Day 1 5/2
Flight from Houston to Belize quite uneventful actually good, got first class. Arrived with friend from Colorado and her "gang" of 5 others. Quite an eclectic group. Two women 60 & 58 supposedly world travelers, a male co-worker 56 and two cute young "dudes" 29 & 33 or 34? They were going to Caves Branch for 4 days of jungle adventure & I was venturing off on my own with Sue who works at Caves Branch. Caves Branch van picks us up at the airport and on the drive to the jungle stopping at Cheers Bar for our first drink we cover the two topics you should NEVER discuss in a group especially with ones you do not know Religion & Politics!! Arrive at Caves Branch and let me tell you if you want to see Ian really happy, bring Shipley's chocolate filled donuts! He was in heaven and especially since his honey wasn't there. Dinner at Caves Branch (always good) then off to Sue's for the night. Unseasonably hot in the jungle, they already had temps over 100 degrees, no electricity, no AC.

Day 2
Up early for breakfast at Caves Branch before going to visit Sue's friend Candy in Placencia. Candy has electricity, no AC but fans and on the beach. However the trip is 3 hours the last 20 miles being 1hour due to the dirt, gravel, washboard roads in a small pickup truck. The original plan was to spend Sat. night with Candy, drive back to Sue's for Sun. night, then drive to Belize City on Monday to fly to Ambergris. Luckily Sue decided on the ride down that we could stay an extra night with Candy and fly from Placencia to San Pedro. YES! Arrived at Candy's, she's great, glad I got to meet her & will go back.

Day 3
Spent the day "chillin" in Placencia. Went to -forgot the name of the bar, lots of local, horseshoe competition, etc. The women ruled!Nice dinner at another place I forgot the name of. DUH! It's hell to get old.

Day 4
Sue & I explored the village of Placencia, went to Soul Shine to see Barnaby who used to work at Caves Branch, went for a dip in the pool, hot. Back to Candy's for a swim in the sea and dinner.

Day 5
Sue & I flew from Placencia to Belize City by way of Dangriga,Municipal to International to San Pedro. Lot's of local flying arriving 2 hours later. Checked in with Lori at Changes In Latitude and then off to enjoy the island. Found out the wind in Placencia was worse in San Pedro. We had planned on parasailing but were told no way as we would probably end up in the lagoon due to the winds. First drink in San Pedro at Fido's. Then walking the beach when Sue ran into friends yelling "Mama Sue, You B----!" Of course we stopped to visit and have a few. After several!, we headed back to our rooms to shower & dress for dinner. Went to El Divino for O Jackie's birthday bash, met her, B_B_F_B, Gela and re-met up with Pedro who we had seen earlier in the day at BC's. Lot's more message board people whom I did not meet. Sue being someone who has lived in Belize 30 years knows lots of people. We actually walked the beach from Changes in Latitude and walked back stopping at Crazy Canucks to hear the Punta Boys on the way back. I'm lazy & had I realized how far it was would have taken a taxi. Next time.

Day 4
Wind, Wind, Wind, hung out for the morning at the Belize Yacht Club pool. They don't care, only ones there & it is next door to where we were staying. Rachel & her "eclectic gang" arrive from Caves Branch along with another friend from Houston to dive. Sue must go back to work & leaves shortly after their arrival. Tried to go to Jambel's for dinner, closed, ended up at Shark's Bar, ok, nothing to write home about, then drinks & Barefoot at Fido's.

Day 6
Supposed to go on the Offshore Express II for two nights but way too much wind and sea! Did take the 8 of us for a test dive/snorkel to test skills & equipment at Mexico Rocks. Can't even go there to explain my true feelings. Just leave it at this, I was supposed to be the only snorkeler who had never dived and could have probably dived better than some that were diving!

Day 7
Up at 5Am, on the Belize Yacht Club Pier at 6am to take the ONLY boat going out that day. 30+ knot winds and 10-15+ foot seas. What a ride, thank God we had Clive at the wheel!!! Rockin & Rollin to Bob Seger with he & Norma (his sister) making the sign of the cross when we went out & came back in from the deep blue rockin & rollin seas. Friend Rachel learned to do a pole dance (360 degree spins off the front of the boat) and broke her toe! The young "dudes" and her friend Lisa could not stop laughing over something that came damn near to her losing her life! I''ve finished over half of the trip but much more to come, however must go to bed now will finish tomorrow.

Too Cool,
Keep it coming!!
Rick

Day 7 Continued
I forgot to say that we did have dinner day 6 at Jambel's YUM, YUM, YUM!! Went for ice cream after and home for an early night before getting on the boat day 7. We took the long way out going south, staying inside the reef until English Caye? Went to Turneffe & Lighthouse Reef first. The rest of the group did 2 dives along the way. Guess you could call it that! As one described it it was a "cluster F---" under the water, arms & legs moving non stop. Glad I wasn't diving. Tried to snorkel off the back of the boat. Ha! Ha! Like a cork bobbing up & down, shark bait. Decided just to float on the life ring which took me from side to side of the boat and up & down. Dinner was great, baked chicken, some ate half a chicken! Oh yeah, does the shower have hot water? Yeah right!

