Belize | Travels on a Motorbike

Posts Tagged ‘belize’

Falling off a motorbike may have held up my plans to fly a plane (London)

Monday, July 26th, 2010

All things considered. This summer is going pretty well. London is warm and sunny. Friends and family are well and in good spirits. The skateboard ramp we built in Peru in December 2009 got a 6 page write-up in Concrete Wave skateboard magazine (available in all good newsagents/skate shops). I’m also really enjoying my flying lessons but a potential problem has come to light.

To obtain your Private Pilot’s License you have to have flown at least 45 hours (a proportion of which are solo), pass a number of theory and practical exams and pass a CAA medical examination. The flying lessons with EFG Flying School, at Biggin Hill, had been going well so before committing the next chunk of money I decided to get my CAA medical examination completed. I didn’t want to pay for a lot more lessons and then find out I couldn’t fly solo for medical reasons. I’m fairly fit and healthy so I didn’t think it would be a problem.

Unfortunately I may have been too honest when I completed the pre-medical questionnaire. Within the multitude of ‘yes/no’ questions about my family medical history, previous operations, etc. they threw one in about head injury or concussion. Not thinking much about the consequences I mentioned my motorbike accident in Belize last year, due to the head trauma I received. Those that read the blog may remember that the accident was in the middle of nowhere and although I was seen by some extremely well qualified doctors they weren’t Belizian and there are no medical notes, scans, x-rays, nada… It was only as I was relaying snippets of this information to the doctor during my medical and I could see his face dropping further with every new detail that I wished I’d just answered ‘no’ in the first place. To cut a long story short, he’s going to have to refer my case to the CAA and ask them for advice. So what should have been a formality (I am otherwise fit and healthy) might turn into a show-stopper or potentially costly round of brain scans. Seems that nothing is ever easy…

It wasn’t a totally fruitless visit though. In what was a rather surreal moment during the medical I discovered some interesting facts about my old school house-master. Bear with me on this. Part of the medical involved an ECG scan, where the doctor stuck 8 electrode-pads to my body (4 of which were on my chest). The hairiness of my chest meant that before he could stick the pads, the doctor had to cut away some of the hair to make 4 bald patches. He must have thought, as hairdressers do, that cutting hair is a good time for small talk so he asked where I went to school. Turns out he went to school with, and was best mates with, my old house-master (15 years before he was my house-master). I also now have an inkling why my house-master was so good about all my misbehaviour at school. Seems that he was quite a tearaway in his time. Who would have guessed it?!

I’m hoping we can get this ‘previous head trauma’ thing sorted, especially as I had already started building the website for planning this adventure and have sunk a fair bit into flying text books, lessons and the medical test. Guess I’ll have to wait and see.

Tags: accident, belize, biggin hill, CAA, examination, flying, flying lesson, magazine, medical, motorbike accident, peru, skate ramp, skateboard
Posted in england | No Comments »

Cigars and scuba diving (Roatan – 10,587 miles)

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

I had no idea so much work went into making cigars. Some of the tobacco is dried and aged for 5 years and almost everything was made on site. From sorting and drying the leaves to making the cigar boxes from scratch. Most of the work is done by hand or antique machinery. The rows and rows of workers, either standing or sitting at tables or machines did make me feel like I was observing a Victorian sweat shop at times but I guess that´s as developed as it´s gets here in the cigar industry and some jobs might be better done by hand. Would have loved to take some photos but unfortunately company policy did not allow it. Have a look on Google images.

Currently on Roatan to do a bit of scuba diving with Anna (from Ambergris Caye) and I have to say that West End in Roatan, Honduras is much nicer place to stay and dive than San Pedro in Ambergris Caye, Belize. More relaxed atmosphere. Prettier location. People hassle you less and the diving has been awesome.

On the ride up to La Ceiba (where I caught the ferry to the island) I was stopped and checked no less than 8 times by police or military road blocks. I think they were beefing up security in the run up to the Independence day celebrations on the 15th Sept. The bike couldn´t come with me on the ferry so I´ve left it with the owner of a restaurant I ate in one night in La Ceiba (on the mainland). It´s a longish story involving a cheap hotel, a Honduras vs. Mexico football match, me eating grilled bulls´ testicles and an offer of help with motorbike storage. My gut instinct hasn´t let me down in the past and I hope this won´t be the first time. I guess I´ll find out when I return at the weekend.

Tags: ambergris, belize, cigar, cigars, honduras, hotel, roatan, scuba, scuba diving, sweat shop
Posted in honduras | No Comments »

Finding a new motorbike helmet in Belize rather tricky!

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

Rosa is Guatemalan and she spent the morning showing me places to visit and avoid, which is funny because she and Maria have also been trying to persuade me not to go further south. Rosa has also been helping me track down a new motorcycle helmet. Safe (US DOT approved) helmets are few and far between in Belize. People seem to be happy if it just looks like a helmet. I could buy one here for the equivalent of US$15. Having said that, most people ride around with their helmet clipped to the back of the seat anyway so I guess it doesn’t matter how strong it is. My initial search for a helmet was a disaster. An hour to Dangriga on the bus, only to find the cheap Chinese helmets. Then 2 hours into Belmopan because a Kawasaki dealer told me he had a DOT approved helmet in stock. Only to discover that although his computer said ‘yes’ his stock room said ‘no’. I should have got him to actually get the helmet from the stockroom whilst I was on the phone. Back to Lost Reef Resort empty handed after a whole day on the buses. The second attempt will be Spanish Lookout (4 hours away). Wolf’s Garage, in Spanish Lookout, assure me that they have them in stock. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Winston has kindly offered me a lift with him and his kids so we’ll incorporate my shopping trip with a bit of sightseeing in San Ignacio, near Spanish Lookout.

