Bella Calls Out the Coast Guard

"Hardley Davison" Born to Ride Slow!

Yesterday was Wednesday, and Wednesday means fishing! Tom and I met up with our friend Obby at his house and started off for the secret spot about five miles south. Then we turned around because Obby forgot the tackle box. A few miles later we turned around again because we forgot the ice. Then we stopped to take pictures of an enormous eagle's nest on top of a phone pole. (That picture is not included today, because Tom threw his brand-new Nikon camera into the ocean the other day and the camera-phone picture looks like an enormous phone pole.) Soon, we were wading out to the abandoned, hurricane-damaged dock, to start fishing. That's our buddy Obby to the left. (He likes to fish sitting down.)

After an hour or so, a huge Belizean Coast Guard vessel approached and someone hailed out, "Pull up your lines," as seven men in uniform jumped onto the dock. Tom had told me before that it was perfectly legal to fish off a dock in Belize without a fishing license, but I was having my doubts. These guys were not messing around.

These guys were SERIOUS!

Fortunately, for us, they were there to actually defend the coast! Brusque, but pleasant enough, they waded onto the shore and patrolled for drug drops. That's right, you heard me! They didn't tell me, but a reliable source (Obby) said drug runners drop shipments of cocaine and marijuana off the coast and let the currents wash them to shore. Then their druggie compadres go out, usually in the early morning, and harvest the shipments. Our red snapper and cooler of Belikins weren't targeted and weren't confiscated! Whew! 


Obby wanted to do some night fishing later, but Old Man Tom crashed and opted to stay home. (That was fine with me!) Shelley and I had a great time with new friend Jason D. as we sat on the front porch where Shelley had rearranged the furniture. We told stories and laughed and ate as we looked out over the garden and the Caribbean. "Living the Dream!"

We're having lunch today at Obby's house! That's not the menu from their restaurant, but switch out the french fries for beans and rice, and you've got the picture! 


Y'all come visit. We'll go fishing and eat fresh fish and trade funny stories. You're gonna love Belize!