My Five: Amazing Clean-Up Begins, Confusing Island Mile Marks & A Paved Road North?

It’s early October on Ambergris Caye and while the island feels a bit slow when it comes to tourism, I’m BUSY. While we are driving up and down this island, dealing with flat tires (2 in one week!), buying all the many many things we need to put the finishing touches on Rocky Point Permit Camp – from pillows to pots – these are some of the things on my mind.

Things going on in my life and on our island.

#1. North Ambergris Alliance & The First Clean-Up

The North Ambergris Alliance, along with the amazing crew from the San Pedro Town Council (and their trucks and backhoe) and lots of volunteers had an AMAZING first clean-up morning – hitting the first mile on North Ambergris Caye. From the bridge to the Truck Stop.

The next one is scheduled for the next mile. It’s actually Mile 2 to 3) Save the date! It’s tough work but it’s sooo satisfying. And it’s a great way to meet neighbors – people from all walks of life all over the island. I also learned that the guys from Bayron’s Gardening and Landscaping love 90s Alternative rock almost as much as I do!

This brings me to Mile Markers on Ambergris Caye: it’s all quite confusing. Let me make that the next thing on my list.

#2. Mile Markers on Ambergris Caye

You see it on the addresses for the entire island. My address, for example, is 8 Mile North, Ambergris Caye. But does that mean I am 8 miles over the bridge? NO. I only live 7.1 miles north of the bridge. It’s actually quite confusing. Come into the weeds with me…

The official mile markers on Ambergris Caye are measured from Central Park (the town clock to be exact) in San Pedro town – where the original police station was located. Here’s a great picture of it in 1983 from the AmbergrisCaye.com website.

So the bridge is actually Mile 9/10 or .9! A neighbor of ours and his son recently mapped and marked the miles – you can look for the numbers on the side of the road. Here are the businesses/landmarks that mark the miles north Ambergris Caye.

Mile 2: The Truck Stop, Mile 3: El Pescador, Mile 4: Stella Del Mar, Mile 5: Mata Grande/Winey Gringa Store, Mile 6: Blue Water Beach Villas, Mile 7: Coleman Construction (on left – walled area), Mile 8: Tuto Belize, Mile 9: Barber Shop on Left, Mile 10: Chat n Chill, Mile 11: A coconut tree and so on…

#3 Paving of the Road North?

A few weeks ago, a crew went along the road north, applying hot pink spray paint marks to trees, signs, rocks, and even tiny piles of sand. I even spotted a busted plastic LASKO fan tossed in the bush up north with some numerical markings. Huh…interesting.

Last week, there was a survey crew who, when asked, said that PAVING of the road north would start soon. I have heard as far north as Margaritaville (for those asking…it’s Mile 14) – that the road north of Chat n Chill will no longer be on the beach but will be paved along the electrical lines (a few hundred feet back off the beach)

Super interesting. I have learned that we shouldn’t expect anything until we see it with our own eyes. But that would REALLY change the north side of Ambergris Caye.

The first paving of N Ambergris Caye – from the bridge to Mile 3.75 was completed in 2014 and construction and traffic in that area EXPLODED after that.

#4 Rocky Point Permit Camp Getting Close!

It’s GOOOO time. We have friends coming in this week and good lord. It’s getting all the final stuff – the sheets, the towels, the pots and pans, the plates and liquor…all of it that feels like a frenzy!

Here are a few pictures.

And hitting hard roots in your old golf cart – roots that shatter and spike your tire when you are 17 miles north – that’s not helping.

#5 All Thoughts With Those In the Path of Milton

Yesterday the sea here was flat as a mirror. Today the wind is whipping from the west – the wrong way. All being sucked into fierce Hurricane Milton, who, though small in size, is brutally strong.

It’s just awful.