benedmonson
Disabled Adventurer
Jerry we are have a really good time and pretty much eating and drinking our way through Guatemala and Belize! This morning we had a big ole' helping of "Fry Jacks!" Yummy Belize cuisine.
Team Equipt's "Central America Expedition"
- Thread starter benedmonson
- Start date
Jerry we are have a really good time and pretty much eating and drinking our way through Guatemala and Belize! This morning we had a big ole' helping of "Fry Jacks!" Yummy Belize cuisine.
benedmonson
Disabled Adventurer
Team Equipt's "Expedition Mundo Maya"
just as quick update as we got into Belize yesterday afternoon. We had to spend a lot of time at the border getting our trucks and our dogs in. Long story short the border guards/Quarantine BAHA People decided that we should have gotten our dogs landing papers previous to our arrival. They were not going to let them in, and then they called "The Guy." This is the guy who can make things happen here in Belize and just takes American Dollars.:sombrero: $50 USD later per dog and we were in the country, but not before the other border guard searched our fridges for a second time and took all of the beer!:Wow1: So over the course of searching our now 4 rigs he accumulated about 50 beers and limes. There is going to be quite a large party on the gringos very soon....
Even though we were scammed a little, I'm very glad to be in the country. Below are a few images from the last few days.
Tomorrow we start the trip with No Limit X so there will be lots of actions shots to come!
Our vehicles parked in front of an old church ruin with Agua Volcano in the background.
Another view of Agua Volcano, thought I had better start shooting some images of the trucks!:ylsmoke:
This town is full of these kinds of church ruins, I would love to have time to explore everyone of them!
This was our cabin on the Rio Dulce last night. We stayed at Tijax where you have to walk about one quarter of a mile on suspended bridges just to get to the camp. It was fun watching our pups do this!
Our crew having a drink at the boathouse at Tijax.
Now our adventure really begins......
just as quick update as we got into Belize yesterday afternoon. We had to spend a lot of time at the border getting our trucks and our dogs in. Long story short the border guards/Quarantine BAHA People decided that we should have gotten our dogs landing papers previous to our arrival. They were not going to let them in, and then they called "The Guy." This is the guy who can make things happen here in Belize and just takes American Dollars.:sombrero: $50 USD later per dog and we were in the country, but not before the other border guard searched our fridges for a second time and took all of the beer!:Wow1: So over the course of searching our now 4 rigs he accumulated about 50 beers and limes. There is going to be quite a large party on the gringos very soon....
Even though we were scammed a little, I'm very glad to be in the country. Below are a few images from the last few days.
Tomorrow we start the trip with No Limit X so there will be lots of actions shots to come!
Our vehicles parked in front of an old church ruin with Agua Volcano in the background.
Another view of Agua Volcano, thought I had better start shooting some images of the trucks!:ylsmoke:
This town is full of these kinds of church ruins, I would love to have time to explore everyone of them!
This was our cabin on the Rio Dulce last night. We stayed at Tijax where you have to walk about one quarter of a mile on suspended bridges just to get to the camp. It was fun watching our pups do this!
Our crew having a drink at the boathouse at Tijax.
Now our adventure really begins......
TemboTusk
Rendezvous Con
Fry Jack! Not sure what that is, but it reminds me of my favorite snack while overlanding through Africa. Every stop we would try to find a road side shack that sold scrambled eggs mixed with French fries. It sounds simple and weird, but it was delicious and the locals just ate it up!
1leglance
2007 Expedition Trophy Champion, Overland Certifie
wow when you guys do add pics you don't mess around.
Great sounding trip so far and nice to see that ya'll have slowed down and are really getting a feel for Central America...I love almost every country down there.
Keep up the report as we are all hooked.
Also looking forward to some info on what you are happy with & what not gear wise.
Great sounding trip so far and nice to see that ya'll have slowed down and are really getting a feel for Central America...I love almost every country down there.
Keep up the report as we are all hooked.
Also looking forward to some info on what you are happy with & what not gear wise.
I remember how you were saying this was a working trip and the hard work of testing product was going to overshadow the trip......I was just wondering what products were being given the hardcore Equip test here? I looked at everything and for the life of me I just can't find any product testing going on....how will I know what to buy? Value wise of course. You folks do look worn out I must say! Help me out I'm missing something I'm sure....:coffeedrink:just as quick update as we got into Belize yesterday afternoon.
Our crew having a drink at the boathouse at Tijax.
