Holy Moly, today we had an adventure to say the least!
It's our last full day with the rental car so we decided to take one more road trip to a place called Sarteneja. It's a quaint little fishing village south of Corozal.
The day started out pretty uneventful, though it was raining pretty hard. That made the dirt roads less than stellar driving and added a good 45-minutes to an hour on our already 2-hour drive. But hey, that's OK. We don't have much of a schedule to stick to these days. ;) I should mention for Nate's sake that we're driving this crappy little Isuzu Rodeo that makes him really miss his truck (and therefore, the truck suspension). It's quite the adventure dodging pot holes in this thing... and it totally reminds me of my Jeep! LOL - ahh... now we both miss our old vehicles!
So we come bumping in to town, which has a few restaurants and a hotel or two. Not real busy. Probably less so since the weather was so soggy. We had lunch at a place called Crabby's near the pier. Guess what? They had no crab. So we shared a daily special (chicken and rice, actually pretty well seasoned) and go back out to survey the town. Found another little hole in the wall down the street and stopped to have a couple drinks. We met a wonderful Australian scientist who had brought along a box turtle he found while on his way there. Turns out he has this nature preserve-type land just outside of town. He told us all about the turtle and the various different species of animals we can find around Belize. It was really interesting.
We had spent a couple hours in town by now and were ready to head back to Corozal. We were about an hour into the drive when Cailey says - "I gotta pee!" So we pulled over for her to use nature's restroom. After Cailey finishes up, Nate hops back in the driver's seat, shifts it into gear and.... shifts it into gear AND... shifts it into... wait... WTF, is that shifter even working??? No? Well... shit.
Now, the car is stuck in park. Presumably, the shifter cable attached to the handle is not doing what it is supposed to. Car is still running - it just isn't going anywhere. We are in the middle of effing nowhere... on a dirt road.. with no cell service from either local or Verizon carriers. *gulp*
We look at each other and figure: Well, the rental guy said he would take care of us if this happened within a 2 hour drive of Corozal. We are well within that distance. Just need to get some cell service. So we pack up all our stuff, lock the car and start heading toward town. Granted, it's 11 kilometers away... that's a long way to walk and I was not looking forward to it.
Thankfully, this pickup drives by just as we are losing sight of the car and says they are going to Corozal - ooo yeeahh!! - there's our ride! Cailey got to ride for her first time in the back of a truck (I won't let her do that in the States... kinda no option today). As we are approaching that town 11km away, the truck pulls to the side. They have a flat tire! AHH! What?!? Today is not our day, right?! But they can go fill up the tire in town. Cool.
As we are waiting, I get in touch with the Rental Guy. Here's how that went..
Me: This is where we are, can you please pick us up and help us tow the car?
Him: I am out of town. You need to tow the car to a safe place.
Me: But you said you would help us out if we broke down? Where am I supposed to get a tow?? No no no..
Him: You are responsible for the car and need to tow the car to a safe place.
The town we are in is again, kinda in the middle of nowhere. And there's not like, a Meineke around the corner, ya know? Where the heck are we going to find anyone with a tow truck?? Nowhere, that's where.
So I start approaching anyone hanging out on the street as we are walking through town, asking if they know someone who has a rope and is willing to help. Or anyone who can fix the car. Spoke to a couple groups who recommended a local mechanic. Oh? Local mechanic, you say? That's good news!
A little while later, we get to Mr. Mechanic's house. I don't see a car... but we find him. His son has the truck. Go on back to your car and I'll come out there as soon as he's back. Umm... you promise, right? You''re not f*cking with me? *tears* Yeah, he promises. And back we go on our trek to the car again. Mr. Mechanic ends up right behind us and picks us up, thankfully taking us the 10km back to the car.
Once we are back at the car, he takes a look and - wouldn't you know - he was able to put the pin back in place on the gear shifter. We can get the car in Drive now!!! AIEEEEE!!! So. Outrageously. Happy. I hugged Mr. Mechanic. I was so over-the-moon! We followed him back to his house, where he set the pin in place more permanently, and were on our way back to Corozal again.
By this time, it's getting dark outside. And remember those pot holes from earlier? SO MUCH more fun in the dark!! (Sarcastic font, if you couldn't tell ;) )
We FINALLY made it home ... only 4 hours later than we expected.
A now, it's time for a drink. Oy vey!
