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#18262 05/30/04 10:42 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 717
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Thursday, May 13.
Our trip started out on a bad note due to the Houston weather that kept us on the runway for nearly 8 hours before arriving in BC at 10:20 PM!
We had also gotten the bad news a couple days prior to departure that Japs' boat had developed a rudder problem preventing us from going on that adventure as well.
So after the first nite at the Raddison we took the water taxi to CC and arranged for the "Raggamuffin Tours" trip to Placencia. The weather kept us from that one too until the following Wednesday! So we did the natural thing and polished the barstools at the Lazy Lizard,Oceanside,and Rasta Pasta for those few days with a side trip to AC for the Sat. nite performance by Dennis Wolf at Coconuts. Good to see Margie again. Got to meet Marilyn there too.
For those of you that may not be familiar with the Raggamuffin operation it is similar to Japs
But the boats are larger, 37 & 42 foot as opposed to 23 ft ,if i remember correctly. And, they sail the opposite direction, but on the reef as well. We made 2 overnite camping stops at a small coral sand spit just south of English caye and east of The Bluefield Range group, and Tobacco Caye. They provide the camping gear including foam matresses. I think someone else provided the rain storms at nite!
The first nite we were visited by a group of college kids who were on a Marine Biology research trip. They nite snorkeled with the hand held chemical lite strips, that was beautiful as they lit up the emerald sea in the dark!
There were 12 passengers and 3 crew. My friend and i were the only folks trom the U.S.. There were 4 from Switzerland, 2 from Denmark,1 girl from France, 1 guy from Toronto, and 2 from Ontario Canada. All good folks i might add, even that they were considerably younger than me and my buddy! Actually except for the Captian, we were the old timers at 60+! that didn't seem to bother anyone though,I know it didn't me.
Needless to say, we weren't very far from the dock at CC when we looked at each other wondering if we needed to check the expiration dates on our Boy Scout ID's for this trip!
The boat is an open cockpit best suited for probably 8 comfortably, maybe 10 max. But plenty of space to hang around the sides and bow areas.The boat had a porta-potty that was not enclosed, but was made somewhat private with a tarp, sorta! I think this was more of a problem for the ladies.
There were facilities the second nite at TC.Also a Bar! But not to worry in the booze dept , they kept plenty of Rum punch flowing the whole time.
They fed us well too.Plenty of cevechi(sp?) and fish.
Numerous snorkeling stops along the way.

I consider that trip the highlite of my vacation, especially considering that i had no idea what i was in for!
We flew back the next day to BC with stops at Muni, Caye Chappel, then to SP.Plenty of good sight seeing on that trip for sure.
We had 2 days of hanging out there before heading back home.

eek

#18263 05/31/04 06:00 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,251
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The highlights are always what we remember the most. What a delightful way of enjoying your vacation, doing the unknown.
It's too bad about sitting on that runway that long frown

The Raddison is a great place. The area is so lovely.

Thanks for sharing Richard smile

#18264 05/31/04 01:14 PM
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,281
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It's often the unexpected things and last minute changes of plans that make the best memories! Thanks for sharing.

#18265 09/12/04 05:37 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 717
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*

#18266 09/12/04 06:17 PM
Joined: Jul 2000
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Thanks for the info, this trip sounds like a must do for me and my family.


Reality..What a concept!
#18267 09/13/04 08:47 AM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 705
K
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K
RC: Did anyone fish? If not could it be done? THANKS


Flyfishing my way through mid-life crisis.
#18268 09/13/04 10:08 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 717
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We didn't fish but you could bring your own gear
and do so if you wished. The had some pretty basic stuff they used. Mostly they,the crew,spearfished for out meals.We ate fresh Sevichi(sp?) often with Conch,lobster,and snapper and grouper! We stopped often at small islands to snorkle which provided opportunities to fish.
You can email them and ask questions.

#18269 09/13/04 01:58 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 284
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Richard, know about that rain you ran into. lol We arrived in AC on May 11th & there was rain during the nights of Wed. & Thur. then the rain set in for Fri. - Sun. Cancelled our snorkeling plans on Sat. but went out on Mon. even though it was a bit overcast, the water a little cool and a little squall caught us on the ride back to SP. We "polished" a few barstools as well as the chairs on the villa porch...in between downpours! lol More fun to be in paradise with rain than home with rain... wink

Thanks for the report...can you tell us a bit about Palencia? Look forward to seeing it in the future. cool

#18270 09/14/04 08:48 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 717
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Placencia.............,
Well we only spent 1 nite there at the Cozy Corner, which had a good bar and the restaurant food was very good. The place was nice and reasonable @ $50us/nite with AC and bath.The folks from the boat met with the crew at the Tipsy Tuna next door for going away drinks,hugs,and handshakes that nite.
My first visit to Placencia was in June 2000, pre Iris, and it was a totally different place then. It is much more populated now and buildings everywhere. Most of the larger vegetation went with the storm, large trees and stuff. They even paved the street from the airport to town! We drove there then and that was an adventure in itself.In fact we drove over the entire country for a week before going to SP.
I hope someone that has spent some time there lately can give you a better input.
It's not San Pedro though, that's for sure, much more laid back.
While there i talked to a fellow who recalled a Cashew tree that we ate fruit from in 2000 that was easy 100 years old that the storm took away.
Things are always changing in Belize. Every time i visit favorite places are gone or changed big time! :p

#18271 09/14/04 09:01 AM
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,157
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Jimmy and Charlie own Raggamuffin Tours. THeir website address is www.raggamuffintours.com and email is [email protected]
--Lee


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