Slowly settling back into the Great White North after nine days spent exploring Belize and running barefoot around Ambergris Caye.
Who am I kidding? Maybe not settling back in so well. The wanderlust is alive and well.
This trip was something of a kamikaze dive. I was sent down to cover—using both the camera and the written word—an Orvis fashion photo shoot. Add in a last-minute commercial shoot for El Pescador, research and meetings with international conservation NGO Rare, and the flu from hell, and it got a little bit busy.
Just the way I like it (well, sans the flu).
After a night in Belize City and location pre-scouting at Mayan ruins and a jungle camp, the small pre-scout team (myself, Orvis creative director Scott and freelance producer Brandy) hopped a plane to San Pedro and then a boat through the turquoise waters to the El Pescador dock.
Stepped off the dock into, wouldn’t you know it, a sea of familiar faces. And some faces I had yet to put to familiar names. El Pescador was celebrating its 40th anniversary, and a host of the fly-fishing elite had gathered to celebrate. I was stoked to see friend Kirk Deeter hanging on the dock, and finally was able to meet Steve Seinberg, one of the geniuses behind Southern Culture on the Fly, who I’m working with for a feature in the next issue.
The Yellow Dog crew was also wrapping up their visit, and it was good to catch up on the latest Bozeman news. Orvis Adventures also had three Vermont-based folks on the ground leading a trip, and it was entertaining to see some familiar faces in an unfamiliar setting.
Spirits were high the first night as guests and guides alike participated in a casting competition.
And, once the photo crew arrived (chiefly from NYC), it was fascinating to watch the separation of anglers versus fashion industry personnel.
It was the beginning of a promising week, and I was damn happy to be wandering around warm sands and wading in clear, friendly waters, camera in hand.
Give me a camera in hand and interesting subjects and I’m in paradise.
The edit is still underway—I came back with over 6,000 images—covering everything from jungle trails and tarantulas to the rainy streets of San Pedro and friendly locals. (Maria at the fruit cart was amazing, and loved to pose for pictures with nearly every person of the fifteen-man fashion team.)
It was memorable.
After driving a golf cart with no brakes through the very busy streets of San Pedro, I got hijacked by two locals and a fishing guide for drinks at a bar.
Dealt with three days of torrential tropic rain, and watched the photo crew rally and get it done despite the weather.
Rode in water taxis, golf carts, vans, pangas, small Cessnas, larger airliners, and logged a lot of miles on my own two feet.
Chewed an allspice leaf, nature’s novocaine, then discovered I had a numb mouth.
Stuck my finger in a termite nest and licked off the swarming little insects.
Caught my first bonefish, and enjoyed my first shots at tarpon.
Was delayed leaving Belize and hung out with six Dutch Marines while we listened to Christmas music and enjoyed the warmth of the failed air conditioner.
And spent the night shivering on top of a heating vent in Reagan International Airport.
It was a pretty damn awesome trip and a good reminder of what’s really important in life. (And it’s not long hours at a desk.)
So here’s to adventure, mishaps, and the cool friends—old and new—we meet along the way.
