Ah - the memories --- and the stories.
The pull ferry toll was the same as the bridge toll now is. The difference was we paid $5 BZ each way and it closed from 8:00PM till 6:00 AM. After hours there may or may not be guys hanging around who would take you across for whatever they could take you for. Monthly passes were $150 BZ.
The pull ferry could hold 4 standard sized golf cart or two golf carts and a bunch of bicycles OR 50 bikes with riders. Well maybe not 50 but it seemed like it.
During morning rush hour, noon to 1:00 and 4:00 to 5:00 it would be next to impossible for a golf cart to get on. They were supposed to allow two golf carts on then pedestrians then bikes. HA HA HA At times the police were even there trying to keep order.
I had not overcome all of my type A personality and I spent many frustrated times there trying to CONTROL the situation. The workmen would just laugh at me and crowd ahead. One time so many loaded on going into town that the tenders could not push off from the bottom AND no one would get off to lighten the load. Finally the two tenders got in the water and pushed and pulled until they broke it free.
Another time I had my camera and said I was taking pictures for the newspaper and about half the guys hid their faces (no one ever checked for illegals).
remembers the Hammock House? There was a Keno type board where you could place a bet for what date the next golf cart would go in the drink.
When the tide was high the plywood plank that they laid down as an on ramp would be very steep. One day while trying to climb it my cart kept rolling backwards. Everyone was yelling "gun it". After several tries I shot up onto the ferry and hit the golf cart that was already on it. It shot forward and fortunately some big guys caught it while only the front wheels were hanging over the water.
Many of us who lived north of the bridge fought having it built. We knew what would happen no matter how many promised were made. They absolutely swore that nothing bigger than a golf card would be allowed. How long did that last?
Back then all the resorts transported their guest by boat. Ah, but we are attracting a whole different type of tourist then.
How much more colorful that was than an air conditioned, tinted windowed SUV taxi. As I sit by my pound and watch them go by gawking out the windows I feel like they are on safari and I am the wild life.
AmbergrisCaye.com 
