Tuesday 28 February 2017

February 25,26 & 27 - The interloper

The past few days have been spent shopping, relaxing on the beach and seeing the local sights with our latest visitors.




Park garage sale


The interloper

Cam and guests watched the iguana above have a fierce fight with one of our iguanas on our patio.  There was a great deal of blood before the combatants finally settled the dispute and separated.  Alas I was away with the camera and only arrived after it was over.  The winner above was still posturing and hissing.

Saturday 25 February 2017

February 24 - Friends from home

Today we went to Puerto Vallarta to pick up friends who will be staying in the park.  It was a beautiful morning with mist hanging in the valleys.



We did a quick shop in P.V.  Then headed back out, ending our day at La Pineda restaurant in Rincon.



February 22 & 23 - Mercado

We spent yesterday resting up then heading into Rincon for dinner at Bruhilla's, which means the attic, with friends who arrived recently.  They had spent the last 3 months in Australia.  We had caravaned down through Mexico with them last year.  It was great catching up and hearing about their adventures since last winter.

Today I went to the mercado and bought a few more take home items.


Beautiful handmade table runners and blankets.


Handwoven rugs of sheep wool and vegetable dyes.




The walk back home along the beach.


Magnificent frigate birds follow the fishermen.




Cleaning and drying nets.

Wednesday 22 February 2017

February 20 & 21 - Tonita and Palapa

It was another windy day.  So we once again took down our awnings, etc.   The awning patrols were out and we took down our friends awnings because they were out for the day.  The surf was crashing and then about 2 hours after, it suddenly died off and all was calm again.

We had family over for Taco Tuesday at the big palapa in the park.  We sat and watched the flocks of egrets and ibis fly into the estuary for the night.




Margaritas and Hibiscus drinks

The tacos were great and there was cake for dessert.  Hibiscus flowers are used to make the red drink called Agua de Jamaica.

Yesterday was quiet except for dinner at Tonita 1 by Steffany's with family.


Sunday 19 February 2017

February 18 & 19 - Rain


There was a turtle release at our beach yesterday however the Magnificent Frigate birds sent out an all points bulletin and ended up consuming quite a few while the crowd yelled in a frantic but ineffective attempt to scare them off.  I had chosen to observe from afar.  Good choice.


Turtle release crowd

Last night we heard it was going to storm.  So, we took down our awnings, our sunshades and canopies.  We put away our chairs, our tablecloths and puzzles.  Then it rained and rained.  Lovely.  Probably should have left our main awning out because there was no wind at all.  However the weather is not over so one more night then we can put all our shite out again.


A little bit of sunshine






End of a rainy day.

Saturday 18 February 2017

February 14 to 17 - Out and about

Well I have been remiss when it comes to blogging this week.  It has been busy with visitors, dinners out and also with goodbyes to people in the park packing to leave towards home.  I say that because they won't be home for months but are wending their way back slowly.


My Valentine under a Yaka fruit tree

We went to a Japanese restaurant in La Peñita with a group of friends for Valentine's evening.
The food was great and they had a wide variety.  


Oops left the lights on, luckily we were traveling in 2 vehicles.


Dinner with family Hinde y Jaime's on the hill






Along the road to El Monteon beach

We took a ride to the upper beach near El Monteon but the road was under construction.  We all got to experience Mexican construction.  It was still a nice ride through the jungle but our little remote beach will soon be a hotelarama.  Marteen washed our car when we got back.


Monday 13 February 2017

February 11,12 & 13 - Bat Falcon

I saw a Bat Falcon in the park today.  New bird for the life list!

I spent Saturday morning at J.E.E.P cleaning cat kennels, and petting cats, horses and dogs.  I brought the two house cats a scratching log and they are getting good use out of it.


Spanky (unimpressed)


Jack

The past few days Kirk has been having a bit of a Mexican stand off with one of our patio iguanas.  This iguana will run over to me to get his banana and Kirk just can't cope with the sheer audacity of it.


Iguana lounging on wall, endless hours of distraction for Kirk.


Kirk thinks he might just eat that banana after he gets that iguana, that is.


Iguana hunting tires a dog out.

Yesterday morning and this afternoon we visited family at Steffany's.


Steffany's


Hanging out on the beach.


Friday 10 February 2017

February 10 - Beautiful night

Kirk and I go for our late night walk through the campground.  The "Snow" moon lights our pathway interspersed with patches of darkness where trees overshadow us.  Reminding me of the poem The Highwayman "the road was a ribbon of moonlight".  

According to the Farmers' Almanac, full moon names date back to Native Americans, each full moon has its own name.

Crickets sing, an owl hoots, in the estuary a toad sings its high chirring tune.  As we progress around the park we pass unnoticed by four sisters sitting on a patio in quiet conversation having each come from different countries, or parts there of, to gather here for a time.  The quiet is broken by laughter from several levels below us, Friday night revellers.  

We move away into the warm, humid darkness and once again it is only the insects we hear and if we could the tramping feet of leaf cutter ants in their nightly march.  These wee beasties will climb right over you if you stop unawares and not cause harm unless you try to brush them off and press too hard.  Even then I find the bite is light and does not last long for one with so formidable jaws.

