These journeys can take a long time - years, some times a lifetime.
I don't have that kind of time to devote - I'm leaving for home in 7 days - but today I decided to set out on an epic journey of my own. I'm calling this post Lorry On The Road (LOTR).
This morning looks to be a beautiful day. The sun is shining and the sky is very blue. I had some breakfast and got on my bike. The plan is to ride to Maya Beach - about 8 or 9 miles (and 16 speed bumps) north up the peninsula.
I set my camera up on a little flexible tripod attached to my bike to get some shots from 'handlebar cam' as I rode.
These little guys were there to see me off as I pulled out of Wallen's parking lot.
This turtle crossing sign is at a resort called Turtle Inn. It's owned by director Francis Ford Coppala. He also has a house at the property, from what I understand. His movie The Outsiders was on TV yesterday. I watched it - it seemed like the right thing to do, I mean with his house right down the road and all.
'Stay gold Pony Boy, stay gold'
I passed by Placencia Airport. I'll be back next Sunday morning!
The road at the airport takes a sharp S turn around the runway. If cars miss the turn they're only about 20 feet from being in the Caribbean Ocean. I wonder how often that happens! Thankfully, there's a speed bump right before the turn. Heh...speed bumps.
By now the road seemed to stretch out ahead of me and as it gets hotter I'm wondering if I should consider making this journey somewhat slightly less than epic.
After a while I made it to the village of Seine Bight. Seine Bight is a little Garifuna village along the main road. The houses are not much more than shacks. There's a store or two and a couple of places that serve food.
Despite the poverty, it felt kind of cool riding through. There was a lot of people out, kids playing and music everywhere. Like, live music. People drumming,singing and dancing. It was awesome.
Soon I came to the village of Maya Beach - the destination of my journey.
I wasn't quite sure what to do now that I've arrived, I didn't really plan that far!
I considered the Flying Monkey Club...but it's private.
They'd probably try to charge things to my room...I don't have a room to charge to.
Keep pedaling.
A little further up the road I found a flea market!
There were Guinea Pigs and plants for sale among lots of other things, but I bought a book figuring it would be easier to get through customs than a plant or animal.
After walking around the flea market, I thought I'd take a ride down one of the side roads.
In every good epic journey, the exciting stuff happens off the main routes.
I came to this little path and something told me to go down it.
There was no house, just a ramp to the water, and no one was around so I went to see the water on the bay side, with the Belizean mountains in the background.
And then I saw him...
A dragon! (this really is an epic journey)
Oh wait....... it's an Iguana!!
He was so pretty and orange. I got as close as I could without scaring him away.
So glad I took the path!
I got back out to the main road, passed the local bowling alley...
and decided to get something to eat at the Maya Beach Resort.
It was really nice.
Second Breakfast!! (like a good hobbit)
As I finished eating it started to rain a bit so I took refuge out on the thatch-roofed dock to wait out the passing shower.
I sat in the hammock, read my new book, talked to a few other tourists and enjoyed the beautiful views.
Almost right away, I saw this Pool Bar and decided to stop to get a drink before the long ride back.
I sat and talked for a while with a Canadian expat, who pretty much told me his life story, offered me some pot and asked if I was on a soul searching journey.
It crossed my mind to explain that my journey was not so much soul searching, but more of the epic nature, but I wasn't sure he'd understand the difference. Not sure I do...
Soon Shelly walked over from across the bar. She said she heard some of our conversation and had to come join in.
Shelly is from Colorado, about my age, newly divorced, has never traveled alone, never been to Belize and is staying here on her own for 2 months.
She's so brave!!
We had a lot to talk about and spent some time comparing notes, but it was soon time I got going for the ride back to Placencia Village. I still had another 8 miles and 15 speed bumps to get back home.
On the way back I passed a 'garden center'! I wonder if they are hiring...
It seemed like I was pedaling half the afternoon, returning through Seine Bight, past the resorts and the airport. Eventually, I made it back to the shire and my cinder block hobbit hole. I'm not sure my six hour adventure really qualifies as epic, but it was tiring so I took a nice long nap.
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