Ride to San Ignacio and the Final Hurrah!

Saturday March 16, 2013

Today Eric and I took a ride by ourselves to San Ignacio for lunch.  We haven’t been out and about much on the bike this year for various reasons but today was the day. 

We left the park around 10:45am for a 60mile ride to San Ignacio.  It is always so nice to get out on the bike and take a ride.  You can smell the air (be it foul or sweet!) and you can see everything around you as you travel along.   We like to ride north of Mazatlan because you don’t have to deal with all the traffic of the city. 

We rolled into San Ignacio around 12:30 and parked the bike down in the main square. 

If you look closely you can see Big Red behind the white pick up truck.

Main square.

The big church in the square.

We were now on a mission to find lunch.  The restaurants in the square didn’t have their barbecues going so we started up the street to find a meal.  We hiked quite a way up the sidewalk before we found a pollo (chicken) barbecue that was heated and cooking.  We decided to just eat where we were and went inside.  Not very clean but….what the heck we were hungry.  It was really hot inside where we were sitting, probably in the high 90’s as it is always way hotter inland.  Lunch was barbecued chicken(pollo asado), tortillas, salsa, pickled onions and Coca Cola.  Tasty and 50 peso’s each.  Not every ones cup of tea because ….it was not very clean. 

We hoofed it back down the street and made a quick stop of the Dulceria (candy store) for some Jamoncillo candy on our way back to the square.  Too hot hang around very long so…back on the bike to head home.

As we head up the street out of town there is the typical…horse in the back of a pick up truck.  The horses are so quiet in Mexico.  They stand patiently tied to trees, posts or stand in pick ups like this one without ever making a fuss.  Amazing!

Bye bye San Ignacio….see you again next year!

We left the heat of San Ignacio and headed back to Mazatlan and the park.  It was really warm until….we hit the stretch between the Maxipista and the Sabalo Cerritos which leads back to the park along the ocean. 

At this point the temperature had dropped at least 20 degrees and we hit…..

Sea Fog.  That’s the giant Riu Hotel on the right and you can’t even see it. 

We were back in the park around 3pm and had time for a shower and a quick rest before the last Hurrah at John and Jeri’s.  They have been so hospitable this winter and tonight was no exception. 

Happy hour at 4:30 pm before Taco night for 16 people when we would all sit down together to eat. 

That’s our hostess Jeri on the left between Betty and Connie.

Jeri is quickly deep frying the tortillas before John stuffs them.  We can then add all the fixins!

The fixin’s!

We eat again…..

And….

it was all delicious!

After dinner I decided to add a little fun to the evening…

Darlene and her husband Gary are from Vancouver and we have gotten to know them this year.  I have drunk beer with Darlene at the odd happy hour get together and also at bingo and I must say I am impressed with her talent!   I have been a life long beer drinker and anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I can really throw them back.  “ Yes Rusty if you are reading this you can certainly match me and…okay probably still surpass me at this!)  So….long and short of it all I decided to crown a new Queen!  A good queen should know when to abdicate and pass the torch…or beer can….to the new Queen!   I admit I have been off my game this winter with my health so I  have not been up to my usual talented self. 

This is the “Old Queen” and it was really hard to get a picture that I could stand to see on the blog.  The prednisone still has me with a fat face and it just isn’t that cute!  The crown says” Kathy Queen of Beer drinking – 1969 to 2013 and….

This is “Queen Darlene”  the new ruler….her crown says she is queen of beer drinking Las Jaibas Mazatlan 2013 to ?.  I must admit she has at least 10 years on me so she has more stamina.  She said “ Crush your cans so no one can count and….if you aren’t having a good time….you haven’t drunk enough beer!”  How true is that!  Words to live by!

She was a good sport and we’ll have fun drinking beer together! A fun night. 

The camera has been cleaned!

Friday March 15, 2013

This morning  it was time to get back on the bus to go pick up the camera that I left downtown on Wednesday.  No walk  today because I was just too tired.

There was a little sprinkle of rain over night…first rain in a long while.

First things first though…..yesterday was a busy day.  I hosed off the truck before I went for my walk and then when I got back Eric decided to start washing the rig.  He got up on the roof to wash it first and it was ….muchos filthy.  Since I didn’t need to help with that I went inside to vacuum and wash the floors.   After lunch I went up to the office to play a little Hand & Foot (card game) with Jeanette, Laurie and Sandi and then it was time for Happy Hour.  And….last but not least off to the Last Drop at Cerritos for Bingo.  Are you getting exhausted….me too!  No wonder I was tired. But guess what…I won at bingo last night, second game on a black out and the payout was a whopping 690 peso’s….biggest one ever……I’m rich!  Well not quite if you count paying for bingo, dinner and beer but it was still nice to win. 

