31 January ‘07

Wednesday

This is all I needed….I’ve been on the road traveling now for right on 4 years and now I’ve caught something besides a cold.  Louise and I both got our flu shots before leaving Idaho in October, but now I apparently have something that is a mix between a cold and the flu.  Oh well, I wont go into the specifics of my problems, but to let the family know that it’s been just 3 days and I am definitely on the mend.  Fortunately for Louise (and me) she is still feeling great.  The gal that was camping next to us seemed to have this same thing a week or so ago, and Kathy (of Phil and Kathy Lublin and have their motor home just up from ours…) seems to have caught this as well.  For right now we’ll call it the “Cabo Bug”.  One thing for sure, it has slowed our socializing down to a stall…  Phil and Kathy joined us for breakfast on Monday morning and then we were going to explore San Jose together.  About the time we got to San Jose and parked, I was telling everyone that I was going to be a party pooper and head back home.  That’s about how fast it came up on me.  One thing for sure, I want this over before the family gets here on the 16^th for their week of “Cabo”.  Tuesday was a busy day here in the campground as one of the major RV caravan groups showed up.  25 large RV’S pulled in all at once.  It was interesting to watch the young men from the campground directing these big rigs into their spots and keeping everyone happy while doing so… They did a great job.  Tomorrow morning all of them will be pulling out and heading towards San Diego.  They started their trip in Texas, went down and put their RV’s on a train and went through the Copper Canyon, drove to the ferry to cross the Sea of Cortez, and then drive Hwy 1 to here.  Now they will all have to cover the Baja peninsula and all those very narrow road miles to California, and all as a group…should be fun. 

27 January ‘07

Saturday

Our time over the last few days has been spread between San Jose Del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.  We are either heading to the grocery store, a new “taco stand”, or the “playa” (beach) for the day.  Now on Thursday our plan takes us north about 40 miles to Todos Santos and a visit with Frank and Lynn.  Bonnie picked Louise and me up early in the morning so that we would have a full day to visit.  There have been times in the past that told us that we should pack to stay the night, just in case we have partaken with the tequila “worm”.  Pulling up to the gate we found their truck was gone but Frank was busy getting ready for a cooking class.  It seems that Lynn was showing the new “students” how to find their way to the class (their home).  Frank insisted that we stay, in fact he immediately started a full blown breakfast for us to make sure that we stayed long enough for Lynn to get back.  It wasn’t long and we hear the two vehicles pull up and the “crowd” coming through the gate.  3 couples were to complete their class this day.  Normally the class will last for a week, but this one was a favor for Lynn’s sister and as it worked out, a perfect time for us to visit.  Their classes are a “Hands On Culinary Adventure In Mexican Foods”….COOKWITHUS.COM.  We had been hearing so much about their school and now we would get a front row seat in watching it work.  The program was already set by the “class” by putting together the menu for which they would prepare.  The 3 of us tried to stay out of the way, but were always dragged back in to be a “taster-sampler” or even a go-fer to the little mini mart next door.  I kind of made myself the official photographer for the day, taking enough pictures to sink a battle ship.  In taking that position, I made it perfectly clear that I gave no guarantee on how any of my pictures would turn out.

 Lynn got all the students immediately into their aprons and made sure that they had a sharp knife in their hand.  Now the fun starts, Frank is busy mixing the first batch of “Special Margaritas” and passing them throughout (even to us) while at the same time helping Lynn explain how to dice the tomatoes, onions, or what-ever else needed dicing prior to cooking.  From the salads, to soup, ceviche, empanada, and much more…it was a feast set before us that was sooo tasty, and I was just a guest.  Then while the “students” are sat before all their personally made food, a Mariachi Band showed up.  The “students” (the 3 couples) were great fun and now with this Mariachi band, Franks margaritas, and Lynn directing and demonstrating the dancing, it was time to really let go and enjoy the people and the surroundings here in Todos Santos.  I took time out to take a walk down to the beach and watch the whales as they played out in the deeper waters in front of us.  When I got back I found that the 3 couples had left and that the “real party” was about ready to start.  The Mariachi band had also left but I was told to grab a glass and “let’s go next door” to the mini-market.  The store is owned and run 24/7, 12 hours a day by “Chito”.  We hadn’t been in the store more than 4 minutes and Chito had strapped on his accordion, while sitting on his chair behind the counter (which is the only place I have ever seen him..), and we were all dancing through the aisles of his store.  From dancing there, we danced our way back to Frank and Lynn’s and continued on to the late evening.  Frank invited me to go fishing with him in the morning, so I had set my mind to wake up early so that I would have what it takes to fish with the “master of the hand line”. 

