Central America Homeward Bound
by Gil on Mar.26, 2015, under Flying
Our return starts in Zancudao lodge with early wake up, we must eat breakfast early and be on the boats by seven A.M.,because the tides are unusually big and we could be stranded if we leave later. Weather looks good and we are off to the airport. John and Peter have the flights organized with the group leaving for the flight through Mexico leaving first and the Key West contingent will go last to Belize City to overnight before the last legs.
- Take off
- Ready to go
- Getting organized
- Gil, Joyce and Mike
The one hour and twenty minute flight to Liberia, Costa Rica is routine and we are refueled and through customs in a reasonable time and off for Belize City. We have a good view of the volcano’s around Managua Nicaragua, but in broken clouds over the mountain’s and scattered into Belize. We see the second largest Barrier reef in the world on approach.
- Volcano Nicaragua
- Belize Barrier Reef
Refuel, tie down the airplane and our handler Rudy has us through customs and into a cab for our hotel in short order. We shower, time for a cocktail before dinner. Its Friday night, happy hour, with a very loud band, and this must be the place because its loaded with locals. We find a quiet spot to have our drink before dinner then have a early dinner at the hotel. Next morning we are back at the airport and Rudy has our flight plan filed, we clear customs quickly, and are in the air by 8:00 AM local time. We start to notice some electrical anomaly’s on climb out and for a moment we think we may have to turn back. We cross check and convince ourselves that we are getting a false failure indicator, a little more adventure to end our trip. The weather is good and we get a good look at Cuba on our way by, while talking to Havana Center.
We have decided if we can clear customs quickly in Key West we are going to refuel and fly on to Hilton Head since the weather forecast Sunday is not good. We make the fast turn around and are back in the air and three hours later touch down at our home airport, tired but happy to have completed a great adventure together. We covered thirty five hundred ninety miles in eleven flights over an eight day period. We reward ourselves with big grilled steaks and a good bottle of wine.
As we enjoyed our dinner and discuss our trip, we conclude, life is so much better when you embrace adventure.