Home Sweet Home!

What amazed me most was the sense of contentment I witnessed . . . a feeling of having enough . . . relationships and family ties and living life with gusto and passion and faith. The picture above shows some local musicians . . . part of a group that paraded through the campground one morning in Melaque last year. They included us in a birthday celebration!

Now, don't abandon this blog! "After the Trees" has just begun! Keep checking in for more adventures! I still have to tell you about the last few days of our trip . . . but the laundry needs to get done first!

Mexico Lindo . . . Beautiful Mexico. I think I made it sound too perfect at times. We've put together some lists to try and capture an accurate picture of how things really were!

What we'll miss:

Mexico sunsets/scenery, Tropical birds, Learning a new language, Freedom of spirit, Town squares, Beach walks, Collecting sea shells, "Street" restaurants w/ cheap, good eats: chiles rellenos, Mocajetes, Empanadas; Camp dogs, Tiny ancient women wrapped in shawls, Spa treatment in the RV Park, Luis' haircuts, Men bursting into song just because, "Chicken" (local) busses, Slower, more relaxed pace, Camper comforts, Dark, liquid eyes, Babies harnessed in shawls, Haunting, silent looks, Tuesday night pizza, new and special friends, Reunions with "old" friends, Warm nights, Living in the NOW/spontaneity, Gracious, welcoming local folks Pigs, goats, iguanas, burros, horses, cows, chickens, crocodiles, spouting whales, Men riding burros alongside the cuotas. Ah! and siestas!

What we won't miss:

Green swimming pools, Bug bites along the coast, Feeling too rich in the midst of poverty, Crazy drivers, Sad, not-cared-for-animals, Time-share "sharks" on the street, "Ugly Foreigner" behavior, Unexpected cold showers, "Banyo blues", Tummy rumbles, Water (of ALL kinds) issues, "Bump-Bump" music, truck air brakes and train blasts late at night; Struggling to understand and be understood, Topes y vibradores, Garbage/litter, Border crossing hassles, Traveling days without exercise

Back to Oregon . . . with mixed emotions . . . with a greater appreciation for the abundance that is ours . . . that we tend to take for granted. It's good to be home! Stay tuned for more!

The Grand Canvon

NOW THIS IS PROOF POSITIVE OF GOD'S CREATIVE ENERGY AND LOVE!

HAPPY EASTER!

Sky Islands: Home of Cochise and Geronimo

Top picture: Rock Profile of Cochise's Face

Middle Picture: Organ Pipe Rock Formation

Bottom Picture: Distant Mountains were once the Apache Stronghold

Our visit to the Chiricahua National Monument left us dazzled; first by the rock formations and the richness of the environment and then by the history of the area.

Okay, the teacher in me is not entirely retired! So humor me, already!

The Chiricahua National monument is the intersection of two deserts and two "sky island" mountain ranges, creating a biological diversity rarely found anywhere else in the Northern Hemisphere. In plain language, that means that there is an incredible variety of plants and animals concentrated in a small area.

27 million years ago, the Turkey Creek volcano erupted, with a magnitude that dwarfed the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption by 1,000 times. Super-heated ash particles spewed into the air and melted together, forming layers of rhyolite rock. Cooling and uplifting created joints and cracks in the rock. Wind, rain, freezing and thawing have broken down the softer rock and have created "the land of standing-up rocks", formations from the remaining harder rock that are dazzling. The pictures tell the story best.

The Chokonen band of the Chiricahua Apache Nation made their home in these mountains for many hundreds of years, hunting large game and gathering edible plants. After the Mexican independence in 1821, the Apache warriors, lead by Cochise and Geronimo, fought the encroachment of the white settlers. Despite their efforts, these indigenous people were forced onto reservations in Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Paquime Ruins & Mata Ortiz Potters

