Belize and the Keys
Posted: April 1, 2006
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April 2006
Drew and Zach arrived in Belize City early April with their girlfriends, Mackenzie and River, for ten days. We managed to visit Cay Caulker, Turneffe Atoll, and many of the various islands. Plenty of diving, snorkeling, and reading. There was a time when doing our circumnavigation that it was necessary to be always moving with three very active sons. How times have changed--I was not prepared for them wanting to just relax and enjoy the sun and water, and read.
After they left we were off to Isla Mujeres in Mexico--our first time in Mexico where great tacos are a dollar and the Mexicans are very friendly. Isla Mujeres, overshadowed by Cancun and its high rise hotels and many cruise ships, is like an oasis in the desert. Cancun is perhaps one of the least interesting places we have been, but it does provide a staging ground to go inland to the many Mayan ruins. We enjoyed getting back to using our "terrific" Spanish after a month in Belize and its brand of English.
The two day sail to Key West was a challenging one with some very strange currents. The Yucatan Current reached five knots driving us northward and then we had almost 12 hours of adverse currents just north of Cuba and finally the beginning of the Gulf Stream.
Not a place to be in with easterlies which is about all it blows.
But Key West was worth the effort. Although the anchorage is marginal with lots of currents, we had a very good time--it is definitely a friendly place for the free spirit--nice to see all the old hippies my age that have settled into driving taxi cabs to make ends meet--I can think of a lot of worse ways to live.
Where to now?
Previous Log Entry: Guatemala with the Family and on to BelizeNext Log Entry: Maine or Bust!
Have questions or want to share experiences?
If you have questions about their voyaging, or would like to share similar experiences, email Cabot.
What is Cabot's Log?
The following log and pictures are from Cabot and Heidi aboard CHEWINK, their Lyman-Morse Seguin 49 which Cabot built in 1987 and has sailed more than 62,000 miles. The log follows them as they began their second circumnavigation in 2000 through their current adventures in the Caribbean.
Part VIII: Off Again!
10/05/2007
Part VII: Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, Mexico, Key West, Bahamas, Bermuda, Home
05/01/2006
04/01/2006
12/01/2005
Part VI: New Zealand, Dockwise, Golfito and Rio Dulce
05/01/2005
02/01/2005
01/01/2005
04/01/2004
Part V: New Zealand
03/15/2003
Part III: Society Islands, Western Samoa, Tonga & Fiji
11/07/2001
09/25/2001
09/11/2001
08/26/2001
Part IV: Through the South Pacific to New Zealand
04/17/2002
Part II: Marquesas and Tuamotus
05/25/2001
04/02/2001
03/15/2001
Part I: San Blas Islands to Galapagos
02/12/2001
02/03/2001
01/24/2000
12/13/1999
03/22/2010