Dec 25th - Tues - MERRY CHRISTMAS from San Carlos
Another lovely day. One of the Rvers in the park arranged a pot luck dinner here so I made (leftover) turkey enchiladas for the event. It started at 2:00 and the wind was cool so everyone ate and broke up early.
Pat, Geri & I went walking on the beach and picked up interesting shells and rocks for Cathy to use in landscaping their lot. Short happy hour until the cool air sent everyone inside.
Dec 26th - Wed - San Carlos
Our group of 8 and one extra (Diane) went kayaking this morning. There is very little tide fluctuation right now so the water was not supposed to be too low in the estuary. It was beautiful - calm & birds everywhere. On the way back we found out that the tide was going out and Terry & I “ran aground”. Terry hit first and got out of his boat and towed it. So when I then got stuck, he was sweet enough to come tow me to deeper water!
After lunch, Rick & Pat and we went golfing. We played the back 9 this time and the guys struggled quite a bit. I got the best score - 52! I think we should not kayak and golf on the same day. It really cooled off just before the sun disappeared which is when we were on the 17th green.
Dec 27th - Thurs - Hermasillo
Rick & Pat and we went on an adventure to Hermasillo today. It is 133 km (about 90 miles) away. It is a large city that we drove though on the way here. We found Home Depot, WalMart, Costco and a casino. Costco has hot dogs like U.S. stores so of course we had lunch there. The casino has slot machines that accept a card with money (pesos) on it. When you hit a bonus, the instructions on the screen are in Spanish. Luckily, we have played enough slot machines to guess where on the screen that you have to touch. Pat & I lost our 250 pesos (about $25) but Terry ended up covering my losses so it only cost us 10 ($1) pesos to play for a couple of hours.
We will go back to Hermasillo sometime. It is clean and fairly easy to get around. They have an outdoor market that we want to check out and apparently have a couple of more casinos!
Dec 28th - Fri - San Carlos
Washed sheets this morning and they were dry on the line just in time for Pat to hang up her laundry. After a late, big breakfast, Terry & I went for a long walk downtown. We started out just on a short jaunt to the visitor info center to look for a Hermasillo map. The info center wasn’t open so we just kept going and checked out a few gift shops.
While we were walking, we saw a truck go by with Oregon plates and a sign that said “mobile RV repair”. Dave & Margo’s hot water tank is not working so when we got back, Dave & Terry hoped in the truck and went to see if they could find the repair guy. He was in the RV park at the other end of town and was just finishing fixing something for someone else. He agreed to look at Dave’s tank and was able to fix it. While he was here, other people in the park came over to see if he could look at their problems but he said he was on vacation and was only doing this work for a friend. Now, hopefully Dave & Margo will stick around a while!
Pat organized a hamburger dinner for our group with everyone contributing something. Again, it was an early evening out due to cool weather. Dave & Margo came over to our rig for coffee afterwards.
Dec 29th - Sat - San Carlos
Busy day today. Dave & Margo, Rick & Pat and we went exploring on bicycles with an eventual destination of Craig & Cathy’s lot. We admired all the work they have done and then stopped on the way back at Charly’s Rock for a beer and some tacos for lunch.
Super-organizer Pat (thank you, thank you, thank you!) made reservations for 18 of us to go bowling and then to dinner. The bowling was a kick - unfortunately the “Happy Hour Bowling” from a few years ago was no longer happening as the alley does not have a liquor license any more. The rental shoes are pretty grungy with no insoles but everyone was smart enough to wear socks.
Dinner was outside on the patio at El Gallo. They have tall propane heaters so it was comfortable. Food was pretty good, service a bit slow as apparently a waiter did not show up so the owner was moving very fast serving and trying to keep an eye on things in the kitchen.
I thought I would be tired enough to sleep through the nightclub noise but I went to sleep too early so was wide awake at 12:40 and a long time after listening to the racket.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Dec 21st to 24th - San Carlos
Dec 21st - Fri - San Carlos
The owner of the RV park provided beer and margaritas for a Christmas get together at 2:00 today. Everyone brought food and we gathered by the pool to drink & eat. My contribution was devilled eggs and I really messed up and put too much salt in the yolks. So I separated more eggs, cooked the yolks in the microwave and mixed them with part of the too salty yolks. They were still too salty but there were quite a few people at the gathering so I figured no one would be eating more than one anyhow!
Dec 22nd - Sat - San Carlos
Terry & I went shopping in San Carlos this morning for our gift exchange. Then Terry went kayaking with Pat & Rick while I gave Dolly a haircut and a bath. It was quite windy for the kayakers so I am glad that I didn’t go.