Just outside of the little town of Casas Grandes is an incredible museum which tells the story of the Paquime culture, a group of people closely related to tribes in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. The pueblo ruins, pictured above, remain at the side of the museum and reflect a civilization with advanced skills and knowledge that allowed them to not just survive, but to thrive in a less than hospitable, sometimes unmerciful environment. Development of cisterns, water filtration systems, and irrigation of crops with water brought from 15 meters below the surface of the ground indicated a deep understanding of many of the modern concepts of engineering and physics. These resourceful, tenacious people lived harmoniously on the land for many hundreds of years, partnered with the native flora and fauna. With hand-fashioned weapons, the men hunted the giant bison and deer that roamed the land in countless numbers, while the women and children gathered food provided by plants . . . the roots, fruits and shoots! Nothing went to waste . . . meat fed their families, bones became tools, utensils and weapons; hides were transformed into clothing. The powdery-fine soil of the area was mixed with water to make clay, used for bricks and pots. The pigments found in the native ores were used to create beautiful and intricate designs on the pots. The pottery tradition continues today in the nearby village of Mata Ortiz. Paquimes societies were complex with spiritual ceremonies and athletic competitions assuming a significant part of their culture and social structure. Tribes came together for competitions, to trade goods and for comradery. At times, the tribal exchanges became violent . . . Sometime around 1,100 A.D., the encampment at Casas Grandes was abandoned. Possibly, invading tribes from the North attacked and destroyed the village. But, certain traditions have survived and lived on into the present. Recently, we were fortunate to meet some of the artists who have continued the art of creating pottery in the Paquime tradition . . .

Mata Ortiz seemed deserted as we entered from the smooth highway which lead us from Nuevo Casas Grandes, onto the dustystreets of this village of 2000 inhabitants. We had expected slick shops and people enticing us to buy the pottery for which this town is reknown, but not a soul was there to welcome our arrival. A sign outside one small gated home indicated that there was pottery for sale inside but the locked gate made the way impassible. As we struggled with the gate, we were approached by a woman who spoke only in Spanish and pointed to a car with the trunk open. Soon, pots of all sizes, designs and colors were displayed on the ground. Before we had a chance to examine all the wares of this first family of artists, another car arrived, laden with another talented family's work....then another car and another arrived. Within a very short time, word spread throughout town of our arrival. We were dizzy with the waves of people and the incredible display of pottery spread before us. Then, along came Maria, the tiny, ancient matriarch of the town, with no more teeth than you could count on one hand. Her head and shoulders covered with a red shawl, she carried/brandished a walking stick and wore a chartreuse pant suit. She was the local marketing guru! Though she spoke not a word of English, she charmed us with her sparkling eyes and delightful, raucous laugh. We had no choice but to follow her to the favored artists' studios. Those in the street, with their wares displayed on blankets, seemed to accept Maria's pull on us. We explained to the crowd in our broken Spanish that we would be back after we had inspected what Maria had to show us. When it came time to buy, there was an undercurrent of intensity and high expectations as we began to make our selections. We left Mata Ortiz after about a three hour visit, laden with treasures and leaving behind pesos in our wake. The people we met there were gracious and friendly, reaching out without hesitation to this foreign couple in the big red truck . . . Once again, we were blessed.

Copper Canyon

Our drive this trip from Creel took us into Divisidero, past rock outcroppings among the pine trees; crossing the ferrocarril, the track that rises and carries the trains, laden with cargo into the Sierra Madre Mountains. The human cargo is most often separated between the first and second class trains that make the daily trip. First class is clean, up-to-date and equipped with luxurious accommodations: a restaurant and bar car with large, panoramic windows that overlook the breathtaking scenery. The gringoes favor this train and jockey for a favorable place in line as it chugs into El Fuerte. A comfortable seat on the correct side of the train takes on critical importance to these passengers as the train nears the station! The pace up to the canyon is deliberately slow and the stops few. We were part of that human cargo up to Creel two years ago. Tarahumara women stand by the tracks and offer their exquisite, hand-woven baskets for sale at the few stations where stops are made. Negotiations and purchases are quick as passengers move on and off the train. There is a twenty minute "teaser" stop at Divisidero when the human cargo races off the train to hurredly snap pictures of the amazing grandeur of the Copper Canyon before they snatch up shawls, baskets, jewelry and tasty local food (that, hopefully will not cause problems for their tender tummies) and leave in their wake the pesos these local folks desperately need to survive. The demanding blast of the train horn is not to be ignored by the frustrated passengers, and motivated us to return by our own vehicle this year. It was a luxury to assume a more leisurely pace from Creel up to the viewpoint. We happened to arrive in the afternoon, just as the train was preparing to depart from the station.Verbal descriptions just don't capture the splendor of the view but the uploaded pictures will hopefully take you to the canyon rim with us. Larry and I independently reconnected with the young Tarahumara woman from whom I bought several shawls two years ago. Larry will deny this, but HE is QUITE the SHOPPER! Between the two of us, I think we made her day.

