TravelStream™ news feed for member chrissybz on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/chrissybz en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:27:47 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252421781/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252421781/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252421781/tpod.html Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:27:47 -0400 Belize or Bust with Two Mares

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Yale, Oklahoma, United States

We pulled in and met up with Hans and Rebecca. The horse were still in QT so we weren't allowed to touch them but we were allowed to look at them in the stalls and they looked in great shape. Hans and Rebecca did a great job looking after them for us.Some pics of the Frederiksborg herd<img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2013th/a6d627e8.jpg"><img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2013th/d7eb7cb6.jpg"><img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2013th/c1d0f7c3.jpg">The girls<img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2017th/162a8b08.jpg"><img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2017th/75731b18.jpg">
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252810977/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252810977/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252810977/tpod.html Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:18:49 -0400 Belize or Bust with Two Mares

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Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

I made Juan drive through downtown Tulsa. Nuff said. &gt;.&lt;Pics tho.Ooooohhhhhklahoma! <img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2012th/100e15ad.jpg">Lookit the cool truck! <img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2012th/8cd6f630.jpg">Downtown Tulsa <img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2012th/62cbffbf.jpg"><img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2012th/d6335218.jpg">
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1254007069/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1254007069/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1254007069/tpod.html Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:45:39 -0400 Belize or Bust with Two Mares

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Georgeville, Cayo, Belize

Did I mention the trailer has no brakes?
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252421947/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252421947/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252421947/tpod.html Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:38:12 -0400 Belize or Bust with Two Mares

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Corozal Town, Corozal, Belize

This day begins in MexicoSo, we woke up to pretty much the same view as we had gone to sleep at.<img src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2025th/922e68be.jpg">As soon as they opened Juan went to the brokers(someone had to stay with the girls at all times and his Spanish is better)Long story short, I was down to $60 and the broker told him it would be around 3000 pesos to get the girls across the bridge.(Like, 300 feet?)I had called a friend who lives in Chetumal the night before and her really came through for us lending us the money we needed to pay the broker so Mom didn't need to drive all the way up from home to bring money.Finally at 1 pm everything was all arranged, and we managed to drive across the border with our very expensive pedimento just to cover 300 feet.Immediately we went back an hour to Belize time(No Daylight Savings Time) So we arrived at Belize customs at noon. Got a broker and the dance began all over again.I won't say much about my experience with the Belize side except to say that nothing was done professionally and the lack of consideration that was given to the fact that there were actual live breathing animals waiting on their pleasure bordered on abusive and neglectful. Only one governmental official that entire day on both sides of the border behaved with any sort of professionalism at all and that was the vet who came across the border to approve the mares entry into Belize allowing us to cross the bridge.Suffice to say that the entire last hour we waited from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm was spent twiddling our thumbs waiting for ONE signature from one agricultural officer who was mysteriously absent from the customs compound. Nobody could locate him and no one knew where he had gone. Dark was coming and I knew I would yet again be driving poorly marked wet roads with the girls trusting me not to screw up.He finally showed up and we were cleared from the compound. Next. Insurance. TG the insurance company is open till 9 pm.Insurance procured and we were finally cleared and legal in Belize with TWO registered mares. A long 2 & 1/2 hours later and we were at CheersFinal mileage from the time we picked up the rental in Dallas to the time we arrived at Cheers: 5342.3 miles That's enough for a while.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252421935/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252421935/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252421935/tpod.html Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:14:57 -0400 Belize or Bust with Two Mares

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Chetumal, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

We rolled through Escarcega around 10:30 and just blew on through. One long road left and the BORDER is within our GRASP!!!!Whooo hooooo!The road was in pretty good shape leaving town but about 20 milesout...MAJOR roadwork. For like FORTY FREAKIN'MILES. Man, we crawledalong it felt like but once we reached tha other side the road wasreally good again. We actually reached the Mexico Belize border at 3PM!!! Holy Schmokes!!! We're actually HERE.Then the problems started. Long story short... Our pedimento had thegirs destination as MEXICO!!! I had asked the broker about that but shesaid that was normal and it wouldn't be a problem.It was a problem. A BIG PROBLEM. And here is where the title of my story changes to : Why No One Imports Horses Legally Into Belize.After all the requirements were met. After the girls had to be quarantined in the US for 30 daysAfter they had tests for:CEMEVAEIAand a few more that I can't be asked to look upAfter we paid the US broker $1015 usd brokerage fee for the two maresAfter the quarantine farm had to go to OKC TWICE, because they weregiven the wrong form the first time to export the mares from the USand finally after the trailer was SEALED in the USA ensuring that themares could not exit the trailer until they reached their destination...The Mexican officials declared that the paperwork had been improperlyprepared and we would have to apply for an EXPORT permit to get themout of MEXICO.All of our pleas fell on deaf ears, and they waited until just longenough to tell us where the brokers office was to ensure that thebrokers would be closed. We were sitting within 20 feet of the borderand not allowed to cross.I wanted to cry and we were almost out of money, but there was nothingto be done except suck it up and make sure the mares were ascomfortable as they could be.(they were really pretty cranky by thispoint) &lt;--- do you blame them?Here is the view from where we spent the night.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2024th/27fb35d7.jpg">My bed for the night on the side of the street.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2024th/d893d003.jpg">It was actually comfortable. I was laying on the grass Juan had cut earlier for the girls. We had been giving the girls grass we cut at rest stops since getting some bad dusty hay our first night in Mexico that had given the girls some colicky signs and constipation. By this point they were no longer straining to poop and their appetites were NEVER affected.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252421851/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252421851/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252421851/tpod.html Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:50:52 -0400 Belize or Bust with Two Mares

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Veracruz, Central Mexico and Gulf Coast, Mexico

