Picking our Mexican Vacation Home

Thursday, January 26, 2012
San Carlos, Mexico

Today we went for another atv ride.  This time in the opposite direction to a local oasis in the desert and to one of the local fishing villages.

On our way we stopped at a cactus forest.  Take a good look at the trunk of that thing.  It must be couple hundred years old.  They say they usually grow about an inch a year.  Mark backed in a little too close and payed the price.

We are following Pat and Stan as they pass one of the little fishing camps along an inlet.

Yes, this is where we get fresh fish.

 Stan opening a gate so we can get access to the road leading to the local oasis.  Make sure you close the gate, Stan, so the horse doesn't get out!  Earlier today when we went in to see the huge cactus forest we left a gate open because we were just going to be in there a "momento".  Well, you guessed it, we passed a horse about a minute later and as we left we saw the horse galloping away.  We felt pretty guilty.  Previously we had closed gates and the one time we didn't, we committed the ultimate touristo  sin.  Leaving gates open and letting out the livestock.

Self portrait in the oasis.  I think I see Clyde's nostril sticking up there!  It was a beautiful nostril, I mean oasis, but there was no water coming from the waterfall this time of year.

 Then down to a little deserted fishing village.  It is inhabited only in the summer months.

You can see the little houses in the distance.  We didn't see another living soul on the beach until a kiteboarder showed up when we were leaving.  He was being dropped off so he could then kite south to the Soggy Peso beach.

 Mark taking a nap after our picnic lunch as the girls looked for shells.

 Stan taking a nap while the girls look for shells.




Mark and Angie in their new vacation home.  It's not up to par with Pat and Stan but the view is fabulous and the price is right!  We are also purchasing three extras for the ninos!

Tortilla Factory

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

San Carlos, Mexico

Today our adventure consists of a trip into Guyamas for shopping in the heart of the oldest part of the city.

This guy made us fresh orange, papaya and pineapple drinks.  Excellente'!

This is the rear of the tortilla place.  The girls were very friendly and started things off by coming out to take pictures of us!  So, we went into the back section and took pictures of them!

This is Stan in a little hardware store.  The place was stuffed with things.  We never did figure out why the guy had a mask on.

Along the streets you would see  machines that apparently were gambling slot machines.  This friendly fellow let me put a few of his pesos into the machine and push the button.  Unfortunately Mexican slot machines are just like the ones in the states.  They take your peso without giving anything in return.

A closeup of the machine.  As you see on top, it was a Tarzan machine.

This is the pharmacia.  We went in inquiring about Viagra!  They were very helpful and giggled a lot as we asked questions......no, we didn't leave with any.  Five dollars and four cents a pill is too much like paying for sex apparently.

They don't have mechanical horses down here.

We go to JJ's for tacos.  It is a favorite place for Stan and Pat.  It was very good.  The owner brought us a plate of grilled jalapenos and anaheim chilies.

Go, Pat.  Open wider for that hot pepper!

Now those of you that know Mark, know that this is a staged picture.  It took some arm twisting but he finally posed for us.  That is the owner watching.......

This is the Life for Me

Sunday, January 22, 2012
San Carlo, Mexico

Today we went for a long walk in the desert.  We had some friends keeping an eye on us.

These vultures were watching to see if one of us would drop in the desert.

 On Monday we all went for a 5 hour atv ride.  We started along the beach and were lucky enough to see a pod of about five dolphins swimming along the shoreline.  One was a baby.  Unfortunately I was not quick enough to get a picture with more than one of them as they surfaced.  It was amazing.

 Our ultimate destination was the top of the highest mountain over Guyamas, the neighboring town.  When we approached Guyamas we had to stop and put on helmets because there is a helmet law here that is enforced sporadically and we didn't want the local policia to nab us as we traveled on the city streets.  Mind you, none of the atv's were licensed to travel on streets which didn't see to be a problem that the police would nab you for.  Pat and Stan took the bicycle helmets, giving us the regular motorcycle helmets.

 We are a little scary, don't you think?

This is the local prison next to Guyamas. We had just started up the mountain so we were looking down on Guyamas and the prison.

Our firtst break nearing the top.

Mark and Stan at the top.  You can see the bay and city in the distance.  They had tv, radio and cell towers all around us.  We were probably getting bombarded with zoomies.