Moving North

The trip from Durango to Parral took us from high plateau into a wide, lush river valley. We passed through a small, tree-lined village bordering the river bank in rich farm land. There is a sense of contentment here . . . needs satisfied; a good life.We encountered two gringo "bicyclistas" peddling along the highway. Now, THEIR Moms have reason to worry! There is little or no shoulder, so when these brave, foolhardy adventurers encounter passing trucks, the experience is, to say the least, risky. We've both been dealing with colds, so the drive seemed long, and tired us out. Larry was in no mood to maneuver through narrow city streets, so we stayed on the edge of the town in a motel with rooms facing out onto a pleasant courtyard. He napped while I enjoyed some quiet reading time on a bench outside.After a good night's sleep and a relaxed breakfast, we departed Parral and headed North. The easy drive brought us to a town west ofChihuahua called Cuauhtemoc and into a Mennonite-owned RV Park. This area has a large population of Mennonites. The buildings and developments reflect their presence. Though the guide books told us that the Mennonites do not speak Spanish and continue to converse in their native German dialect, the lady at the office door greeted us in Spanish and was unable to understand English.

Pancho Villa's Neighborhood

This picture was taken along the coast at Maruata. I needed to include some incredible scenery, though not of the Devil's Backbone. THAT will have to wait!

We're settled in at Durango tonight after an exciting drive up the Devil's Backbone. The scenery WAS spectacular . . . especially from the passenger's window! Going UP the backbone means we were on the OUTSIDE edge of the road! We buddied up for a while with a group of trucks. The drivers must have been talking on their CB's because oncoming traffic would wait until our caravan would get around a tough curve. They took turns! I'm glad we took the trip on Sunday when most of the drivers were home with their families!

Tomorrow, we'll head to Hidalgo de Parral, the town where Pancho Villa was murdered. 30,000 people attended his funeral. It's interesting getting the Mexican perpective on history!

Climbing The Devil´s Backbone

Sunday morning is an ideal time to traverse the Devil´s Backbone, the road between Mazatlan and Durango.....fewer trucks to skirt around!
If you´re patient, we´ll upload pics of the trip after we cross the border. We´re having to rely on the old camera because the digital camera has had too much tequila and is on its back under a tree for a siesta!
From Durango, we´ll work our way to the Copper Canyon and spend a couple of days in Creel. Last time we were there, it was snowing! The canyon is breathtaking!
From Creel, we´ll head to Nueva Casas Grandes for some shopping before crossing the border about the first of the month.
There is much to share when we get home!

Feathers, Fur and Scales

We've come across all kinds of animals as we have traveled. It's not uncommon to see a rooster strutting his stuff down the street....or a cow grazing along the side of the highway...or an iguana lizard sunning out in the park. Wildlife is everywhere! Up close and personal. Part of this phenomenon has to do with being in a more tropical climate; another possibility is the acceptance of creatures...on the street; in the house; by the road. They are not shooed away.

On the Beach at Sunset

Surf crashing into the sand; birds soaring just above the waves; young rider on horseback galloping down the beach with his hair waving in the breeze, waving as he passes; seashells in the empty wineglass; pinks and peaches turning to oranges and reds as the Sun dips into the ocean.........We imagine the sunset from our balcony and feel incredibly blessed.

Inside the La Casa Sur!

WooHoo! Welcome to La Casa Sur! The view out to the marina and down to the pool is wonderful. The palazza (deck) is nice and spacious. Our condo is going to be a great winter home!