Before I hopped on the bus I said goodbye to Frank/Sandi/Dennis & Marilyn as they were leaving this morning and left Eric behind to continue washing the rig while I headed downtown. 

The camera was ready when I got there and the owner and I discussed “la raina” or sand which was on the sensor and around the zoom as well.  He explained that I need to keep it in a “bolsa” or bag and I do know that.  I carry it on the bike and have it open while we are travelling so that is part of the problem.  The good news is that it cost 250 peso’s (about $20) to clean and I think I’ll just have it done each year.  It should extend the life of the camera. 

This is where fellow blogger Contessa  told me to take the camera and I would recommend it for a camera repair or cleaning if you need it.  http://www.contessajewall.com/ Contesssa blogs from Stone Island here in Mazatlan.  Croft pointed out my problem with the camera http://croftsmexico.blogspot.mx/ and both blogs are an interesting read.  Thanks guys!

I wandered back to the Mercado or main market and took these pictures just to make sure all was well with the camera.

 

The church and it’s square just south of the Mercado.

I did pop into a Senor Frog’s (very touristy!) and picked up a couple of things for the grandchildren and then it was on to the the fabric store just behind the Mercado.  Fabric stores here in Mazatlan are a big deal and there are many of them and I find them really fascinating as a long time sewer.   Rows and rows of fabric that is dirt cheap…notions (lace, ribbon, elastic etc.) and a wall of thread.  I feel like a kid in a candy shop and….I just had to buy something.

Ribbon, lace etc.

Fabric of every kind as far as the eye can see!

This young mother had her toddler on the counter and her little boy (maybe 2 1/2 or 3) disappeared out the main door of the fabric store.  She kept calling “aqui” or here but he kept going.  She didn’t panic even though I was watching and getting worried since there were buses and taxis all over the place.  She kept watching him and it was soon clear what his mission was.  He stood at the edge of the side walk which had a two foot drop and …..had a pee!  When a guy’s gotta go a guys gotta go.  In case I haven’t mentioned it before….men peeing where ever they feel like it here in Mexico is no big deal.  No washrooms everywhere so they just pee where ever.  Doesn’t smell too great but that’s the way it is.  No….I didn’t take his picture….a guy needs a little dignity!

I did buy six meters of a heavy sheer fabric to make an outside sun cover for our south facing window at home.  Cost about $12! 

Back on the big green bus and home. 

Eric had taken a break for lunch and then it was back to washing as it was cloudy and a great time to get it done.  I cleaned the windows as they had water spots and then the rig was pretty spiffy except for the grackle bird poop that won’t come off. 

Late afternoon and time to head to the beach to sit in the sun and watch the waves.  Eric even got a short swim in ….he said it was really refreshing which was good as it was a really humid day. 

Tomorrow we’ll take a bike ride and then it’s Taco night at John & Jeri’s.  The last Hurrah!

A trip downtown to Centro for Camera repair.

Wed. Mar. 13th

My camera has been having issue’s with dust either on the lense or the sensor.  After some encouragement from a fellow blogger Croft and some info about where to have it cleaned from another fellow blogger Contessa here in Mazatlan I was off downtown to get it done. 

I hopped on the big green bus to go downtown and I got off on Constitucion just past the Mercado to head down toward the Plaza Machado and the camera shop.  Just west of the Topolo restaurant on the south side of the street I had no problem finding it.   Guess what….no body home but since I knew the owner had been given a heads up by our park owner Felipe I just hung around.  He was there a short while later and it turns out this is actually a Photo Studio. After a short look at the camera (we discussed polvo or dust and sensors and lenses) he said he would clean the whole camera for 250 peso’s or about $20 and it would be ready on Viernes or Friday so all is well.  Contessa and her husband Colin have had camera’s cleaned there and since Colin is a professional photographer this should work out fine. 

At this point I wandered back to the Mercado area (main market) and had a look in shops along the way.  I might also mention this was my first trip downtown by my self on the bus.  Another first!  I am really comfortable here now and everything, streets, people, shops etc.  all seem just like home!  I did try going into the main market to shop for my grandchildren but it is just way too irritating.  You can’t look at anything without being hassled and it is too much for me so….I just left.  I went across the street to Waldo’s (like a dollar store) and picked up some spices ( dried Camaron-shrimp, guajillo-dried chili, and some Chili powder) along with some cheap flower pots so I can leave my plants behind.  I want to keep the pots they are in so this was a cheap option. 