Pat & Rick, Bill & Geri and we walked to a nice restaurant (Fiesta) for dinner. We sat out on the deck with a drink to watch the sunset and then moved inside for dinner. We all had chateaubriand (for 2) and it was wonderful! The meat was incredibly tender and well seasoned. It was served with a choice of mixed greens salad - dressing on the side - or tortilla soup which Terry enjoyed. Also included a small baked potato, julienne peppers, Harvard beets and garlic toast. The drink waiter “upsold” us on the margaritas and no one thought to ask the price. They ended up costing $12.95 each!! Good thing we only had one round!
Dec 23rd - Sun - San Carlos
Did laundry this morning before going grocery shopping at the Ley in Guaymas with Pat & Rick. It was very busy but all check stands were open so didn’t take long to get out. It takes a while to figure out what might be the item that you want with everything labeled in Spanish!
We golfed at 3:00. Pat & I teed off first as Craig did not show up on time. There ended up being a foursome of guys so Pat & I had time to continue on hole 10 and then cut through some home construction and play back to the clubhouse on hole 18. The wives of the other guys playing with Terry showed up along with another couple (Bill & Tammy) to have hamburgers at the clubhouse restaurant. Pat borrowed a truck to go get Rick and brought back Bill & Geri as well so we had a large group for dinner.
Dec 24th - Mon - San Carlos
Our “group of 8” got together for a turkey dinner today. I cooked a 14 lb turkey (just fit in the oven!) with stuffing made by Pat and gravy made by me, Margo did a broccoli casserole & rolls, Geri provided mashed potatoes & pickles and Pat did a layered pumpkin dessert. Had to set up our tables in the shade as it was too warm in the sun at 2:00.
After dinner & dishes were cleaned up, 5 of us had a good time playing Tripoly. Rick made the mistake of trying to have a nap while we were right outside his rig!
We did a little gift exchange where you can take an unopened gift or steal a gift from someone else. Lots of fun. Then we all put on long pants and jackets to go over to the main road along the beach to watch the decorated boat parade. The boats were nicely done but there were only 13. Apparently there was supposed to be a fireworks show at 10:30 or 11 but we did not stick around. We heard occasional fireworks but it didn’t sound like a large display.
The owner of the RV park provided beer and margaritas for a Christmas get together at 2:00 today. Everyone brought food and we gathered by the pool to drink & eat. My contribution was devilled eggs and I really messed up and put too much salt in the yolks. So I separated more eggs, cooked the yolks in the microwave and mixed them with part of the too salty yolks. They were still too salty but there were quite a few people at the gathering so I figured no one would be eating more than one anyhow!
Dec 22nd - Sat - San Carlos
Terry & I went shopping in San Carlos this morning for our gift exchange. Then Terry went kayaking with Pat & Rick while I gave Dolly a haircut and a bath. It was quite windy for the kayakers so I am glad that I didn’t go.
Pat & Rick, Bill & Geri and we walked to a nice restaurant (Fiesta) for dinner. We sat out on the deck with a drink to watch the sunset and then moved inside for dinner. We all had chateaubriand (for 2) and it was wonderful! The meat was incredibly tender and well seasoned. It was served with a choice of mixed greens salad - dressing on the side - or tortilla soup which Terry enjoyed. Also included a small baked potato, julienne peppers, Harvard beets and garlic toast. The drink waiter “upsold” us on the margaritas and no one thought to ask the price. They ended up costing $12.95 each!! Good thing we only had one round!
Dec 23rd - Sun - San Carlos
Did laundry this morning before going grocery shopping at the Ley in Guaymas with Pat & Rick. It was very busy but all check stands were open so didn’t take long to get out. It takes a while to figure out what might be the item that you want with everything labeled in Spanish!
We golfed at 3:00. Pat & I teed off first as Craig did not show up on time. There ended up being a foursome of guys so Pat & I had time to continue on hole 10 and then cut through some home construction and play back to the clubhouse on hole 18. The wives of the other guys playing with Terry showed up along with another couple (Bill & Tammy) to have hamburgers at the clubhouse restaurant. Pat borrowed a truck to go get Rick and brought back Bill & Geri as well so we had a large group for dinner.
Dec 24th - Mon - San Carlos
Our “group of 8” got together for a turkey dinner today. I cooked a 14 lb turkey (just fit in the oven!) with stuffing made by Pat and gravy made by me, Margo did a broccoli casserole & rolls, Geri provided mashed potatoes & pickles and Pat did a layered pumpkin dessert. Had to set up our tables in the shade as it was too warm in the sun at 2:00.
After dinner & dishes were cleaned up, 5 of us had a good time playing Tripoly. Rick made the mistake of trying to have a nap while we were right outside his rig!