On Mexican Time

Larry and I were referred to Sr. Carlos Salizar, "the big boss" of the Costa Veleros project, who alone could permit entrance to our unit. We caught the bus to Costa Veleros this morning about 10. Carolina, the sales person motioned us to the "command central" trailer on the construction site. A young woman in the trailer, who spoke no English tried to explain to us that Sr. Salizar was in a meeting until mid-afternoon. Once she located a person with enough of a grasp of English to interpret for us, we agreed to return later in the day. Larry and I approached the Oficina de Vigilancia at the gate of the project about 2 PM. The very serious security guard wore highly polished combat boots and carried a walkie talkie to communicate with those in charge of the project. A young engineer Francisco, came out to inform us that Sr. Salizar had just finished the eeting and was about to leave for lunch. We inquired i there wouold be a more convenienttime to visit our unit. Francisco went back to confer with "the big boss". It was decided that Francisco could escort us to the unit. AHHH!With some good uploading karma, we will be able to share some of the pictures we took of the interior of the condo!

Condo Pictures

Here's the winter home! The top picture was taken from the walkway adjacent to the marina, looking to the southin mid-February, so more work has been completed since then. The lower picture was taken last September from the road and is looking to the west. You can see the progress! We hope to get into our own unit before we leave Mazatlan.

Condo Sleuthing

Our requests to have a look at our condo unit have gone unheeded, so Lonnie and Larry decided to take matters into their own hands early Sunday morning and show up unannounced at the condo site. They were greeted by a security guard who indicated that the floors were being sealed, so a tour would not be possible today....possibly tomorrow. I took a nice long walk on the beach this afternoon. We've "adopted" an injured crow and are feeding it some tasty treats......looks as if both wings are injured, si it can't fly.
Still no luck with uploading pics. VERY frustratng!

Back to the Coast

The sunsets at San Blas called us back for a short visit on our way back to Mazatlan. It was an ideal place to practice the hammer dulcimer under the big tree that overlooks the ocean. Probably my HD will need some special attention when I return home, due to the ocean air! The soft air is nice; the bugs are NOT! Both are part of coastal living...... Autun is the product of choice for keeping the little nipping critters at bay....
Sunsets at San Blas are amazing! I'm frustrated at not gettting more pictures on the blog site, but the uploading process is inconsistent. I'll keep trying! We're now in Mazatlan for a week at least. Our hope is to get into our condo unit and measure for furniture and appliances. We'll also meet with the folks who can help us with the legal and practical issues of buying property in Mexico. Maz is a beautiful city and we look forward to getting familiar with it!

Shopping in Guadalajara

We had a fantastic day of scouting out the furniture availability in Guadalajara today! Theexpo center was filled with furnishings in a half-yearly sale hosted by a local furniture business....We learned that most items we will need are easily delivered to Mazatlan and that there will be another sale in September. WooHoo! Good quality, availability and prices. And the BEST part of the afternoon was our stop at local rib and burger place that caters to hungry gringoes. Now, I usually opt for the grilled chicken breast sandwich when we stop forfast food in Oregon, but we all went for burger deluxes WITH fries. A taste of Los Estados Unidos!Guadalajara is the second largest city in Mexico, behind Mexico City. It appears to be very prosperous. We left the driving into centro to the taxi driver....worth the 100 pesos! ($10 US) The policia are notorious for La mordita (the BITE) . . . . not something we wanted to risk.

The Endless Trail

It's been a challenge to load pictures of the dancers in San Miguel onto the blog. Here is another dancer and I'll try to add more later.

