About 10 am, I woke Andrew up so we could have some breakfast. More tortillas with eggs, cheese, beans and tomatoes. Also, some bananas we bought at the stand yesterday and the remnants of the pineapple. We then headed in to town to run a few errands - buy postcards and get more pop and a few bottles of beer. While we were out, we stopped in at the Lazy Lizard, a popular bar on The Split.
The Lazy Lizard - what a view!
I had a lime daiquiri and Andrew had a Bailey's colada while we watched the kite boarders do their thing.
They are really amazing! I would love to try this but the guys who do it say that it takes at least a year to be able to go 50 yards before falling. I'd likely break something.
Road construction work in progress. They bring up buckets of sand from the bottom of the lagoon and then use it to fill the holes in the roads (which are also very hard packed sand). Hey, at least this construction doesn't tie up traffic!
Finally, much to Andrew's dismay, we asked some random stranger to take our picture.
It was particularly hot today and the water at The Split looked amazing! We decided to run home, put our suits on and come back for a swim. This would be where things turned south. Upon returning to The Split, we locked up our bikes and headed to the beach. We got on our snorkel gear and headed in to that beautiful turquoise water - heaven! There wasn't much to look at under the water so I got out after about 10 minutes and went up to sit in the sand. Andrew continued to float away in the water for about another 15 minutes.
Upon returning to the beach, Andrew announced that he was going to get us drinks - yay! Unfortunately, he was back in about 15 seconds saying "We have a problem." While he was out snorkeling, the waterproof case he had some money in and the key to the bike lock came out of the pocket of his swimming suit. We put our gear back on and headed out to look along the mangroves to see if it had lodged there, but we couldn't find it. We asked at the bar if anyone had turned it in, but no luck. With the current it could totally be in Mexico by now. There wasn't a huge amount of money in it, but the missing key to the bike lock was definitely going to be a problem. We gathered up our gear and walked the mile or so back to the management company office for our rental property, as we had also rented the bikes from them. We explained what had happened to the woman who was there, and asked her if she knew where we might find some bolt cutters. After sighing heavily and putting her head in her hands (I can only assume this is because this is probably the worst disaster she has ever heard of running a vacation rental business), she informed us that the only set of bolt cuttters on the island (really?) belonged to "George", the resident mechanic. She tried to call George but didn't get an answer. She then called George's wife, who said George was outside working on a cart, so we could just come by. She tells us George lives on Middle Street "by the bank", and we head off again on foot.
We find George easily, he hands over his bolt cutters without much explanation and we continue on. By the time we arrive back at The Split we've walked a good 3-ish miles in the baking sun. Luckily, the bolt cutters slice through the padlock easily, and we're back on wheels! We ride back to the other side of the island to our rental house (about 2 miles), grab some cash, and head back to George's. When we return the cutters he asks for $2 Belizean dollars for their use. We give him $5 US with many thank you's, knowing we would have happily paid $20. Before I leave, I should have chat with the sole owner of bolt cutters on this island about a business strategy centered around the willingness of tourists to pay hefty sums of cash to alleviate what they perceive to be a crisis situation. Hell, if he would have given us a ride to The Split in his golf cart and cut the lock for us, he could have easily charged us $40 US! On second thought, forget George. I'm getting my own bolt cutters and we're moving to Caye Caulker!
Our last stop on what is quickly approaching a "3-hour tour" is the hardware store to buy a new padlock for the bike chain. The only one they sell is a little more suited for the door of a medieval castle than a bike, but it will have to do. Upon completing our mission, we gladly head for home, yet again.
By the time we arrive it's 3:30 pm, we're hot and covered in salt from our swim. We're also starving! I have a quick shower and Andrew fires up the grill to get the charcoal heating. We cook the burgers we were going to have last night (the meat didn't defrost in time) and eat them with some potatoes and a cold beer. Voila! Things are looking up again!
About 6:30, we rode our bikes in to town to confirm our scuba trip for tomorrow morning is still on. The dive assistant tells us that, as of now, it is. He does tell us that we should know that it was very choppy this morning, so they may cancel at the last minute if the waves are 10-12 feet again tomorrow. We're ok with this, as we'd rather be safe and dive another day. We grab an ice cream cone (hooray, they've restocked the coconut!) and pedal back home. Let's hope for a less exciting day tomorrow!
Upon returning to the beach, Andrew announced that he was going to get us drinks - yay! Unfortunately, he was back in about 15 seconds saying "We have a problem." While he was out snorkeling, the waterproof case he had some money in and the key to the bike lock came out of the pocket of his swimming suit. We put our gear back on and headed out to look along the mangroves to see if it had lodged there, but we couldn't find it. We asked at the bar if anyone had turned it in, but no luck. With the current it could totally be in Mexico by now. There wasn't a huge amount of money in it, but the missing key to the bike lock was definitely going to be a problem. We gathered up our gear and walked the mile or so back to the management company office for our rental property, as we had also rented the bikes from them. We explained what had happened to the woman who was there, and asked her if she knew where we might find some bolt cutters. After sighing heavily and putting her head in her hands (I can only assume this is because this is probably the worst disaster she has ever heard of running a vacation rental business), she informed us that the only set of bolt cuttters on the island (really?) belonged to "George", the resident mechanic. She tried to call George but didn't get an answer. She then called George's wife, who said George was outside working on a cart, so we could just come by. She tells us George lives on Middle Street "by the bank", and we head off again on foot.
We find George easily, he hands over his bolt cutters without much explanation and we continue on. By the time we arrive back at The Split we've walked a good 3-ish miles in the baking sun. Luckily, the bolt cutters slice through the padlock easily, and we're back on wheels! We ride back to the other side of the island to our rental house (about 2 miles), grab some cash, and head back to George's. When we return the cutters he asks for $2 Belizean dollars for their use. We give him $5 US with many thank you's, knowing we would have happily paid $20. Before I leave, I should have chat with the sole owner of bolt cutters on this island about a business strategy centered around the willingness of tourists to pay hefty sums of cash to alleviate what they perceive to be a crisis situation. Hell, if he would have given us a ride to The Split in his golf cart and cut the lock for us, he could have easily charged us $40 US! On second thought, forget George. I'm getting my own bolt cutters and we're moving to Caye Caulker!
Our last stop on what is quickly approaching a "3-hour tour" is the hardware store to buy a new padlock for the bike chain. The only one they sell is a little more suited for the door of a medieval castle than a bike, but it will have to do. Upon completing our mission, we gladly head for home, yet again.
By the time we arrive it's 3:30 pm, we're hot and covered in salt from our swim. We're also starving! I have a quick shower and Andrew fires up the grill to get the charcoal heating. We cook the burgers we were going to have last night (the meat didn't defrost in time) and eat them with some potatoes and a cold beer. Voila! Things are looking up again!
About 6:30, we rode our bikes in to town to confirm our scuba trip for tomorrow morning is still on. The dive assistant tells us that, as of now, it is. He does tell us that we should know that it was very choppy this morning, so they may cancel at the last minute if the waves are 10-12 feet again tomorrow. We're ok with this, as we'd rather be safe and dive another day. We grab an ice cream cone (hooray, they've restocked the coconut!) and pedal back home. Let's hope for a less exciting day tomorrow!
What an adventure you are having!! Hope all the pains go away!
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