Day 2 we made our way down to Poza Rica. The country side changed from farm fields to rolling hills of citrus farms. It was easy driving until we reached town and then the heavy traffic was on & was quiet a shock to Adam who was used to the calm of the Nebraska small town.
Rolling hills of citrus treesGiving honor to the hardworking citrus workers.
We drove into Poza Rica Inn at a reasonable hour, so there was plenty of time to go swimming & set up our tents in the back parking lot. We love staying here because it is a beautiful hotel that will let us use all the amenities for 250 pesos ($16. U.S.) a night!
We have watched the flyovers being built for the last 2 years. Should help traffic flow a lot!We found signs of Christmas season throughout Mexico.The pool was a little cold, but didn’t stop the kids.
Scott & the kids were always up to something fun!
We have camped here on many of our trips and we always have the same problem! There is a rooster on the next property that starts crowing at 5am and will not stop! As well as a dog that sounds like he has permanently lost his voice, OH and a street sweeper that comes in and cleans the parking lot on occasional visits! But, we still love it and will go back again!
We flew from Augusta to Houston on December 10th which would be the first leg of our trip to Belize with Adam, Ashley & the kids! I found the Chick-fil-a restaurant in the Atlanta airport for one last chicken biscuit. Then by noon we would be in Houston where we were reunited with our Land Rover & headed South.
My last Chick-fil-A for a few months!
Once we arrived in Houston T.J. picked us up at the airport and drove us to Laura’s brothers house where we were reunited with our Land Rover they stored for us. I think Scott truly missed his rig!
Then on to the house to see Laura when she got home from work! That evening they treated us to there favorite local restaurant and then drove thru the well-to-do area’s of town to look at Christmas lights! They had to be the BEST light displays I have ever seen! You could even hire a horse & carriage complete with a coachman with a top hat to drive you from house to house!
Giant lighted stars hung from high up in some trees.Every house in the neighborhoods were extensively decorated!It is hard to capture the beauty of the lights!
After a terrific evening with Laura & T.J. we took off the next morning on our way to meet Adam, Ashley & Kids in Brownsville to begin our trek thru Mexico! Along the way we happened upon a great little BBQ place. We decided we had to have some good BBQ before we left the States! It was delicious & the owner was one of a kind!
Best little BBQ place in Who-Knows-Where, Texas!
We finally reached Brownsville & reunited with the Swierczek’s. Ashley had found a mobile home park that also allowed campers to stay. Surprisingly it was very hard to find someplace to camp unless you had a large RV, most wouldn’t allow us. They allowed us for one night, but it was not the normal for their park! Once we arrived there was lots of talking & excitement from everyone. I think the kids were most excited to get to Mexico & the beaches! Ashley just wanted warm weather! It was amazing how much the kids have grown in the 7 months since we seen them last. A good nights sleep & we were ready to GO!
Last night we slept in our tent, among moss covered trees, deep in the South Texas swamps, surrounded by over 300 alligators, venomous snakes, coyotes, bobcats, and deer. They were all in there natural habitats. No barriers, cages or glass separating us from the natural wild life. A truly unique experience (especially wandering to the bathroom in the pitch black of night). Thanks Texas for offering this great experience!
We didn’t see any eyes watching us from the water……but how many were we will never know. Alligators are hard to spot! The park ranger told us we could walk about 10 minutes on a nature trail and we would come to a mother alligator & her babies we could watch from an observation deck, unfortunately when we woke the next morning, the rain had set in.Signs of danger everywhere!
A little alligator whimsy.
Brazzo Bend State Park was beautiful & well maintained. It will stay on our list of places to stay on our way back into the states.
border, we made good time driving through Spanish Lookout ( a primarily Mennonite community), and then on to Placencia, a great beach town.
Mennonite homesRotisserie Chicken
We spent a few days catching up with some friends in Placencia. We also took the time to put our extra belongings in a storage unit. The plan was to head South through Central America. Anything that wasn’t needed along the trip was going to be left for later. We had packed an overland fridge on the plane, so I was looking forward to setting it up. You just can’t beat having access to ice cold drinks and food available whenever you want it.
Ironman 4×4 fridge
One of our friends who lives in Chicago, also owns a few condos on the beach in a upscale resort called Belize Ocean club. He offered to let us stay in one of the condos for the 5 days we were preparing for our trip. We were spoiled with all of the amenities and things to do at the resort. It was so nice staying right on the beach and having spectacular sunrises each morning, from our balcony, overlooking the Caribbean.