We did a little gift exchange where you can take an unopened gift or steal a gift from someone else. Lots of fun. Then we all put on long pants and jackets to go over to the main road along the beach to watch the decorated boat parade. The boats were nicely done but there were only 13. Apparently there was supposed to be a fireworks show at 10:30 or 11 but we did not stick around. We heard occasional fireworks but it didn’t sound like a large display.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Dec 14th to 20th - San Carlos
Dec 14th - Fri - San Carlos
Yes, I am several days behind in the blog!!!
Terry & I rode our bicycles to a nearby bakery for cinnamon rolls this morning which we shared with Rick & Pat.
We aired up our kayaks and the whole group headed out from some paddling. It was lovely. The water is so clear and there was only a slight breeze. We paddled across a small bay, through a narrow passage and then back around into the bay. There are lots of pelicans here and there were a couple of rock outcroppings with many birds. They usually just watched us go by.
We rode with Rick & Pat and Rick wanted to look for other places to launch kayaks. We ended up on a very narrow, bumpy road along another bay with steep drops into the water - won’t be going there to launch kayaks.
Dec 15th - Sat - San Carlos
Terry took me to the dentist for a 9:30 appointment to re-prep my tooth for the crown. The dentist gave me the Novocain very slowly this time so it did not hurt like the first time. And then I toughed out some discomfort (pain!!) so he wouldn’t have to give me more!
Terry took a card for Dean to a restaurant where US mail is taken to be mailed in the states while I started some laundry. On his way back, Terry saw Dave & Margo heading into Charlie’s Rock for a beer so we went and joined them. Charlie’s Rock has tables & bar stools facing the ocean on the outside wall. There is no glass in the openings and the restaurant is on a small bluff above the ocean so the view is wonderful.
Dec 16th - Sun - San Carlos
We took 2 rigs and all 8 of our group to the Sunday “market” in Empalme this morning. Empalme is about ½ hour from here. Some streets are closed and packed with vendors and people. A lot of “garage sale” stuff, lots of prepared food and quite a bit of fruit/vegetable/meat stands. Total purchases - Geri bought one small wine glass and Pat bought cotton candy - and ate it all by herself!
We stopped at an eatery in Guaymas for a beer and crab tostadas for lunch. Rick led us on a sightseeing tour of Guaymas and ended up at a statue with viewing platforms on a hill above the city.
Dec 17th - Mon - San Carlos
I went to Spanish lessons this morning while Terry did some chores.
When Terry woke up this morning he mentioned that he must have slept wrong as his neck was stiff. Well, it got really bad and he started getting muscle spasms that would almost bring him to his knees. Pat massaged his neck & shoulder with a heating rub and it felt better - but just long enough to go for a walk with Rick & Pat. Geri then contributed some pain pills and Rick added an ice pack. Terry got through a wonderful shared dinner with Pat’s seafood lasagna being the star dish and then I put him to bed.
Dec 18th - Tues - San Carlos
Slept late this morning and Terry’s neck is all better! But now my stomach is upset. Intermittent pains but no other typical symptoms - that we all hope not to get - until late tonight.
Dave & Margo, Bill & Geri and we took our kayaks to the estuary this morning. But we didn’t get too far out and Terry & I were hitting bottom. Terry pushed his kayak further than I did and ended up getting out and pulling his kayak back to deeper water. Dave & Margo and we went searching for another place to launch but didn’t find anywhere.
After lunch I helped Margo set up a blog. At 3:00 we went golfing - Rick, Terry & Craig and Pat, Bill & I. It was a beautiful day.
Dave, Margo & Geri went to a place called Froggy’s at 4:30 to save tables for all of us so we could take advantage of the 2 for 1 pizza night. Won’t do that again - the pizza left a lot to be desired.
Dec 19th - Wed - San Carlos
I helped Rick install some fixes for his virus protection program on his computer before they joined us for another trip to Guaymas and the dentist. Before my appointment we found a bicycle shop for some new brake pads and checked out the Woolworth’s store.
Would you believe that my crown was not delivered to the dentist?! The lab had some problems and the dentist tried to figure out how to get hold of me but as we don’t have a phone that is hard. I had forgotten to tell them where we are staying as the office will get messages to residents if necessary. Made another appointment for tomorrow.
We sort of got lost in Guaymas and saw a lot of the town that we had previously not seen on our way to Sorriana’s grocery store.
My stomach was still bothering me so I read until it was time to go to the cooking class. She gave us a recipe for Picadillo which is a ground meat dish. Pat & I both had baby back ribs to cook for dinner so we got together at their place for dinner. I ate part of my dinner and headed back to our rig as I was not feeling well. I just finished reading a book when I sent my dinner to the sewer. Terry came back when he saw I was no longer in the recliner and we crawled into bed just after 7 and watched TV and I dozed.
Dec 20th - Thurs - San Carlos
To the dentist at 9:00 and the crown finally fit! I am going to get some more dental work done but not until next year.