Day 8
Already told Clive I am NOT a morning person & please don't wake me before 9am, he said he would bring me coffee in bed. Rachel led him astray & he brought coffee with cream at 8 or before. Told him I wanted it black which arrived a few minutes later. The group did dives that day. We also saw other boats that day including one from Amigos del Mar who radioed and asked how we got there so early as they had a rough ride out. We informed them we had come the day before. That night we spent the night at Half Moon Caye and had BBQ Chicken. Lots of Booby's, Frigates and Hermit Crabs but did not see any of the 7' or otherwise iguana's. Woke during the night (potty call) and the winds were unbelievable! Had really bad feelings about making it back.

Day 9
Woke up to major winds and waves, Clive not sure we would be able to make it back to San Pedro. He asked Norma if we had enough food to stay an extra day & she said yes. Headed to the Blue Hole, rockin & a rollin again (literraly), more signs of the cross when we made it out & in. Real comforting. Arrived at the Blue Hole, only boat there, I'm determined I am going to snorkel as I have not been able to the entire trip & this is supposed to be the greatest place (which I have not done before because when we tried 2 years ago the boat never made it outside the reef due to engine problems, that boat later sank) We are there, 4 of the group are diving and the other 3 have decided to snorkel with me. YEA! HA! There are hundreds, thousand, billions of

Oops don't know what I did wrong but lost it, must continue now with day 9 (I think) hundreds, thousands, billions of THIMBLE JELLYFISH everywhere. Will I or will I not, I haven't paid all this money just to ride on a boat & eat so yes I will. Miss Massive Allergic Person is going to swim with all those jellyfish thimble or otherwise. Not going to miss this opportunity. Saturated myself with sunscreen prentending they are Pica Pica in my 2 piece bathing suit I jump in. This is an important piece of information because the other 3 used to be divers are now fully dressed in long pants, long sleeve blouses, and/or wet suits, socks, etc. to SNORKEL!!!! Fortunately they bailed out and went back to the boat & Speedy aka Drury snorkeled the rim with me jellyfish and all from the south side to the north before being picked up by the boat. It was fantastic and I'm sure even much more so without all the wind & jellyfish which interferred with the visiblilty and wanted to wash you into the reef. After the Blue Hole the "dudes" caught a Baracuda. One of the sisters kept insisting someone step on his tail so he would quit squirming around. I had enough at this point and told her if she wanted someone to step on his tail she should do so. She did! Then she asked if we were going to throw him back, yea sure with a spear through him. Of course we said no he is lunch. Sorry but I can't go any farther tonight. I get too worked up. More tomorrow!

Well, reading your own post the next day after having more to drink than you thought while posting shows you should not try to type and post after too many drinks. Way too many spelling and gramatical errors. Guess that means I will not finish my trip report tonight either. It really does not matter if I finish it or not since no one seems to read, comment or care. Mainly just needed to get it out of my system and have it recorded for posterity. I really did have a good time even though I did not thoroughly enjoy some of the group.. I always have a good time & enjoy myself as my motto is "Live each day as if it were your last because you never know when it might be" Always have fun, no matter what. Life is way too short to sweat the small stuff. Have buried or creamated two husbands at ages 29 & 39, way too young! Later!

Windjammer, enjoyed your report very much, but did not want to post and interrupt the flow.

You wrote some fun stuff....come on back and give the whole report.

Thanks Chloe, will you be at the Texas Partee? Just feeling very I'm not sure what tonight. Manage a high rise condo (20yrs. now) and spent hours drinking with one of my residents who is 84 and just lost her husband who was 92. He only left her millions and she's bitching about the obituary costing $300+. I wish I had such problems. It was kinda the same with some of the group I ended up with, they were bitchy over little crappy things. I just wanted to say "

OOPS hit the wrong button again, Just wanted to say, GET A LIFE!

Windjammer, so true, get a life, and live then.

We always love a trip report, Windjammer, keep going. Thanks for sharing with us.

Day 9 continued
This was a fairly long day, we left Half Moon Caye, went to the Blue Hole, caught the Barracuda, had him for lunch, yum and made it safely back to San Pedro. The two ladies (sisters} and Rick decided to leave on Sunday with Lisa instead of staying until Tuesday with me, Rachel & the "dudes" as scheduled & ticketed. Lori had promised to be rested and ready to go out with us on Sat. when we returned but did'nt. Lisa, Rachel & I had dinner at Michael's, overpriced and not that good, then went to Fido's. The dude's and Rocky, from the boat, joined us. After Fido's closed we went to the Jaguar Temple & danced the night away. Went home 2-3ish and the dudes went to Big Daddy's.

