Summer 2007 Road Trip Through the Windshield

We had such a great road trip this summer. Sirius Radio playing non-stop, beautiful scenery everywhere we turned. So we decided to share a little of what we saw. This was all made possible by Geoffrey on Katinka who spent a morning with us helping us be a little more technically inclined.

Thanksgiving at Mario's Marina

Once again Thanksgiving found us at Mario's Marina. We fed 50 and had a great time. For the first time we did NOT have the all night turkey watch. We were able to cook all 5 turkeys in the fire pit!

Life is good as you can see.

Sayaxche Trip

Headed into the jungle once again for a look at some Maya ruins. Our trip to Sayaxache was only the first leg. We then booked launchas for 2 seperate river trips to Aquateca and Ciebal.

Eleven Gringos hit the Peten in search of adventure.

Sometimes when traveling in Central America you don't get TV in your room. You don't get HOT water in your bathroom, even if it is private and sometimes there is only ONE restaurant in town worth eating in!

That town is Sayaxche. So what does Sayaxche have? It has a ferry that connects it to the highway. This ferry is powered by outboard motors. If an 18 wheeler is on board it's job is to drive on fast and stop quickly just at the other end to free the barge from the land and get things started. Then as the barge is crossing the river it backs up so the the front end isn't too heavy in the front to land on the other side.

So...when your hotel has a balcony and the Tienda across the street has beer and liquor and soft drinks you can spend hours watching life. The ferry crossings and rating the truck drivers ability to "push" the ferry off. Some guys are pros...one quick stop and their off! Others took 2 - 4 times. There there are the motorcycle riders who don't want to pay the ferry fee and lift and cajole their bikes into launcha taxis for the trip across. Apparently the taxis charge less. The kids fishing and then the man bathing in the river and being ever so modest. Clothes being washed and beat on rocks. The turkeys (not the gringos) walking up the road, the barge like launchas being loaded with maize. They will travel to inland Mexico totally by river from Guatemala.

We may not have had hot water or TV, but we had the best show in town. The locals were friendly, the food was good and the beer was COLD. What more could you ask for????

Is Confession Good for the Soul

Some interesting events are happening on the Rio Dulce. We have some new "Missionaries" here on the river. They are in a 70 ton Motor Yacht and if you read the blog it is just one plea for money after the other.

Their activities have ignited a fire storm of blogs and bulletin board postings. It is "THE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION". For those of you that know me, yes, I am involved. I have been on and off my soap box several times.

If you are interested you can view the website at: http://www.windword.ca/

Last night two tourist launchas had a collision on the river just after dark. One tourist is missing. The other eleven people who went in the water were pulled out safely. It was brought to our attention that the "Missionary" was in the forefront of coordination for the search of the missing man. Yes, as stated that is what missionaries do. It is also what everyday good people do without being asked and without asking for money.

I find it interesting that Jesus was able to spread His Word without donation. It is we, who can't seem to find a way to spread His Word without constantly asking for donations. When I give money I want an accounting. I try to find out as much as I can about the organization that I am donating my money to to spend on the poor ,the needy, etc.


I believe that the important thing is not so much what you do, as why you do it. The pre-suppositions that motivate us are the true motivations. It is easier to fool the public than to fool ourselves. We do it on a daily basis using varies methods: denial, rationalizations, transference, projection, etc.



So here is my confession. My motives are not always honest!



Just last week I had the opportunity to help the owner of Mario's Marina take 2 of the employees to the City for shopping and some discussions about costumer service. It was a great idea and it all worked out well. They were able to see what was available at cheaper prices for the restaurant and the tienda. We had a good time and I am sure that they had a good time also.


Here is were it gets sticky...several of the marina clients had opinions about the trip. Some thought it was a good idea, others did not. We all discussed how great it was going to be to "show" them the big city for the first time. We were going to have them stay in a hotel that was North American. WE WERE GOING TO IMPRESS THEM!



We had good intentions. But, as a very wise woman has told me on several occasions, (thanks Mom) The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions. What we did was a good thing. We are now developing leadership skills and helping our staff grow and take more responsibilities. We have empowered them and you can see the results in them and in those that they work with and supervise. It was a good thing. I question the chest puffing that went on in my heart for that brief moment. "Look at me, aren't I a good person." Really I am a good person most of the time, but sometimes I let myself down and have to look at myself in the mirror.



I looked really hard today as it is my Birthday and what better time to evaluate who you are and who you want to be. Overall, I am pleased. I still believe that people are good and they want to do the best they can. I also believe that sometimes charlatans can do good things. It doesn't change that fact that they are charlatans. Just like my lapse in my motivation it doesn't make me a bad person.