Bev says:
I arrived back in Lo De Marcos on December 21st. My mother seems to be recovering successfully. I am feeling low with a cold and irritating cough. I feel very much in the Christmas mood and will give it to Vic so he can enjoy his birthday. Hah!
On Christmas Eve, we spent the afternoon playing games with Mike & Mavis. Lots of fun and a few drinks. We went to dinner at our favourite local restaurant, Sugar & Spice and enjoyed a rib dinner. We walked around the village after dinner and found one of the streets blocked off for a local street party. We stopped to watch the children and their pinatas. They would string up Santa Claus on a rope and then take big swings with a big stick. The poor guy was getting the stuffing knocked out of him. When he finally got ruptured, his guts spilled down on the street and the kids rushed in like vultures and scooped up all the guts. OK, it wasn't guts. It was candy treats and the kids were really having a lot of fun.
We joined friends at El Caracol for a pot luck dinner on Christmas Day. A great spread of turkey breasts, ham, salads, potatoes, veggies, various kinds of pies, mincemeat tarts, etc. Our contribution was the mincemeat tarts and rice crispie squares, which a lot of people really enjoyed. There were about 25 people there and everyone enjoyed themselves.
The beach has been busier the last few days with Mexican families here to celebrate the holiday week. The surf seems to be picking up and Vic hopes to be able to boogie board.
Vic says:
The hummingbirds continue to amuse us. They are so interesting to watch, as they flit back and forth. One stopped at our hanging Christmas decoration and searched the red bows, thinking they were flowers, looking for the nectar. Amusing. One hovered within inches of Vic's face, almost like saying "What's with these strange flowers you have?"
I made a hummingbird feeder for Mavis using a plastic Coca Cola bottle, and a small plastic storage container. I cut up a Coca Cola can into four little flowers and glued them onto the container. Then I cut holes into the flowers. I filled the bottle with sugar water and it was ready to hang. That was yesterday and already today the hummingbirds were coming to the new feeder. I didn't invent it...just found the instructions on the Internet.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Setting in
We just got settled in and Bev had to catch a flight home on Saturday. Her mom is in hospital and not doing well so she just had to get back. Meanwhile, I'm here lonely but not forgotten. It is great to Skype with the family and see Maxine. She really gets a hoot out of seeing Grampa and the computer and bangs away on the keyboard just like Mommy and Daddy do. She is a quick learner.
Before Bev left, she did get the hummingbird feeder up, but didn't get to see any. Well, they have been around and are amusing to watch. I am having trouble identifying them but there is at least a black-chinned and a cinnamon. Not sure of the others. They may be immature or females with little coloration.
I can sit at the window with the screen slid back and shoot pictures of these little guys. They are getting more comfortable by the day and are now flying under the awning. I now call it the hummingbird highway, outside my door. They are very territorial and there are several tiffs throughout the day. You see these little dots zipping around so fast that you can't keep track of them.
Yesterday I walked way down the beach and I heard some squawking in the trees and went exploring. I saw these wonderful large blue birds with very long tails and a crest on the head. Big birds. No binoculars or camera so they are just a memory. It took a lot of searching to find the name but eventually I determined that they were White-throated Magpies.
Here is a picture of the White-throated Magpie
Later in the afternoon, the surf was up. The first time since we got here. I got some time in the waves on the boogie board but kept to the small stuff in-shore. I was helping Mike with his first time on the board. He did well and seems to enjoy it a lot. Soon I will go out to the bigger waves and longer rides.
Before Bev left, she did get the hummingbird feeder up, but didn't get to see any. Well, they have been around and are amusing to watch. I am having trouble identifying them but there is at least a black-chinned and a cinnamon. Not sure of the others. They may be immature or females with little coloration.
I can sit at the window with the screen slid back and shoot pictures of these little guys. They are getting more comfortable by the day and are now flying under the awning. I now call it the hummingbird highway, outside my door. They are very territorial and there are several tiffs throughout the day. You see these little dots zipping around so fast that you can't keep track of them.
Yesterday I walked way down the beach and I heard some squawking in the trees and went exploring. I saw these wonderful large blue birds with very long tails and a crest on the head. Big birds. No binoculars or camera so they are just a memory. It took a lot of searching to find the name but eventually I determined that they were White-throated Magpies.
Here is a picture of the White-throated Magpie
Later in the afternoon, the surf was up. The first time since we got here. I got some time in the waves on the boogie board but kept to the small stuff in-shore. I was helping Mike with his first time on the board. He did well and seems to enjoy it a lot. Soon I will go out to the bigger waves and longer rides.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Getting caught up
I know you must think we have been kidnapped and held ransom or dropped off the end of the earth. No such luck for you. I'll try to get you caught up.
Out last blog had us in southwest Tuscon on Nov. 25th. The next day, Friday, we headed a half hour south to Mountain View RV park, which put us fairly close to our jumping off point in Nogales AZ. We were greatly disappointed that the park didn't have WiFi so we were out of touch.