A large purple flower falls from a vine above us joining others strewn about the path.  We pass through scents of jasmine and other flowers, a waft of wood smoke, and green vegetation.

Back on our patio the full moon hangs above the silhouettes of mango, fig and palm trees.  I can see a long way down the beach.  Geckos chirp.  It is a calm night but the surf continues its endless assault on our moonlit shore.  Each cresting wave lighting up the edge of the beach as it runs along in a surge of sparkling silver.

We decide to take one more turn round the area.  A neighbour passes me by "Beautiful night"!  Yes it is.  It truly is.



Thursday 9 February 2017

February 9 - Patio Time with family

Today was market day so our Aunt, Uncle and cousins walked over to our place afterwards.  We had some fruity drinks on the patio, watched the iguanas, soaring frigate birds, beach activity and ocean waves on another beautiful sunny afternoon.  The conversation ran from bargaining and travel experiences, best restaurants, worst restaurants, etc.

Every year one or more of our fellow travellers has their RV painted in the park.


Final prepping before paint.


Panel painted and drying on the clothesline


I will have to remember to include a photo once it is finished.

February 6,7 & 8 - for those of you needing color besides snow white

Well the internet has been abysmal.  So I will speak generally of the past few days.  We travelled to Las Varas and impressed the local Aurora Bodega clerks by buying every last package of Cam's favourite and hard to get soup.  This amounted to several cases worth.  The local flora has been outdoing itself as Spring nears in Mexico.



Bougainvillea 


Tulip tree


Bougainvillea


Hibiscus 


Citroen Trogon

We went to Steffany's and visited with family.  One of the best things about La Peñita is the easy access to the airport in PV.  It is so great to be able to spend time with people from home.

Monday 6 February 2017

February 4 & 5 - J.E.E.P & spay & neuter clinic

I spent yesterday and today at J.E.E.P.  Saturday was the usual cleaning of kennels as well as cleaning the veterinary room for the spay and neuter clinic today.  About 6 vets arrived this morning from surrounding towns, some from as far as Compostela.  The animals were operated on in the clinic area while we volunteers manned recovery stations in the kennels.  Once an animal was done we had to monitor its temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate and turn it over every 15 minutes.  Ears were wiped, toenails were clipped on dogs, any ticks removed.  I had a young cat for two hours as the recovery period from the anesthetic for cats is longer than for dogs.  We also had to put in eye drops to keep their open eyes from drying out.  It all went well and I learned a great deal.   Jose (my usual taxi) and I gave a lady and her still sleeping chihuahua a ride down the hill on the way home.


The kitty I had to watch.  

The cat was a stray but lucky enough to be going home with a retired vet who will find a good home for him.


It was a sea foggy morning. 


Kennels are large and airy.  She is unimpressed.

This shelter like many others requires old towels, old beds, and volunteers.  Before you throw out towels, old pet toys, leashes, consider giving them to a shelter.  No matter what country you are in.

Today the volunteers were Canadian, American and Mexican not much difference there other than a minor language difference although actions proved to be the driving force not words.  


Saturday 4 February 2017

February 2 & 3 - Tianguis & Hasta luego

We went to the market in La Peñita and worked our way through a list of purchases.  We each bought a beautiful hand woven sheep wool rug.



We finished off the evening with dinner at La Pineda restaurant.  The evening was gorgeous, and we had a table against the bay looking out on the panga boats moored for the night.  A few fishermen were out late and we watched them maneuver their boats into position with the others.  I counted 51 boats.  


Squid appetizer


Sarandeado Sea Bass

Sarandeado (or sometimes Zarandeado) is a traditional fish dish served along Mexico’s Pacific Coast. It is usually made with either sea bass or red snapper.  The fish is split in half from head to tail, leaving in most of the bones. The two marinated sides get grilled along with the marinated backbone.  The recipe uses a chile and garlic-based seasoning paste, and a final glazing of flavored mayonnaise before it goes on the grill.  Although our Spanish teacher tells us the marinade varies from place to place and his mother's is the best.

The next day our family left for Puerto Vallarta and the trek home.  It was great two weeks of adventuring around the area.


A Vine taking advantage of our distraction with visitors to encroach on our patio.

We also had a 5 foot brown rat snake on our patio about a week ago.  Tacho says he is a good snake and we should keep him as he eats rodents.


Thursday 2 February 2017

January 30 & February 1 - Chacala & San Pancho Birding

We went to Chacala Beach for lunch on Tuesday and discovered some really beautifully coloured tropical fish swimming around the edges of the marina.  Gorgeous angelfish, wrasse, tangs and many others we could not identify.



The main event of the evening was Taco Tuesday and free margaritas in the park.

Today we went birding in San Pancho.  We saw a wide variety of birds at the estuary and also in town, however, I was too busy birding and forgot to take photos of them.  We saw Jacanas,  Anhingas, numerous warblers, terns, herons, egrets, caciques, etc.


San Pancho town square where we saw some Black throated Magpie jays. 




We walked up a hill trail, San Pancho in the distance.






The trail ended in thick jungle.

We returned home and walked the trail along the beach and estuary.  We saw 3 large crocodiles, a Purple Gallinule and a Vermillion flycatcher.