February 2nd - continued!

Now, where were we? Oh yes, the river was rising and the bridge was washed out...

Our options were limited. The initial attempt to get the bus across the creek before the water rose had not been accomplished and we were told it would be hours before the waters would recede. It appeared we would be staying the night at Tumul K'in - likely in the student dorms - a daunting possibility. It would be cold and dark and wet. Bathroom facilities were minimal. Food was likely also to be scarce.

Esther Sanchez Sho the Managing Director of Tumul K'in was our angel, that day. Though her husband and children had crossed the bridge before it went out, Esther did not cross with them. "I am not going to leave you", she said, and she waited with us, helping us to figure out our next course of action. And it was Esther who offered there was one other possibility for getting out of Tumul K'in that day - another path back to Punta Gorda over very bad roads that could also be flooded. It was a chance we decided to take. One of our group would need to drive the bus and Esther would ride with us. Fearless Doug Rude accepted the assignment of driver. Once behind the wheel Doug discovered that we had only 1/4 tank of gas to last the 3-4 hour trip home. Off we went.


It was, indeed, a long and difficult drive. The dirt roads were full of water and deep puddles that were tough to navigate. We had to cross several bridges that were so narrow, they had us just hoping we would make it across. There were several times we came across other vehicles in areas of the road that were so narrow and muddy it seemed there would be no way for two to pass. But, somehow, it all worked out. With Doug Rude behind the wheel, none of us were really that worried...well, ok, maybe we were that worried. But there were some positives too. We were able to pass through new villages, waving to all of the children who would come to the doors of their thatched-roof houses when they heard our bus coming down the road.


We picked up some young teachers who lived in an outer village but needed a ride into town in order to get to work. We sang songs to pass the time, and to keep our minds off of our hungry tummies. And nearly 4 hours after the river washed out the bridge, the bus running on fumes, we finally made it out of the jungle and back to town. A true Belizean adventure.

Thank you, Esther!!

p.s. It did not escape us that this was Groundhog's Day...