Travels in Belize Part 3

Sailing the High Seas

After another big breakfast of scrambled eggs, fry jacks (a cross between fry bread & flap jacks) & peanut butter (Caribbean substitute for butter), everyone loaded up the kayaks and after a brief lesson on SAILING (yes sailing was a new rip on kayaking for us) we started the 6 mile journey to our next destination. The sun was gorgeous - but then it looked as if we were heading right into a very dark and dangerous rainstorm! Good thing everyone was wearing their life vests! But the storm passed just before we got there and we landed safely at Southwater Caye. Of course we had a fabulous picnic lunch of pasta salad and various fruits. (Did I mention that we ate three squares a day?) We snorkeled right off the beach and then headed for the IZE lodging - our home for the next 3 nights.

Southwater Caye & IZE

Well, I've made quite a few friends by now, so we headed for the bar. Barmistress Jennifer has discovered the "Magic Bullet" and her specialty is frozen Pina Coladas. My new friend Laura decided that's what she'd have and the night began to take shape! IZE was a step up from the Paradise Island Resort and we could actually acquire chocolate here. Fellow adventurer Mike likes Twix Bars and Barmistress Jennifer made his day - Twix is a staple at her bar! Now as the night wore on, I got wilder by the minute. Barmistress Jennifer only knew one way to make my margaritas - stout. After it went to my head, I went down on my bill. Ouch!! Then out came a dancing musical gecko and everyone went crazy. The dinner bell sounded and off we went to a grand dinner of chicken, rice and fryjacks. I'll bet you can guess what breakfast would be - scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, biscuits and PEANUT BUTTER. After dinner we played Trivial Pursuit which I won of course because I am a know-it-all.

The next morning I greeted the sunrise in a chipper mood from the deck of the 3 bedroom cottage. Not one to be bothered by hangovers, I was ready to kayak to Carrie Bow Caye. This is where the Smithsonian has a research station and we had arrangements for a special tour. But first,of course, the customary breakfast was served complete with you guessed it, PEANUT BUTTER. I decided I'd rather swim with the fishes, so that's what I did. Next thing I heard was all my new best friends discussing the "restroom" at the Smithsonian. Apparently it's just a hole with a toilet seat in an outhouse suspended over the water! What will they think of next? I was hungry so I checked out the picnic lunch we brought with us. The IZE kitchen made huge black bean & rice burritos - Yummy!

It had been another wonderful day exploring the sea. We headed to the dining room for our last evening together, stopping on the deck to enjoy the sunset. It was "surf & turf" for dinner (you know, steak & lobster) with homemade ice cream for dessert. My bestest new friend Jac had spied a handsome young man we had begun to call "Bandana Boy". He is f-i-n-e and after Kris introduced them, he invited her to go out for a round of pool later that evening at the Blue Marlin. Well, you know me, I can't be left out of anything so I convinced her she needed a chaperone and, well, the rest is history.

Homeward Bound

Jac & I managed to get back before dawn, just in time to enjoy the usual breakfast of scrambled eggs, biscuits & PEANUT BUTTER. This was our last time to enjoy each other's company. After that breakfast, we headed for the dock to load up. This was the hardest thing I'd done on the whole trip. I didn't want to leave my 12 newest best friends! How would I live without them? Oh yeah, I forgot, it's No Problem, Mon! We have e-mail!
I hope you enjoyed my awsome adventure in Belize. I'm not sure when I'll get to post again, so until then practice random acts of kindness. You never know what good things will come your way if you do.

Adventures in Belize Continued

The Adventure Begins

Our breakfast was a big scrambled egg feast, with fresh fruit, bacon, and flat biscuits with peanut butter and jelly. No one would be hungry today! With great excitement, we once again boarded the Kia Bus to head down the Hummingbird Highway for Dangriga. The scenery is, well...green. We saw a lot of small village schools and churches in this mountainous area. But enough sightseeing - where was the water?!

