We rose fairly early today because we are excited to get on the road if for no other reason than we hope it will help dry off our gear. We have existed for more than 48 hours now in the jungle with almost constant rain soaking us down. It has been an incredible time but we need to get on the road because we have Belize on our mind for today. It should be about a 200 mile trip with a border crossing included.
Our breakfast was very good and we have been extraordinarily happy with our stay at the Tikal Jungle Lodge. It is a little more spartan than I would want long term with its generator shut-offs, screaming monkeys at night and impossible sat connections but it was a great experience overall staying at the foothills of the Tikal ruins.
Joe, of course, was packed up long before me and headed towards the bike in a slight sprinkle. I was trying to catch up back in the room and in my rush, I almost didn’t notice the hitchhiker I was about to fold up with the rest of my clothing. Stuck in the seam was a little half-dollar sized scorpion which may have been the little brother of the two big guys we saw at dinner our first night. Initially, I jumped just a little at the feeling that where there is one, there must be more and I worried about them crawling all over me. Once I verified I wasn’t covered in little beasts I sought to swipe this little guy out of my bag, buckled up and made my way to the bike with a smile on my face. I was ready to get the hell out of the jungle and headed toward the beach.
We cleared the mist of the jungle and got back onto roads surrounded by scrolling greenery. There were huge fields of what appeared to be sugar cane which made it feel like driving through Iowa when the corn is at its highest. The winding roads were fun and the weather was warm enough to dry us off nicely. We rolled into the border crossing still feeling great from the days perfect ride.
The entry into Belize was a bit of a culture shock as it feels like a continuation of Guatemala based on the environment but all of a sudden everyone is speaking English. If you aren’t paying attention there is a moment where you might think you are finally getting your Spanish down because you can finally understand everything being said to you. Don’t worry, you haven’t flown through a time warp where you are bilingual you have just made it to the former British Commonwealth of Belize. The lines are fairly intuitive as we started with the first little booth right inside the door and made our way to customs at the back of the building. The only thing that was different for us than the rest was our quick trip outside to get the bikes checked in before we could get our final stamp of approval. All in all, this was a very simple border crossing. When we pulled through we immediately headed to a cluster of huts just beyond the border to the right where we could purchase insurance.
We headed into the first building to feel the pleasantly cool air conditioning in a small room with two desks facing the door. The woman to our right extended her hand, introduced herself and asked if we were looking for insurance. We sat down and she was quick about getting us both through with 3 days worth of insurance for the bikes. She was extremely nice and asked us about our trip so far. It was nice to finally feel like we could talk to someone and again I lamented my lack of Spanish as I wasn’t having these types of interactions in other places. Before we walked out I asked if I could put a sticker on the front of her desk where other voyages were displayed. I can’t tell you how much I love the sticker and logo created for Be Gone For Good. It just makes me proud even if I am not exactly living up to the promise of “good” during my trip.
We carried forward and entered into what felt like paradise. The towns we passed through felt like every Caribbean country I had been to before. Color and life seemed to be spilling out of every corner of my vision. I was on the intercom with Joe and I remarked how startling it was to see someone out jogging all of a sudden when for days prior no one was out running on the street. The attention we received coming into this country was far different than Mexico or Guatemala where only children would wave to us. It was definitely a bit of a difference but for the first time, I felt like we were getting close to where we were headed. I think it was because Belize felt more like what I expected from Roatan. I can’t believe I am on this trip.
The other difference which is really great is the speed bumps of Mexico and Guatemala are gone, replaced by speed tables which make for perfect ramps. I watched Joe hit these pristine concrete tables launching both wheels off the ground with a “brrrt” of the throttle. It wasn’t long before I decided to give it a go as well. I wasn’t nearly as aggressive but there were a couple times where I felt completely airborne. It was thrilling and for a moment I felt like I should be on the cover of ADVMoto.
We pulled into a gas station in Placencia after riding through gorgeous beachfront mansions, sandy-floored restaurants, and bars serving all sorts of blended drinks. It felt amazing to fill up right on the water where tour groups were returning with lines full of fish. The sun was dropping quickly and I was looking forward to getting to the resort. I grabbed a few Fantas to stock up and we took off. Standing on the pegs we cruised through town with flip-flop wearing couples making there way to dinner in linen shirts and shorts. I felt like a king. We pulled into Robert’s Grove Beach Resort, parked the bikes and started unloading. The palm trees greeted us with calm sways and behind them, I could see glimmers of the late afternoon sun bouncing off the water. It was beautiful.
We checked in and were given a complimentary drink. I chose the rum punch and Joe asked for something with less sweetness. He completed our check-in procedure while I took a seat overlooking the water to enjoy my free beverage. Today was definitely a good day.