Eight hours across country from San Miguel to Guadalajara stretched us to the limits of our endurance!.... a burro on the edge of the busy, two-lane road packed with bus and truck traffic, vehicles creating a third lane to pass by "nudging" our rigs over to the shoulder, new construction as we entered Guadalajara which made the tricky access to the RV park unrecognizable from last year. Ahh, but the cerbeza tasted especially good once we settled into our spots under trees loaded with new birds in Tajos RV park! Books and binoculars came out to aid us in identifying the local feathered friends. Jesus appeared to us as we sat in the shade of the trees, discussing the adventures of the day...... (no, not THAT One..... this was "HAY-soos", a nice gentleman who offered hand-embroidered shirts and dresses for sale, as well as his services as a guide into Guadalajara.) The Saturday traffic was some of the worst we've driven in. Our journey started shortly before 8 AM, with an easy leg south toward Celaya where we merged onto Mex 45D (the "D" indicates a toll highway). Parts of the autopista had been "repaired", but were so rough that it was like going over topes at freeway speeds. Not a very impressive cuota road! We skirted Irapuato and took the bypass around the south side of the city. We were trying to avoid traveling through the city of Guadalajara, so our route took us through the city of La Piedad de Cabadas ..... again. Once through a few days ago had not been enough punishment for us! Signs were confusing, truck traffic was heavy, and drivers seemed impatient to pass and be on their way. Mid-journey, we wondered over the CB radios WHY we didn't wait until Sunday to travel, when the trucks would be off the roads! We traveled on the North side of Lake Chapala, through the towns of Chapala and Ajijic.....expatriot establishments with beautful gated residences. We came into Guadalajara from the southwest approach and camped south of the city.
It's Monday morning and we're rested and have regained our composure. We're off to Guadalajara by taxi today to check out furniture, etc. for the condos.
More pics will be added to this entry later!

Dancers in San Miguel

During the first weekend in March each year, villagers from the towns surrounding San Miguel de Allende process into the cityin their native dress and dance around the square in front of the cathedral. This is in celebration of the indigenous peoples' acceptance of Christ. We arrived by taxi at the square about 10:30 Friday morning, expecting activities to begin about 11. Drums were already beating, and dancers were swirling and flowing and swaying to the rhythms. We rushed to see what we thought was the end of the celebration. There were probably 40 dancers on the street to start. A few minutes later from another direction came a second group of dancers from a different village, dressed in entirely different ceremonial garb. They entered the other side of the square to the beat of their own drummers. The crowd flowed in their direction and enjoyed the dance.This continued, with more groups entering the square and rotating around so that each group had a turn dancing in front of the cathedral. For three hours the dancing continued. Feather head dresses, sequinned robes, ankle rattles adorned people of all ages, from toddlers to ancients. Banners identified the different groups. The atmosphere was electric with sights and sounds that touched the soul......Among the dancers mingled folks with cameras, garbed in expensive outfits, who looked as if they had just stepped off of Rodeo Drive. Okay, so there were some others..... rough looking bohemians from the hills of Oregon! The mix of cultures gave the square a surrealistic atmosphere....a blend of cultures that seems somehow to work, though mainly to the benefit of the expatriots who have settled in this enchanted mountain city.San Miguel de Allende has become an artist's colony, where exclusive art galleries and fine shops abound. The real estate priceshave skyrocketed and their are few good buys to be found. The hand-crafted tops we found in Uruapan for 100 pesos are 350 pesos in SM. Tomorrow morning (Saturday), we will leave bright and early...headed for Guadalajara. There, we will spend a few days and do some research for furniture and appliances for the condo in Mazatlan.

Guanajuato-City of Mines

It was tough to leave Uruapan, but we were anxious to for our annual visit to Guanajuato, one of our favorite cities. After a long, challenging day on the road, which included maneuvering through the city of Irapuato as we traveled North, we arrived at the Bugambille RV park, 9 kilometers out of the city. Mexican road signs in the larger cities can be very confusing, when they are even posted. Our two rigs are relatively small though, so when we do get turned around, we have learned to remain calm and look for and then follow the parade of trucks that know the route through the city. The state of Guanajuato is the breadbasket of Mexico, providng plentiful fruits and vegetables as well as a wealth of other natural resouces. In the days when Mexico was known as Nueva Espana and when the resources of Mexico were exploited by Spain, the colonial cities became the centers of insurgency. Many very influential local leaders sacrificed their lives to free Mexico from the clutches of the Spanish empire. The museums in these colonial cities dramatically tell the history of this land. The mines have been closed in Guanajuato for some time and the shafts have become tunnels for streets around the city. There are stairways and narrow alleys that wind up and down and ALL around! It's a great walking city! We bussed into town Sunday morning and walked to the local market, hoping to find some interesting crafts. The Sunday market turned out to offer mainly produce.....so we stocked up on avocados, strawberries and fresh garbanzo beans still in the shell. The vendor sprinkled some lime juice and chile powder on the bean.....yum! Kind of like edamame. The journey back toward centro, on the pedestrian streets provided great photo opportunities! Lots of families were out for their Sunday afternoon strolls through the various squares. I wish I could have taken a picture of one little baby girl dressed in the most beutiful white embroidered dress! We try to not look TOO touristy, so I kept my camera in its case.... We stopped at a sidewalk cafe near the square for a late brunch and enjoyed the orchestra concert. Phil would have been inspired by "Pomp & Circumstance"! A bus ride back to the RV park and cool cerveza ....ahhhh siesta time!