Balcony view
Sunrise
We visited some of our favorite restaurants, like Mangos and the Placencia Hotel. Belize Ocean club features a pool party on the beach each Sunday afternoon. The live DJ entertained the guests, spinning dance tunes pool side. They also offer free use of their kayaks, and other beach toys. All in all, it is an event that the locals and visitors enjoy each week.
Singing SandsBelizian breakfast “fry jack”
We stopped by the church we attend in Placencia on Sunday evening and had a great time seeing a lot of our friends there. Although it just wasn’t the same, with a few other friends who were not there. It was nice to be welcomed back and missed by everyone.
This time around, we didn’t do much site seeing as we were focusing on getting ready for the exciting trip we had planned. The loose plans, including traveling through Guatamala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and possibly as far as the Panama Canal. We planned to travel with Bernard and Tammy, some friends that we had traveled with before. Each couple has a Land Rover outfitted for overland journeys, including rooftop tents. It is nice to caravan for any potential break down and safety issues.
Roof top tents
Finally we were ready! It was going to be tough leaving the luxury accommodations we had been spoiled staying in, and exchanging it for the roof top lifestyle, but the trip was going to be one in a lifetime. So we hit the road, and headed towards the border of Belize and Guatemala.
PassportHit the road
Our GPS coordinates took us within 100 yards of the first nights stop over, San Ignacio. We pulled into the grass parking area and was promptly greeted by the owner, Xavier. He told us to make ourselves at home. Due to the upcoming festivities, Belize National day, the campgrounds was fuel. of people cooking, playing, and lounging. We were told not to worry, the people would be leaving in a few hours. It was pretty cool to see the locals interacting with their families, a water balloon fight, dogs chasing each h other, and the men sleeping lazily in the hammocks under the palapa.
Ready for the parade
We were told of a good restaurant where we could walk to for some lunch. It was excellent food, good prices, and friendly service. The waitress told us we were just in time to enjoy the parade that would be going through town. We finished up, and headed back towards our campsite, as the parade would pass right by us there. As an added extra bonus, we were conveniently located across the street from the town market. We perused the fruits and vegetables and waited for the parade to start. The locals began pouring in, lining the sides of the streets in anticipation of the festivities. We walked back across the street to a “fast food” joint and ordered a water.
The parade waltzed by with people dressed up, flags waiving every where, and lots of laughter and fun. It was quite short by the standard of parades I was used to ,but it was fun any way.
We settled back into the campsite, now much quieter with the local families having left. The owner introduced to some of his friends that were visiting, and we shared off road stories, and their adventures of driving Land rovers in the wild Belize wilderness. We all sat under the palapa roof, which included electricity to plug our fans in for sleeping, and WiFi.
Getting hungry again, we decided to order a pizza from a Facebook friend that delivered pizzas in San Ignacio. They made a special pizza and delivered it after hours to our campsite, where we finally met them in person, and enjoyed some conversation. Finally, we were able try some of this self proclaimed’, best pizza in Belize. We were not disappointed, it was very good, and hit the spot.
After a semi restless night sleeping in the tents, due to some residual partying in the streets (mainly loud music in the distance), we got up and began taking camp down. I decided to go for a run around town, and then we stopped at a taco stand that offered breakfast burritos. With camp packed up, and our bellies full, we set out for the border crossing a few miles away.
After spending the night in Chetumal Mexico, we were up bright and early ready to cross the border into Belize. Chetumal is the last really populated city you will encounter as you head over the border. This is where it is recommended to stock up on any necessary supplies, as many things are not as readily available in Belize to purchase. We loaded up and headed to Mcdonalds. This is a great place to get free wifi, and of course a familiar breakfast is nice also. After sending messages out to family, of our safe arrival, and eating, we decided to hit Wal Mart to grab some last minute things. We saw that they were building a new Home Depot! This will really be great particularly for those living just across theborder in Belize.
People of Walmart
We grabbed some weights to work out while traveling, a campsite folding table, some snacks, and a few other items, and headed on our way. One last stop at the Pemex to fill up is recommended before you cross the border. Fuel is a little over $4.00/gallon U.S. In Belize, it is nearly $6.00/gallon U.S.
Pemex-OXXO
It is a short 5-10 minute trek to the border to leave Mexico. The signs are well marked. Its obvious, but in Spanish, Belize is spelled “Belice”. Coming from Chetumal, you will head back in the direction toward Cancun, where you will see the sign to exit just before a bridge.
Belice!
