Alex - Transportation

Transportation

One of my biggest fears leading up to the trip was how we would get from one place to another. The transportation to and from Atlanta was simple, ride in the Huntingdon vans, but what about once we arrived in Roatan?

I have grown up around different bodies of water and have driven boats on many occasions; however that was not the biggest problem. How would we be moved with luggage the entire 30 mile trek across the island? These questions were answered when we arrived in the small village of Oak Ridge at around 5:30 pm. One flatbed boat with a canopy and two fiberglass “john boats” with very powerful outboard motors awaited us at the local post office/bar/restaurant (one stop shopping, right?!). We climbed into the boats soon after it was night, and we made a three and a half mile trip across open water to Mango Creek Lodge. The only light was an occasional beam of spotlight across the water from our driver; he was making sure we went hitting the reef.

The best part about those fiberglass boats was the unexpected power that the outboard motors possessed. They could easily cut through the open ocean outside of the reef, and even pulled a few skiers during one of our free afternoons. We took those boats whenever we went to Oak Ridge or to just tour the mangroves. The workers from the lodge were phenomenal drivers; they could maneuver through anything with the poise and confidence as if they had done this for years.

The fiberglass boats were amazing, but the most fun ride was in a 60 year old “dory”. The boat is a dugout from a Santa Maria tree, very similar to mahogany, and was powered by an old diesel engine. The boat is extremely heavy, so it cuts through the open ocean without any issues. It was perfect for just cruising through the town and great for mangrove tours.

The most interesting thought I picked up was that it really is not more important about what boat was being driven, but the skill of the drivers. They could navigate through some of the toughest and choppiest water, and made it seem as if it was never an issue. It was not the size of the boat we were in, but the quality of the captain driving.