I went all the way from Papantla which is about 100 mile north of Veracruz to 100 east of Villahermosa. THAT. Is a LOT of miles. The roads were VASTLY improved compared to the previous two days driving and it felt like we just flew along the miles. <img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2023rd/30510ceb.jpg"><img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2023rd/2c101522.jpg"><img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2023rd/cc0b58b8.jpg">I managed to avoid getting lost, and non of those sneaky Jumping Mexican Topes(speedbumps) managed to catch me.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2023rd/fd93572c.jpg"><img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2023rd/5cf07044.jpg">We stopped on the East side of Villahermosa just after dark and scarfed down some Tacos Then back on the road and another 100 miles before we pulled into the Pemex hotel for the night. Right after we did the thunder and lightning and rain started so perfect timing really.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2023rd/8b0d6094.jpg"><img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2023rd/c984de53.jpg">The next morning I woke up to a very pissed off Juan slamming the truck door on my head. I had accidentally left the ignition key turned on and killed the battery overnight. He didn't actually mean to hit me in the head, but I was laying just perfect for it to happen.Oops. :\ That wasn't very smart was it?Anyhow, he found a helpful backhoe driver who helped us jump the truck and we were off and on the road by 8 am.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2023rd/9abfe3bf.jpg"><img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2023rd/f897bebf.jpg"><img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2023rd/fd084368.jpg">
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1254088488/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1254088488/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1254088488/tpod.html Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:15:05 -0400 Belize or Bust with Two Mares

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Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

They're not as easy to find as you would think. We found a second spare for the trailer today in Yale but ended up having to go to OKC to look for one for Juan's truck.On a whim I decided to take Juan past Heritage place where I bought the girls. WOW, there is SOMETHING going on! Wouldn't you know? We happened to drive past just has they were holding to 2009 Quarter Horse Yearling Auction. Well, there was just no way we could pass that up so we found a parking spot and went in to do a little sight seeing. Just as we got in the hammer fell on a yearling for $50,000.00FIFTY GRAND for a BABY horse!!!! HOLY Sheep Shit!!! That's a lota moola!<img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2018th/617f08a1.jpg"><img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2018th/6d126526.jpg"><img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2018th/34c53541.jpg"><img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2018th/fc7b4eeb.jpg"><img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2018th/6bd302cb.jpg"><img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2018th/921c30ed.jpg">On the way home we stopped and had Pupusas at a restaurant I found up there in August.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2018th/4f5f0b3c.jpg">
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1254168912/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1254168912/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1254168912/tpod.html Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:16:47 -0400 Belize or Bust with Two Mares

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Papantla, Veracruz-Llave, Mexico

Pretty sure that one speed bump I hit in the dark that made the truck and trailer fly shook stuff down too. <img src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/eek.gif">.I thought for sure I'd killed the girlswe hit so hard. Narrow mountain road close to Papantla and we couldn'teven stop and check them for almost 10 miles. The trailer literallyjumped in theair and came down with a BANG. No way could at least one of them not behurt after that.Stopped the trailer and ran back to check, both up and no injuriesbut both of them were riding braced out on all four and were looking atme like WTF are you<i>DOING??? Dipshit.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252421841/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252421841/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1252421841/tpod.html Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:13:56 -0400 Belize or Bust with Two Mares

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Tampico, Northern Mexico, Mexico

We misted the right turn yet again. (Some of you may not know this but we have gotten lost and ended up at the beach EVERY TIME we've driven through Tampico.I missed the sign as well as the quarantine stamp stop for thattown. &gt;.&lt; We ended up down town Old Tampico. Narrow streets,sharp corners, dogs, drunks, bicycles, rebar piled in the road, nopavement, potholes and all. It was a stressful couple of hours. Andthat bridge...holyfreaking shit. My heart still stops thinking about it. it was likegoing up and down a cliff. (Maybe 30-40 degrees grade. I'm NOT exaggererating) Thank GOD we had a gooseneck,. Bumper pullwould NEVER have madeit. I really don't know how the girls stayed on their feet.I don't think we got pics of it. We were both holding our breath.Later when I checked Amira she had sweaty marks down her flank where she had leaned so hard against the corner going up. I don't know how she managed the down.I've been searching all over the internet for a picture of that bridge. No luck so far.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1254103886/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1254103886/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chrissybz/8/1254103886/tpod.html Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:28:42 -0400 Belize or Bust with Two Mares

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Reynosa, Northern Mexico, Mexico

On the side of the trailer on the side of the road in Reynosa.Juan had to cross the truck in Los Indios and then come pick me and the girls up.They held Juan at the border in Los Indios for FOUR hours searching him and it would have been longer if not for monetary *encouragememnt* to mover things along.He finally showed up at nearly 8 pm and almost dark. That's after we arrived at the brokers at 10 am. Because we had slept in the Flying J parking lot it was unsafe to let the girls out anywhere so they never got out at all after pulling out of Yale at 11 pm on the 19th. I looked out the window and the vet had come and sealed the trailer already. Last chance to walk gone. :(So, once Juan arrived we hooked up and headed out. 20 minutes later it was pitch black and I was driving down a narrow Mexican highway being rocked by every big semi and double trailer that passed us at insane speeds.(which was every 2 or 3 minutes) First rule broken already. NO DRIVING AT NIGHT IN MEXICO!!!!111!!!!!1!!!!Pulled off at a random Pemex and went to sleep in the bed of the pickup. Juan slept in the Cab of the Truck.Mandy decided to lay down to sleep too. <img class="yui-img" src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/ChrissyBz/Travel/Belize%20or%20Bust%20with%202%20mares/Sept%2022nd/e39cae4f.jpg">
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