25 February ‘07

Sunday

Since the Chouinard's left on Thursday, we haven’t been back to the Sand Bar for breakfast…that is a hard withdrawal to have to go through.  Friday we stuck close to the coach.  I guess we were trying to catch up from all the excitement from the week before.  Saturday morning we went to San Jose to enjoy the Farmers Market.  Ricardo flew out to Portland on Friday so we took Suzie along with us.  I personally go for the foods, but watching the gals, they have other things that are on their mind…vegetables, fruits, hand made jewelry and more.  There is a booth there that makes the best tamales that I have ever tasted, so I bought enough for everyone to enjoy with me once we got back home.  As always, they were incredible.  4 hours later, Lois, Louise and I were loading back into the car and heading out to dinner…Oh yes, Grandma Lois likes to eat early…4pm or as close to it as possible.  Well, it would be 5 before we sat down at the Serena RV Park Restaurant.  Dining here was a first for all of us, and I’ll tell you right now, this is a great place to have a dinner.  First, this is an outdoor restaurant with a “palapa” roof covering us.  A 180 degree view of the Sea of Cortez, the sunset lay out in front of us, and some of the best food we have had in a very long time.  I would consider this a must return destination.  For this mornings breakfast we went to the Bungalows Bed and Breakfast.  We were met at the front door by our long time friend Erik.  It’s always great to see him and his mother Estella (who had the day off and we’ll see later) who have always treated us like family.  We also had a surprise, as Alexi (Estella’s daughter and Erik’s sister) was working there now as well, and handled our table like a pro.  Hell, I remember going to Estella’s first restaurant here in Cabo for breakfast and when my cappuccino was served, this little 2 year old beauty would come out of the kitchen, climb onto my lap (a complete stranger), take my spoon and help her self to the creamy foam from the top of my coffee…now you should see her…wow !!!   The day wasn’t over…a quick change of clothes and we were off to the Sand Bar for a little sun, sand, sea, and “refreshments”. 

22 February ‘07

Thursday

Tuesday Louise’s mother stepped off the plane to join us for a week.  Lois has been down here in Cabo a number of times and it is good to get her here again.  The rest of us, Mikleane, Rick, Lil Louise, Drew, Louise and myself have been starting each day, with “Breakfast At The Sand Bar”…you might say we are joining others like Ricardo and Suzie in becoming “regulars”.  Now we have one more “groupie” joining us…Great Grandma” (90 years old and still traveling the world on her own !!!).  Now this isn’t a bad way to start a day…breakfast under the beach umbrella, bare feet in the sand, 76 degrees in the shade, and Bloody Mary’s around (well, maybe not everyone and not every morning…but…).  For the grandkids it was breakfast (if you can believe, Drew had pancakes every morning) and then off to do as many water sports as a day would allow.  From pool hopping, swimming in the Sea of Cortez, more rides on the parasail, jet-skis, and continuous rides on “The Banana”, it was fun, fun, fun…  I even took a tour on the Banana as well.  My forearms will never be the same from having to hold on so tight.  I must say, it was a lot of fun but I just couldn’t keep up with the younger group.  Yesterday we were honored by Ricardo, using his talent as a photographer, in taking some “family” pictures for us.   Ricardo suggested a special beach location, just before sunset, and the fun began.   One of the primary shots we were looking for was the 4 Generation picture.  Then Ricardo had all of us “posing” for some amazing pictures in an amazing location with an amazing photographer…Thank You Ricardo and Suzie !!!  Then it was back to the coach, get into some dry clothes, and head off to our last dinner in Cabo together.  We had made reservations at Romeo and Juliet’s, which is almost a tradition for us in it’s self.  All of our family has joined us for great meals there over the years.  Now to end this long day, we head back to The Sand Bar (about 9:30pm) to sit around the fire pit and enjoy the fireworks display at waters edge.  When Louise and I traveled through South Dakota this last July, we stopped by this huge fire works warehouse.  I wanted to buy some “BIG” stuff… The thought was to have all this to use during our “Family Re-union”, but the fire hazard was too high, so we continued to carry them until last night.  We did have some “Fine Stuff, Big Stuff, Loud and Pretty Stuff”…we had people coming out onto their terraces at those “high priced” hotels watching…Good time….  Well this morning it was time for the “kids” to say good-bye.  9:30 breakfast, one more Banana ride, shaking of hands and hugs around to those at the Sand Bar, Ricardo and Suzie’s place, and finally here at the coach. 

Tonight it’s quiet…Louise is back on her computer, Lois (Great Grandma) is playing solitaire at the table, and me….writing of course…