It's our last full day with the rental car so we decided to take one more road trip to a place called Sarteneja. It's a quaint little fishing village south of Corozal.
The day started out pretty uneventful, though it was raining pretty hard. That made the dirt roads less than stellar driving and added a good 45-minutes to an hour on our already 2-hour drive. But hey, that's OK. We don't have much of a schedule to stick to these days. ;) I should mention for Nate's sake that we're driving this crappy little Isuzu Rodeo that makes him really miss his truck (and therefore, the truck suspension). It's quite the adventure dodging pot holes in this thing... and it totally reminds me of my Jeep! LOL - ahh... now we both miss our old vehicles!
 |
| Crazy bird ( wild hen?) |
So we come bumping in to town, which has a few restaurants and a hotel or two. Not real busy. Probably less so since the weather was so soggy. We had lunch at a place called Crabby's near the pier. Guess what? They had no crab. So we shared a daily special (chicken and rice, actually pretty well seasoned) and go back out to survey the town. Found another little hole in the wall down the street and stopped to have a couple drinks. We met a wonderful Australian scientist who had brought along a box turtle he found while on his way there. Turns out he has this nature preserve-type land just outside of town. He told us all about the turtle and the various different species of animals we can find around Belize. It was really interesting.
We had spent a couple hours in town by now and were ready to head back to Corozal. We were about an hour into the drive when Cailey says - "I gotta pee!" So we pulled over for her to use nature's restroom. After Cailey finishes up, Nate hops back in the driver's seat, shifts it into gear and.... shifts it into gear AND... shifts it into... wait... WTF, is that shifter even working??? No? Well... shit.
Now, the car is stuck in park. Presumably, the shifter cable attached to the handle is not doing what it is supposed to. Car is still running - it just isn't going anywhere. We are in the middle of effing nowhere... on a dirt road.. with no cell service from either local or Verizon carriers. *gulp*
We look at each other and figure: Well, the rental guy said he would take care of us if this happened within a 2 hour drive of Corozal. We are well within that distance. Just need to get some cell service. So we pack up all our stuff, lock the car and start heading toward town. Granted, it's 11 kilometers away... that's a long way to walk and I was not looking forward to it.
Thankfully, this pickup drives by just as we are losing sight of the car and says they are going to Corozal - ooo yeeahh!! - there's our ride! Cailey got to ride for her first time in the back of a truck (I won't let her do that in the States... kinda no option today). As we are approaching that town 11km away, the truck pulls to the side. They have a flat tire! AHH! What?!? Today is not our day, right?! But they can go fill up the tire in town. Cool.
As we are waiting, I get in touch with the Rental Guy. Here's how that went..
Me: This is where we are, can you please pick us up and help us tow the car?
Him: I am out of town. You need to tow the car to a safe place.
Me: But you said you would help us out if we broke down? Where am I supposed to get a tow?? No no no..
Him: You are responsible for the car and need to tow the car to a safe place.
The town we are in is again, kinda in the middle of nowhere. And there's not like, a Meineke around the corner, ya know? Where the heck are we going to find anyone with a tow truck?? Nowhere, that's where.
So I start approaching anyone hanging out on the street as we are walking through town, asking if they know someone who has a rope and is willing to help. Or anyone who can fix the car. Spoke to a couple groups who recommended a local mechanic. Oh? Local mechanic, you say? That's good news!
A little while later, we get to Mr. Mechanic's house. I don't see a car... but we find him. His son has the truck. Go on back to your car and I'll come out there as soon as he's back. Umm... you promise, right? You''re not f*cking with me? *tears* Yeah, he promises. And back we go on our trek to the car again. Mr. Mechanic ends up right behind us and picks us up, thankfully taking us the 10km back to the car.
Once we are back at the car, he takes a look and - wouldn't you know - he was able to put the pin back in place on the gear shifter. We can get the car in Drive now!!! AIEEEEE!!! So. Outrageously. Happy. I hugged Mr. Mechanic. I was so over-the-moon! We followed him back to his house, where he set the pin in place more permanently, and were on our way back to Corozal again.
By this time, it's getting dark outside. And remember those pot holes from earlier? SO MUCH more fun in the dark!! (Sarcastic font, if you couldn't tell ;) )
We FINALLY made it home ... only 4 hours later than we expected.
A now, it's time for a drink. Oy vey!
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