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debindesert
Nomad
Posts: 111
Registered: 4-12-2007
Location: California High Desert
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Mood: Amused
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In the early 70s I signed on as a cook’s helper on a pleasure yacht. Against the advice of our Captain, the yacht owner had demanded to take a side
trip before going through the Panama Canal.
We sailed right into a coup de tats. Our ship was greeted at gunpoint and held for 12 hours by British Honduras guerrillas. We were all lined up and
marched to the end of this small dock.
With an order, I placed my hands in the air and backed up to the edge so that my heals were hanging over the very edge of a dock. The guerrillas
guarding us kept pocking their guns and laughing. I eventually passed out with no protection from the equatorial sun.
The object was betting to see which one of us would fall into the water first, only to be revived and stand again for their cruel gringo game. I
would try and suppressed my fear by reciting Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham over and over again.
This was enjoyed by the guerrillas as they felt they were getting a free English lesson and repeated the phrases.
Finally, a local port authority person came running down the dock to beg our release. There was no hesitation from our Captain. He said everyone
walk to the boat, pull anchor, and don’t look back.
We were about three miles out when the shock wore off. We noticed that everything was gone that wasn’t nailed down. Our food supplies, dishes,
curtains, cushions, life jackets, first aid, clothing, dingy, tools... All that we had was on our backs.
Renamed Belize, I think there is a Club-Med there now. It was on MTV's spring break that I saw the name again.
My revenge is that there are two ex-gorilla cabana boys making passes at rich Gringas, with the only English they know, "Sam I am, I do not like green
eggs and ham....".
I wouldn’t trade a minute for that “adventure”.
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well
preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and
screaming, \'What a ride!\' - Author Unknown
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Oso
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2637
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: on da border
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Mood: wait and see
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Strange, as I recall there was no such country as British Honduras in the 70's. It was Belize when I was there in 1964.
All my childhood I wanted to be older. Now I\'m older and this chitn sucks.
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Oso
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2637
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: on da border
Member Is Offline
Mood: wait and see
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My apologies, a history search says that "Belize" became an internally self-governing colony in 64, but full independence didn't come until 73. So
both terms were probably used during the interim. When I was there, everyone called it Belize but maybe the Brits were still using BH.
I'm afraid, however, that I can't quite buy the "English Lesson" story. English has been the official language for a very long time and everyone
spoke it then.
[Edited on 10-10-2007 by Oso]
All my childhood I wanted to be older. Now I\'m older and this chitn sucks.
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Oso
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2637
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: on da border
Member Is Offline
Mood: wait and see
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Oh! Now I get it.
All my childhood I wanted to be older. Now I\'m older and this chitn sucks.
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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After some thought and wisdom from Nomads like Pam, thoughts of all the great trips I have had pass through my mind and the people I trusted to go
with, those people are ones that I know I can depend on and would entrust decisions about my overall wellbeing. In this case, my gut feeling is that
this is one of a different type of trips, risky, with the wrong people, unprepared, unqualified, no shake down cruise and way too uncertain and
probably not my best use of time, money and energy.
Thanks for your comments it helped me alot. The fact alone that a 7-10 day trip is oddly extended to 30 days makes me feel that I might once again be
forced free labor for someone's crazy plans. I don't mind helping out often but promised myself to avoid the ol' "come on my boat and complete this
list of chores" routine which happens in Baja and which has become something I prefer to avoid. So somehow with a polite excuse, I hope I'm back to
ROAD TRIP wahooo baja where I get to visit every friend and make new ones too along the roads of Baja. I'll post an update as to the whereabouts and
results soon. By the way, I kitesurf, surf, kayak and sail small boats and fish almost everyday so I hope to see you too out there.
Good luck adventurers and see you at the beach,
[Edited on 10-10-2007 by gnukid]
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debindesert
Nomad
Posts: 111
Registered: 4-12-2007
Location: California High Desert
Member Is Offline
Mood: Amused
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Larry,
Eythay ereway eakingspay igpay atinlay. Andway, ethay okejay asway onway usway.
Deb
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well
preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and
screaming, \'What a ride!\' - Author Unknown
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wakemall
Nomad
Posts: 183
Registered: 7-17-2006
Member Is Offline
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I would not ever turn down or miss a trip South to MX. There are fishing spots people dream about...... Take along a meat line on the sailboat. I
missed several sportfishing boat trip town to Cabo and I am still kicking my self in the butt. I would love for someone to offer me a trip down and I
pay for my fuel and food expense................ Do it and please send me the pictures....
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805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
Member Is Offline
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Gut feelings are your best friend follow his advise.
[Edited on 10-11-2007 by 805gregg]
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
Member Is Offline
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Don't get me wrong I have my own sailboat in La Paz and trailor multiple small boats too for messing around I will sail thousands of kilometers on the
sea of cortez before the winter is up.
This year later on we hope to recreate an historic gunkholing trip on the sea of cortez on traditional small boats including a falucca and a pelican
sailboat with some historians. I normally will sail every day just not with the aforementioned planned trip-this time-since it seems too much. Though
possibly I can meet them later if they make it off the dock. I am super happy with my decision today, back on track and am packing and leaving for 6
months of fun with myself in charge. Lets go to baja!
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