Cruising from Rio Dulce to the Atolls of Belize!

 

Port and starboard bow decorations (hood ornaments) as we woke in Livingston, where you check in and out of Guatemala, getting ready to cruise to Belize!

 

The gorge on the Rio Dulce.

 

Buying fresh lobster from Herman, so guess what we had for dinner?

 

Gotta take it easy every now and then!

 

Lighthouse Reef, Belize:

 

We spent a couple of days at Half Moon Caye which is located in the southeast corner of Lighthouse Reef Atoll, the outermost of the Belize's 3 coral atolls and about 50 miles southeast of Belize City.  The other reefs are Turneffe and Glover's.  The 45-acre Caye is divided into 2 distinct areas: the dense guano-rich Ziricote forest and the "paradise island" coconut palm beach.  It's sandy white beaches are where the turtles come up to nest.

Half Moon Caye supports the only booby breeding colony in Belize.  An estimated 4,000 booby birds (Sula Sula) nest beside their pirating neighbors, the Magnificent Frigate birds.  There is an observation tower allowing you to overlook the nesting area for both breeds.  Below, the red-footed booby (sorry, but she wouldn't let us see her feet!).

The male frigate's expand their throats displaying what resembles a huge red balloon.  They then tap their beaks on the "balloon" creating an interesting vibrating sound.  That's their mating call.  Works if you're attracted to large red balloons.  

 

 

Path to the observation tower.

 

Diving was on the agenda.  The coral reefs here are very healthy and colorful.  The schools of fish encircling you is like floating in an aquarium.  This video was taken at @ 50 feet down.

 

 

We are now back in Roatan.  Arrived a week ago Thursday.  It's is a comfort to be here as we know how to get around the area and where all the shopping is including our favorite markets, Eldons and Bulk Gourmet.  Alot of cruisers we met earlier this year are back, so the social scene has been full tilt!  Doing a lot of diving with friends Elly and Wayne.  www.zeppelindiveandsail.com.  She's also my yoga instructor.  Bob Anderson spent a few days with us prior to him joining his cruise ship, Royal Caribbean, The Mariner. It was a HOOT!   I even got some cooking lessons!   Paddy and I are looking forward to a visit from Jan and Charlie Lyons who will be here for the holidays!  Stocking up on champagne!!!

 

I'm behind on updating my blog, so if I'm really out of sorts...............early holiday wishes to all.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

HAVE A COOL YULE AND A FRANTIC FIRST!

xox - Queenie and Paddy

 

TIKAL

 

TEMPLE OF THE JAGUAR

 

While we were having the bottom painted on Le Chat Beaute', we decided to take a 4 hour "white knuckle" bus ride to Santa Elena/Flores to tour Tikal, one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization.  Tikal National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.  This ancient Mayan city has evidence of construction back to the 4th century BC, peaking in 200 - 900 AD.  There was no water source available for the 45,000 Mayans that lived there, so they constructed an interesting "pond" configuration allowing them to collect water and survive from the natural rainfall.  The Mayans are known as the ancient "architects", creating massive temples and pyramids.  The difference between the two is a temple can only be accessed from one side, as a pyramid can be accessed by all four sides.  This site was not discovered until the mid 1800's and numerous buildings have been excavated, but some only the top portion because of all the undergrowth.  It has been determined that the Mayans imported @ 131 tons of salt each year - but from where?  It is believed that the population for this area which covers @ 225 sq. miles, reached a maximum of 120,000.  (that's 30,000 more then the Ben Hill Griffin stadium holds!)

 

Grand Temple

Imagine this area completely cleared.........no wonder it's taking time to expose all the buildings/remnants.

 

It's fascinating to walk around an ancient city that's thousands of years old.  How did they do it?

We joined a group to ride from Santa Elena to Tikal.  And fortunately we were the only ones that spoke English so we had a guide, Manuel Banos, all to ourselves.  Alot of information was passed along that day including the medicinal usage of the plants and a discussion on the ancient methods of food preparation.

 

Courtyard at the hotel, Santa Elena

 

This road/sidewalk went straight up!  City of Flores

 

 



Work, Work, Work

 

Since our return to the Rio Dulce, we have been working hard to complete the chores, installations, repairs, and projects we had on our list.  Yeah - !  We're done!  Some of new additions are a new ICOM 802 single side band radio, wifi BULLET booster, new wench covers, and dinghy cover.

 

Paddy fine tuning the opening for the hatch installations.

 

 

 

 

Yours truly.........very thankful for my 9th grade Home Ec class to finally use my sewing skills.  I was behind the sewing machine for @ a week  - that's tough on the ole back!

 

 Of course we  have to have something pretty to look at.  Bought these roses at the Saturday market for 15 quatzales = @ $2 USD.  Oh yeah.  Cheap, huh?

 

 Just to give you an idea of other costs here, we bought these veggies, plus garlic, avocadoes, potatoes, bananas and a papaya for less than $4.00 USD.  Needless to you say, it is necessary to eat your fresh foods within a day or 2 because they just don't last and our refrigerator is only big enough for the BEER!  Priorities, priorities! 