Home on the bus, lunch and then off to the beach.  We have been plagued by really cool weather (not at all like March should be) and sea fog which has made the beach not much fun.  Today we sat in our chairs for awhile and then took a walk.  The bait fish were boiling, so the pelicans were diving and the seagulls were chattering and the fishermen were casting.  If the baitfish are there the Jack Cravelle (tuna like fish) are biting.  The Mexicans like them to eat or use for Ceviche but they aren’t a favorite of the gringo’s.  Eric caught one a couple of years ago and we barbecued it and liked it just fine.  Eric keeps saying he’s going to take his fishing rod to the beach but…..he hasn’t so far! 

We went up to happy hour tonight and had a visit as there weren’t too many people there.  The park will get smaller over the next week as many people are leaving.  Frank/Sandi will leave with Dennis/Marilyn on Friday.  Boomer/Betty will leave with Manny/Connie on Sunday and so on, and so on! 

The back of the park is full of a French Canadian Caravan so things are a bit busier.  

Tomorrow we might even start washing the rig. 

Friday to Sunday

Friday March 8th

Today Manny and I went down to see Dr. Olalde for health check ups.  Manny was driving as he has a small pick up and can wiggle in and out of all the small Mexican streets.  The good thing is that he knows where to go because the Malecon is blocked off for the Triathlon that is taking place over the week end  and we had to take a round about route.   When we arrived at Dr. Olalde’s office for our 11am appt. he wasn’t there yet….no problemo….we just waited.  A few minutes later he arrived  and I went in to have a brief visit.  Dr. Olalde had received a big box of Immunocal that someone had decided not to purchase so I bought it from him.  I had not been able to order it from Immunocal in Canada as they wanted my SIN and I wasn’t prepared to give that to them.  So…I paid the 6270 peso’s (just under $500 Canadian) and then I was off to the lab for a blood test.  I’d decided that if I was going to try the Immunocal I should have a marker so I would know if it was helping.  I was due for a blood test anyway and since I haven’t been feeling all that great since my last drop in prednisone (20mg. to 15mg) I was expecting a poor result.  Next week I will repeat the blood test and see if there is any difference. 

Manny went in to talk about his health problems (seems he might have polymyalgia rheumatica as well.)  He will see a rheumatologist when he gets home. 

Friday PM-

I have already received a copy of my blood test from the lab and an email from Dr. Olalde and guess what….the test results are good!   CRP low…ESR (sed rate) down from 22 to 12 and leucocytes down to high normal.  Good news!  I can’t believe how quick the results are received here in Mexico….in Canada you would wait a lot longer.  As I reduce the prednisone the Temporal Arteritis tries to kick at me so it is a bit of a balancing act. 

 

Sunday March 10th

Today I started the Immunocal as Dr. Olalde prescribed it.  A super dose of two packs three times a day for five days and then two packs twice a day for two months and if it helps a maintenance dose of two packs a day indefinitely.  I am continuing with my 45 minute walk every morning, vitamins (calcium, B’s, multi, CQ10,magnesium,D,Fish oil, low dose aspirin and folic acid, as well as prednisone, blood pressure med and an acid blocker.   You might wonder when I have time to do anything else but take pills!  Well….that’s why the blog hasn’t been as faithful as it should be.  Health comes first and I am determined to beat this thing! 

Weather wise today was a real stinker!!!!   Sunny but there was a really cold wind blowing like a Banshee all day.  It was rocking the rig.  Everyone had their doors closed and were hiding inside.  Where did spring go?

Late today the park was having a wind up dinner (24 people) over at the Torres restaurant across the street.  We opted out….me because of the new meds and Eric because it’s too many people for him.  Not an issue as we’ve all had lots of time together over the winter.  The group that went had a nice dinner and a little dancing and a good time was had by all.  Many people are leaving over the next week so the park is emptying out.  We will leave on the 22nd and start making our way back to the States.

No pictures as I am going to get the camera fixed in a couple of days.

Lunch in San Javier

Thursday March 7, 2013

Today Frank and Sandi in their Jeep and Eric and I on the bike headed out on a road trip.  Our destination was San Javier where we’d had a really nice lunch last year at a Hacienda called  El Tirito. 

We weren’t sure if it would be open but we thought we’d give it a try and if that didn’t work we would head up to San Ignacio.  We’d tried calling the restaurant on a previous occasion and had not had an answer so today we just decided to wing it! 

It was a nice day for a road trip and much warmer inland than it has been here on the beach.  We seem to get a couple of really warm days and then it clouds over, cools down and gets windy. 

Sorry about the spots on the pictures….I cleaned the lens…it was gone and now…..not!  I will deal with that. 

