December 18th - A putter to La Playa del Monteon

We went for a drive south to El Monteon this morning. While Sunday afternoon traffic is heavy, Sunday morning is quiet quiet.  School has ended for the Christmas break, so we are entering Nayarit peak season (except for Semana Santa at Easter).  The parking lots are already filled with tour buses from Guadalajara
.

We headed south on Mx 200 to El Monteon, and found it relatively busy in the cool of Sunday morning.  

The water and sewer lines are being extended into the newer parts of town (further from the highway)

Our route through town was blocked, so we had to explore our way around the construction.

A new water line, ready to run into the house.

Out of town and into the country

Across the cement bridge over the creek

Kinda reminds me of the old road into Chalet Beach

Except for the odd palm tree

There's a lot more sand at this beach as compared with last year, perhaps 20 metres more, and it's far more level.  Maybe that's where all the sand went that's disappeared from our beach this fall.  It's amazing to me how much beaches ebb and flow over time.

The creek exits the estuary behind the beach ridge right against the base of the mountain.

 Nancy spotted a Black Hawk surveying his/her domain.

A Mexican grandfather dropped off his wife, a few daughters, and assorted granddaughters, all of whom were happily carrying their supplies and setting up for a day at the beach.  We were the only people at the beach.

December 17 - perros, gatos y caballos

I went back to the Jaltemba Equine Education Project (JEEP) by taxi today with another lady from the park.  The road is just too brutal to beat our cars up there when 30 pesos each way is the alternative.  We gave our driver a 20 peso tip on the way up and hey,  he showed up to get us 3 hours later as requested.  There were others at JEEP that doubted the taxi would return as they said that in general in the area they often don't.  Nothing to do with the destination just the way it is.

 We walked dogs which sounds easy but these animals need some rehabilitation as well.  They aren't aggressive just cowering and/or untrained to a leash.  You need to be patient and progress is slow initially.  I decided we better speak Spanish - Ven aqui (come here).

The horses were given time individually in the arena to run on their own.  

Then I cleaned a large cat area, petted cats, and treated ear mites.  Next week we plan to  buy some cat medication for fleas, worms and mites from a local vet, who volunteers his time, and work with the cats again.  The people at JEEP said they get an interest from volunteers to work with the dogs and horses but not so much to work with cats.

Hmm, I might become the cat lady.  We left JEEP covered in dog and cat hair as well as a liberal layer of dust.  But overall a nice warm feeling.  If there is a heaven those people at JEEP will have a front row seat.

In the afternoon, Teri and I walked into town along the beach to buy groceries.

December 16 - Clases de español

Spanish lessons today.  Three new people showed up, one a veteran of last year's classes, and two beginners, for a total of eight.  Ivan has been progressing from where we left off in the spring, so the new folks are rightfully having difficulties.  Since we already had one beginner attending, we have put the word out on the Park's Facebook page to see if we could drum up another couple of beginners, for a group of five to make it worth Ivan's time to start a second class.

Maestro Ivan

Classes are in the Park's Clubhouse, which doubles as the library and bingo hall

And ping pong, darts, & stitch and bitch

Nancy dog-sat our neighbour's dog, Amber (a Standard Poodle), while her owner did a shopping run to Puerto Vallarta today.

Nancy went to aqua-sizes in the afternoon, while I went for a drive to scout out Mateja's (a bar & grill with occasional live music, on the north end of the beach in Rincon).  Had supper on the deck at home, watching eight Brown Pelicans diving for fish off the first breakwater.  They spent a half an hour working the same small spot, until they filled up and left.

Much excitement!  Cinema Guayabitos opens the new Star Wars movie "Rogue One" today!  It's a long trek up a set of stairs with no handrails, but the seats and screen are great, and the 1:30 show has subtitles.  We'll give it the weekend for the crowds to abate, and hit it on Monday.

December 15th - hazy days

I've been working my way through the $45MXN litre bottle of rum that my good friend Dave gave me.  While straight shots from the bottle are a little on the astringent side, when combined with ice, a lime, and coke, it makes for just a lovely beverage.

Visitors of friends of ours had their stay extended an extra day, courtesy of West Jet, who were forced to cancel their flight due to volcanic ash over Puerto Vallerta.  It turns out the volcano at Colima (roughly 200 Km. SE) is erupting, and throwing ash for 170 Km.  It turns out that the haze that's been around for the last few days is not humidity, but volcanic ash.  I have vowed not to go jogging until the air clears somewhat...

December 2016 Colima volcano

While Cam waits for a jogging opportunity, I have continued to do the morning walk.  Today, we stopped for coffee at our favourite break spot and one of the ladies presented the restaurant owner with a cream pitcher that has a screw on top and sliding opener.  He has been bringing our leche (milk) in a cup.  She has been going there for many years and he was pleased with her present.   She said now he can serve these Canadian ladies their milk in it.   She said "and it was mucho expensive".  He hesitated then they both had a big laugh.  Turns out it leaked when we got our milk.  He was concerned she would be disappointed and I could tell he was trying to reassure her that her gift was worthy.  He said don't worry he will put some plumbing tape on it and it should be fine.
He had been closed yesterday morning and we had to go across the street.  That restaurant gave 7 of us free toast and jam with our coffee.  One of the ladies said it was an attempt to lure our business there.  We tipped them well.