At that point, you are a mile or two away. As you pull up to the Mexico border, the directions are well marked. There is a small building to your right, that you will drive up to, where you will show your passport, and pay your exit fee of $25.00/ per person, U.S. dollars. They will take Pesos, or U.S. dollars. I am not sure about Belize dollars. He will waive you through after paying your fee.
If you have driven through Mexico, you most likely will have received a car permit for your vehicle. They issue a sticker to be applied in the center of your windshield, along with the actual permit paperwork. Keep this paperwork handy, as it is usually asked for at any of the stops in Mexico and when you leave Mexico. Most likely, you will not be informed by the person taking the exit fee, that if you are not returning to Mexico, or it will be a while, you will need to turn in your vehicle permit.
The process for turning your permit in is pretty easy. After leaving the booth and paying your fee, turn to the left and park at the building across the street to your left. Take your passport and vehicle permit papers in with you. If you paid for the permit deposit with cash initially, you will be issued cash back. If you paid with a credit card, or debit card, you will be credited the deposit back to your account. This fee is determined by the year of your vehicle. It ranges from $200-$400/ U.S. dollars, and is fully refundable.
Car Permit
The attendant will walk out to your vehicle to take a picture of your vin number to confirm it is the same vehicle as you brought in. At this time, either they will ask you or do it themselves, to remove the sticker from your window. The permit is good up until 6 months. You are able to leave your vehicle in Mexico even if you personally leave the country during the 6 months. Just make sure, you remember to turn the permit in within the 6 months or you will lose the deposit and be banned from bringing any other vehicles into the country.
Belize Sign
You have officially “checked out” of Mexico! Now drive across the bridge to Belize, through no mans land until you come to a split in the road. Straight ahead is for cargo. All others turn to the left and follow the road to another stop. Look immediately to your left. There is a little white portable building with a covered front porch. Make sure to stop here and get your vehicle sprayed. It will cost $11.00 Belize ($5.50 U.S). They accept U.S. dollars or Belize dollars. Dont forget to stop, or they will make you return to get it done when you go to cross. There are some exceptions, but just get it done. It takes 5 minutes, including paying for it.
Pesticide $11.00 BZ
Belize, straight ahead! Now leave the spray station and head toward the border crossing building. Ordinarily there is a parking lot. When we crossed, they were working on them, so parking is random. We pulled up almost to the border check point and double parked on the right. The border agent waived us into the customs building.
No Foto!
As we entered, I tried to snap a picture, to which, the customs official said, “No Photos”! So, sorry the picture is blurry. It was dropped a little premature. You walk straight up to the window and show them your passport. They will ask you how long you intend to stay, and where you are headed. They offer up to 30 days, without a renewal. After you get the stamp, you walk between the glass booths to another counter. Here you will show your passport again. We were asked for our registration, original title, and license plate number. They issued a vehicle permit for the same amount of days we were to be in Belize (up to 30). We were informed, and I didnt know this, but if you will only be in Belize, 3 or less days, you do not need a vehicle permit. They will write in your passport that you have a vehicle, but no permit required.
They do a separate stamp in your passport indicating you have brought a vehicle in. You must sign a form that you understand you may not sell, rent, or leave your vehicle in Belize without paying duty. There are no fees for the temporary permit. No duty is required if you intend to bring the vehicle back out of the country. You will need to update your vehicle permit each time you have your passport stamped(each 30 days).
Vehicle stamp
At this time. you are asked to bring your luggage in to be inspected. Each time we have crossed, we always tell them, “Our vehicle is very full due to travelling”. So far every time, they will make an exception and come out to our vehicle to inspect. We had to open doors and our luggage. We were issued the permit and sent on our way.
Open Door inspection
We jumped back in the Rover and drove it 50 feet to the checkpoint, where we were asked for our passport and vehicle permit again. Again we were asked to open the doors to let the official inspect. I made friendly small talk, which I have found to be extremely helpful in all border crossings, and we were told to have a nice day. We made it!
Passport
One last thing before enjoying the exploration of the beautiful country of Belize. You MUST buy insurance. It is the law, and they are more serious about that than actual crimes committed. You can be taken straight to jail if you do not purchase insurance, and your home country insurance will not suffice. We always buy immediatley after crossing at the large building directly in front of you after passing the check point, Insurance Corporation of Belize. The price is reasonable, and drops if you purchase longer coverage. Its about $30 for a week of coverage. Now you are ready, GO!