Finally we arrived in Dangriga where we met our guides, Kris & Omar. We loaded up on the motor boat and headed for Tobacco Range for lunch and Kayak lessons. Everyone had to practice the "wet exit" by rolling the kayak, falling out, and then getting back in. I don't see why I had to learn it, but then, did I really need a Kayak? After practice, we loaded the kayaks and proceeded to paddle to Tobacco Caye, our home for 2 nights. I wasn't really sure we would make it in 45 minutes, but sure enough, it was easier than I thought. We all landed safely on the beach behind the kitchen of Paradise Island Resort (Resort? Well....maybe) and Kris sorted out where each of us would spend the night.

Paradise Island Resort

This was going to be home for 2 nights and although I was really hungry, I was too tuckered out to eat so I had a snooze in the hammock and then a cold shower (YIKES). We had a satisfying dinner of fish and rice with ginger spice cake before we bedded down for the night. Next morning after another big breakfast of scrambled eggs, fresh fruit (mmmm, papaya!), biscuits with peanut butter & jelly, we went out to learn how to snorkel. I told them I did't need fins since my feet are already webbed, but nobody believed me. I would just have to prove myself. And by the way, why did anyone think I needed goggles or a snorkel? Rules! Rules! Rules! Well, we walked to the dock and jumped in. I had never snorkeled in a pack before and as soon as we hit the water, there were fins and hands in my face - HELP - get me out of there! After a full day we had a lovely dinner of rice and beans with chicken. This was the last night here. The next day we would learn to sail.

Next post: Sailing the High Seas and the IZE

An Excellent Adventure in Belize

I've just returned from a most excellent adventure in Belize, Central America. Let me see if I can give you a complete picture of my trip to the Barrier Reef of the Carribean.

The Arrival

We left OKC early Saturday morning for Belize via Houston. M & The Man had booked the most awesome adventure trip through Island Expeditions. We were to kayak and snorkel for 5 days.

We arrived at 4 in the afternoon where we were greeted by a most gracious Island Expeditions representative. Being the 1st to arrive, we waited patiently for the rest of our group to land. Twenty minutes later, Mike and his boys, Steve & Austin, Rob & Andrea, and Doug & Laura were gathered up and brought out to the bus to meet us. We all happily boarded the Kia Bus and headed out for the TEC (Tropical Education Center), our home for the evening. After our arrival we met the rest of our tiny group of twelve, Johanne & her two girls, Jac and Annie. We were given a brief history lesson before a delicious dinner of native delicacies and then a night tour of the Belize Zoo. To say the animals were interesting would be a bit of an understatement. Some of us were peed on by a very excitable tapir. Then the Howler Monkeys started up. You'd have thought we had invaded some private island the way they kept at it! It was too eerie. After all that excitement, we headed for our "cabins in the sky" where we all promptly fell fast asleep. Next morning we were awakened by the sound of thousands of tropical birds. What a delight! After the night's peaceful slumber, it was time start the adventure!

Next Post: The Adventure Begins

Mexican Me!

Did I ever have an adventure last May! I hid in my owner's tote bag when she wasn't looking cuz I heard her saying she was heading for Mexico for the weekend and you know me, I'm not getting left out of anything! I thought I was caught when she snapped a picture of The Man at the DFW airport, but I DUCKED back inside before she noticed. Whew! I really didn't relish the idea of spending the weekend in an airport locker. I almost made it undetected, but darn her, she just had to get out that book to read. I got the "no squawk please" look and had to sit carefully stowed under the seat in front of her for the rest of the flight.

After arriving at the resort, I was allowed free range of the balcony to stretch my legs and wings. What a view of the beach! After dinner "M" and The Man brought me the cutest red velvet sombrero (forgiven at last!) so I showed off to the towel swans who weren't the least bit impressed. I guess they've seen enough tourists by now.

