(if you've been following along, i added some pics to the previous posts above. thx.)

Tuesday, and I go out for my pre-dawn jaunt solo. Just as well, as the sunrise was a bit obscured by clouds this morning. It is still beautiful, and I watch.

http://www.pbase.com/sweetjane/image/103225238

I stroll leisurely down the dock, and feel a drop; then another. I walk a bit faster�then faster� then RUN. I got sopping wet just going from Ramon's to my condo next door. Then as quickly as the rain came; it stopped. I mused to myself that it'd be funny if the trip got postponed for a third time

Everyone was up and getting ready. It was a lotion-and-bug-spray day. For those unfamiliar, the Lamanai trip is a whole day event from the island into the mainland jungle, involving two boats and a bus to get there and back. Much farther than altun ha. We tossed our backpacks together, slugged down the last of the coffee, and were on the dock at 6:55 AM, ready for adventure.

Daniel and Josh pulled up to the dock right on time, smiles in place. "Are you guys ready?" teases Josh, but we are. He does not know that we are Amateur Mayan Ruin Tacklers Extraordinaire�the Intrepid Wests! LOL (if you know me, you know I am the least intrepid person on earth). This is the third Mayan site for the boys and the sixth for Bruce and me, and we are as charged up as we get before 8 AM.

We pull up at Sunbreeze to pick up the party of 16 grad students that comprised the rest of the group. No one was on the dock. They were not ready�not even close. And they acted like they didn't care. Still not ready, we hop off for a smoke. Still not ready. They took at least 20 minutes to trickle by 2's onto the boat, all bearing styrofoam containers of breakfast and coffee cups, complaining about partying too much last night. Daniel was not pleased. He mumbled to us about how Styrofoam affect the environment, and how we needed to be on time to get our connections. It seemed like an hour until they were finally all seated. Daniel reminded them he brought homemade banana bread & fresh squeezed juice so they had not needed to bring food, and by doing that, we are now quite behind schedule. He was very polite, but we knew he was really annoyed. He asked them all to please not let the containers blow off the boat, and when they are done please pass them back for proper disposal.

Daniel officially welcomes them and introduces us to them as 'our visiting friends' (smile), gives a little talk, and we're off. Then the rain starts. We pass around ponchos and get pelted for a few minutes till it stops. The sun breaks out and I look around. Sure enough, a moment later I see the rainbow.

http://www.pbase.com/sweetjane/image/103277046

I point it out to everyone, and the whole boat relaxes. Now we're ready!

Daniel is one with his boat, and it is pleasure to watch him maneuver it. This is clearly a man who enjoys what he does. We fly past islets to the river's mouth and through the mangroves.

http://www.pbase.com/sweetjane/image/103277054

He points out interesting plants and birds, and stops on a dime to show us a crocodile. We even "see" a group (herd?) of manatees! ok, we couldn't actually see them, but we saw their movement, bubbles, and 2 snouts. They were only yards away from us, but the water of the river is very dark with black mangrove.

http://www.pbase.com/sweetjane/image/103225105

Then Daniel shifts gears, and we rocket forward. Josh had been messing around, dad knew it. Josh looses his footing, then steadying himself, yells "Hey!". His dad looks at him and cracks up, then we all do. Daniel steers like a racecar driver thru the channel at top speed, wake streaming behind us. Steve dubs him "The Ricky Bobby of San Pedro."

http://www.pbase.com/sweetjane/image/103276401