Cave Branch Zip Line & Cave Tubing

Sunday, July 25th - This day is bitter sweet. Today we leave for San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. We've been looking forward to visiting the coast, snokeling, eating seafood, and exploring another area of this beautiful country. BUT, we are sad to leave the Jungle and our new friends Tom & Marge Gallagher. The plan was to have Tom drive us to the Marine Terminal to catch the ferry and stop at the Cave Branch Zipline/Cave Tubing Operation - Tom would wait while we did these activities. They decided they would both come and do the activities with us - which made us very happy - more time with Tom & Marge! If you've ever met someone you instantly liked, trusted, admired and respected and then had to part company, not knowing when you'll see each other again, then you'll know how we were feeling.

We packed our belongings, Marge packed a lunch, we piled into the pickup and headed for Cave Branch. Tom invited Rayne to ride in the back of the truck with him where they set up on the edge and hung on as we bumped down the dirt road to Georgeville. They got inside when we reached the Western Highway. That was a real treat for Rayne, as kids can't do that in the states! Upon arrival we paid, signed NO waivers, and walked down to get geared up to do the Zip Line.

Edwin and Cesar were our guides - they showed us how to do it - challenging us to zip upside down, as they did! Seven Zips later, we were done all too fast! The zips were through thick jungle and it was beautiful and exhilerating! After zipping, we stopped at the picnic tables under the jungle trees and ate the nice lunch Marge had packed for us - fresh fruit, fresh made bread, cooked shredded chicken, slices of avacado, tomotoes & onions, coffee cake and brownies - very good!

We changed into our swim suits and Tom got us a guide, Fernando, and he took us off to tube the caves. We hiked for ~45 minutes while Fernando pointed out all of the flora and rock formations - I must admit, because we had had guides on our other tours, we felt we already knew what he was telling us - he was doing a good job and had a sweet sense of humor! We got into the river just above the first cave, formed a chain, and Fernando paddled and guided us through. The cave was huge and so long that you needed your headlamp to light your way. There were some formations we silently floated passed - a little eerie! We came out of that cave and went over a small rapid. Fernando did all the navigating and made it a really easy float! We went through another cave that had a large hole in the side it where another creek flowed out of the Crytal Cave into the river we were on. It was all very pretty. No pictures of this, yet!

We got out and rushed to change clothes and get on the road to make the 4:30 pm Water Taxi (we had missed the 3:00 departure we were suppose to make). We made it there at 4:20 - rushed in, bought tickets and hopped on the Ferry. It made for a quick goodbye with Tom & Marge - that made it easier for me! It was a very quiet ferry ride for the Joneses...