As the fearless (and often clueless) guide pulls up the map for 6/16, it becomes evident that we may have headed up the wrong coast in our goal or reaching the U.S. Not to worry - if we're going rogue, we're doing it with style!
North from Potrerillos, Nicaragua, we reach the Caribbean coast at Puerto Cortes, then on the coastal route until reaching the other side of Montana de Cusuca National Park where we cross the border for our second foray through Guatemala. Through Puerto Barrios then southwest (? - many rumblings of where the hades are we going) to Morales, trekking up route 13 until touching the corner of Belize (near Livingston), but following about the only road around through San Luis and near Flores, then east on the western highway, we cross back into Belize and come to a rest in Belize City.
Belize, the only central American country that does not touch the Pacific Ocean, is considered one of Mother Nature's best kept secret, largely undeveloped with 450 islands in the Caribbean. We are very excited until we discover as we're walking essentially through the jungle that it is home to the largest jaguar refuge in the world (not luxury car to the gringo, we're talking the unwary gringo being a little midday snack).
And if we think about violently defending ourselves against the attack of a random jaguar, apparently Belizian folklore tells of a three-foot dwarf (an evil thumbless dwarf, no less) named El Duende (Melissa, here is a photo shop challenge for you!) that punishes children (and gringos-as) who harm animals. And even better, their own version of Bigfoot who, like the random rogue jaguar, likes to snack on, you guessed it, members of the Step 10 Challenge, among other humans. You can't make this stuff up folks. Well at least when we scream for help, English is the official language of Belize.
But we know we are in the place the wellness gods intended when we discover there are no McDonalds, Burger King or KFC restaurants in Belize. That is the good news. Also no Starbucks...not so good.
392 miles on this 16th of June 2016. We have three days left - can we make it to the U S of A! It is our destiny!!!
North from Potrerillos, Nicaragua, we reach the Caribbean coast at Puerto Cortes, then on the coastal route until reaching the other side of Montana de Cusuca National Park where we cross the border for our second foray through Guatemala. Through Puerto Barrios then southwest (? - many rumblings of where the hades are we going) to Morales, trekking up route 13 until touching the corner of Belize (near Livingston), but following about the only road around through San Luis and near Flores, then east on the western highway, we cross back into Belize and come to a rest in Belize City.
Belize, the only central American country that does not touch the Pacific Ocean, is considered one of Mother Nature's best kept secret, largely undeveloped with 450 islands in the Caribbean. We are very excited until we discover as we're walking essentially through the jungle that it is home to the largest jaguar refuge in the world (not luxury car to the gringo, we're talking the unwary gringo being a little midday snack).
And if we think about violently defending ourselves against the attack of a random jaguar, apparently Belizian folklore tells of a three-foot dwarf (an evil thumbless dwarf, no less) named El Duende (Melissa, here is a photo shop challenge for you!) that punishes children (and gringos-as) who harm animals. And even better, their own version of Bigfoot who, like the random rogue jaguar, likes to snack on, you guessed it, members of the Step 10 Challenge, among other humans. You can't make this stuff up folks. Well at least when we scream for help, English is the official language of Belize.
But we know we are in the place the wellness gods intended when we discover there are no McDonalds, Burger King or KFC restaurants in Belize. That is the good news. Also no Starbucks...not so good.
392 miles on this 16th of June 2016. We have three days left - can we make it to the U S of A! It is our destiny!!!