We stopped at the grocery store (Ley) in Guaymas on the way back and bought a small turkey for a group Christmas dinner. Then we stopped at Barracuda Bob’s, a café beside the laundromat, for a breakfast burrito.
I am still recovering from my intestinal disorder so I did some light cleaning while Terry & Pat took the metal detectors to a beach. They found lots of pull-tabs and pop cans but nothing of value or interest.
Steve & Linda from Boise arrived this afternoon with another couple that we have not met yet.
No Happy Hour tonight which is just as well as I might be tempted to have a drink which would probably not make my stomach feel any better.
Yes, I am several days behind in the blog!!!
Terry & I rode our bicycles to a nearby bakery for cinnamon rolls this morning which we shared with Rick & Pat.
We aired up our kayaks and the whole group headed out from some paddling. It was lovely. The water is so clear and there was only a slight breeze. We paddled across a small bay, through a narrow passage and then back around into the bay. There are lots of pelicans here and there were a couple of rock outcroppings with many birds. They usually just watched us go by.
We rode with Rick & Pat and Rick wanted to look for other places to launch kayaks. We ended up on a very narrow, bumpy road along another bay with steep drops into the water - won’t be going there to launch kayaks.
Dec 15th - Sat - San Carlos
Terry took me to the dentist for a 9:30 appointment to re-prep my tooth for the crown. The dentist gave me the Novocain very slowly this time so it did not hurt like the first time. And then I toughed out some discomfort (pain!!) so he wouldn’t have to give me more!
Terry took a card for Dean to a restaurant where US mail is taken to be mailed in the states while I started some laundry. On his way back, Terry saw Dave & Margo heading into Charlie’s Rock for a beer so we went and joined them. Charlie’s Rock has tables & bar stools facing the ocean on the outside wall. There is no glass in the openings and the restaurant is on a small bluff above the ocean so the view is wonderful.
Dec 16th - Sun - San Carlos
We took 2 rigs and all 8 of our group to the Sunday “market” in Empalme this morning. Empalme is about ½ hour from here. Some streets are closed and packed with vendors and people. A lot of “garage sale” stuff, lots of prepared food and quite a bit of fruit/vegetable/meat stands. Total purchases - Geri bought one small wine glass and Pat bought cotton candy - and ate it all by herself!
We stopped at an eatery in Guaymas for a beer and crab tostadas for lunch. Rick led us on a sightseeing tour of Guaymas and ended up at a statue with viewing platforms on a hill above the city.
Dec 17th - Mon - San Carlos
I went to Spanish lessons this morning while Terry did some chores.
When Terry woke up this morning he mentioned that he must have slept wrong as his neck was stiff. Well, it got really bad and he started getting muscle spasms that would almost bring him to his knees. Pat massaged his neck & shoulder with a heating rub and it felt better - but just long enough to go for a walk with Rick & Pat. Geri then contributed some pain pills and Rick added an ice pack. Terry got through a wonderful shared dinner with Pat’s seafood lasagna being the star dish and then I put him to bed.
Dec 18th - Tues - San Carlos
Slept late this morning and Terry’s neck is all better! But now my stomach is upset. Intermittent pains but no other typical symptoms - that we all hope not to get - until late tonight.
Dave & Margo, Bill & Geri and we took our kayaks to the estuary this morning. But we didn’t get too far out and Terry & I were hitting bottom. Terry pushed his kayak further than I did and ended up getting out and pulling his kayak back to deeper water. Dave & Margo and we went searching for another place to launch but didn’t find anywhere.
After lunch I helped Margo set up a blog. At 3:00 we went golfing - Rick, Terry & Craig and Pat, Bill & I. It was a beautiful day.
Dave, Margo & Geri went to a place called Froggy’s at 4:30 to save tables for all of us so we could take advantage of the 2 for 1 pizza night. Won’t do that again - the pizza left a lot to be desired.
Dec 19th - Wed - San Carlos
I helped Rick install some fixes for his virus protection program on his computer before they joined us for another trip to Guaymas and the dentist. Before my appointment we found a bicycle shop for some new brake pads and checked out the Woolworth’s store.
Would you believe that my crown was not delivered to the dentist?! The lab had some problems and the dentist tried to figure out how to get hold of me but as we don’t have a phone that is hard. I had forgotten to tell them where we are staying as the office will get messages to residents if necessary. Made another appointment for tomorrow.
We sort of got lost in Guaymas and saw a lot of the town that we had previously not seen on our way to Sorriana’s grocery store.
My stomach was still bothering me so I read until it was time to go to the cooking class. She gave us a recipe for Picadillo which is a ground meat dish. Pat & I both had baby back ribs to cook for dinner so we got together at their place for dinner. I ate part of my dinner and headed back to our rig as I was not feeling well. I just finished reading a book when I sent my dinner to the sewer. Terry came back when he saw I was no longer in the recliner and we crawled into bed just after 7 and watched TV and I dozed.