The bay in the distance is where San Carlo is and the near city is Guyamas.

We stopped at this taco stand on the way back.  Amazing shrimp tacos and marlin tacos.

There was only one drink choice, coca cola in a bottle.

Kite Bitch and Biker Babe

Saturday, January 21, 2012
San Carlos

Today started out with moving the hideabed out of Stan and Pat's fifth wheel so they could use it as a couch.  It was a tight squeeze and the guys were successful.

Check out that table on the left that San built out of wine barrels.  They are magnificent.  The dark sections are a deep purple, stained from the wine.  He is selling them to local residents.

Then we took our first 4-wheeler ride around the countryside and beach.  It was a lot of fun until Stan started heading for a hill.  If you remember a couple of days ago, we walked up a hill following Stan and I chose to walk around.  Well Stan headed up a very steep trail on his 4-wheeler and my pucker factor went up to about an 8.  I started making squealing noises on the back of our 4-wheeler as we made the first section of this path.  Then we turn and go towards something a little steeper.  By this time I am hollering and hitting Mark on the back.  "Let me off, let me off!"  "I'm serious!!"  Needless to say, there is one more hill in San Carlos that Angie has taken alternative transportation.

 This is Mark with nobody behind him at the top of the hill.

This is the view at the top of the hill.  Beautiful.

 Here we are on the beach.  Biker and Biker Babe happy to be on flat ground.

My hat is off to Pat.  She sticks like glue behind Stan.

Another view of the Bay from the Caricaos,  a section of homes on the other side of town with steep hills and stone streets.

Tonight we went to Mina Thompson's 90th birthday party.  She square danced on her 90th birthday.  A great lady that has been here for 30 years.  Mark and I retired before Mina and went home to our little casita.  I apparently stayed up with the light on longer than Mark could stand, although he was snowing, so I don't understand why he said he couldn't sleep.  Anyway he got up and loaned he his headlamp.  Cute.

Buying Oranges from the Groves

Thursday, January 18, 2012
San Carlos, Mexico

Today we are touring the surrounding area with Pat and Stan.  We stopped to see one of the many places that make the adobe brick that is used extensively around here for houses and walkways.

 This is the oven they build out of the adobe bricks.  The bricks are made from clay and chicken poo.  The chicken poo acts as a binder to keep them together.  Wood is stuffed into the opening at the end and burned.  The burning will last long enough to heat the bricks and they will heat up until they glow.

 They fill the wooden forms with the clay and chicken poo mixture and let them sit in the sun until they dry enough to handle.

Down the road we stopped at an orange grove and bought a large sack of oranges to make orange juice.

 This is San Francisco beach.  No, not that San Francisco.  I found some beautiful shells there.  It was pretty much deserted because it is winter here.  The little restaurants are all closed.

 We are in the courtyard of a nice hotel across the bay.  The buildings you see across the bay off of Stan's shoulder is San Carlos.

Pat and I took lots of pictures!  On todays trip we bought a kilo of crab from one of the local seafood stands which also had shrimp, scallops and oysters.  We had crab tostados for dinner and the next morning it was crab omelettes.
Mark and I headed for the kiting beach late in the afternoon.  Mark got in a couple of runs before the wind died down.

I'm Not a Billy Goat

Wednesday, January 18, 2012
San Carlos, Mexico

Today started out with a hike in the desert.  Stan was in the lead and seemed determined to take this large hill.  No, it wasn't Mount Everest but the small rocks and dirt were loose enough that I decided that my Billy Goat abilities were not up to snuff so I opted to skirt the hill.  Everyone else scrambled up without incident.

 You can see Mark, Stan and Pat waving at the top of the hill.

 A little closer shot.

 A little later in the day Mark and I headed for the kiting beach.  Forecast was for good winds.  Mark made several short runs.  He is getting right up now without the long struggle.

 The problem with this small bay is that there is a large hill/island to the right that blocks the wind so the kiters are all bunched into a small area.  Mark went out too far one time and his kite dropped quickly and inverted.

 Upon returning home we found Pat and Stan enjoying the sunset so we joined them.

 Looks pretty good for leftovers, doesn't it?  Stan can grill anything.

Tonight the girls are having a little white wine with their dinner.