Kathy & Eric's travels: A week in review with a trip to Teacapan.

Monday February 8, 2010

I just checked my blog page and it seems I haven't posted anything since last week. Well, nothing too huge was going on and I needed a break from my hectic schedule. Yah right!

Last Friday we had a little good-bye party for Maria (front office worker) in the park palapa and it was very nice. Lots of good appys and a couple of bouquets of flowers for Maria and there was also a good-bye card from everyone in the park that Manny had taken around for everyone to sign. Maria was very touched by it all and shed a few tears which upset her as she said she didn't like to cry! A very nice lady who will be missed. We'll see how Felipe (the owner) does working seven days a week to replace her. Only time will tell!

We have a caravan of about 17 units (Americans from all over the states) in the park right now and they arrived last Thursday afternoon while we were at the beach. Since the back of the park is set up for caravans we haven't really noticed them except for a few new faces and the big tour bus showing up to take them out sightseeing. I hear they will be on their way tomorrow.

I found a coconut on the road to the beach (unbroken) and I managed to bring it home. Eric chopped the top off and although it didn't have a coconut in it there was a huge glass of liquid. Betsy from across the way had some mature ones and she gave them to Eric to open. There was coconut in two of the three and she gave us one and so I looked in my Joy Of Cooking cookbook to see what to do with it. Eric dug it out with a grapefruit spoon and I peeled the thin dark skin off with my potato peeler and now he is eating it. Delicious! All new to us so I took a couple of pictures.

Green coconut full of liquid.

The coconut meat being removed from the mature one.

Eric and I managed to find the hairdresser (Gaby's) at the beginning of the Gold Zone (that the ladies in the park go to) and I made an appointment to get a trim for Tuesday (tomorrow.) I haven't had my hair cut since we were in San Carlos at the beginning of December so that tells you how short it was cut. Easy to keep though. We were looking for the fishing tackle shop at the same time but didn't find it. Since then we have been given directions to a couple of tackle shops so Eric will have to head out on the Harley to find them. Rick (from Vancouver) has joined in on the fishing and caught a Jack Cravelle his first time out just like Eric did. Rick cooked it up but his wife, Bev didn't like it very much. We thought it was a good fish but again - each to their own. Rick and Bev live on a 42 foot Fraser sloop sailboat which is moored in False Creek when they are not travelling in their RV.

Yesterday Sam showed up to see if we wanted to go on a Harley trip. Sam has been sick for a week and he suspects he may have had Dengue fever. It is in this area and there are various types and degrees of illness. He seems better now and so was up for a ride. Sam and Rita had stayed in Teacapan for a month a couple of years ago and so they suggested that it might be a good ride especially since we had mentioned we'd like to take a look at that area. I'd just returned from my beach walk so we didn't head out until about 10am. The trip is about 155km each way but with the journey out of Mazatlan and then through Villa Union, Rosario and into Esquinapa de Hildago that makes it slower than a straight run with no small towns. It was Sunday so traffic was lighter and also SuperBowl so we thought it would be a good day to go. We made it to Esquinapa by noon and then headed into Teacapan. The road in is filled with potholes in many areas and they are deep, deep, deep! If you loose a wheel in one you'll break something for sure so Eric spent most of his time with eyes glued to the road. The area is very green with lots of agriculture and is quite beautiful. There are RV parks along the beach coming into Teacapan but we didn't have time to stop and look (next time.) Sam had a place in mind for lunch and so that's where we headed. At the very beginning of town on your left is a little "Japanese" restaurant. Who'd have thought!

Looking back towards the sign entering Teacapan.

The restaurant has a nice little courtyard with tables and it was a very pleasant place for cervezas and lunch. Excellant food (I had tempura and rice) and a welcome change to the usual Mexican fare. The owner "Otto" is Japanese (lived in California and learned English) and then moved to Mexico (married a Mexican woman) and now lives in Teacapan.

Otto with his wife and daughter.

The Japanese restaurant in Teacapan.

Otto was thrilled by the Harley's and wanted to take pictures and we were happy to oblige. Eric let him sit on Blue and his daughter took a picture.

A smiling Otto on Blue.

I mentioned I would put the picture on my blog and Otto ran to get his blog address for me. He said it is in Japanese (for his family and friends at home) http://teacapan.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/ for those of you who can understand Japanese (maybe you David and Chiyoko.) A very funny and friendly man. I found Otto's blog and see he put pictures of us on our trip to Teacapan yesterday on it. The Google translation from Japanese to English gives me the impression that he and his family were a little afraid of us because we were on Harley's. Four Canadian grandparents, quite the rough crowd! The translator in Google is a bit rough but it would seem Otto is a bit of a philosopher as well as a chef. There is a huge amount to look at and read on his blog and I will put it in my list of blogs to read.

Eric and I with Sam and Rita.

While we were waiting for lunch the local herd of Bramah cattle made their way down the street and across to their pasture. The bus had to dodge them and laid on his horn to get them out of the way. They were completely unconcerned!

Farmer heading the cows into town.

The bus dodges the cows and they could care less!

The bus is gone and they head in and over the bank to their left.

We also had a truckload of heavily armed municipal police stopped across from the restaurant. They amused themselves by sitting in the shade and then checking the local kids packsacks as they passed by on bicycles. Where are they when there are big shoot outs with AK47's. No where to be seen I'll bet!

I snuck a shot of the policia ( you can't see that they are heavily armed!)

After lunch we road down to the Malecon on the east side of the estuary. It is not finished but is still a very pleasant and beautiful place. Teacapan is slated to be the new Cancun and big development is going to happen there. The locals are not happy with that and will likely not get much benefit from it other than a disruption of their very quiet lifestyle.

The Malecon in Teacapan.

Eric and Sam looking out on the estuary in Teacapan.

We headed home about 2:30 pm and after a couple of stops to give our knees and bums a rest arrived home about 5pm. A great ride.

It has been great to have Sam and Rita to ride with. Sam is outgoing (unlike Eric) and so he stops anywhere and everywhere and know lots of places to ride and stop that we would never see. He and Rita have explored a lot of areas around Mazetlan over the last few years in their vehicle and now on the Harley with us behind. Good for all of us.

The park was in full Superbowl swing when we arrived back with the game being watched outside on TV by the men and the ladies playing hand and foot ( a form of canasta.) I have no idea who was playing or who won but I do know that Eric didn't win any money in the pool! Looser!

The card game/ Superbowl party at Pat and Jack's.

George, Manny, Bill and Jack (It must be a commercial!)

Late this morning I noticed what I initially thought was a hummingbird collecting nectar from the yellow bush out front. After closer investigation I realized it was actually a bee. A really large bee! Okay a really, really, really large bee about the size of a hummingbird.