Dec 20th - Thurs - San Carlos
To the dentist at 9:00 and the crown finally fit! I am going to get some more dental work done but not until next year.
We stopped at the grocery store (Ley) in Guaymas on the way back and bought a small turkey for a group Christmas dinner. Then we stopped at Barracuda Bob’s, a café beside the laundromat, for a breakfast burrito.
I am still recovering from my intestinal disorder so I did some light cleaning while Terry & Pat took the metal detectors to a beach. They found lots of pull-tabs and pop cans but nothing of value or interest.
Steve & Linda from Boise arrived this afternoon with another couple that we have not met yet.
No Happy Hour tonight which is just as well as I might be tempted to have a drink which would probably not make my stomach feel any better.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Dec 11th to 13th - San Carlos
Dec 11th - Tues - San Carlos
Pat & Rick, Geri & Bill and Terry & I walked down the street for breakfast at Rosie’s Cantina. Very nice, typical American food available. Stopped at a small grocery store on the way back.
All 8 of us then went for a hike in Nacarule Canyon. It was beautiful. I will try to get the pictures posted soon. I think it was 1.6 kilometers. Just wonderful, not too strenuous but we knew we had been for a walk.
Then we all continued out to a beach and the Soggy Peso Bar for a margarita and a snack. All in all a great day!
Dec 12th - Wed - San Carlos
Back to the dentist today with the same results - the crown did not fit. It turns out the lab did some adjusting on the old crown instead of using the new impression to make a new crown. So I will be coming back again tomorrow. Rick very kindly drove to Guaymas again and on the way back we stopped at a nice hotel/resort and walked around the grounds & dock. Didn’t look like many people were staying there but Rick said it caters more to Mexicans and they do not go to the beach in the winter.
All of the women in our group went to a cooking class this afternoon which is taught by the same lady (Maria) who offers the Spanish class. We learned about different types of chilies and chose which type of salsa we wanted to make tomorrow.
We signed up for Skype which is a way of making phone calls using the computer. We use a headset/microphone and can call any phone number or other Skype users. There is a slight delay when speaking but not too bad.
Craig & Cathy joined us for Happy Hour today so we had a larger group.
We wanted to try Skype and call someone tonight but the wifi was down so couldn’t do it.
We found out today via an email from Terry’s brother Harry that Terry’s Mom is in the hospital after an operation on her back. She chipped a vertebra which exposed a nerve - very painful. They used a bonding agent to cover the nerve and removed the bone chip. She should be home in a couple of days. We couldn’t figure out why she had not sent us an email!!
Dec 13th - Thurs - San Carlos
The “cooking class” met Maria at 9:30 this morning to take the bus to the market at Guaymas. Maria led us though the market (the Mercado), showed the different types of chilies and helped us buy ingredients for our salsas. Pat, Geri, Margo and I split from the rest of the group and walked to my dentist appointment, stopping at some stores along the way.
Would you believe the new crown still did not fit. So we will be starting over with the nasty Novocain and re-prepping the tooth to take it down a bit. There is just not enough room for the crown.
When we got back, the ladies made their salsas. Maria had bought a huge bag of fresh tortilla chips and the class met again at 3:30 to taste everyone’s salsa. It was very interesting to see how they all turned out. Most were too hot for me to eat more than one taste but I am a spicy food wimp.
Rick, Terry & Craig went golfing. They got back just after 5 and by then everyone else was cuddled up inside as it was fairly cool so we actually missed getting together for Happy Hour!
We used Skype tonight to make several phone calls. We got dropped at least once on every phone call - apparently the wifi signal was low. But at 2 cents a minute, I can call back a few times. The sound quality was fine - at least on this end - and no one was bothered too much by the slight sound delay.
Pat & Rick, Geri & Bill and Terry & I walked down the street for breakfast at Rosie’s Cantina. Very nice, typical American food available. Stopped at a small grocery store on the way back.
All 8 of us then went for a hike in Nacarule Canyon. It was beautiful. I will try to get the pictures posted soon. I think it was 1.6 kilometers. Just wonderful, not too strenuous but we knew we had been for a walk.
Then we all continued out to a beach and the Soggy Peso Bar for a margarita and a snack. All in all a great day!
Dec 12th - Wed - San Carlos
Back to the dentist today with the same results - the crown did not fit. It turns out the lab did some adjusting on the old crown instead of using the new impression to make a new crown. So I will be coming back again tomorrow. Rick very kindly drove to Guaymas again and on the way back we stopped at a nice hotel/resort and walked around the grounds & dock. Didn’t look like many people were staying there but Rick said it caters more to Mexicans and they do not go to the beach in the winter.