We flew back into Cancun, Mexico to reunite with our overland outfitted Landrover. A friend had let us leave it at her house for the two months while we were back visiting the States. When we finally pulled up to see it in good condition and ready to go, my heart leapt!
Scott & Angela
We were definitely ready to get back on the road. We loaded up our luggage, and new over lander fridge/freezer we had brought on the plane, hopped in, turned the key, nothing. I mean absolutely nothing. There wasn’t a light on the dash or overhead. How could this be? We had installed not one, but two batteries before our previous trip.
Fortunately, we had installed a dual battery system, so that in the event one battery was drained, the other could still start the engine. I popped the hood, and turned the other battery back on. HONK, HONK, HONK! The alarm was going off. Well after a little playing around with resetting the alarm, all was well and we were able to start the car. There was no indication of any tampering with the vehicle. I am so glad we had that back up battery. I will have to look into why one of the batteries was dead though. All I found suspicious so far, was a couple of bare wires that had heated up running my off road lights.
Cancun Parking
We said our good byes and hopped on the road headed to Chetumal Mexico. This is a town in Mexico on the border of Belize. Our plan was to drive the 5 hours and stay the night before crossing the border to Belize in the morning. The only drawback, was after playing around with the battery issue, we didn’t set out until 3 pm. It gets dark this time of year around 7 pm. I am not fond of driving after dark in Mexico, largely due to the poorly lit roads, unmarked traffic lanes, bicycles, and pedestrians, not to mention, the riff Raff like to come out at night also. We pressed on without any delays or incidences. The roads were very smooth and well marked. Being this is such a touristy side of Mexico, the roads were wide, well maintained, and marked. This was a pleasant surprise, compared to many. We stopped for gas at the Pemex. They did not accept credit cards at this location, though many do throughout Mexico. Fortunately we were able to find an ATM or “cajero” inside the OXXO, a national convenience store. The ATM fee was steep, $69.90 pesos (about $5.00 U.S.).
Pemex Gas
Back on the road, it was smooth sailing’ and very little traffic by this time. For the majority of the trip, the roads were 4 lanes wide with a divided highway. A fair amount of section in the middle was only 2 lanes. It was getting to be around 7 pm, and dusk was setting in quickly. You could see the sky, but darkness was closing in. I have to admit, you hear so many times, “don’t travel on the roads after dark in Mexico”. It almost builds an anxiety inside if you are caught out in the dark. We still had about an hour of travel left, so it was wearing a little on me. Do we try to find somewhere closer to stop, or press on to our know destination? We chose the latter. I’m glad we did. The roads were really impressive, with reflectors marking the lanes, reflective signs, and no pot holes! The traffic was enough not to feel alone and desolate. We can do this!
Hwy 307
We rolled into Chetumal a little after 8 pm. There was lots of activity, as it was Saturday night. Vendors offering grilled food, and other goodies along the streets, along bright decorative displays overhead on the street lamps, of “Viva Mexico”. September is the month of Mexican Independence, so the fiestas had already started. We did it! We had travelled the roads of Mexico after dark and survived! I really don’t recommend it due to the reasons mentioned before, however, it was good to know it didn’t mean instantaneous disaster.
Viva Mexico Chetumal
We had already had a hotel picked out from our last visit, called Hotel Marlone. For one reason, it is a very nice facility with some English speaking employees. The other reason, we had left two of our phone chargers in the room, and hoped to retrieve them on this trip. They also have a secure gated courtyard to park in. We were not disappointed when we arrived. We were greeted by some friendly smiling faces, directing us into our parking spot, and offering to check us in.
After locating the English speaking manager, we were given our phone chargers. She had remembered speaking to us two months prior and labled and set them aside. She also informed us that they were setting up for a private party, that she was sure would be a very loud fiesta. She offered us a room up on the 3rd level, but she was confident we would hear the party goers from our room. She offered to let us leave our vehicle secured and stay at their sister property across the street, which we did. A/C, hot showers, nice room, and WiFi! Well most of that was true….while we did see a WiFi connection, we never were able to connect. Oh well, one night without being connected, wouldn’t kill us. Tomorrow morning, we cross the border. Watch for the next post as I will give the play by play on getting out of Mexico and into Belize, hassle free.
On September 5th, 2014 we will fly back to Cancun, Mexico to pick up our Land Rover. We left it there while we were back in Georgia. The plan is to head South into Belize, where we will meet up with some friends to caravan throughout Central America. Follow along as we will provide, stories, pictures, and general info about travelling through foreign countries via Overland style vehicles. This blog is designed to document Angela and my travels and adventures around the world. It is our hope that friends and family can follow and connect with us along the way. However, we are always ready to make new friends, so hopefully other people will find our adventures interesting and informative. Follow us on this blog or Facebook. See you on the road!