Inland to Uruapan

A day's drive inland North from Lazero Cardenas up highway Mex 37 (a nice toll road with just a few four-footed pedestrians along the edges),found us at elevation 5200 feet, in the city of Uruapan. Maneuvering through the city to our destination Hotel Pie de la Sierra, was a bit difficult, but well worth the challenge! The hotel provided us with a grassy spot to park, water and electricity, use of the pool and internet access, hot showers and a great restaurant with a spectacular view.......five-star accommodations! My kind of resort living! This hotel has not yet been discovered by many gringos and has a narrow access road.....SO, most patrons are local families who use it as a weekend retreat. It was a welcome change from the Ixtapa sand lot.......Friday morning after breakfast in the restaurant, we took a taxi into centro and walked around town, ending up at a national park where springs flow out of the ground.

It was a magical green space...(plants on steroids!).....with walking paths paved with black stones that follow the flow of the water. The rest of the afternoon was spent back at Pie de la Sierra by the pool. I had a nice swim.

Resort Living?

Monday we reached Ixtapa, our southern-most destination on the coast. This town, along with neighboring Zihuatanejo, have morphed into destination resort towns in recent years that have grown to depend increasingly on tourist revenue. Thousands of tourists arrive by RVs, planes, and cruise ships....looking for ways to spend their money.....fishing, fine dining, massages on the beach,shopping for trinkets and goodies in the Zihua marketplace and partying late into the night.

We camped at Playa Linda, a sandy parking lot looking out onto the bay and up at a big pink hotel. Adjacent to the camping area was a sanctuary of sorts with crocodiles fenced in what probably once was a beautiful estuary. The birds.......egrets, wood storks, spoonbills, cormorants, herons, kingfishers, etc.....flocked in to dine on the fish in the marsh, keeping a wary eye on the crocs. Oops! I didn't download pictures from the camera to the computer so I'll edit this and add pics later! You'll enjoy the croc! This " teaser" pic is of a feathered fisherman at Maruata

Tuesday we bussed over to Zihuatanejo for a day of exploring the vendor markets and shops on the waterfront. I think the bus drivers felt it was beneath their macho dignity to slow for the many potholes and bumps on the road between Ixtapa and Zihua, so the rides were REALLY exciting!

We sat in the back of the buses, which magnified the effect of the rides to carnival proportions!After a final day of relaxing, we decided to head inland and up to the mountain city of Uruapan on Thursday......destination: Hotel Pie de la Sierra.

South to Ixtapa

Hola from Uruapan! This is the first opportunity I have had to report on our travels since we left Melaque last Saturday, due to the lack of internet cafes on the beaches along the coast. Since we "free camped" along the way, accommodations were minimal!

After a great reunion with our Melaque friends we've met these past few years, we departed Melaque with friends/travel companions Lonnie and Kathy Dunham and headed south down the coast along a narrow. winding road.....destination: Maruata.... a sleepy little town known for Lupita's fabulous baked goods, magically created throughout the day in her palapa next to the bay....from cinnamon buns in the morning to pizza made to order for dinner. Her reputation is well-deserved!

Next to the bay is an absolutely spectacular stretch of beach where sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in the sand.

Environmental groups are dedicated to assuring the survival of the turtles by relocating the eggs to protected sites where the eggs are reburied and their progress monitored. Once the baby turtles hatch, they are escorted across the beach and out to the surf where they are released into the ocean without having to run the gauntlet of sea birds who feed on them.

Poachers also compete for the newly laid eggs as a source of food and income. It is a nightly race to see who can follow behind the turtles and collect the eggs just as soon as they are laid. Sometimes, if there is too much light and commotion, the turtles turn around and head back into the ocean without laying their eggs.

These little places are being discovered by travelers from up North who aren't always aware of their impact of their presence.