All of the women in our group went to a cooking class this afternoon which is taught by the same lady (Maria) who offers the Spanish class. We learned about different types of chilies and chose which type of salsa we wanted to make tomorrow.
We signed up for Skype which is a way of making phone calls using the computer. We use a headset/microphone and can call any phone number or other Skype users. There is a slight delay when speaking but not too bad.
Craig & Cathy joined us for Happy Hour today so we had a larger group.
We wanted to try Skype and call someone tonight but the wifi was down so couldn’t do it.
We found out today via an email from Terry’s brother Harry that Terry’s Mom is in the hospital after an operation on her back. She chipped a vertebra which exposed a nerve - very painful. They used a bonding agent to cover the nerve and removed the bone chip. She should be home in a couple of days. We couldn’t figure out why she had not sent us an email!!
Dec 13th - Thurs - San Carlos
The “cooking class” met Maria at 9:30 this morning to take the bus to the market at Guaymas. Maria led us though the market (the Mercado), showed the different types of chilies and helped us buy ingredients for our salsas. Pat, Geri, Margo and I split from the rest of the group and walked to my dentist appointment, stopping at some stores along the way.
Would you believe the new crown still did not fit. So we will be starting over with the nasty Novocain and re-prepping the tooth to take it down a bit. There is just not enough room for the crown.
When we got back, the ladies made their salsas. Maria had bought a huge bag of fresh tortilla chips and the class met again at 3:30 to taste everyone’s salsa. It was very interesting to see how they all turned out. Most were too hot for me to eat more than one taste but I am a spicy food wimp.
Rick, Terry & Craig went golfing. They got back just after 5 and by then everyone else was cuddled up inside as it was fairly cool so we actually missed getting together for Happy Hour!
We used Skype tonight to make several phone calls. We got dropped at least once on every phone call - apparently the wifi signal was low. But at 2 cents a minute, I can call back a few times. The sound quality was fine - at least on this end - and no one was bothered too much by the slight sound delay.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Dec 7th to 10th - San Carlos
Dec 7th - Fri - San Carlos
Pat & Rick and we did laundry this morning. We went to a laundromat in town as it is beside a little café so we could have coffee and breakfast while the clothes were washing.
We enjoyed the sunshine while we cleaned the outside of the 5th wheel and the truck. Then we spent quite a bit of time trying to set up the satellite dish with no success.
Pat & I went for a walk along the beach before joining everyone else for Happy Hour.
There is a new nightclub across the street from the RV park with really loud music on Thurs, Fri and Sat. I was awake a long time last night and tonight. At one point the band must have taken a break and Pretty Woman came blasting out. Kind of out of place after the Mexican music.
Dec 8th - Sat - San Carlos/Guaymas
We went to an art & craft show in town before going to Guaymas to get my crown. Dave & Margo were following us so Rick could show them where the large grocery store is and where to park. I got a haircut at the same place where Pat got one on Thursday. I will have to learn how to say “not too short” in Spanish!!
My crown did not fit so the dentist took another impression and sent it back to the lab. I have a very crooked bite so it is hard for the dentist and the lab to get the top & bottom impressions together correctly. Have to come back on Wed for the new crown. At least the dentist is concerned with getting it right.
We went to another large grocery store just so we would know where it is in the future and of course there is always something that you need to buy.
Terry spent more time trying to set up our satellite dish. Then the owner (Joe) came by and said that we needed a larger dish. So he called someone who is going to come out and possibly rent us a larger dish for 4 months.
Today is Rick’s birthday so we all (12 of us) went out to a restaurant across the street for drinks and dinner to celebrate. Most bars in Mexico do not have scotch so Terry was drinking margaritas and keeping up to Dave. Mistake!! Actually, the house margaritas were plenty potent so all of us were happy that we were walking home instead of driving. Pat had baked a cake so we had cake & ice cream when we got back.
Dec 9th - Sun - San Carlos
Inhabitants of this section of the campground were moving pretty slowly this morning. Terry & I went for a bicycle ride into town and then drove to find Craig & Cathy’s lot. They and 3 other couples bought 2 adjoining lots a couple of years ago and are putting in hookups for 4 RVs. Bill & Tammy, who joined us for dinner last night, just moved their motor home out there a couple of days ago as they have water and electricity now. Cathy won’t move until they have a septic tank put in which is happening this week.
The satellite dish guy came out and said we could not get the 2 satellites needed for Dish network here. The satellites are too low and too far apart from this location. So we will get by with the 5 channels on cable here. The reception was pretty bad but a maintenance guy came by and hooked all 4 of us to one feed with better reception so it will be fine.