We also walked through the Thursday market where I picked up some Red Snapper, lemon cake, and a few gifts.  Then back in time for the Christmas dinner planning meeting.  The hummingbirds were also flinging themselves at me as these early morning walks delay the refill on the feeders.  They are drinking a couple of litres a day.  They also now hover within inches of my hands while I hang the feeders and hover/zoom around our heads demanding sustenance.

December 14th - General blithering

It was my turn to go and see Dr. Raúl this morning, on a non-serious matter.  No matronly receptionist here, but an attractive young woman with the full monty make-up, nails, and hair!  It was very interesting; blood pressure, temperature and pulse recorded by the latest in machinery and recorded by the woman on my ticket before seeing the Dr.  After a two to three minute wait, I was ushered into his office.  His English was much better than my español, and we successfully worked our way through the communications required.  $550 MXN so far, but I have to return for a blood sample tomorrow.

On return to the park, I saw Tacho, the lead hand in the Park with forty years tenure, and maestro fixer of anything, getting on his bike to run an errand.

He normally rides a newish shiny yellow 125 street Suzuki. 

The all-important license plate.

This time, he was mounting a very new, black 125 Suzuki.  I asked him "?Nueva moto?" (new motorcycle) In perfect, un-accented English, he explained that it was his son's bike, and gestured as he told me that it had no plate.  Since his son had to go to San Blas today, he and Tatcho had switched bikes for the day, since Tacho's bike had a license plate, and would not incur the undesirable attention of Transito or Policia.  It's a very nice bike, I told him.  Thanks, it is quite nice, he said, and drove away.

Razor with lit deer on top and Santa in back

December 13th - Hablas español? !Matar a la araña!

Last night just before I was to go to bed, Cam said don't be upset but there is a humongous araña (spider) on our bedroom roof.  Ack!  Having duked it out with several spiders in the park showers when we first arrived, I knew the fly swatter was out of the question.  I got out our trusty dirt-devil vacuum and nabbed him.  Then I had to make 100% sure he was in there so I took the canister to the park showers.  Suddenly in the shower there was a big spider on the wall beside me.  Was it my spider?? Escaped from the vac hole in the canister? I exited the shower stall and dumped the contents of my canister in the centre of the washroom floor, then poked it about, there was our spider - DOA.  I cleaned up the floor and left.   We haven't had any intruders other than itsy bitsy ants so I think he came in when Cam opened our vents to run the air when he started the Brave yesterday.  Cam claims he came in with the dog and I.  Regardless, folks here say they are harmless.  I say ack!

I went for a 6 km walk around the area and into Rincon with the ladies this morning.

Crossing the bridge of life into Rincon

Gringo Gulch in Rincon

We returned to the park in time for our first Spanish lesson this year.  There are 6 of us in class.

Painting parts of an RV next to our lesson in the Community Centre

I also had time to visit the vegetable truck next to the clubhouse in the park.  The truck comes once a week.  It carries a wide variety of goods from a supermarket in La Peñita.  We actually saw them loading the truck while we were on our walk in town and one of our group ran over and asked them to also bring a litre of milk for her.

Buying goods from the truck

Juices, wine, tonic water, cabbages, soft drinks, etc

Cereal, vanilla, pineapples, coffee, etc

Beer, vegetables, & fruit

No cartons, unless you bring one.  You take your eggs home in a plastic bag

It was also Taco Tuesday.  So we finished with dinner up at the big palapa with the last of the super moons rising.

Buenas noches

December 11th & 12th - Loud retorts

The nights have been increasingly peppered with random explosions at all hours, I think in an effort to keep folks awake as part of the pilgramage for Our Lady of Guadalupe .  The local churches set off
loud firecrackers day and night during celebrations.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City is the most visited Catholic pilgrimage site in the world, and the world's third most-visited sacred site.  December 12th is a holiday for much of Mexico in her honour.  It is celebrated during the 12 days preceding this date.   I have long since habituated to the fireworks, and even Kirk, who formerly vocalized his displeasure with loud retorts, has managed to remain asleep.  Those of you planning on visiting take note as there always seems to be a reason to set off loud retorts at least occasionally and it may make you leap from your bed the first night it occurs.

Other than that we had eggs benedict for breakfast at the pool Sunday followed by late afternoon appetizers and margaritas at a friends followed by hamburger night at the pool.

Today I joined the 7 a.m. walking club to put on about 5 km, then hair cut (60 pesos) at the big palapa,  aquasizes at the pool and dinner at the pool.

View from big palapa

These absolutely calm mornings, there is a lot of dew, the Brave and the canopies are dripping.  I started the Brave and ran it long enough to come up to temperature and burn off any condensation in the engine.  I also ran the dash air conditioning to keep all the seals in shape.  Then we ran the generator and the roof air conditioners.  Hopefully running the engines will also discourage any geckos, spiders or other undesirables from taking up residence in the motorhome.  This is diarized to repeat every two weeks while we're parked.

Ivan dropped by today; hopefully our Spanish classes will begin for the year tomorrow.