from a friend...
just got back from Burrell Boom where I watched the ending of the third stage of what has become a very popular tradition. Exciting finish between Belize Bank and Fruta Bomba. Fruta Bomba, whose paddlers were last year Boomers and do hail from Boom, edged them out by a half a dorey's length. I understand that Belize Bank still leads by about 9 seconds. Not much at all and tomorrow's final stage should be quite interesting.
For the first time, the Police Department has a team and as of today, they are sixth in their category and 33 overall. That is out of a total of 93 boats that started the race.
Heard a few rumors as to why the Police lost time with one being that somebody hollered that some prisoners had escaped and they jumped out of the dorey and went after them.
Another rumor is that someone played the national anthem and upon jumping to attention, the dorey capsized.
Fact of the matter is that we are in it and I have been trying to get a team in there for the past six years. We're not doing badly, all things considered, and hopefully, next year we will be better prepared to take home the garland.
Boom was jumping with a sizable crowd and a wonderful spirit was in the air. Had a plate of hickity and some rice and beans and a serving of potato pound for desert. Yeah, that's living.
This is a three day weekend in Belize and tomorrow is the real holiday. The race culminates at the Belcan Bridge and the finish should be a dandy.
This event has really grown and gets huge fan support as well as much money pumped in from the business sector.
The river by the way, is a lovely pea green and was quite inviting. While I did take my trunks the place had way too many people for a private guy like me to enjoy a good swim.
Many folks don't like river-swimming and they complain of dangerous under-currents. I love a fresh water dip and do believe that the reason folks get in trouble is because they panic.
When I had the boat I used to cruise out to the deep blue or the shallow behind St. George's Caye and take a saltine dip after which I would cruise up the Haulover Creek into the Belize River and freshen up behind the airport area.
Many mango trees in that area and during the mango season, the experience is topped off with a variety of juice dripping delicious ripe ones.