Did some cleaning, caught up on emails, did some mending and then relaxed and recovered. Short gathering this evening as it was too cold.
Dec 10th - Mon - San Carlos
It rained very hard last night. So the rain kept us awake instead of the loud music.
Margo & I went to Spanish lessons this morning. They are given by the mother of the guy who owns the RV park. I admit to stereotypical thinking and was surprised to see a youthful blonde teaching the class instead of the dark haired, older woman I was expecting. It was fun as she includes tidbits of Mexican culture as well as the language.
We did not plan ahead for Christmas gifts for Dean & family so now we are trying to figure out how to get something to them on time. We went to a couple of places where we had seen S mail coming and/or going but it is all private groups. So we had lunch and stopped at a produce market before coming back.
It rained again a couple of times today and continued cool so we had Happy Hour inside our rig this evening. Everyone was comfortable and the stories were flowing so we didn’t end up having dinner until after 8. Terry is snoozing on the couch so I will get this posted and get to bed.
Pat & Rick and we did laundry this morning. We went to a laundromat in town as it is beside a little café so we could have coffee and breakfast while the clothes were washing.
We enjoyed the sunshine while we cleaned the outside of the 5th wheel and the truck. Then we spent quite a bit of time trying to set up the satellite dish with no success.
Pat & I went for a walk along the beach before joining everyone else for Happy Hour.
There is a new nightclub across the street from the RV park with really loud music on Thurs, Fri and Sat. I was awake a long time last night and tonight. At one point the band must have taken a break and Pretty Woman came blasting out. Kind of out of place after the Mexican music.
Dec 8th - Sat - San Carlos/Guaymas
We went to an art & craft show in town before going to Guaymas to get my crown. Dave & Margo were following us so Rick could show them where the large grocery store is and where to park. I got a haircut at the same place where Pat got one on Thursday. I will have to learn how to say “not too short” in Spanish!!
My crown did not fit so the dentist took another impression and sent it back to the lab. I have a very crooked bite so it is hard for the dentist and the lab to get the top & bottom impressions together correctly. Have to come back on Wed for the new crown. At least the dentist is concerned with getting it right.
We went to another large grocery store just so we would know where it is in the future and of course there is always something that you need to buy.
Terry spent more time trying to set up our satellite dish. Then the owner (Joe) came by and said that we needed a larger dish. So he called someone who is going to come out and possibly rent us a larger dish for 4 months.
Today is Rick’s birthday so we all (12 of us) went out to a restaurant across the street for drinks and dinner to celebrate. Most bars in Mexico do not have scotch so Terry was drinking margaritas and keeping up to Dave. Mistake!! Actually, the house margaritas were plenty potent so all of us were happy that we were walking home instead of driving. Pat had baked a cake so we had cake & ice cream when we got back.
Dec 9th - Sun - San Carlos
Inhabitants of this section of the campground were moving pretty slowly this morning. Terry & I went for a bicycle ride into town and then drove to find Craig & Cathy’s lot. They and 3 other couples bought 2 adjoining lots a couple of years ago and are putting in hookups for 4 RVs. Bill & Tammy, who joined us for dinner last night, just moved their motor home out there a couple of days ago as they have water and electricity now. Cathy won’t move until they have a septic tank put in which is happening this week.
The satellite dish guy came out and said we could not get the 2 satellites needed for Dish network here. The satellites are too low and too far apart from this location. So we will get by with the 5 channels on cable here. The reception was pretty bad but a maintenance guy came by and hooked all 4 of us to one feed with better reception so it will be fine.
Did some cleaning, caught up on emails, did some mending and then relaxed and recovered. Short gathering this evening as it was too cold.
Dec 10th - Mon - San Carlos
It rained very hard last night. So the rain kept us awake instead of the loud music.
Margo & I went to Spanish lessons this morning. They are given by the mother of the guy who owns the RV park. I admit to stereotypical thinking and was surprised to see a youthful blonde teaching the class instead of the dark haired, older woman I was expecting. It was fun as she includes tidbits of Mexican culture as well as the language.
We did not plan ahead for Christmas gifts for Dean & family so now we are trying to figure out how to get something to them on time. We went to a couple of places where we had seen S mail coming and/or going but it is all private groups. So we had lunch and stopped at a produce market before coming back.
It rained again a couple of times today and continued cool so we had Happy Hour inside our rig this evening. Everyone was comfortable and the stories were flowing so we didn’t end up having dinner until after 8. Terry is snoozing on the couch so I will get this posted and get to bed.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Dec 5th & 6th - San Carlos
Dec 5th - Wed - San Carlos
The 4 ladies of our group went for a morning walk through a housing area right next door to the RV park. We chatted with a couple of people and were told that the dentist here in San Carlos where I made an appointment is good but relatively expensive. So we got a name & number of a dentist in nearby Guaymas. Since our phone does not work, Pat & I walked to a Best Western hotel and had the desk clerk call to cancel one appointment and make another for tomorrow.