Day 10
Finally got my day of rest, slept until 11, got up in time to say good-bye to half of the group, then off to BBQ lunch at BC's with friends Ana & Eric and his sister Natalie. Fed bones to Charlie on the beach. The "dudes" rented a golf cart for the day and we agreed to pay for the ferry & drinks if they would take us to the Palapa. Tulu had come to visit(unfortunately due to the weather we had not been able to go out with him as usual) and he went with us in the golf cart. He said it was the first time he had been there via a golf cart. Brian, one of the "dudes" named me Miss Daisy. So---They were driving "Miss Daisy" that day. I am old enough to be his mother. The cart died as we reached the Palapa and we had to call for a replacement. After several drinks we left and went back to our home away from home, Changes in Latitude. Rachel & I had a wonderful dinner at Blue Water Grill. We wandered around town & shopped a little after.

Day 11
Weather still not co-operating so we decided to take the water taxi to Caye Caulker for the day. Lucked out & missed the 11:30 boat and got our own private boat over. A fishing boat picking up a charter in Belize City dropped us off. Had lunch at Rasta Pasta (great Conch Fritters) and Rachel shopped. It was very hot & I had to find a cool place to rest. Only mosquito bites I got were there. Regular water taxi back, oh what a difference. Dinner at El Patio, Tropical Chicken is great. Then back to Changes to get Lori who has promised to go out. Off to Crazy Canucks to hear the Punta Boys. We are told there are gang members from Belize City present to retaliate over a previous incident and find out the next morning I was dancing with one of them! Figures!

Day 11
Final shopping and have to leave, Boo, Hoo,it's never easy or fun. Board Maya Island Air at 2:30 for our 3:55 flight to Houston where I get off & am home but Rachel & the "dudes" have to continue to Denver. Luck out again with 1st class seat 1A. Captain announces we have 2hr. 10 min flying time to Houston. Salad is served and Captain announces we have a mechanical problem that will not allow us to fly over the Gulf of Mexico and we will be landing in Merida, Mx. Long story short, we were on the plane, on the tarmac for over 5 hours, parts arrived on another plane from Houston, installed, checked, not guaranteed, transferred to the other plane on the tarmac that brought the parts and quickly take off because the flight crew will soon be illegal to fly. Home safe a sound hours late for me but everyone else who had connecting flights obviously missed and were put up over night & sent home the next day. Customs had to stay late to meet our plane & from what I saw just sent everyone through, they wanted to go home also. All & all a great trip, how can Belize not be great. Yes the weather was not perfect and some of the group don't need or probably want to go back. Belize is NOT for everyone and I think Rachel has learned she cannot be the official "tour director" and just needs to go with those of us who know how to have fun and appreciate what there is to offer. Can't wait to get back! Wish it was tomorrow.

windbagger-

a thoroughly entertaining and informative read...
an absolute pleasure. thanks a million for
writing it.

your attitude restoreth my faith in humanity.
yes! there are people like us left (except i'd
have taken the coffee with cream and sugar - and
maybe even a shot of bailey's or kahlua).

i'm thinking about trying jambel's for dinner
a week from sunday (i've never been there)
could you elaborate on "yum, yum, yum"??

sincerely yers,

-elpolvo

Thanks for sharing your vacation with us. It's a very good post.

Life is all about learning, a continous
lesson.

Windjammer, if you were able to talk Lorie into going out and she actually did, WOW! Everytime I've been down, she says she's going to go out with us, but something always comes up & well, you know! I've snorkeled around the Blue Hole 3 times (always with the Formans) and it is some of the best I've ever seen (plus a little scarey when you look the direction of the 'hole' and see how dark it gets- woo-woo). Speedy is always good about going out with any of the snorkelers (did he ever tell you about the day he met the coconut tree???)and it sounds like you had some fun experiences. Hope to see you at the partee on 6/7?

Thanks for taking the time and effort to share. I enjoyed!

I LOVED your report!!!! See ya at the PARTEE!!! C

Hey Windjammer I really enjoyed your report as well!!! Looks like we are in the same kinda work too. I think what we need to keep busy (lol and :rolleyes: ) is if we ask captjeff to have satellite offices within our homes to promote his business.
Then we can go off to Belize every few months and he can retire there.
See you at the Texas Partee!

Chloe, NYGal, Seashell, and Fry69(were you born in 69 or did you graduate from somewhere then? I both graduated & had a child in 1969 so we could be the same age or you could be the same as my son), thanks for reading & all the positive thoughts. Elpovo-You got it right I probably should change my name from Windjammer to WINDBAGGER! As for Jambel's - Coconut Curry Shrimp/Chicken, Jerk Pork/Chicken it's all YUM! YUM! YUM! Have a great time on your trip. Rickcheri, Govikes & Denverdan, can't wait to meet you at the Partee. It will be fun. Hope, don't sweat turning 40, the 40's are pretty good years, 50's ain't so bad either. See ya at Papa's. Anyone arriving on Friday night & if so what are your plans? Maybe we could start the partee early.
Becky

Big OOPS & apologies, apologies, apologies! Cheri not Hope Happy, Happy, Birthday. Everything I said is true except it Sucks to get Old & confused! Senior Moments! Realized my mistake as soon as I hit the add reply button, does that count?
Becky

denverdan,sounds good to me ,,,the capt,would love to move to san pedro ,then I could invite all the board folks ,to come down to vist ???? what a lucky guy I would be, to have so many nice people around each week """""""""