Now our adventure really begins......
benedmonson
Disabled Adventurer
Team Equipt's "Expedition Mundo Maya"
Jan. 14th we started our trip with No Limit Expeditions here in Belize. The Rainforest and Ruins Trip started at Pooks Hill Jungle Lodge just outside of San Ignacio. During our 10 day trip we will have 3 nights of Luxury Lodging at very high end resorts, not really roughing it are we?:ylsmoke:
That's O.K. because in between those stays we are deep in the jungle living with things that want to make us a part of it. A nice hot shower isn't bad every 3 or 4 days, at least my wife thinks so!
Jackson had to ask Paul one more time if he could go on the trip...... later this day he and Dezi were delivered to a very nice British lady who is keeping them in her home. On a side note we did have to sign a form that if our puppies were bitten by a snake or jaguar she was not responsible.:Wow1:
We got things rolling right off the bat with a descent water crossing at Barton Creek. It was moving rather fast with all of the rain we have had, but it wasn't more or close to what the trucks could handle.
After crossing the creek we followed it up the bank for quite a while before turning and going up again.
Later on in the day we made it to Rio On Pools in the Mountain Pine Ridge Cayo District and always have some weary travelers soaking in them. Although they are not hot springs they bring a welcome reprieve on these hot and muggy days. They are spring fed from the ground and have a series of pools and falls that go on for quite some distance.
This particular weary traveler A.K.A. Paul May of Equipt had a blast. He was seen sliding down falls and even performed a canon-ball for the video.:snorkel:
These young girls were staying in a hostel down the road and made a big splash with the locals.
Here is where one of the famous shots from the 95' Camel Trophy La Ruta Maya were made. It looks a little different when the water isn't flowing over it.
Up next will be Caracol Ruins.
Jan. 14th we started our trip with No Limit Expeditions here in Belize. The Rainforest and Ruins Trip started at Pooks Hill Jungle Lodge just outside of San Ignacio. During our 10 day trip we will have 3 nights of Luxury Lodging at very high end resorts, not really roughing it are we?:ylsmoke:
That's O.K. because in between those stays we are deep in the jungle living with things that want to make us a part of it. A nice hot shower isn't bad every 3 or 4 days, at least my wife thinks so!
Jackson had to ask Paul one more time if he could go on the trip...... later this day he and Dezi were delivered to a very nice British lady who is keeping them in her home. On a side note we did have to sign a form that if our puppies were bitten by a snake or jaguar she was not responsible.:Wow1:
We got things rolling right off the bat with a descent water crossing at Barton Creek. It was moving rather fast with all of the rain we have had, but it wasn't more or close to what the trucks could handle.
After crossing the creek we followed it up the bank for quite a while before turning and going up again.
Later on in the day we made it to Rio On Pools in the Mountain Pine Ridge Cayo District and always have some weary travelers soaking in them. Although they are not hot springs they bring a welcome reprieve on these hot and muggy days. They are spring fed from the ground and have a series of pools and falls that go on for quite some distance.
This particular weary traveler A.K.A. Paul May of Equipt had a blast. He was seen sliding down falls and even performed a canon-ball for the video.:snorkel:
These young girls were staying in a hostel down the road and made a big splash with the locals.
Here is where one of the famous shots from the 95' Camel Trophy La Ruta Maya were made. It looks a little different when the water isn't flowing over it.
Up next will be Caracol Ruins.
benedmonson
Disabled Adventurer
Team Equipt's "Expedition Mundo Maya"
The next morning we were at the Caracol Ruins early and had the place to ourselves until almost 10 A.M. Caracol is said to be the largest archeological site in all of Belize. The acropolis which is the main structure at Caracol is the largest man made thing in all of Belize at over 140 feet above the jungle floor. If you have been here that isn't saying very much, this is a small country filled with really small things.: )Excavation didn't start until about 1950 and most of the work and clearing has been done since the mid 1980's. In 650 A.D. the urban area of Caracol covered a larger area than present day Belize City. This site is located on a very bad dirt/muddy rut filled road that requires a military escort to the ruins. When you get within 8 or 10 miles of them the road turns into a two lane paved highway, very weird. On the day we were here there was a Hi-Ace Toyota Van getting pulled up a muddy hill by a Hilux who apparently was tired of it blocking the dirt single track. BTW, the guards let us go without the military escort as they were just starting to eat breakfast.
Our team along with the NLX guys got to the ruins early and took advantage of being the only ones there.
The steps are even and well made here, but very steep!
Some of the details you will see throughout the ruins, they have surely been reconstructed.
I think we were midway up the acropolis for this image. It is built as a generational pyramid. Meaning one was built on top of the other several times.
The view from the top. You can see forever on a clear day.
From the top looking westward.
More Mayan hieroglyphics. Caracol has more than any ruins in Belize.
One of the many Stella's that you can view here at Caracol.
