Way North road etc. - 08/17/16 09:17 PM
Beach Report: Hurricane Earl changed the beach front of Ambergris Caye again - mostly destructive but one good thing did come of it - we once again have wide sandy beaches. On my trip north we were amazed at how wide and beautiful the sand is. The trash that has littered our beaches for years was washed w-a-y inland. There was also a lot of erosion and uprooted coconut palms. (Pictures to follow.)
ANOTHER GRAND ADVENTURE:
Yesterday I took 3 men, 3 chain saws, 2 machetes and a cooler full of food to the far north; that being the northern tip of Ambergris Caye. My 1 � acre lot is about half way between Robles Point and Rocky Point. The Mesoamerican Reef almost touches Robles Point; boats can go no further without going outside the reef. However a boat can be beached and the walk around is easy. (that is not what we did)
The Mexican border is about 2 miles further north. The reef actually does touch at Rocky Point so this stretch of island has a protected beach and bay that is very shallow. Fishermen can walk to the reef. There are round holes about 3' deep in the sand here and there where the Sting Rays have feasted on the discarded remains of conch and created spa like sitting areas. The water is very warm - over 82°.
The road north of the bridge is paved for several miles, then smooth hardcore except for a stretch around Journeys End. At mile 7 � there is a sign to El Norte resort; turn right and drive to the beach. If you don't you quickly come to an abrupt end of good road and find what the only path we had was once. Beware of Mosquitoes and Doctor Flies!
In May my Canadian friend, Chris and I measured off from a known point to 800'; what should be my lot. Later that month my caretaker started cutting a cart path into the property. Two of my guest spent that day on the beach and never saw another person between the two points.
Needless to say this is very primal literal forest. The trees are between 20 and 30 feet tall mostly Palmetto palms. The bark is hairy and when cut to 10 feet and harvested for what is called 'bush poles.' These are used when constructing cement houses. As they grow taller they lose the hair and look like utility poles or bamboo. Their wood is very hard therefore rot resistant.
The guys went to work and cut the most creative cart path imaginable; it just meanders from the road to the sea taking the path of least resistance. I asked them to not cut the logs shorter than 10' as I have a wild idea of how to use them.
The beach front has about a dozen full grown Coconut Palm trees with many smaller ones sprouted. We pulled the dead fronds that literally blocked the view of the sea and cleared an area large enough for us to enjoy our lunch. One guy snorkeled out to the reef and said when he looked back there stood 3 really large palms in one bunch that made him say 'Tres Cocos', which is the name of the area where we all live right now.
There was a section of very large Chechen (aka: Poison Wood) trees. The sap of these trees will cause skin to blister much like poison oak or poison ivy. The treatment for this is the bark from a Gumbo-Limbo tree and one is usually growing near by the Chechen. Nature is wonderful.
On the way back we rescued some long bamboo poles that I sorely needed. There was lots of washed up sea fans, conch shells, sponges, corals and buoys. We collected only a few. Ready to go back!
I don't have a good camera, just used my tablet. I am editing the pictures now and will post tonight with descriptions.
ANOTHER GRAND ADVENTURE:
Yesterday I took 3 men, 3 chain saws, 2 machetes and a cooler full of food to the far north; that being the northern tip of Ambergris Caye. My 1 � acre lot is about half way between Robles Point and Rocky Point. The Mesoamerican Reef almost touches Robles Point; boats can go no further without going outside the reef. However a boat can be beached and the walk around is easy. (that is not what we did)
The Mexican border is about 2 miles further north. The reef actually does touch at Rocky Point so this stretch of island has a protected beach and bay that is very shallow. Fishermen can walk to the reef. There are round holes about 3' deep in the sand here and there where the Sting Rays have feasted on the discarded remains of conch and created spa like sitting areas. The water is very warm - over 82°.
The road north of the bridge is paved for several miles, then smooth hardcore except for a stretch around Journeys End. At mile 7 � there is a sign to El Norte resort; turn right and drive to the beach. If you don't you quickly come to an abrupt end of good road and find what the only path we had was once. Beware of Mosquitoes and Doctor Flies!
In May my Canadian friend, Chris and I measured off from a known point to 800'; what should be my lot. Later that month my caretaker started cutting a cart path into the property. Two of my guest spent that day on the beach and never saw another person between the two points.
Needless to say this is very primal literal forest. The trees are between 20 and 30 feet tall mostly Palmetto palms. The bark is hairy and when cut to 10 feet and harvested for what is called 'bush poles.' These are used when constructing cement houses. As they grow taller they lose the hair and look like utility poles or bamboo. Their wood is very hard therefore rot resistant.
The guys went to work and cut the most creative cart path imaginable; it just meanders from the road to the sea taking the path of least resistance. I asked them to not cut the logs shorter than 10' as I have a wild idea of how to use them.
The beach front has about a dozen full grown Coconut Palm trees with many smaller ones sprouted. We pulled the dead fronds that literally blocked the view of the sea and cleared an area large enough for us to enjoy our lunch. One guy snorkeled out to the reef and said when he looked back there stood 3 really large palms in one bunch that made him say 'Tres Cocos', which is the name of the area where we all live right now.
There was a section of very large Chechen (aka: Poison Wood) trees. The sap of these trees will cause skin to blister much like poison oak or poison ivy. The treatment for this is the bark from a Gumbo-Limbo tree and one is usually growing near by the Chechen. Nature is wonderful.
On the way back we rescued some long bamboo poles that I sorely needed. There was lots of washed up sea fans, conch shells, sponges, corals and buoys. We collected only a few. Ready to go back!
I don't have a good camera, just used my tablet. I am editing the pictures now and will post tonight with descriptions.