18 February ‘07

Sunday

Some of our family has arrived….Mikleane, Ric, Louise, and Drew flew in Friday afternoon and then on top of that, Mike, Whitney, and Maddie Pierce, along with one of Maddie’s girl friends, Sierra is here at their time-share.  They arrived to spend a couple of weeks with their folks Bonnie and Doug Rohrer (they are part of one of our “adopted families” from our Coeur d’Alene times).  Now we are all running in “high gear” just trying to accomplish all they want during their vacation.  Naturally the beach is high on the list of daily “must do’s”, and then there is 9:30am breakfast at The Sand Bar, a swim in the pools at Club Cascadas or the beautiful Cabo bay.  Then of course it leads to a shopping trip into San Lucas for the things the kids are looking for (Bobble head Turtles for Drew and a beach cover-up for Louise).  All of our lunches, in-between snacks, and drinks are taken at the Sand Bar, Cascadas (the kids timeshare), and/or Tabascos on the beach next door.  Today top adventure was “Parasailing”.  Ric negotiated a good deal for parasailing, so off we went.  After a short boat ride out to more of an open area to fly, Mikleane donned all the gear and was soon heading up into the blue skies above.  While she was up there enjoying the solitude and the view, she waved down to us that there were whales out on the horizon.  The whales are definitely back for their annual visit.  Next it was Lil Louise and Drew that would be hoisted skyward.  After they were attached to the parachute the line was slowly let out from the stern of the boat.  At first they hover close to the rear of the boat and then slowly start their climb.  When they reach the summit of their climb, it was time for them to relax and let both hands go free and act like birds around them…  They were both excited with their ride.  Then it was back to the beach, more food and drink, and a little TV time watching the finish of NASCAR’s Daytona 500…what a finish!!!  Tonight we ended up heading out for a hamburger.  I was introduced to this little hamburger stand about the first day we arrived here in Cabo, and I have been back many, many times.  It is a small cart that this couple brings out every night and set it up right next door to the police station.  Most of the diners are the “locals”, but the more I eat there, the more “gringos” I introduce to this incredible hamburger.  Tonight it was time for the family to enjoy and enjoy they did…nothing but great reviews from one and all.  

10 February ‘07

Saturday

The sun is shining and the temp is rising…Heck, another beautiful day here in Cabo…

There is a window sticker here that says “No Bad Days”, and I almost believe it.  Not too much has changed as far as our daily routine goes, but today, after checking the waves coming onto the beach, we pulled the kayak out of the car.  This was the first time since we arrived in Mexico.  Some things that are immediately different are the large area of sand.  That gives us a positive, we can pull the kayak easily to the water instead of carrying it.  The negative we have to learn to conquer is getting into the kayak at just the right moment to have the wave take us out with it.  Then there is the coming back…hitting the wave just right so that we will “surf” up to the sand and then have enough time to get out and stabilize ourselves before the next wave comes in, fills the kayak and dumps us on our bum in front of all the beach bathers watching.  We put in just beside Club Cascadas and paddled around past all the hotels and restaurants.  Then around past the entrance to the marina and out to “Playa del Amor” (Lovers/Divorce Beach).  Lovers Beach is located at the very end of the Baja Peninsula.  Lovers Beach is then tied to Divorce Beach by a common sand bar.  On the Pacific Ocean side the waves come onto the beach with a large cresting wave and crashes with so much force that it almost rocks the large rocks around it while on the “Lovers” side (the Sea of Cortez) the wave action is very calm.  Well anyway, we made our first stop at Lovers Beach.  We went surfing in with the wave beautifully, but then as I got out my paddle got stuck between my legs and damn near took me down.  If I had gone down, the kayak would have come over me and that isn’t what a “graceful” landing is supposed to look like. Fortunately I recovered just in time and saved face.  After enjoying both sides of the beach we pulled out to see the famous “Cabo Arch” and then around the end of the peninsula (now into the Pacific) just to say we had been there.  The winds had come up quite a bit so the surf was becoming more pronounced and our ride was comfortable but more strenuous because cause of the additional hard paddling we had to do.   Getting back across the opening of Cabo Bay proved that we could make it through moderate boat traffic (the fishing boats coming back) and facing a pretty good head wind that seemed to stay close to the water.  Each paddle that Louise made brought water up and all over me, which kept me cool while again asking, “can you keep your paddle a little lower?”.  Wanting to time ourselves, I checked my watch…1:10 pm.  Arriving back at our starting point, surfing the wave in, handling my exit like a pro, we finished our paddle like we knew what we were doing.  Checking my watch again I found out that it was no longer running…what is this??? 

07 February ‘07

Wednesday

OK, now I’m getting pissed… I just went to the doctor for my follow-up.  I’m feeling a whole lot better now, although I still have a lingering cough.  Louise is still hammering on my back (I think she is beginning to like that a little too much, and with all the mumbling under her breath of: “I told you, you….(something I can’t quite hear) going on), and giving me orders of “have you taken all of your pills yet?”.   Hell, leave a guy that’s down a little room would you…  Anyway I went back to see the doctor this morning.  A quick re-exam and the good news was: “you seem to be healing quite well, but here are some additional pills to take for another week…and, “Oh yes, here is a bill for the new drugs as well” ($75)…  Lou is still trying to tell me it is a great value, and “you are getting much better”…in other words: GET OVER IT !!! 

I’m really not complaining, fact is I am much better.  I just want this all to STOP NOW…I WANT A BEER!!!  Yep, no beer, no wine, nothing but water…”DOCTORS ORDERS”. 

5 February ‘07

Monday

The sun is shining and I’m “confined to quarters”….  Hell this ain’t no fun !!!   I went to the doctor and after giving him my symptoms, he gave me an examination and  announced that I had a “lung infection”.  Hell, I thought it was just a cold that had gone amuck…  Now my schedule is somewhat limited for awhile.  I get up, take a few pills, drink some meds, get a “hammering on my back” from Louise, and then “stay inside the coach” for the next couple of days.  After that I can wonder outside…just under our canopy for the next couple of days.  Eat lots of veggies, “bistec” (steak) and “pollo” (chicken), and LOT’S OF WATER…  It was amazing, we called this doctor on his cell phone, set up a quick appointment (2 hours hence), and he meets us at his office.  He walks into the next room (his personal retail and wholesale pharmacy) and brings back with him a supply of prescribed medications.  He gives me the instructions and we set up a follow-up visit for next Wednesday…”some time in the morning”.  All of this cost me $107.  The meds alone were $85 (and that is at the low cost here in Mexico), and the rest???  It was his “office call”….and to top that all off, it was SUNDAY !!!  Hell I like it down here…