Tire fixed equals mission complete next goal, make it to Placencia and catch the boat to Honduras. I was so excited to leave Belize and get back to what I would call a more traditional culture and cheaper food.
We rode and we rode and the map lied to us. The road twisted and turned and then we would stop take a break and it was as if we were going nowhere and then we saw it. White sand, blue water and huge private houses on the beach mixed with open lots for sale. That meant prime camping territory in our minds and we confirmed we would find a place to camp maybe even in an empty building once all the workers leave. Kevin told me it would allow us to be off the ground and we could hide behind a wall and have a perfect sunrise view. I was sold. Nothing new we searched for food and asked a guy who was walking his dog, maybe we didn’t listen to his suggestion but we found a hotel with a beach front view and decent prices to share some seafood and use their bathrooms, wifi, and get more information. We asked about the boats and they confirmed a boat leaves ONCE A WEEK IN FRIDAYS AT 9:00. It was Friday at 12:50. Pardon my language, shit, we didn’t want to stay in this fancy place and spend money on food for a week just to pay to catch a boat to Honduras. Why did we not look it up before and thus we ordered a coffee to share called our families and did a little research for a new plan, take a boat across to Independence.
That night we camped on th beach on the side of a private houses where a lot was for sale. Some old I believe American lady asked us what we were doing when we first arrived to take a swim and we polietly stretched the truth that we just needed to shower and rinse off while watching the sunset. At this point when she left we sat down and made dinner with a discussion as such (somewhat and shortened)
- CJ: what a bitch she is going to come back and kick us out
- Kevin: if she has nothing better to do then yes but I feel comfortable here let’s wait it out and not put the tent up till dark
- CJ: I go ask those people on the dock if we can camp at their house. I would feel better
- Kevin: you have to follow your heart and if asking makes you more comfortable than do it
- CJ: do you feel good camping her
- Kevin: yes I think it will be fine and if not they wake us we get up move 500 meters down the beach and camp again
- CJ: ok we try it
The wind thrashed through the tent it was chilly and then it went calm. All night I woke up every hour and not for thrbususly I hear noise reason. I had to pee and was too lazy to get out of the tent at night to go so I held it and slept on my side for comfort because laying on my back made the feeling worse and I just wanted to make it till 5am. At 4:55 I gave up got the flashlight found a tree and went pee and the feeling of relief filled me with gratitude. Another beautiful night camping with a cloudy sunrise which made for beautiful photos while we drank coffee and grabbed our things to head to the road to pack so the old lady couldn’t tell at us as she walked her dog in the morning. I told Kevin he was right, last night when he said she wouldn’t walk alone in the dark that’s when we knew we were safe till sunrise. Off to the pier we went to take the boat across thus cutting out the 25 miles from the main road to Placencia which twist and turns and start heading south again. Easy right? No, because we didn’t take the 6:45 boat the only one which takes bike we needed to hire a private charter to get across the bay. A 10 minute boat ride for $30 USD….no way. So we stalked the dock. We asked your guides to drop us on the other side and then came Jeff who stealthily said I will take you guys just give me a minute because they all get mad if I take you because I’m not a tour guide. He said he had been stuck in a foreign country before and has a boat and could drop us off quickly. Another American also Jeff wanted to shake our hands in the mere fact we had made it this far on one speed bikes with our gear just strapped on
We grabbed our heavy bikes and on the boat I stepped and boom crash I slipped, still holding my bike I fell overboard, trip ruined the universe was telling me to just pay and not illegally cross the bay. Just kidding I did slip but stayed in the boat and put the bike down and waited for Kevin to get in with his bike which had to hold the entire ride over and I got to sit on the front of the boat and just enjoy the views. I didn’t get a picture of Jeff helping us sadly although it is a good story from both sides he wished us well and we got on our bikes and headed to Punta Gorda to try and catch a boat to Guatemala. Maybe we should have just given up on taking a boat, because as we biked further south it began to rain and rain hard. We passed a guy on his bike and rode a few miles with him asking questions about his job on a banana farm and how he ride his bike 1 hour each way to and from work. He lived near by and said camping is possible there and then we stopped to drink water and waved goodbye. At this point I wanted to push through and ride to punta Gorda get a hotel and chill for a night after a long wet and hot day. Kevin alternatively was ready to be done and then came golden stream nature preserve we rode up and took shelter under their house/office and asked if we could camp. We layed out our clothes to dry, used the compostable toilet, and made some food. The last of the food we had until Punta Gorda or a street vendor. I dominated in Yahtzee that evening, read my book, wrote some of the blog to catch up slightly, checked on my brother and went to bed, only to wake up to the sunrise because we didn’t hear the alarm. The howling monkeys and other birds sang me a bedtime song and it was beautiful to wake up rested and ready for a workout.
BrokeonBike 