The other option was to buy the exact same make, model and size of my current helmet in the USA and John (the owner of Lost Reef) would pick it up when he popped back there in the week. Unfortunately it appears that they don’t import my make of Italian helmet (Airoh) into the USA. Nothing is ever easy!

Postscript: Finally found a DOT approved helmet, at Wolf’s Garage in Spanish Lookout, Belize. Motorcyclist traveling through Central America, if you need to buy a helmet go to Wolf’s Garage in Spanish Lookout (phone: 501-823-0348 email: cwolfe@spanishlookout.bz) or you can try the Yamaha dealer in Belize City. In fact, if you need any parts or tyres I reckon your best bet is to start at Spanish Lookout.

Find out more about Ollie’s trip at his Greasy Sprocket website.

If you’re on facebook and you want to see any photos then visit the actual blog here.

You can also see photos from Ollie’s trip in in his Greasy Spocket Photo Gallery.

Become a fan of Greasy Sprocket on facebook

Tags: belize, central america, DOT approved, guatemalan, helmet, motorcycle, motorcycle helmet, san ignacio, spanish lookout
Posted in belize | No Comments »

Recovery is going well at the Lost Reef Resort, Placencia, Belize

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

A while ago someone told me that everything happens for a reason. Regardless if whether that’s true, I know that I couldn’t have picked a better place (away from home) to have a motorbike accident. Recovery in the Lost Reef Resort is idyllic and Lisa and John (the owners) are some of the most friendly and generous people I have met. Two world class doctors were staying nearby so I was seen immediately by the best of the medical profession. Maria and Rosa work here and they are treating me like a little brother. They’re also helping me with my Spanish, although I don’t know how good it was before the accident. Bill, the next door neighbor, has a lot of mechanical experience and is helping me fix my bike and luggage. It also seems that things are booming on the Placencia peninsula, so you never know I might have even found a good investment opportunity. (I’m going to look at some land next week!)

A couple of days ago Maria took me for a walk to see her family. Parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, the whole lot… The ladies were making tamales, which we later cooked over a fire in the garden and ate. Although many of the family could speak English they patiently helped me through introductions, explanations and general chit-chat in Spanish because they knew I needed help remembering and practicing the language. I also received a lesson in Belizian fruits and coconuts in their garden. Did you know there are three types of coconut in Belize (green, yellow and red). Maria’s cousin, Steve, then showed me how they catch and prepare lobster. I was offered a trip out in the boat to set lobster shades but unfortunately that was vetoed by the doctors in my family, due to the risk of hitting my head again. (Probably a sensible decision.) Maria’s mother said the swelling needed to be massaged out of my ankle, which we have started with amazing results. After a just a couple of days all the bruising has gone and my ankle is almost back to normal. There’s something to be said for mothers’ remedies. She also sympathizes with my mum and can’t understand why anyone would want to ride a motorbike to Argentina! And if I’m honest, there have been times this week when Argentina has felt a long, long way away. Got to get back on the horse though. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and all that.

Maria then walked me back the the beach resort before she started work that evening. So bear in mind that she did all of this for me in her afternoon off. I hope that gives you some idea of the generosity of the people here. And this is just one of the many ways they are all making my stay here as comfortable as possible.

Find out more about Ollie’s trip at his Greasy Sprocket website.

If you’re on facebook and you want to see any photos then visit the actual blog here.

You can also see photos from Ollie’s trip in in his Greasy Spocket Photo Gallery.

Tags: accident, beach resort, belize, coconut, language, lost reef resort, motorbike, motorbike accident, placencia, spanish
Posted in belize | 1 Comment »

When it actually happens you don’t have any last thoughts! (Lost Reef Resort – 7,884 miles)

Monday, July 20th, 2009

Being constantly confused is frightening. I now understand what my grandma (with dementia) is going through and I really feel for her. Today I woke up in a strange place and had no idea how I got there. At first I thought I’d got really drunk and found my way here. Then as bits started to come back I realised it wasn’t the drink that hit me but the road. A guy called Winston found me wandering around a dirt road near Placencia, Belize. He stopped and apparently I asked him where I was. He pointed to the spot on my map and I then said, “No. What country am I in?” At that point he realised something was wrong and he brought me to Lisa and John’s beach resort (www.lostreefresort.com) in Riversdale, Belize. It appears that I either hit a rock or mud, came off my bike and hit my head pretty hard. Thank God for bike helmets and body armour. More importantly, thank God for people like Winston, John, Lisa, Bill, the doctors that treated me, Maria, Rosie and everyone else at the Lost Reef Resort, Belize. These people have taken me in, had me seen by world class doctors and are doing everything they can to make my stay here as enjoyable and comfortable as possible. I can’t tell you anything about the accident because I’m still pretty confused about a lot of things and my short term memory is shot. I’m told it will eventually return but it’s a matter of time. The good news is that I banged myself up very close to paradise, so the convalescence is an enjoyable experience.

I’ll fill you in soon on how these people are looking after me and what they are doing to help my body and mind recover.

In the meantime I need to reiterate how important proper motorcycle equipment is.

If I hadn’t been wearing motorcycle boots I could have lost my right ankle.
If I hadn’t been wearing knee and shin guards I could ave lost my right kneecap or perhaps leg below the knee.
If I hadn’t been wearing a proper (certified) helmet I would not be writing this now.

It doesn’t matter how hot it is or inconvenient the motorbike kit is to wear. It’s definitely worth it. A few pictures of the bike. (No idea if I took the one of my bike on the road!)

And a final note to my mother. Sorry mum. That was probably the worst 60th birthday present a son could give to his mother. I’ll try to be more careful in the future!