Overall this was a great day and now on to the Monkey River Trail!
The next morning we were at the Caracol Ruins early and had the place to ourselves until almost 10 A.M. Caracol is said to be the largest archeological site in all of Belize. The acropolis which is the main structure at Caracol is the largest man made thing in all of Belize at over 140 feet above the jungle floor. If you have been here that isn't saying very much, this is a small country filled with really small things.: )Excavation didn't start until about 1950 and most of the work and clearing has been done since the mid 1980's. In 650 A.D. the urban area of Caracol covered a larger area than present day Belize City. This site is located on a very bad dirt/muddy rut filled road that requires a military escort to the ruins. When you get within 8 or 10 miles of them the road turns into a two lane paved highway, very weird. On the day we were here there was a Hi-Ace Toyota Van getting pulled up a muddy hill by a Hilux who apparently was tired of it blocking the dirt single track. BTW, the guards let us go without the military escort as they were just starting to eat breakfast.
Our team along with the NLX guys got to the ruins early and took advantage of being the only ones there.
The steps are even and well made here, but very steep!
Some of the details you will see throughout the ruins, they have surely been reconstructed.
I think we were midway up the acropolis for this image. It is built as a generational pyramid. Meaning one was built on top of the other several times.
The view from the top. You can see forever on a clear day.
From the top looking westward.
More Mayan hieroglyphics. Caracol has more than any ruins in Belize.
One of the many Stella's that you can view here at Caracol.
Overall this was a great day and now on to the Monkey River Trail!
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benedmonson
Disabled Adventurer
Team Equipt's "Expedition Mundo Maya"
FINALLY SOME MUD!!!:wings: Yesterday and today we ran the Monkey River Trail and camped at a jaguar research institute. The trail is approx. 6 miles long and since it is the wet season we only made it about 2 miles. We were halted by intermittent downpours and darkness. This is not the kind of place that you want to let your guard down as it is very close quarters with jungle things!
James Brown and Graham Jackson piloting the NLX Defenders down a very rutted and muddy track.
Our "Lucy" just doing what she does best!
Our new friends Jennifer and David from New Orleans. They seemed to have found a ditch in one of the NLX Defenders.
From the front and very stuck! This is called "Angela's Ditch" I'm told.....
Mr. Graham Jackson taking care of business.
our ditch diggers taking a minute to look very Vogue in the jungle.
There was no stopping Paul's 100 Series in the mud even with her expedition loaded.
A camp shot with the new RUD Mud Chains on our 80 Serie's from wheels. Paul used our other two for his rear tires. We chose to go this route since we have all terrain tires on and it worked very well.
A very pregger's friendly spider that decided to hangout under our truck.
A little motion blur and not a photoshop trick!
Beverly drove this entire route in the quagmire of mud and didn't even rip the awning off, you go girl!
FINALLY SOME MUD!!!:wings: Yesterday and today we ran the Monkey River Trail and camped at a jaguar research institute. The trail is approx. 6 miles long and since it is the wet season we only made it about 2 miles. We were halted by intermittent downpours and darkness. This is not the kind of place that you want to let your guard down as it is very close quarters with jungle things!
James Brown and Graham Jackson piloting the NLX Defenders down a very rutted and muddy track.
Our "Lucy" just doing what she does best!
Our new friends Jennifer and David from New Orleans. They seemed to have found a ditch in one of the NLX Defenders.
From the front and very stuck! This is called "Angela's Ditch" I'm told.....
Mr. Graham Jackson taking care of business.
our ditch diggers taking a minute to look very Vogue in the jungle.
There was no stopping Paul's 100 Series in the mud even with her expedition loaded.
A camp shot with the new RUD Mud Chains on our 80 Serie's from wheels. Paul used our other two for his rear tires. We chose to go this route since we have all terrain tires on and it worked very well.
A very pregger's friendly spider that decided to hangout under our truck.
A little motion blur and not a photoshop trick!
Beverly drove this entire route in the quagmire of mud and didn't even rip the awning off, you go girl!
benedmonson
Disabled Adventurer
Fortunately we have not had to use any of our recovery gear yet, but that will change shortly I'm sure! As for ditching the winch that is something I wouldn't personally do, but to each his own. We do not carry the high lift jack anymore due to its weight, size for storing and safety concerns. If you are one who is very good and knows the ins and outs of the high lift then it is a great tool. We utilize our winch with synthetic line of course and MAXXTRAX.
This is just my personal opinion and in no way a challenge to someone or debate on the high lift.
Great pics Ben! Can't wait to see more!
What are the temperatures like down there this time of year?
What are the temperatures like down there this time of year?