveler. As you explore further you
blandishments of commercial tourism. It is a driveencounter Andromeda Gardens at one end of the
through villages where people stop to say goodvillage. Nestled on a cliff overlooking the east coast,
morning or wave to a passing stranger. It is a driveAndromeda Botanic Gardens is run by the Barbados
through areas where people sit outside village bars orNational Trust. It is spread over six acres of carefully
superettes and exchange the latest news. To a lostlandscaped grounds that are lavishly coloured with
stranger, people willingly give directions and may evenblooms, orchids, exotics and shrubs. At the other end
offer to ride part of the way. A trip to this mysticalof the village is the neighborhood known as
place carries you past churches that by their veryCattlewash. Here are found weekend vacation
design speak of many years of ministering to acottages sitting on a wide beach backed by dramatic
spiritual flock. If you stop and wander the grounds ofcliffs and surrounded by vegetation that has been
these churches a sense of peace seems topermanently shaped by the wind.
immediately envelope you.The waters at Bathsheba encourage you to enter
Barbados is often thought of as a flat island but theand swim. There are shallow pools carved out of the
drive across makes you realize that there areinshore coral reef that are just a few feet from the
significant hills which create striking contrasts. As youshore. These pools are several feet deep and you
proceed the vegetation changes, in some partscan sit in them while the sea rolls in and swirls around
assuming a tropical rainforest appearance. The mostyou. Despite the free movement exhibited by the
striking contrast however is the immediate entrancesurfers, care should be exercised if swimming in
to Bathsheba. The road climbs a hill and at the base isBathsheba. Swimming should only be done if in the
Bathsheba clustered around a bay with striking rockcompany of someone who knows the area well as
formations. Depending however on the time of yearthere are dangerous rip tides and strong undertows.
or time of day, at the brink of the hill you are metIf you ever visit Barbados, take the trek to
with a fog reminiscent of European cities. This fog isBathsheba and invigorate your spirit with both the
created by droplets driven by the wind from thedrive and the magic of the place.
tops of the long Atlantic rollers.Summary
These same rollers crossing the Atlantic from AfricaBathsheba, the name evokes images of a mystical
to crash on the Barbados shore create idealplace and in Barbados it is a special place. Bathsheba
conditions for surfing. And so it is to Bathsheba thaton the east coast of Barbados has dramatic beauty
local and international surfers flock. While there arewith wide sand beaches on a rugged coast with
many locations in Barbados for surfing, Bathshebastriking rock formations. As beautiful as Bathsheba is,
takes pride of place with the famed "Soup Bowl".the journey to this quaint seaside village is equally
Named after the foamy surf, this is the site of manyenchanting.
local and international surfing competitions. On almost