Took a break last week to visit the Finca Parasio waterfalls.  At the top of the falls, there is a pool of HOT water, so when the water flows down it is still quite hot!  The contrast of the hot and cold water "swim" was very refreshing.  The most interesting part of the day was the round trip "collectivo" ride.  Remember that old joke about how many elephants can you get in a Volkswagen?  Well, you can get at least 28 adults and children in a mini van.  Did you know that?  We were very thankful that the temperature that day was somewhat pleasant, otherwise we would have suffocated!  "Hold on while we go around the corner at @ 45 mph!"  Oh, and there was a guy on the roof holding down the luggage and sacks of produce the locals were taking back to their villages."

Finca Parasio

 

Le Chat Beaute' was hauled last Thursday for a bottom job - that actually means getting the bottom painted, not a butt lift!  It was amazing watching this huge piece of machinery simply lift 10 tons and roll down the road to place the boat into it's temp home for the next few days.

Boards and jack stands are placed under the hull to secure it as it is now "on the hard".  For all you landlubbers, that means "out of the water".  The bottom is then pressure washed to remove the yuck and make it nice and clean for that coat of fresh paint.  The guys are also going to wax and polish the hull and topside.  Paddy says it's just too hot and he's too old to be doing that himself.  Amen!

Here's the new motor cover I made, and Paddy made the gas tank cover.  I applied a manatee applique (thanks for the design Karen!) and the dinghy has been appropriately renamed the

 "Little Manatee Mari".

 

The boat is scheduled to be done and ready to go back in the water this week.  Our next big chore is purchasing provisions as we will be leaving the river this week and heading for the atolls off Belize to go diving! 

 

We visited the ruins of the ancient city of Tikal.  Photos to follow.

 

 

Summer is over, but it's STILL hot in Guat!

We are back in Guatemala on the LeChat Beaute.  Had a great time this summer visiting with family and friends.

 

Video of El Tortugal Marina, Guatemala - is it working?

Sunken Garden in Butchart Gardens, Vancouver Island  

This is a Monkey Puzzle tree!

 

Water feature in the Japanese Garden

 

 Lee, the beekeeper all dressed in his protective gear

 so he can smoke them out!



Dinner at Mickey's with Faye

Crackers Restaurant in Crystal River with Mom and Kerry

 

Jill smooching the Blues Brothers and Suzanne's next!

Rudy and Suzanne on the new Victory! 

 

The gang at Sleepy Hollow's, Floral City

With Mom and Paddy at the Olive Garden

Jill, Ray, and Karen

Duck sighting on the way to the showers

Hand painted showers

And this is the walk to the showers

Early morning on the Rio Dulce

Le Chat Beaute'

 

Paddy's had a long list of "to do's" that he has been chipping away at!  Today he installed the 2 new hatches for the hard top, fixed the windlass (that actually took 3 days - 2 to find the problem and one day to fix it), and had the dinghy measured for a new cover!  Trust me - as you know, a boat is a hole in the water into which you pour money - along with blood, sweat and tears.  Lots of sweat down here.  Playing International Trivia tomorrow night, then off to the waterfalls on Friday.

 

Thanks to all my friends who kept me busy this summer - will miss you! 

 

 

 



Red Hottie

2,471 miles on the Red Hottie!

 

 

Gotta drink, just can't decide which one so I'll try them ALL.......................

Rogue Brewery, Astoria, Oregon

 

Paddy and I spent 4 weeks traveling through the Northwest on the Harley.  What a GREAT experience with fabulous vistas, weather, and wonderful loving friends! 

 

Coast of Washington - note all the beached logs.

 

 

The Beverly Hillbillies all loaded down and ready for the big adventure!

(Ladies - that's 4 weeks of clothes in those bags, oh, and 1 pair of undies!!!)

 

 

Crossing the Cascades Mountains on our way to Mazama, Washington

 

Kite boarding on the Columbia River in Hood River, Oregon

 

The largest known Spruce tree is located in the Olympic National Forest, WA. 

191 feet tall with a circumference of 58 feet - I look like a troll!

Nairns Falls - the water melting from the glaciers is truly that beautiful shade of aqua color!

Coast of Oregon

 

OMG!  We're eating again....... Mo's famous clam chowder in Lincoln City, OR. 

 No wonder I'm (we're) dieting AGAIN!!! :)

 

Visited Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC (BC stands for BRING CASH!!!)

What a charming city - it is the capital of British Columbia.

 

Spent 5 very relaxing days on Lake Chelan on the east side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington.  Unlike the green forests of the west side, this area is considered high desert.

Apple orchards and vineyards are thriving here.  It's difficult touring wineries while on a motorcycle.

 

 

 Frazier River, British Columbia

 

Dining on the slopes of Whistler ski resort, BC, Canada

 

and dinner was butternut squash ravioli.......yummy! 

 

Everyone has a garden with a full pallette of color.  This photo doesn't do the flowers justice. 

In May 1981 Mt . St. Helens in Washington erupted.  The gaping hole is the 1/3 of the top that turned into over 20 feet of dirt, debris and ash. You can see where the ice melt has troughed through the ash.  This is a view from the Johnson Ridge Observatory, named after the seismologist whose last words were "Vancouver, Vancouver.......this is it!"  Frightening.

 

A variety of tomatoes from Becky's garden.

 

Captain Paddy digging for potatoes!

 

Mt. Hood, Oregon 

 

Happy hour with Paddy, Aimee and Barney.  They look happy, don't they??? 

 

And, I'm proud and delighted to have gone the 2,471 miles on the Red Hottie!  Thanks to my new "Throne", I had a great time cruising and discovering this part of the country and Canada with Paddy. 

 Maybe next year I'll be driving my own hottie!