By Vladimir Brezina
On A Word In Your Ear, Skinnywench’s photo challenge this week is Island. And on Where’s my backpack?, Ailsa’s is Shadows.
And the two just come together in my mind—warm turquoise waters, a strong tropical sun beating down, palm shadows…
Sort of like this—
Glover’s Reef Atoll, Belize, 2010. More photos are here.
... kayaked the waters around New York for more than 15 years in his red Feathercraft folding kayak. He was originally from (the former) Czechoslovakia and lived in the U.K. and California before settling down in New York. He was a neuroscientist at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. He died in 2016.
... is a kayaker and technology researcher at Nemertes Research. She's an erstwhile engineer, particle physicist, and science fiction writer. She was born in California and has lived in Italy, Norway, Hawaii, and a few other places. She currently resides in New York City.
 | CurlsnSkirls on The First Leg! |
 | Johna Till Johnson on The First Leg! |
| Johna Till Johnson on The First Leg! |
 | Marilyn Albright on The First Leg! |
| CurlsnSkirls on The First Leg! |
| Johna Till Johnson on Looks Like They Made It! |
 | Pit on Looks Like They Made It! |
| Johna Till Johnson on More Scenes From the Nort… |
| CurlsnSkirls on Halfway There! |
 | Larry Jensen on More Scenes From the Nort… |
| Johna Till Johnson on R2AK: Scenes From the Northern… |
 | Frank Winters on R2AK: Scenes From the Northern… |
| Johna Till Johnson on Halfway There! |
| CurlsnSkirls on Halfway There! |
| Johna Till Johnson on And They’re Off! |
Wind Against Current 
You really get around. Nice photos to look out as it’s 20 degrees outside now.
LikeLike
Yes, I’ve just come in from outside, and somehow I was drawn irresistibly to post these pictures ;-)
LikeLike
I love Belize…
LikeLike
It was beautiful.
LikeLike
Looking real good this time of year!
LikeLike
That’s just what I was thinking! :-)
LikeLike
This is beautiful!!!
LikeLike
Thank you!!!
LikeLike
I just got back from Belize. Your pics are beautiful. :)
LikeLike
Where in Belize? On the mainland, or one of the islands?
LikeLike
I wish I was there, on that beach, right now!
LikeLike
Same here…
LikeLike
Looks like a lovely place to relax! Great photos.
LikeLike
Well, it was an adventure sports vacation, but all the more relaxing for that! ;-)
LikeLike
Paradise!
LikeLike
Yes :-)
LikeLike
No graffiti? No billboards or traffic lights? Just plain old nature in paradise. I could stand that for a while. Lovely images — even the man made structures look like they grew in place. Good contrast to the Gowanus Canal — or most places in the world.
LikeLike
Of course, no electricity either, or lights after dark, or running water, or showers (actually, a little bit of each, as much as was provided by solar and wind power and rainwater) and naturally no telephone or internet… still paradise!
LikeLike
Didn’t realize there was so much nothing! Gas lights? Candles? How much power was provided by wind/solar? Sounds grand!
LikeLike
Well, it’s a small coral island (one of several around the atoll) 60 miles off the main coast of Belize, so everything had to be brought in by boat or generated locally—i.e. from solar and wind power and rainwater.
There was enough power (12V) to light the main common areas and provide some charging capacity for cameras, etc. There was plenty of rainwater for showers—warm if the sun had been shining that day, otherwise a little cooler ;-) Communication (in an emergency) by satellite phone, I believe. And plenty of great food and, best of all, unlimited cold beer! (kept in a butane/propane-powered refrigerator).
If the weather had been cold or excessively hot, it might have been a strain to do with so little, but (at least during the winter season) the climate there is just perfect for a minimal existence…
LikeLike
Lovely one. I wish i could be here.
LikeLike
I know the feeling :-)
LikeLike
I wish i had a transporter machine. Hahaha! My wish!
LikeLike
Airplane? ;-)
LikeLike
Hahahahahah! Not that so fast:p
LikeLike
Simply fabulous!
LikeLike
Fabulous is a nice word… ;-)
LikeLike
Now there’s a sight to warm the heart in the depths of winter Vladimir. Lovely pictures.
LikeLike
Yes, I find myself working through my stock of tropical photos when the weather is the way it is now…
LikeLike
:-) Yes, the memories come flooding back… particularly on a cold week in February, watching the flakes drift down….
LikeLike
Vladimir I loved your shots of a warm inviting place on a cold day here in NH Thanks they are so pretty
:)
LikeLike
You are most welcome! And it will warm up here, and even in NH, sooner or later ;-)
LikeLike
:) Yes the ground hog with the fancy name and home swears it shall be SOON :) though I have not seen hide nor hair of our beast :)
LikeLike
Yes, the groundhogs all disagree. So take your pick. I think it’s their way of making sure that at least some of them will be right :-)
LikeLike
:) too funny but SO TRUE!
LikeLike
what do they say Hedging their BETS :)
LikeLike
They are probably learning from their cousins, the Hedgehogs…
LikeLike
:)
LikeLike
Yes definitely I nice break from feeling cold.
LikeLike
:-)
LikeLike
In my fair city today it is -27. It is an absolute delight to view these photos and respite for my cold, benighted northern bones.
LikeLike
Glad to be of service! :-)
LikeLike
simply pretty what’s the name
of the island?
LikeLike
Long Caye at Glover’s Reef Atoll: see here.
LikeLike
Ah, a beautiful sight in a cold white and black world :-)
LikeLike
Thanks, Lynn!! :-)
LikeLike
Your blog is better than a travel brochure any day. Especially love the sea floor in the first post – made to be hung on a wall!
LikeLike
Actually some of the photos I took on this trip did make it onto the Slickrock Adventures website and into their brochure…
LikeLike
Stunning photos made me realized how much I would loved to be in that Island right now that I’m in winter-land right this minute.:)
LikeLike
Judging by these comments, it seems to quite a common feeling ;-)
LikeLike
You’ve captured heaven on earth – simply beautiful!
LikeLike
Furthermore a heaven where everyone can go kayaking any time they please :-)
LikeLike
Looks like a nice place to be this time of year!
LikeLike
That’s a big part of their advertising, as you might expect :-)
LikeLike
I wanted to go to Belize before but now I jeany to go even more!!!!
LikeLike
That’s the right reaction! :-)
LikeLike
Take me there!! Beautiful photos and thank you for stopping by my page!
God bless!
Patricia
LikeLike
You are most welcome, Patricia! Thanks for visiting us here… :-)
LikeLike
Oh I want to be there now!
LikeLike
I think they still have a few slots left for this winter… ;-)
LikeLike
Beautiful :) exactly what comes to mind when i think of an island retreat :)
LikeLike
:-) It sure felt that way…
LikeLike
:)
LikeLike
Um, wow. These pics just described how I wnt to spend 3-4 months of the year! Thanks!
LikeLike
I know how you feel… thanks for following our blog!
LikeLike