Before we got to the El Quelite turn off we passed fields that had been burned off.  No wonder it has been so smoky!

The mango trees are in bloom and the scent is magnificent!

On the bike you can smell everything as you travel along….even the dead animals that you can’t see!  Same for Frank and Sandi as the Jeep is open as well.

Lots of crops growing as we travel along…I think this is corn.  It was hard to tell.  I’m just snapping as we travel.

After we turned off the main road that heads up to San Ignacio we pass through small villages on our way to San Javier. 

Quite the big old tree.

Agave fields.

This tree was in full bloom and the scent was delicious!

Gorgeous Bougainville in the small village before we got to San Javier.

This caballero (cowboy) was having a smoke break! 

When we arrived in San Javier we rode down to the bottom of the square to park.

The local kids were out for lunch and had big smiles and waves for us….they liked the bike!

They were all in this truck ready to go….who knows where, perhaps back to school and I showed them the camera.  No problemo they all scootched together and hammed it up for a picture.  I told them I’d blog them….they looked confused….Eric said “Internet” and then they got it! 

Kids are the same everywhere you go! 

We walked up a short block to the restaurant to see if they were open and the owner had a conflab with his wife and said if we’d come back in treinta (30) minutes they’d be happy to feed us.  Bueno! 

While we waited we took a short walk up the hill and then up the stairs to the town look out.

Slight detour (we asked if it was okay) and then we found the path to the stairs.

Sandi decided to wait for us at the bottom! 

Way down the bottom is a little, tiny Sandi waiting for us!

Beautiful view from the look-out.  The church in the middle is in the square where we left the bike.

Eric and Kathy….Eric looks like I’m pinching him or something! 

The beautiful Sierra Madres far off in the distance. 

After our little walk we all trouped back to the restaurant for lunch.  The owner does not speak much English but we did relay the fact that we would like cerveza with our lunch.  After a little discussion he sent his son out to bring us back Pacifico.  He also mentioned that his brother lives in the house up on the hill and he spoke English, French, Italian, Portuguese as well as Spanish…..wow!  

While we waited for lunch….no menu…Mama just decides what she is going to feed you we sat and chatted.  A few moments later a Mexican fellow came in,  said hello in English and then came back to talk to us while we waited.  This was the brother Luis Felipe who lived on the hill.  He told us that he had lived in France and Italy where he studied Hair styling and Makeup but now he was living back in San Javier which he said is a special place.    A very interesting well spoken man.  He said that he worked for the tourist bureau and had helped to set up Cultural Museums.  He was specific about museums saying that he liked them very organized with pertinent information in each room and not everything in a big jumble! 

That is Luis Felipe at the end of our table.  A very nice man!

It is now time to eat.

It was as good as it looks!

We were served a plate of lettuce with avocado and a tomatillo sauce spiced with chilies and avocado, a pineapple drink and a plate of food with delicious Mexican spaghetti, beef in a special (the owners mother’s recipe) sauce and the best home made tortilla’s I have ever eaten.  Dessert was a small rolled pastry that was much like uncooked cookie dough. 

All delicious!

This is the kitchen behind the restaurant.  A very gracious place to eat.  We will go back next year.

The bike and the Jeep back in the square.  Off to the right is the town museum which Luis Felipe had kindly opened for us.  We had hoped to look through the very large town church but it was locked.

Off to the museum.

San Javier Museum.

Artifacts.

An interesting Mask.  I do like masks and try to find interesting ones to take home. 

The church….all locked up.  Very huge for such a small town.

A lovely day and now time to head home….there is Bingo tonight you know! 

Home by 4pm.

The final Fish Fry and Thank-you to the Chili Cookers, helpers etc.

Saturday March 2, 2013

Saturday night was the final fish fry get together hosted by John and Jeri.

John made a great speech thanking all of the Chili Cook Off participants, helpers, organizers and donators for their huge effort for the Orphanage.  The event makes a large difference to their daily and yearly lives.  Power and water bills are paid, medicine is bought and leftover money makes like a little easier.  Good job everyone!

So….which one is the real Connie!

John also thanked Connie who spent an enormous amount of time organizing the Chili Cook Off event.  Connie says she isn’t going to do it next year but we all hope she will change her mind as she did a great job.  Time will tell!

We had also hoped the band that donated their time to the Chili Cook Off could attend but they had been away and were unable to come.

Los Lobos & Las Cougars ….thanks so much!

Chili Cookers ….thank-you also. 

A few of the cookers from Costa Bonita came for happy hour but they had a previous engagement as well.  In the end we were a smaller group than usual but the food and company were great and a good time was had by all.