On Sunday, we moved to the Nogales WalMart to stay overnight. On the following morning, we met up with three other couples heading south. One couple was towing a fifth wheel trailer, one was driving a van, and the third was driving an SUV. We crossed into Mexico and got thru the formalities in about 40 minutes and were underway by 10:30 PM, delayed a while by the dogs needing "watering". The couple in the van were traveling with 4 Schnauzers! There were several stops along the way over the next three days that added up to several hours. We are just glad we don't have a dog. We traveled 264 miles and spent 365 pesos (about $35) on tolls and arrived in San Carlos at about 4:00 PM. We encountered several police patrols along the highway but were never stopped. They are very friendly to RVs and wave you right thru any checks.
Bummer the RV park didn' t have WiFi. Nice place otherwise.
The next day would be a long slog and we left 7 AM. At this point, we are in the state of Sonora. The landscape is nothing special and semi-arid. That all changed when we drove into the state of Sinaloa. The land turned much flatter and much greener. There is a lot of agriculture and the fields went on forever. Not sure what was growing but the license plates for this state has a tomato on it. Might be a clue! We encountered many many large greenhouses that seemed to be covered in a beige Sunbrella material.
We also passed a convoy of four police pickup trucks with with cops and big guns in the back, accompanied by two police cars. Some weeks, back a patrol at a road check point was attacked by the druggies and 8 cops were killed and 3 wounded. The situation is very volatile between the police and druggies here and the police look a little edgy.
We finally ended the day at a campground on the ocean just as the sun was setting (another 442 miles). There were no trailers in the park but one of our group had stayed here before and liked it. Different story this time. Again no WiFi. They were charging an arm and leg comparatively and the couple in the van were charged $50 for there stay in one of the rooms. We do NOT recommend Punta San Miguel RV Park. It was still pretty cool even on our second night heading south. The temperature dropped to 8C overnight. Brr.
We headed out the next morning at about 8:15 PM, allowing a comfortable driving time to Lo De Marcos. It was a tough drive going up into the mountains around Tepic and then through the winding roads from there to Compostela. From Compostela, it is all downhill to the coastal plain. This is the section where we boiled the brake fluid last year. With that in mind, I was very careful to use first gear in many sections and only use the brakes when absolutely needed. No problems this trip!
We arrived at Savage RV Park in Lo de Marcos at 4 PM, after driving 288 miles. The total toll charges amounted to staggering 2897 pesos (about $275). Ouch! The alternative is to drive through many small towns and villages with lots of speed bumps (topes) and vibradores (vibrating bumps), taking hours longer, and probably adding two days to the trip.
WiFi at last!
The weather is great, but about 3C cooler than last year and the water is cooler too.
Out last blog had us in southwest Tuscon on Nov. 25th. The next day, Friday, we headed a half hour south to Mountain View RV park, which put us fairly close to our jumping off point in Nogales AZ. We were greatly disappointed that the park didn't have WiFi so we were out of touch.
On Sunday, we moved to the Nogales WalMart to stay overnight. On the following morning, we met up with three other couples heading south. One couple was towing a fifth wheel trailer, one was driving a van, and the third was driving an SUV. We crossed into Mexico and got thru the formalities in about 40 minutes and were underway by 10:30 PM, delayed a while by the dogs needing "watering". The couple in the van were traveling with 4 Schnauzers! There were several stops along the way over the next three days that added up to several hours. We are just glad we don't have a dog. We traveled 264 miles and spent 365 pesos (about $35) on tolls and arrived in San Carlos at about 4:00 PM. We encountered several police patrols along the highway but were never stopped. They are very friendly to RVs and wave you right thru any checks.
Bummer the RV park didn' t have WiFi. Nice place otherwise.
The next day would be a long slog and we left 7 AM. At this point, we are in the state of Sonora. The landscape is nothing special and semi-arid. That all changed when we drove into the state of Sinaloa. The land turned much flatter and much greener. There is a lot of agriculture and the fields went on forever. Not sure what was growing but the license plates for this state has a tomato on it. Might be a clue! We encountered many many large greenhouses that seemed to be covered in a beige Sunbrella material.
We also passed a convoy of four police pickup trucks with with cops and big guns in the back, accompanied by two police cars. Some weeks, back a patrol at a road check point was attacked by the druggies and 8 cops were killed and 3 wounded. The situation is very volatile between the police and druggies here and the police look a little edgy.
We finally ended the day at a campground on the ocean just as the sun was setting (another 442 miles). There were no trailers in the park but one of our group had stayed here before and liked it. Different story this time. Again no WiFi. They were charging an arm and leg comparatively and the couple in the van were charged $50 for there stay in one of the rooms. We do NOT recommend Punta San Miguel RV Park. It was still pretty cool even on our second night heading south. The temperature dropped to 8C overnight. Brr.
We headed out the next morning at about 8:15 PM, allowing a comfortable driving time to Lo De Marcos. It was a tough drive going up into the mountains around Tepic and then through the winding roads from there to Compostela. From Compostela, it is all downhill to the coastal plain. This is the section where we boiled the brake fluid last year. With that in mind, I was very careful to use first gear in many sections and only use the brakes when absolutely needed. No problems this trip!
We arrived at Savage RV Park in Lo de Marcos at 4 PM, after driving 288 miles. The total toll charges amounted to staggering 2897 pesos (about $275). Ouch! The alternative is to drive through many small towns and villages with lots of speed bumps (topes) and vibradores (vibrating bumps), taking hours longer, and probably adding two days to the trip.
WiFi at last!
The weather is great, but about 3C cooler than last year and the water is cooler too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)