Sunday, we camped at a public beach further down the coast, along with some other travelers. Glenn, a "mate" from Australia, shared his experiences of traveling the past two years around South America....this done in an old "beater" truck with a canopy. We didn't see the interior of his rig, but he seemed to have a good supply of ice cold beer in the back!

We arrived in Ixtapa Monday....a resort town just south of Lazero Cardenas. The next journal entry will give the details of our three days spent in Ixtapa and the cruise ship destination town of Zihuatanejo, located between Manzanillo and Acapulco. LOTS to share!

Melaque

Stars are brighter here! Orion and the Big Dipper are spectacular!
Street animals abound...feathered and four-legged.
Yesterday's tienges (weekly market) was packed with goodies! Food, crafts, jewelry, clothing, household items. It is a good idea to limit the pesos in the pocket because there are so many tempting things to buy!
We will enjoy some good local food tonight at Taco Surf, just off the town square, to celebrate Larry's birthday!

Sunday Afternoon

Sunday is a time for family in Mexico. We should take note! Work pretty much stops for most people here. Families head out to find a good picnic site.
As I write this, Larry and I are sitting under a big beautiful tree overlooking the ocean. There is a local family of about a dozen people of all ages enjoying a meal together. "Grandpa" was assisted by two men to the seat of honor at the picnic, in the midst of the family.
There is so much tolearn from the Mexican culture! Their values are focused on family, on making the most of time and relationships. Celebrations happen at the drop of a hat!
Time for siesta!

San Blas Sunset

Here we are, after 5 1/2 hours on the road via the libre, the free road......160 miles and a number of "topes".....the MX equivalent of speed bump/stop signs.

It was worth the trip! Paraiso Miramar RV Park, near San Blas has a spectacular view of the ocean; a soft breeze has cooled us down as we drink our cerbezas. The RV Park has a restaurant adjacent to a lawn, shaded by a huge tree. The frigate birds and pelicans are soaring overhead......so yes, Mexico CAN be dangerous!

San Blas is a coastal town located about 1000 miles from the border, above Puerto Vallarta about 100+ miles.

We are looking forward to watching a beautiful sunset!

Off to San Blas

The camper is packed up.......fold up patio table and chairs and the dulcimer are tucked in the back seat. It's been a restful stay here in Maz! I would be content to stay and paint and play the HD, but Larry is getting the travel bug once again! No complaints from me though. There is the museum of masks in Zacatecas, shopping in Tonola, friends in Melaque.....
It will be a few days before I will be able to update....
It's great to get responses! I'll be adding pictures as we move along the road

Patio Garden

This beautiful plant is right next to our patio!

On to Melaque

The autobus has just delivered us back to Playa Escondido RV Park from the mercado in centro - the "Old Town" market that takes up a city block and is packed with all manner of food, clothing, and items wanted/needed by the Mazatlan population......Kind of a glorified farmers market. We bought some provisions for the trip to Melaque......gawked at some of the goodies.
Saturday, we will depart Maz for San Blas...a great birding destination on the coast. We may hang out for a day or two and take a boat ride through the mangrove swamps.
From San Blas, we will head to Melaque, where we will meet up with friends and traveling companions Kathy and Lonnie Dunham, Adele Langlands.
More later!

Slowing Down

Okay, THIS is what "after the trees" is all about! Up in the morning for coffee on the "patio", equipped with Spanish language and bird ID books; ride into town on the "chicken bus" (locals
prefer this style of transportation over the more luxurious air conditioned buses) to pick up some groceries at Mega; walk on the beach to watch the sun set...Yes, we are FINALLY relaxing! Pedicure on the patio this afternoon... I DREAMED about this while we were harvesing trees in November/December!
Saturday, we will depart Mazatlan for a while and travel south, down the coast to meet friends in Melaque, a small town near the coastal city of Manzanillo.

