Martin Woodbury! =)
In the true spirit of "adventure," Martin felt it best to bring tools, household goods, toys & whatever else he could fit into a truck & drive it all to Belize. No sending it across the Gulf of Mexico via ship for him! He wanted to do it - so he did.
Fortunately, we know a "guide," Ramon Flores, who walked him through all the paper work and contacts necessary to make it across the US border into Mexico, which roads to take, how much to pay for what, where to stay & park that was safe AND what to do for Customs once he arrived at the Belize border. And, yes, Ramon also drove one of the two trucks - the Big Yellow Truck with the Big Red Storage Unit hauling the old (1967) Moline tractor/backhoe combo on the Big Blue Trailer. (Sounds like a children's story book just asking to be written, doesn't it? =)
Ramon lives most of the time near Tulsa, Oklahoma but is a native Belizean who has made the trip between the two countries many times. We drove our 2 trucks (yes, I drove the pickup hauling 2 jet skis while Martin followed behind me in the big rig) from Longmont, CO to Tulsa, OK - leaving on Halloween Day 2013.
I was then dropped off in Dallas as we passed through to complete my trip into Belize via airplane.
Ramon & Martin continued in the trucks to begin their adventure at the Texas/Mexico border. One flat tire on the big truck caused a hiccup in progress right after I left; an extra day was needed for paper work approval. Both minor slow-downs, to say the least!
Day One inside Mexico they met a man (the El Salvadorean truck driver) who had been robbed. He was nervous (rightly so!), and they all decided to travel together. After passing through a construction zone that first day, Martin noticed he was no longer behind them. It would be several miles and time lost if they went back but Martin found Ramon to have the same attitude about helping that he has. There was no question about stopping to help - Ramon would take the smaller truck & go back to look for him while Martin waited in the big truck. (Keep in mind, Martin speaks no Spanish so Ramon does all the conversing with everyone.) Problems with keeping the El Salvadorean's truck going ended up being an alternator problem - rather than a battery issue after several stops at various towns. The right parts and technician were finally found to get it fixed but only after man extra hours had passed. Way behind in distance of travel but the hearts of two men were gratified at helping, and the heart of the third was reassured he would not be left behind.
One evening at their hotel, they noticed 5 young men (about age 17) sitting around - seemingly waiting for something. The next morning they were still there so Ramon asked what they were waiting for. Their answer: hoping to catch a ride over to the road that would then take them up to Cancun where they could work during the up-coming tourist season. Their skills were: making "floral arrangements" from pop or beer cans or putting in windshields - quite diverse, really! (Probably there were more but that's all of the story I got!) Ramon asked Martin if the boys could ride - about 350 to 400 miles - with them to their turn-off. Of course, the answer was yes! And, here is the resourcefulness of these young men: they arranged all the spare tires Martin was carrying in the bed of the pickup into "chairs" so they could ride more comfortably! Plus, they shared their stories and creative, decorative skills as a "thank you" gift.
Random things always happen on extended road trips but would you expect a parade down the main highway of trucks? Apparently, it happens regularly in Mexico for whatever "holiday" or cause for "celebration" it happens to be - the vehicles on the road have to pull over and stop until the whole procession has passed. Martin said it went on and on and on and on for quite a long time yet that is part of this adventure. Might as well enjoy it - and take some pictures! =)
Martin & Ramon arrived at the Belize border mid-day on Saturday - having left Texas on Wednesday morning, so rather than park their trucks/trailers at Customs and pay a high price for each day there, Ramon knew of a lot that was safe for them to leave everything; and they walked across the border. Ramon's sister & mother live in Orange Walk - about 45 miles away - but close enough they made it there to spend the rest of the weekend until Customs opened on Monday. To get back to the border involved riding a bus and taking a taxi and then finding a broker who would help them get all the paper work documented so they could pass through Customs. Everything passed except for the items in the storage unit. The list of items had to be an original - stamped with "Approval" - which Martin did not have nor had it been sent to Customs from the appropriate Office of Tourism. There was no getting around it. (May I interject here that Ramon & his family were so kind to put Martin up for yet another night along with Ramon's continuing to travel back & forth with Martin to Customs & his family's home!)
Tuesday arrived; and they met a Belizean truck driver, Denby, who was at Customs but could not bring his truck on through due to computer problems with his paperwork. He had been robbed in northern Mexico so he drove the "mountain route" coming south which has no tolls - since he had no money! It had taken him much longer, of course' and he was desperately wanting to get home to see his family in southwestern Belize. Martin & Ramon offered him a ride as far as they were going; and, of course, he was welcomed in for dinner & friendship! (By the way, Denby has 4 children living, working or attending college in Aurora, CO. It's a small world, after all! =)
A tender mercy happened that allowed the expediting of the paperwork for the storage unit items that day, as well. Bill, Stacy & I were in Belize City on Tuesday running various errands. Typically, shopping is done in Belmopan but the particular things needed were in Belize City that day, so that's where we were. During our lunch, Martin called to say the "stamped & approved" paperwork was sitting in Belize City. If we would drive it up to Corozal (2+ hours away) then he wouldn't have to drive down, pick it up & drive back. So, of course, we extended our errands and made the road trip north.
What an experience! I was so grateful to see Martin again and to begin hearing all the stories. I rode with Martin after going to pick up their things at Ramon's family's place. Ramon's mother hugged me, and his sister asked if I would be her "sister!" What a wonderful reception into their home, and how gracious & helpful they have been to Martin. While having dinner together and hearing Ramon speak about the trip, I could tell he and Martin are kindred spirits. They laugh and joke with one another - like they've known each other their whole life; they felt their opportunities to help others were blessings all along the way; and when it finally came time for us to leave Ramon - he and Martin hugged and said, "We will do this again some day, brother!" =)
Side note: Ramon can typically make this trip in two days, three days tops, from border to border in Mexico. With their stopping to help and extra time needed for paper work approval it took seven. He didn't charge a penny extra. Yes, he and Martin are truly "brothers."
So if you ever meet Ramon Flores, Denby, get stopped by a parade in Mexico or go to Cancun and meet teenage Mexican boys making flowers out of Tecate cans, say "Hi" and enjoy the memory of this story. They were part of an adventure that was truly a blessing for all who journeyed in the same path as Martin & Ramon did through Mexico.
Oh, and the Big Yellow Truck with the Big Red Storage Unit & the Big Blue Trailer may one day need to have children's books written about their travels! I can see them going many, many more places yet in their life.... at least in imaginary travels! =)
Gratitude: I am grateful to Ramon who has integrity, honesty, kindness, patience, helpfulness and a willingness to see things through to the end. I am deeply grateful for the safety and blessings of peacefulness Martin had throughout this trip.
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