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God, another one of those 6am fishing obligations…    Getting to bed after 1am and now getting up 5 hours later…hell, I should know better, but I’m “on vacation” and loving it.  Frank had coffee made, knocked on the door, and we were off to hopefully catch our fish.  Last night I bought a “special” fish lure that Chito made.  It weighs about a pound and is made out of a Toyota chrome bumper…it is almost guaranteed to catch fish.  Frank fitted me with 2 rubber “finger protectors”, one for each index finger.  These are used to protect the fingers from being cut when the line is tossed out into the ocean and then again when the line is retrieved with or without fish fighting from the end of that new lure.  Now with a piece of wood wrapped with 50 lb line and my new lure in place, we unwind about 100 yards onto the sand and make sure that I don’t find myself standing on it.  I grabbed the line about 3 feet from the lure and started swinging it around my head…harder, harder, and then with a quick release it flies out beyond the first set of waves with a slight splash.  Now after searching for the line running out from the sand under me, I pull the line back to the beach, hand over hand and hoping that I feel the pull of a fish as I do.  It’s dark when we start so it is really tough to find the line running across the sand, but as it gets lighter and the sun rises, my job gets easier.  The only problem is, I’m getting tired…fact is, this whirling the lure above my head and the retrieving of the line back to the beach was getting to be a lot of hard work and I’ve decided to leave this type of fishing to those that really enjoy it or have a better knack of twirling… 

18 January ‘07

Thursday

Tuesday we drove up to Los Barriles (about 65 miles north) to see Neil and Lisa (who a couple of days ago left San Lucas for Los Barriles).  This also gave Louise and me the chance to see this part of the country again.  It had been about 6 years or more since we were last there.  As San Lucas and San Jose, Los Barriles is exploding.  New homes, condominiums, and commercial buildings are everywhere.  The last time we were there, they still had the dirt air field in front of the hotel, but now it is nothing but buildings, a park or green grass.  After finding Neil and Lisa all settled into their coach we also found a couple that we were camped next to at Imperial Dam in Arizona.  Lisa had heard about this “great little restaurant” that we should check out for lunch, so that off we went.  In pulling into the parking area (of course it was all dirt and the restaurant was an open palapa) we saw John, our neighbor back in San Lucas, just finishing up his lunch.  John is the guy whose birthday we celebrated on the 5^th.  He had come up to check out his next stop after he leaves Vagabundos in San Lucas.  Our lunch, well it just didn’t measure up to the hype.  After finishing up with lunch and saying good bye to John, we headed out to Cabo Pulmo, about an hours drive south along the coast. A number of years ago (about 15) Louise and I joined Bonnie and Doug and camped just south of Cabo Pulmo.  We wanted to check that location out because of the great memories we both had.  Unfortunately, with the weather pattern that we have found ourselves in, it was very windy, cold as heck, and intermittent rain so we only spent a couple of minutes and headed back to Los Barriles.  Yesterday was “laundry” day and today, well we walked into town, had “brunch” at the Sand Bar and headed back to our coach.  Yesterday a small caravan of RV’s came into the park so Louise and I have been introducing ourselves around to the “newbie’s” and listening to some of their stories on driving the Baja. 

14 January ‘07

Sunday

Bonnie, Doug, Louise and I were invited over to Ricardo and Suzie’s this morning to watch the Sea Hawks in a play off game with Chicago.  Of course, like all gatherings for such an event, we had lots of food and drink.  The unfortunate part of this morning was that sometime last night someone decided to steal the ground wire from the electrical circuit that covers all the electrical needs for about 1/3 of the buildings here in the RV park.  In doing so, it took about 5 or 6 of the “casitas” and changed their electrical system from 120V to 220 V and blew out a number TV’s, computers, and microwave ovens.  Ricardo and Suzie lost one of each…up in smoke, literally.  The bedroom/sitting area of their casita was hit hard and fortunately the TV with the satellite system weren’t touched.  It’s the nuts to think that someone wanted this 100’ of copper wire so much that they would put themselves into danger while cutting the wire in the dark and then with destroying the personal property of those who own the casitas, all for about $100 with of scrap copper.  Undaunted, we continued with our “Play off Party” with extension cords running from one end of the park to the other so that those without power had what they needed.  PS, the Sea Hawks lost…27-24

