Above the Caribbean heading for Belize and Central America

Above the Caribbean heading for Belize and Central America

Sitting here in our Beech cruising with 155kt at 9000ft over the azure blue waters of the Caribbean sea it’s hard to believe this is all real!!

After more than a week on the ground in Cuba, we are finally on the move again, this time crossing around 550 miles of ocean to Belize! One of our longest sectors on the whole trip.

Looking down on those waters and scanning the horizon, there is indeed nothing else than water. No more islands, no land in sight on our GPS.

no more land - only the massive ocean for 3 hours of flying

We had an early start leaving the casa Rosa with Daniel as our personal taxi driver. Having loaded and strapped in the balloon yesterday afternoon we were soon ready after Flippie had done his checks.

Flippie refuelling the Beech

Time for final photos with our wonderful Cuban aviation friends. 

farewell to all our Cuban friends

It had been an outstanding week with overwhelming hospitality and kindness. Despite all the odds, we had managed to fly the Beech all the way from Bristol to Cuba and flew the balloon for a first time in Vinales. Experiences that will forever stay in my mind.

Iseult on her first flight

Taking off at exactly 8.30 we wave to our friends and head for Varadero International where we have to clear customs and immigration and fill the Beech with expensive Avgas.

refuelling at Varadero

very kind help by the local airport staff

A nice final touch as the controller from Havana ATC says on Havana Radar frequency “ thank you for visiting us and best wishes from your friends in the Aero Club of Cuba”.

Capt Flippie Vermeulen at the controls

Heading now for Central America and to countries where neither of us has ever been will be another challenge. We will have to fully rely on ourselves and the assistance of others - whoever that might be.

and co-pilot Mr Phil

We also have no idea yet on how to achieve any ballooning. This will have to be decided as we go along. The ‘step-grandmother’ – as we started calling this long body-shape looking envelope is resting right here next to me. Underneath are the burner and fan whilst the basket is resting by the side with the two Worthingtons strapped against the back door.

being shuttled in our private bus back to the aeroplane

our personal boarding pass

All our other belongings from computer and document bags, food and drink, camera and film equipment, ballooning kit, a life raft and our two luggage bags are scattered around the main cabin.

Phil and Flippie in discussion

Today Phil and Flippie are smartly dressed in proper airline captain shirts with Flippie wearing his appropriate four stripes whilst Phil has three. And me? The on board stewardess? I am lacking everything from high-heels, to black tights and a cap. But never mind. I am charge of food and drink and our life raft!

a final farewell photo from Cuba! What a wonderful time we had!

Passing the last piece of Cuban land – the Isla de la Juventud (island of youth) – I serve our captains cheese and pate sandwiches. Sadly there is no champagne on board and we have to stick with plain water. The flight time is nearly 4 hours, so better not drink too much anyway.

We finally reach the shores of the Belize islands. I can see why many tourists come here to spend their holidays on those pristine beaches with abundant diving opportunities and luxurious cottages and hotels!

Philip S.W. Goldson International airport is a busy place! Tons of Bandeirante, King Airs, Cessna 208 Caravans and many more were buzzing in and out here. We are greeted by friendly local airport staff and Betty swallows yet more gallons of very expensive Avgas. We fully expected to be able to pay by credit card here but they only accept cash which creates a big hole in our pockets.

Flippie battling with the broken parts

But the shock is not yet over as Flippie and Phil discover a broken cowling latch! Oh no! Luckily with the help of a local engineer and Flippie’s perseverance the problem is fixed after 2 hours of hard work in the baking sunshine and 99% humidity.

waiting for things to happen. Belize was once a British colony!

Whilst Flippie is busy with fixing the aeroplane, Phil and I sort out a hire car and book a local guesthouse ‘the Bamboleo Inn’, thanks to Maryna for sourcing it!

The lovely Bamboleo Inn

We didn’t know, but there is a 2 hour time difference between Cuba and Belize making sunset now 6pm. We are hungry, tired and thirsty, so will dump the writing now and retreat to a bottle of chilled white wine with chicken pie. Luckily we are back to wifi and internet and were surprised that even the airport offered free access to this modern addiction!