Small things

Saturday Dec. 19, 2009

Well, I didn't post anything yesterday and so that tells you nothing big is happening. Eric and I were still both exhausted yesterday but today things were better. Yesterday "Blue" got a wash. She was really dirty from our stay in the desert at the Imperial Dam. Eric had washed her in San Carlos but the water there was too hard and she was covered in spots. The water here is better and so she is shiny and clean. We are not people who like to spend a whole lot of time washing trucks, motorcycles or RV's even when we have time so that is all you'll probably all you'll hear about vehicle washing from us.

We had our swim yesterday and again today. However, today was great because the surf was just right for a little body surfing for Eric and a good swim for me. When we got back from our swim today we were having a cerveza on the patio and the Swiss woman that we had met in San Carlos passed by. I asked her how her shopping went and she shared that she had actually been to see her husband in hospital. She told us earlier that he only has one lung (cancer 11 years ago) and only 40% of the remaining lung is working so he has to be careful about his health. He hadn't been feeling well and friends commented that he didn't look well so off to the hospital. Pneumonia and a three day stay so far. It's a good thing they are in a bigger city with good medical care instead somewhere out in the boondocks. They are here on a one year trip after having shipped the RV from Switzerland and have been travelling throughout Canada, U.S. and now Mexico. They, like many of us are looking for a winter retreat in a quiet, beautiful paradise that probably doesn't exist . They have tried South Africa, Vietnam, Arizona etc. and are still looking. Interesting and gutsy people. Her comment was " Well, we could have just stayed home because of his health but now we have had 11 good years travelling!"

Today I did my first laundry here in Mazatlan and decided to just use the park machines. 60 pesos for a wash and dry per load which works out to just over $5.00. However, we didn't have to drive anywhere and I really prefer to do our laundry myself and since it is close enough I can walk back and forth to check on it while it runs through so it is quite pleasant. Well, as pleasant as laundry can be.

Tomorrow we will have to get out and get our Christmas presents bought for the orphans. Sam, across they way says Sorianas is just fine so I guess that's where we will go. Eric ventured out on the motorcycle today and feared for his life with the crazy traffic. It is a marvel that you don't see hardly any vehicles with dings because they drive in every direction weaving in an out cutting each other off at any opportunity. Maybe the vehicles are completely wrecked so they are never seen! Sam the guy with the motorcycle from Winnipeg wants to get out and travel with Eric which would be good because he knows where all the good roads are.

Yesterday we had lunch at the palapa restaurant out at the front of the property. The owner (Arnaldo?) is a very personable guy who speaks good English. Eric had the beef burrito and I the marlin taco. I know now that I don't care for Marlin ( a little like chewy, fishy ham to me) but Eric's burrito was great. Eric and Arnaldo got to talking about natural resources in Canada and other political type stuff and Arnoldo's wife and daughters changed to the next table! I guess they have heard him voice his opinions before. A really nice man that everyone seems to like. We talked a little about rivers and fish and he said how much he loved salmon. After lunch I took him back some of our frozen coho salmon that son-in-law Wade had given us and he was thrilled. I think it made his day.

I guess it just proves that life is all about the small things.