13 January ‘07

Saturday

Yesterday Louise and I went into San Jose and then up the coastline a little further to see some of the development that is going on there.  Just north of the estuary they are building this huge marina development.  It includes very expensive homes and lots of condominiums.  Again, it brings up the question of “where is all the money coming from” to buy all this expensive real estate?  The roadways running through this development are far above what you normally see here or almost anywhere else we have been in the last few years  If the roads are an example of the homes to come, this is going to be “some place”.  Having fond memories of a couple of previous drives up in this area, we headed off to see “Buzzards”.  Buzzards is a restaurant and bar that has been here for a long time that has always given us a reason to come back.  It’s not bright and shiny but kind of reminds us of a place that was once just a “hippies” dream hideout right on the shore of the Sea of Cortez.  Later in the evening we drove to Bonnie and Doug’s condo in San Jose.  We were invited to dinner with them and to see Nacho and Rosio Lopez, whom we haven’t seen for 5 years.   18 years ago, Nacho and Rosio were our personal friends and personal guides on our 5 week “History trip through Mexico” (all that is another story).   

10 January ‘07

Wednesday

Neil and Lisa joined Ricardo, Suzie, Louise and me and drove up to Santiago and Agua’s Calente (the hot springs).  It took us just over an hour to get up there, but the drive was great.  As we drove into Santiago we were amazed at how clean and neat this little town is.  Compared to Cabo San Lucas and San Jose, this place looked like it was cleaned especially for us…it sparkled.  At the other end of the town is the zoo.  It to was well kept, but the animals that were there are still in need of more room but more than anything else, better health.  We all left a donation behind and then continued onto the hot springs.  It had been 15 years since we were last at the hot springs so the way out there was a little fuzzy.  From the zoo on, the roads turned from pavement to dirt, with intersecting dirt roads coming in from all directions.  And then there were the little casa’s, and rancheros along both sides of the road that made it very picturesque.  After driving about 5 miles out from the zoo I started to doubt my way to the springs so as we passed a small ranchero with a lady that looked like a “Gringo”, we stopped to ask directions.  Our directions were right on but about 1 mile short, but she apparently hadn’t had anyone stop by for so long she took the advantage to unload about everything that had been building up in her for the last year.  They say everyone has a story and she certainly has one to tell.  Listening for awhile, we were back on our way.  Finally the hot springs came into view.  Climbing out of the van, we all headed around the dike to see just how it had changed.  Someone had made this “private enclosure” along one side of the wall of rocks that kind of kept the hot waters trapped a little longer.  We all had to get in and test the temp and then do some more exploring of the area.  Neil and I took off up river to see if we could get to the falls that Louise and I had been to 15 years earlier.  With all the rains and hurricanes that have come through the area in that time, it had changed more than I had expected.  The hike over the rocks and the crossings across the river were much more than it had been, but the end result was the same….absolutely beautiful.  We made it back to the falls, totally about 5 of them, with deep green pools at the end of each one of them.  Neil and I were both caught up in the beauty of it all and time got away from us, so before the rest of the crew sent out the search and rescue crew we headed back with a ton of great pictures.  One of the other delights of this trip, no matter how often we have made it, is to stop by the Ploma Hotel for a great “Mexican” lunch.  As always, we had a most delightful meal in a wonderful atmosphere (a very old and charming hotel). 

6 January ‘06

I kind of glanced over the “Full Moon” bonfire the other night, so I thought I would just take this space to mention it one more time and put this picture in at the same time….

5 January ‘07

Friday

It’s been some more of the same for us.  The weather here in Cabo is still outstanding !!!  We’ve had the opportunity to wake just about every morning to the sun warming up to the highs for the day in the mid 70’s, while the evenings get into the low 60’s.  We’ve taken a lot of great walks, some down the beach and others into town or the neighborhoods.  Last night the campground celebrated the full moon by going to one of the beaches and having a huge bonfire cookout.  We all brought out the hotdogs with buns, and all the trimmings for the best hotdogs on the beach.  And then the desert menu…roasted marshmallows…  Not everyone at the campground made it, but we did have over 30 there to witness the full moon rise out of the Sea of Cortez.  It was like a huge ball of fire dripping flames back to the sea as it rose.  This morning we headed out to fill the car with gas and do a little shopping at Costco.  Then it was off to Chileno.  Chileno is one of our favorite beaches for swimming and great snorkeling.  Again we had a group from the campground to join in with.  The water was warm and snorkeling with all the fish is a wonderful treat.  We had ourselves covered with #30 sunscreen and allowed ourselves to run free all day, eating, drinking, swimming, and just having a great day.  Tonight we are having a surprise birthday party for our neighbor.  Unfortunately John lost his first and second wives and this is his first time on the road alone.   He is turning 79 tonight and we are grabbing some of our common neighbors and having a small celebration with cake.  Wish you could be here with us…

