Another day, another kilo

Tuesday, January 17, 2012
San Carlos, Mexico

This morning the shrimp ladies came by.  I bought another kilo of shrimp.  I got the jumbo this time:)

They clean an devein them while you wait.

Today was relaxing.  I read this afternoon while Mark went to the kiting beach and waited for wind.  No luck.

Stan turns 54!

Monday, January 16, 2012
San Carlos, Mexico

Today is Stan's birthday and the party is on!  About 60 people showed up and we all had a great time.  Pulled pork was on the smoker all day and everyone brought something.

Stand and Mark rode to Guaymas, a town about 15 miles away, in the morning to get a new battery for the 4 wheeler.  They rode in an old volkswagon with one of the neighbors.

 A bartender was hired to tend bar.  It was very fancy!

 I wasn't quick enough to get a picture of all the food before it was devoured.

 Pat and Linda with party glasses on!

 All the ladies love Don.  He is one lucky guy.

 The music started and Jerry (82) didn't leave the dance floor.  He loved dancing with the ladies.

 Pat cheated a little bit when she was getting under the limbo stick.

 Stan and Jerry were the last ones to leave the dance floor.  That was about 9:00.  Ironically, everyone around here goes home around 8:00 which we call Baja midnight.  This party was exceptionally long cuz the last gues left about 9:30.

Mark, Stan and Jerry with red solo cups!
Red solo cups.
We'll fill you up!
Let's have a party!

Roadrunners and Coyotes

Sunday, January 15

Today we went golfing at the local San Carlos Country Club.  I got a good shot of one of the roadrunners you see around here.  A coyote ran across the course also but I was not quick enough to get his picture.

The golfing was a little dry, as expected, but the view is wonderful.

You can see the teetas (teats) in the background.  You can see them from everywhere.

This shows how dry it is here.

Shave and a Haircut, two pesos!

Saturday, January 14, 2012
San Carlos, Mexico

The highlight today is the feast we have for dinner.  Earlier we went out into the desert nearby and took a long walk while Stan stayed behind and worked on putting together the chairs that he and Marv built in the Tri-Cities.

After walking it was time for the Mexican haircut!

A small white pickup truck came by selling fresh shrimp.  160 peso (approx 13 dollars) for 1 kg (2.2 lbs) of nice large shrimp.  They cleaned and deveined them right there.  Then a couple of hours the neighbors came by with a half bucket full of fresh steamer clams.  We already had steelhead salmon thawing so the feast was set!

 Stan the man is an amazing barbequer.  Shrimp, steelhead and mushroom medley on the grill.

 The fresh steamer clams were small with huge flavor.  We ate all we could and then shelled the rest of them for clam chowder!

Another evening in paradise.  Thanks, Pat and Stan for inviting the cousins.

Where is the kite beach?

Friday, January 13, 2012
San Carlos, Mexico

Today was our first full day.  Housework first.  Unloading and organizing is the first order of business.  Then off to the kiting beach!

We stopped for a cervesa (beer) and some shrimp nachos at the Soggy Peso bar which is a local favorite and when the first kiters showed up Mark was immediately down talking to them.  No kiting today for Mark.  Light winds.  We will continue our tour and be back tomorrow to check the winds.  This bay that we traveled to that is on the other side of the mountain you see in the background has wind even when San Carlos is completely still.  Quite interesting.

 The bay in the background is where Pat and Stan go kayaking.

 This shot is from a hill in our development.  The houses in the distance is the local hispanic development.  In this distance are the twin peaks the locals call the "teats".  I guess you can see why.  Great nipples on those babes!

 Another shot from the top of the hill.  San Carlos in the distance.

 This shot is the other side of the hill looking down on Pat and Stan's street.  You will notice the garden area in the center of the picture.  These are lots that the owners around them bought in order to keep houses from being built.  They have gardeners that keep them up. Stan designed and planted all of his garden and it is awesome.   Pat and Stan's house is just to the left of the far end of the garden.

 This is the "Bocci" ball court.  They have ongoing tournaments and folks are down there almost every afternoon/evening playing, watching, cheering, and having a great time.

 This is the garden area behind our house, which is the white one with the roadrunner and the ramada (which is the Mexican term for a constructed open cover) to the left.  Notice I am calling it "my" house now.  We are slowly making ourselves comfortable, doing chores, being helpful.  When anyone asks how long we are staying I simply answer "Until Pat and Stan kick us out."  I think Pat and Stan are getting a little nervous.  The section with the roadrunner is the casita where Mark and I sleep.  Nice digs. The guy with the hose is the gardener.

Entry to our development.

Mexico!

Thursday, January 12, 2012
San Carlos, Mexico

Well, this morning we were up and on the road by six thirty am.  Last night we made our first dump in the rv sites that Mark and Stan have been working on.  Bob was there to watch Mark dump our grey water.

Our drive down to Mexico was 8 1/2 hours.  It was only a little over 300 miles but it was slow going a lot because of the check stations and speed bumps going through small towns.

The picture above was a shot of the back of Pat & Stan's rig.  We stuck like glue to their rig for 8 1/2 hours.  Our only stops were alongside the road to use Pat and Stan's fifth wheel restroom and grab a quick snack.  It was good to get here and the neighbors were quick to welcome us, bringing food for dinner.  It was wonderful.

In retrospect, I suppose there was more drinking than eating going on that first night!  Viva la Mexico!  The stools you are seeing were all made by Stan.  They are made from old wine barrels.  He made tables also which you will see later.

Testing, Testing!

Wednesday, January11, 2012
Tucson, AZ


Well, we were supposed to pull out today for Mexico but the boys have a little more work to do before they can play.  Mark has been working with Stan installing two more rv sites on Bob's land.  They now have the water and sewer done and the electrical wire pulled and Bob will connect the wires today.  We will keep our fingers crossed that everything works as intended.

Mark offers to test the sewer system!

Mark and Stan have worked hard for four days now.

While Pat and I took long walks and shopped!  You will see my elegant sun hat in later chapters.

This is where we walked, through cactus and brush.  Beautiful with mountains in background.

John (Pat's dad), Phyllis and Bob.  All eating smores!

Stan roasting marshmallows with roaster that Grandpa Feuerborn built.  Sitting are Bob (owns property), John (Pat's dad) and Pat's mom (oops! forgot her name).

Evenings bring hot dog burns (as they call them down here), barbequed salmon, or trips to the local mexican restaurant.