I finally got to spread my toes in the sand after snorkeling with the sea turtles, sting rays and various other sea creatures. M & The Man said this was some really great snorkeling. We saw big sea turtles everytime we went out. We saw "Barry" the Barracuda several times and you shoud have seen the "Wall of Fish" we were surrounded by! We even went night snorkeling and I saw a baby octopus! I gained about 100 lbs eating at the all you can eat buffets (breakfast, lunch & dinner - I didn't miss one meal). Being a very European resort (I swear we were the only Americans there) we were subjected to way too much topless sunbathing. NOT A PRETTY SIGHT!


On the flight home we were bumped to "business class" where I enjoyed hot towels and wine. I drunkenly said good-bye to Mexico out the airplane window, and headed for home. I hear there may be an adventure in Belize planned for the future. If so, I'll have to be far more clever at hiding. I'll let you know what develops.

Hello Family!

Well, there were a lotta feathers flyin' and a lotta squackin' goin' on at My Heart's Fancy just the other day. You see, some of the relatives arrived and I was so excited. You can't imagine how wonderful it was to see them. I was told that they would be adopted so I need to be ready to say good-bye at a moment's notice. I don't mind. They'll get really good homes since the people who shop here are the best. In fact, before I could even flap a wing at Aunti Tilly, she flew out the door with one of my very favorite people!

I supervised the release of the youngins'. They were fairly well behaved, but a few of them got uppity! They had so many questions about the black and orange. I tried to explain that they'd know a whole lot more about that after they'd lived here awhile, but you know kids and their questions. Of course, they're all just so darned cute, I'm sure they'll be adopted in no time!

I spent some time visitin' with the folks and heard some mighty tall tales about freighters and the high seas. I think some of them were cooped up just a bit too long. Afterwards I flew up to my perch to do the greetin' and guardin'. It is my official job after all. I'll spend more time with the fam on my break times. It sure is good to get reacquainted.

I overheard my owner saying she and The Man would be traveling soon. I sure hope they are planning to take me with them and I hope it's someplace I'll wanna shake my tail feathers!

Bedlam Baseball at the Brick

I was spotted attending the O-State/Oklahoma Bedlam Baseball Series on Mother's Day Weekend. Wearing full O-State colors, I drove my owners downtown to the Bricktown Ball Park in a silver 2006 Toyota Avalon. Once seated, I read my souvenir program from cover to cover. Although seated in the heart of the opposition I thoroughly enjoyed myself as my team was led to victory 7-0. What a game! Seated next to me was the family of the opposition's star pitcher. His wife was extremely large with egg and although I was very curious as to when she would be laying that egg, I knew that question to be out of place, so I kept my big bill closed. I quacked for joy the next day when my team, the mighty Cowboys of Oklahoma State, swept the Series by winning all 3 games, a feat not appreciated (or expected) by the opposing team. I'm hoping my owners will score tickets for O-State football and basketball. Homecoming could be exciting.

Denis the Dcuk(TM) Arrives at My Heart's Fancy

When I first arrived in this country, I was sent by my guardian to a special orphanage where many matchmakers gather to hunt for a variety of rare and beautiful treasures. My orphanage was located in Dallas and as a prime example of my species, I was destined to remain at the market until my handsome looks should begin to fade. Early in March of 2006, I was fortunate to catch the eye of one very cagey buyer who was willing to pay a rather unusual ransom for me - a ransom of friendship.

Thus begins the story of my new life in the United States of America, a former colony of my homeland, England.

The ransom paid, my journey from Dallas to Oklahoma City began. The 3-1/2 hour journey by auto was uneventful. Being something of a wild child, I was a wee bit disappointed. Upon our arrival at my new home, My Heart's Fancy, I was given an impressive title and job - "Official Greeter and Guard Duck". As official guard and greeter of all who stop to shop here (a job of which I am truly worthy), I sit high atop a shelf where I can see and be seen. One shopper commented that I was well arranged. I'm not sure what that means, but I'm sure it attests to my good looks.

On occasion, I get to travel with my owner. I'll tell you the story of Bedlam Baseball when next I post. Until then, enjoy all that life has to offer you.