1 January ‘07

Monday

Louise and I would like to say Thank You to all of you who sent us all of the Holiday Greetings.  It was great to hear what has been going on in your life since we last saw you.  As always, Christmas was very good to the two of us.  We spent a quiet day hanging around the coach and then about 3pm we got together with 90 others here in the RV Park for a potluck dinner.   Saturday night, Ricardo and Susie had a large group over to their “Casita” (little house) for a very tasty Chile Verde dinner.  It must have been “tasty” because I think I had 3 large helpings…I guess I had 3 large helpings at the bar as well…well, that’s another story…  Then like magic it was New Years Eve.  The weather here in Cabo San Lucas is staying sunny and warm but it cools right on down in the evenings.  Last night we joined 5 other couples and went to the Sand Bar Restaurant for a great Lobster and steak dinner.  The Sand Bar was all decorated up in the “New Year” theme…very festive.  Our table was sat deep into the sand, about 20 feet from the small waves that come running up toward our feet.  A large bonfire on each side of our table, a live band playing great music, friends and “newbie’s to talk and joke with, and a wonderful celebration of the “Old and the New” to enjoy.  I had brought some fireworks from South Dakota for this day, and it was fun to watch Juancho and Doris’s son Max firing them off for us.  Ricardo and Susie suggested that we take cabs to and from the dinner, and that turned out to be a great suggestion.  We not only saw the Old Year out, we saw the New Year in for at least the first three hours.  Sleeping in this morning seemed to be the norm for just about everyone around here.  I don’t think I heard or saw anyone until after 11am.  That could be because I didn’t get out myself until then.  Louise and I told Bonnie and Douglas that we would be picking them up at the airport this afternoon, so after getting the car all washed up we headed out to the airport.  Their plane arrived on time but sat on the apron for another 50 minutes before heading in to the gate.  Oh well, its Mexican timing…all’s well and safe.

27 December ‘06

Wednesday

We celebrated Christmas once again here in Cabo.  I think the first Christmas we spent here was in 1988 and then the next 3 following years as well.  One of the celebrations was on Santa Maria Beach with the Chouinard family.  Then in 2000 we were fortunate to have the “Whole Dang Family” (15 of us) here for the Christmas season.  Someone might say that this is almost like a 2^nd home to us for Christmas.  2 years ago we spent Christmas in Meteora Greece and last year at Rhonda Spain… Were will it be next year?

We had a pot-luck dinner of turkey, ham, and all the trimmings here at the RV park with about 90 other campers.  About 6 we joined Ricardo and went over to the Tolson home for an after dinner cocktail and good conversation among good friends.  Just what Christmas is all about.  Yesterday and today we spent the morning close by the coach, with laundry being the main subject today.  About 2 this afternoon we went out to “Ship Wreck” Beach to check it out.  It has been a long time since we were last there.  In fact, Doug and Bonnie Rohrer used to camp right on the waters edge there.  That was about 1989 or 90, long before the 36 hole Jack Nicholas golf course and Sheridan Hotel were built on that site.  We did find the beach mostly in tack, but with the hotel and the golf course right in back, it seemed quite different.  It was great to get back out there.  This beach has a lot of perfect gold sand and beautiful rock formations that come right out of the water.  The waves today were a treat for those that love to body surf and the rocks are great for those of us that like to snorkel.  The fish seem to team around the formations close to shore.  It was getting pretty dark when we got back home so we opted to head out to find dinner on the street somewhere.  Our first stop was a taco stand that was next door to one of the busiest bus stops in town.  It was also one of the busiest businesses around.  Louise and I both had a couple of pork tacos that didn’t last 2 seconds on our plate.  That taste is so perfect…and then the Mexican condiments…incredible.  The ambiance was just what we were looking for…young man behind the counter, his wife waiting the little metal card tables that sit on the neatly swept dirt floors, and the pre-teen son washing the dishes from a pot that sits so high on the counter that he had to find a stool to stand on.  I wasn’t quite full, so we went out to find one more “hot spot”.  This second one was about 3 blocks out the back roads from town.  It was so full of customers that we just knew we had to stop and try what ever they were selling.  Louise had had her fill from the last stop so I was on my own.  It had been a long time since I had had a “torta” (Mexican sandwich) and this one was just as good as I had remembered them to be.