**18 days to Mexico!!** Dead in the middle of the preparations for heading to Central America, we decided to take a quick trip to Michigan. We decided we did not have enough to do, so we packed up and headed north. Ohh, did I mention we decided to drive our 2008 Smart car. What a trip. This is an excellent vehicle for commuting around town, running errands, and saving fuel .Yes, saving fuel that is why we chose to drive this vehicle to Michigan. Upon first check, we averaged slightly over 42 miles per gallon. Yes, that is why we drove the tiny little vehicle measuring just over 8 feet long, bumper to bumper. The overnight bag was packed along with the bathroom bags. Everything was fitting just fine. Wait, we need to take a full-sized traffic light to my Father In Law..There goes the rear view mirror visual. Did I mention there was no cruise control? I mean who usually needs cruise control around town? For that matter, who drives a Smart car 900 miles one way? That would be us.
Amish Consignment Auction- Charlotte Michigan
We made it just in time to attend one of the largest consignment auctions I have ever attended. The local Amish community put on an event that would rival a county fair. In addition to every conceivable household, farm and garden, firearms, vehicles, and garage item, fathomable, is the food. Ahhh, the food. There are pies, breads, cakes, cookies, burgers, hot dogs, ham and cheese, you name it. Pecan pie, strawberry rhubarb, coconut cream , apple, and others. You cannot help but eat several pieces of pie. This is an experience you must try if you are ever in the Charlotte, Michigan area. They hold it twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Look up Lavern Yutzy. You wont likely find him on Facebook, you will need to meet him in person. He is the owner of the auction company and an all around good guy. Check out his auctions on www.auctionzip.com Well, after a nice dinner at Leos in East Lansing Michigan for Mothers day, we visited family and then decided to return on Tuesday morning. Other than a false call on a check engine light and some rain, and a lengthy detour, the trip home was uneventful. Man, I hope I do not have to drive the Smart car for a few days. Its wonderful in doses….small doses.
Well back home means back to preparations for the trip. I pulled the Land Rover into the garage and began replacing the brakes. I decided to install ceramic brake pads all around. Primarily to help reduce the brake dust. Like many vehicles these days, the wheels on the Rover are pretty open. The dust tends to cover the exterior of the wheel. Ceramic pads eliminate most of this. I ordered slotted and drilled rotors for the front. This will help dissipate heat and reduce the potential for the brake “wobble”. After everything was cleaned with brake parts cleaner, I lubed all of the contact points. This will assist with the operation of the calipers. I took the opportunity while the wheels were off to clean the years of brake dust accumulation from the back side of the wheels. It took several cleanings, but I finally could see the factory rim below the grime. After pressing the brake pedal several times to seat the calipers, I gave it a test drive. The rotor instructions recommended a break in procedure. I performed this and all seems well.
Ceramic brake pads
I had ordered a swing away bike hitch online, and it arrived via UPS. The swing away design allows the bikes to be loaded and “swing away” in order to open the rear door. It’s a great design, although, they tend to cost considerably more than a conventional rack. After searching extensively, I finally settled on a Hollywood brand rack. This was a good balance of quality and price. The rack arrived promptly, and I was anxious to set it up. The box was packed very nicely. Everything was wrapped securely in padded wrap. Upon opening the box and wrapping, lo and behold, I began to notice damage. Ironically, the box did not display damage on the exterior. That led me to believe one thing. The rack was damaged prior to shipping and then wrapped up. I was not happy. I contacted the seller (Ebay seller). While waiting on hold, I noticed some writing on the box. After closer examination, I identified a “RA number” in other words a return authorization. Now I know it had been damaged and returned before. I provided pictures to the customer service rep. I was informed that unfortunately, the rack was no longer available. They said they would allow me to return it for a refund. This was not acceptable. I already knew, I would not be able to compete with the price I had paid for this one. I asked them to see what they could do. Approximately an hour later, I received an email apologizing for the inconvenience. They said they had issued a full refund, and that I could keep the hitch at no charge! Wow talk about customer service. I was able to fix the problem and use some satin Rustoleum to seal it up. After assembling the unit, it looks like new. Thank you Hollywood Racks!
Hollywood Bike rack
Stay tuned…..all of the fun stuff coming up (roof rack, tent, lift kit)
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