This and that!

 It's now Dec 1st and we've been here for three weeks.  The temperature has finally dropped and we are much more comfortable.  I'm slowly getting the house cleaned up and we're feeling more at home. 

Last Saturday was chili night at our house and we had fun.

Good food, friends and family.

Eric and I sat at the counter and Frank/Sandi, Dennis/Marilyn and Ian and Linda were at the table.

Last week Eric saw something on our outside wall.  At first glance he thought it was a bat as it was so large.  At least a six inches wing span. A black witch moth I think...not a good omen in Mexico if it gets into your house!

Tree trimming time.  One guy trims the bottom and sides with a gas powered trimmer and Rueben trims the tops with a machete! A huge job as there are a hundred plus trees in the complex.  

I finally started walking this week and here I'm heading to the overpass over the canal. 

From the top of the bridge looking north.

Still pretty and green.

Almost home and you can see the pile of dirt where they've dug up the new walking path to add more services for the thousands of condo units being built at this end of town.  Everything is dug up everywhere right now!

Tranquil in our complex most of the time😉

We decided to run the dehumidifier this winter to see if it would keep the mold from forming on the ceilings.  Cooking with propane generates lots of moisture as does the dishwasher, showers and laundry.  The A/C units dehumidify but they aren't running much now. The water in the bucket is from less than 48 hours!

Eric will put the hose back in the downstairs bathroom and the water  will drain away like it did all summer.  The dehumidifier is set to 65% which is not very low.

Eric has been out on his new motorcycle a few times and now the small bikes are waving because he's not on the Harley!

Tonight Ruth, Linda and I are going out for dinner at Topolo downtown and then... the "Nutcracker" ballet!  It's been a few years since I've been and it was hard to get tickets.  Should be a lovely evening😊

Richard is 80 and we all celebrate together!

 Last night we were invited to a Happy Birthday 80th for Richard.  Richard and his wife Carol were neighbors of ours in the Las Jaibas RV park here in Mazatlan for many years.  As time passed we have moved to a house and they are in a condo at the Las Gavias Grand so our gatherings have moved.  We, along with many of our RVING friends gathered last night for a birthday party and...it was a good one!

Richard or Ricardo and Carol.

The end of the night and the cake cutting.

A piece for everyone and there were 21 of us!

And now let's turn the clock back to November 22, 2017.....the Las Jaibas RV park and another birthday celebration.  

Lots of old friends. Hal on the right who celebrated a birthday today, Randall on the left and peaking through is Roger.

Lots of fun.  Third from the left is Valerie who now winters in Arizona with her husband Dick.

John and Anita with Rita behind.

Richard, Carol and Blake.

The chairs on the right are empty because it was hot and people were hiding in the shade!

Marilyn, Helene and Jeannette.

Frank and Carol.  A great party ! The gatherings in those days were huge and some of the people are no longer with us.  

......and now it's back to November 22, 2023.

Richard and Carol are renting a beautiful three bedroom condo overlooking the beach.  Eric and Randall chatting. Harry and Sandi behind.

The fellow in the plaid shirt and his wife Paula were long time RVers whom we may have met at other events although I don't remember them.  Very interesting people.

The sun is starting to set and the view from the 7th floor is lovely.

Dennis contemplating.

Looking north.

Sandi and Frank.

Eric and Randall.

Marilyn and Helene.

Sandi and Cathy.

Looking south.

We had some clouds, thunder and a bit of showers yesterday and so...a beautiful sunset.

Just electric.

Lots of room to chat inside or outside.   It finally cooled off yesterday and everyone was much more comfortable.

The sun is gone.

So pretty at night.

It was a potluck and it was all delicious.

This condo has a huge table.

Marion, Dennis and Frank.  Marion is staying in the Las Gavias Grand as well but, in the south tower.  Her husband Fred passed last winter and we're glad to see her back with us this year.  She and Fred were long time neighbors in the RV park as well. 

Judy and Carol.

Lots of chat between old friends.

Here the crowd is telling old stories about their worst RVING experiences and let me tell you there were some doozies😅 No one who has RV'D over long distances has avoided catastrophic failures at some point. Lots of laughs and in the end we didn't pick a winner.

Stories and dinner was over and it was time for cake which Marion brought.  It was delicious.  We celebrated three birthdays.  Yesterday Richard and Eric and today Hal.  

It was a great evening with old friends and thanks to Richard and Carol for providing the venue.

 

Eric ventures out on the Tiger and Dinner at Torres with Ian and Linda.

Yesterday morning Eric was off on "Tigger" as in Winnie the Pooh! 😃 Eric purchased the new 2022 Triumph Tiger 900 last spring on our way home. We still want to ride in Mexico and the Harley ultra is just too heavy for the small Mexican towns with their cobblestone streets.  The tiger weighs half as much as Big Red.  Eric spent the summer ordering all the boxes and necessary extras as it was bare bones when he bought it.

Ready to roll.  He was off to El Quelite to test it out as its one of those small, congested cobblestone towns.  When he returned he said they were working on the bridge over the freeway and his only option was to go south and double back.  He couldn't access the freeway or free road heading  north.  Hopefully the bridge repair is quick.  A good ride other than that.

Last night Ian and Linda joined us at Torres for dinner.  They have both been sick since they got here and now they are feeling better it was our first outing together.  Ian had his birthday at the beginning of the month, they had their anniversary and next week is Eric's birthday so....a mini celebration.

We arrived at 5pm as happy hour is 4 to 6 and we didn't want to miss that!  Torres is a very nice restaurant with a beautiful view of the ocean but it is not cheap!  The service is excellant as many of the same waiters have been there for 25 and 30 years and boy...can they ever hustle.  The music was good as well.

The sun is setting.

And...it's gone!

I mucked up the dinner pictures but this is Linda's tuna.

Thursday is prime rib night at Torres, which I knew!  Very delicious and half came home with me for tonight's stir fry.  This was the small size😮

Ian had the Mexican plate which has a selection and Eric had fish in garlic and no...we didn't have dessert!

We were all done by just after seven, full and happy...a good evening out.