In Mazatlan

We are settled in at Playa Escondido RV park, just North of Mazatlan. It is an easy bus ride into town and a good education (the bus ride)! The music is louder here and the traffic is crazier (with the exception of the LA freeway). A few basic recommendations for life in MX. . . wear sunscreen; remember to smile; ALL paper products go in the basket and are NOT flushed (I know, I know....TMI....but IMPORTANT!). Basic vocabulary: please (por favor), thank you (gracias), excuse me (perdon, or con permiso - when you want to get by someone), I am sorry (lo siento). All attempts at speaking español have been regarded positively (maybe a few giggles... do you know that the word for hat and for dog are very similar?!) Bonus language classes! We are camped in the midst of some friendly Quebequois, so I´m practicing my French as well as my Spanish! We are presently at Gran Plaza, an air conditioned mall very similar to Clackamas Town Center. WiFi is a hit and miss thing, so we dive into convenient cybercafes. It is close to siesta time (1:30), so we have to close down for today. From 2 to 4 each afternoon, many stores close down for a nice long lunch break.....a delightfully civilized practice! Mas tarde amigos!

South of the Border

Hola amigos! We're South of the Border . . . at San Carlos, near Guaymas. We brought the Oregon weather with us! Brrr! cool and wet! Tomorrow we're bound for Mazatlan. It'll be a long drive, but that will provide opportunity to practice espanol and listen to the language tapes.

Buenas noches!

Yuma, Arizona

This will be quick! Highlights of the journey down the central valley of California, once again, were all about birds! Snow geese and Canadas! Thick clouds of birds in the sky . . .wheeling and turning and then settling into the rice ponds along side the the highway! Beautiful! We finally got out of the fleece and into short sleeves and shorts as we approached the CA/AZ border. Our mandatory annual mechanical problem presented itself as a dead camper battery . . . not a problem in RV parks where we have electicity . . . BUT, not so fun as we head away from the luxury of civilization inland! There are countless "snow birds" in Yuma . . . also needing help . . . so, the replacement took a little longer than we would have liked. From here, we travel toward Tucson. Tomorrow, we'll cross the border at Nogales and head for Guaymas/San Carlos. The following day, we hope to arrive in Mazatlan. We're practicing our espanol along the way!
Que le vaya bien, amigos!

Bald Eagle Sighting!

Tonight, we are camping in an RV park near Red Bluff, California. It was a beautiful day! We left Eugene about 10 . . . had lunch in Medford with Jackie Sims, one of Bonnie's good friends from Willamette U days. We had a great visit! As we traveled toward the California border, we caught a glimpse of a mature Bald Eagle by the side of the road, feeding on something tasty. We're looking forward to checking out more birds as we travel South. I've been noticing all the different barn designs! Big ones, little ones, tall ones, round ones......I have my journal with us in the truck and sketch and write along the way. It's time to crawl into bed. Tomorrow will be a long day. We hope to get to the Palm Springs area. Hasta luego!

On the Road Again!

FINALLY! La Casa Chica is on the move! We departed from "the farm" on January 25 - a week later than anticipated . . . . but what does it matter?! We're retired! REALLY retired!

Please be patient as we figure out how to post pictures. It'll happen! We are the proud owners of a GPS/MP3. Now, if we can figure how to download the itunes from our laptop, we'll be SET!

Tonight we're in Eugene, visiting with Phil and Maureen. Hopefully, by tomorrow evening we'll be near Sacramento.

T Minus 10 and Counting

After 10 years of tending the trees, retirement has become a reality. In the coming days we will make final preparations for departure....... destination Mexico.
You are invited to experience the journey through this blog site, thanks to mentoring provided by sister-in-law Heather Hawkins.
It is our plan to keep a blog journal of our travels....Our scheduled departure date is January 18, depending upon weather. The first challenge will be to get over the Siskiyou Pass at the Oregon/California border. From her vantage point in Ashland, Oregon, Bonnie's college classmate and sorority sister, Jackie Sims will keep us posted on weather conditions over the pass.
As we become more comfortable with blogging, we may even add pictures!

Welcome aboard Taylor's "La Casa Chica"... our little house perched in the bed of our truck! We hope you enjoy the trip!

Mariposa Butterfly Reserve

Today we went here. It was amazing. Check out this site. These are pictures of Heather and David Hawkins and their son Jack. Where oh where is AnnaBeth?

If you are a parent with little ones, you will definitely want to check out Heather's blog....Ready Set Mom. It's a GREAT resource!