FROM US TO BZ

We made it to the airport in Tulsa with 2 hours to spare. Ate breakfast at a airport cafe. Sausage and biscuits and gravy. Surpisingly tastey and reasonable price.

We had a problem gettng her metal walker through inspection. They couldn't Xray it so they did a residue test to see if she filled it with explosives. What a joke. But this is what you have to go through.

I had to take my belt off and nearly lost my pants because I had a cane in one hand and my belt loop in the other.

Regina made it through OK after waiting for her walker to pass. We sat in the waiting area only about 15 minutes before wwe had to board.

By this time she was getting nervous being her first flight. We boarded first after the express passengers. We were in 6 B/C in a small express jet. It was 3 seats wide and much smaller than the DC-6 and 7x7 series jets I was used to flying. We were packed into the seats like 2 sardines.

As the door closed her face sortof lost all color. We were pushed out to clear the gate and started to taxi. As we reached the runway and were cleared I explained that it wouldnt be much different than pulling away from a stop light rather quickly.

In moments we were airborn and her anxiety level lessened until she glanced out of the window and saw the earth slowly getting smaller. I told her just think of it as the images you see on Google Earth.

We had a relatively smooth flight to Houston. Landing was uneventful. Her words exactly, 'That wasn't as bad as I thought'.

As we got off the plane in Houston, we were met by 2 wheelchairs. I chose to push the walker and she rode. We were told that our plane to Belize was already boarded and waiting, we had 10 minutes to get from B24 to E8. Anyone familiar with Housons G.W. Bush airport knows that this is an impossible feat even for a track runner. We had airport transport take us by cart to the train at B terminal, to C terminal where we got on another cart that took us to E. Regina had a BEER on the flight and needed to use the facilities, but the airport staff said that we had to board NOW!.

We were hurried down the tunnel and into the plane where we sat on row 23. The plane was a 737 and was only at 40% capacity so we could move about and change seats if we chose.

It was a VERY ROUGH ride from Houston to Belize. We encountered SEVERE turbulence and at one point when I was getting something out of the overhead compartment I was actually thrown into the air and the stewardess yelled for everyone to get to their seats and remain there.

As we approached Goldson, the air was clearing and I got a few good pictures of the area just North of Ladyville before we landed. I will post them when I get a chance.

As we departed the plane in Belize, we were again greeted by wheelchairs. I chose to push the walker and she rode. Our Belizian attendant was very nice and helped us through customs with minimal effort. We were also greeted with a Belizian flag.

We were now officiallly in BELIZE. You better Belize it to Believe it.