Zip and Dip in Honduras

So for our third port we ended up in Honduras where Jessica's brother Michael is currently serving as a missionary. Jessica was giddy just for that little fact alone, but as it turns out there were plenty of other fantastic things to be giddy about in Honduras. Like, for instance, zip lining in the jungle.
 
When Jessica realized that some of the ziplines were going to be over 300 feet above the ground and over 1000 feet long she had a tiny panic attack. I'm happy to report that after I threw her off the first platform and she survived she found the experience quite liberating. (I'm kidding. I didn't have to throw her off. She did it all on her own.) There were 8 lines for us to go on with two cables each for safety. Jessica and I, and everyone else with us, had a blast leaping off the platforms, turning upside down and screaming like sissies all the way down the line. It was awesome. There really is no other feeling quite like that of running and jumping into air with the ground a hundred feet below and feeling your harness yank your insides and outsides up to your chest. Aside from the torturous harness straps threatening to end all hopes of future Lindquist children the excursion was very enjoyable. Props to Shari for facing her fears and taking the leap!

This is my infamous launch pose. You really have to have your game face on.

At the end of the ziplining there were a couple of monkeys that we could play with if we so chose. Surprisingly Jessica bravely so chose. The monkey crawled all over her, pulled her hair, sniffed her, tried to steal her money, and made her look slightly retarded. It was funny to watch. Personally, I was terrified and refused the monkey's advances.

After the zip line adventure we were bussed over to a private beach area belonging to a condo community there. They played loud music and tried to get everyone involved in games, but most people just sat around as if the only thing they wanted to do at the beach was lay in the sun. (lame) We were the first (and only) ones to volunteer for the canoe races. First the guys went and although my intense masculinity intimidated Perry and Jess they were able to some how pull ahead. Jessica and Cari won their race against Shari and Sarah, so at least one of the Lindquists was able to represent. For her valiant efforts we were awarded a free sprite. Might I add that Jessica is one hot oarer...oarswoman...oarator...oar-spinner-person...kayaker. We'll go with kayaker. The point is, she's hot and I like her a lot.

As you can probably tell from this picture, the backgrounds were amazing.

After our races we played two games of volleyball. Well, I suppose I should clarify: we spent some time watching each other serve and wishing we had enough skill to actually get a good volley going. In the end though the best server won. Twice. (I wont lie - it was me. Perry was a close, but distant, second). With the music playing and the sand flying it was a lot of fun to be there. At one point we all stopped playing to go over and do some dancing as well - which we rocked at. All in all the day at the beach and zip lining was super fun. Unfortunately for Shari and I, it was so fun that we neglected good sunscreen practices and burned our faces and arms and legs and shoulders right off. Poor Shari was fairly miserable the rest of the trip. I was sensitive and red-faced, but it came in handy during embarrassing moments.