The housing area next door is interesting as many places started with a travel trailer or 5th wheel and now they are built in permanently to the home. Others have garages for motor homes with casitas, outdoor kitchens and storage sheds. Only 10 houses are occupied year round - I guess the temperature is not super hot in summer but it is very humid being right on the ocean.
Pat, Rick, Craig, Terry & I played golf this afternoon. The price has gone up since last year. It is now $20 for as many holes as you can play after 3:00. We just played 9 holes as we would have a long walk back if we played a few more. And of course we had to get back to join the others for Happy Hour!
Dec 6th - Thurs - Guaymas
Pat & I were going to take the bus to my dentist appointment but Rick & Terry said they would come too so Rick drove. It is quite an experience as most of the streets do not have lines so lanes appear and disappear depending on cars parked on the side and the size of vehicles.
The dentist was another interesting experience. From the front, the building is small and has a barred front window with the dentist’s name painted on it. Inside was a large waiting room and everything looked clean. The dentist works without an assistant and uses older equipment such as “spit basins” and suction that hangs in the corner of your mouth. But it is hard to beat the price. He prepped my broken tooth for a crown that I will get on Saturday - and the total cost is 1500 pesos, slightly less than $150. And the dentist speaks fluent English!
We went to a large indoor market with individual stores that is frequented mostly by locals. We will not be buying any meat from the meat market. Sides of beef, pork & whatever else hang in the open behind a long, stainless counter which is covered with large hunks of meat. You order what you want and the butchers hack off the piece of meat.
Next we went to the mall which has a large grocery store where I imagine we will go for larger shopping trips.
Later in the afternoon, Pat & Rick and we went to Catch-22 beach on the far end of San Carlos to beachcomb and just enjoy the sun. We ended up at a bar at a large hotel and enjoyed a drink on the patio before heading back to the park.
The 4 ladies of our group went for a morning walk through a housing area right next door to the RV park. We chatted with a couple of people and were told that the dentist here in San Carlos where I made an appointment is good but relatively expensive. So we got a name & number of a dentist in nearby Guaymas. Since our phone does not work, Pat & I walked to a Best Western hotel and had the desk clerk call to cancel one appointment and make another for tomorrow.
The housing area next door is interesting as many places started with a travel trailer or 5th wheel and now they are built in permanently to the home. Others have garages for motor homes with casitas, outdoor kitchens and storage sheds. Only 10 houses are occupied year round - I guess the temperature is not super hot in summer but it is very humid being right on the ocean.
Pat, Rick, Craig, Terry & I played golf this afternoon. The price has gone up since last year. It is now $20 for as many holes as you can play after 3:00. We just played 9 holes as we would have a long walk back if we played a few more. And of course we had to get back to join the others for Happy Hour!
Dec 6th - Thurs - Guaymas
Pat & I were going to take the bus to my dentist appointment but Rick & Terry said they would come too so Rick drove. It is quite an experience as most of the streets do not have lines so lanes appear and disappear depending on cars parked on the side and the size of vehicles.
The dentist was another interesting experience. From the front, the building is small and has a barred front window with the dentist’s name painted on it. Inside was a large waiting room and everything looked clean. The dentist works without an assistant and uses older equipment such as “spit basins” and suction that hangs in the corner of your mouth. But it is hard to beat the price. He prepped my broken tooth for a crown that I will get on Saturday - and the total cost is 1500 pesos, slightly less than $150. And the dentist speaks fluent English!
We went to a large indoor market with individual stores that is frequented mostly by locals. We will not be buying any meat from the meat market. Sides of beef, pork & whatever else hang in the open behind a long, stainless counter which is covered with large hunks of meat. You order what you want and the butchers hack off the piece of meat.
Next we went to the mall which has a large grocery store where I imagine we will go for larger shopping trips.
Later in the afternoon, Pat & Rick and we went to Catch-22 beach on the far end of San Carlos to beachcomb and just enjoy the sun. We ended up at a bar at a large hotel and enjoyed a drink on the patio before heading back to the park.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Dec 1st to 4th - AZ to Mexico
Dec 1st - Sat - Amado
Did laundry this morning and met Margo of “Dave and Margo” who will be traveling to Mexico with us. Rick was walking through the park, started talking to them and found out they were going to San Carlos as well and asked if they wanted to join us. They are from Walla Walla, WA. So now our caravan will be 5 rigs.
Went to Green Valley to fuel up and get a couple of items that we thought we might not be able to get easily in Mexico. Had everyone over for “appy” (appetizer) dinner and drinks in our rig. It was pretty cold to sit outside so we made it cozy with 8 of us in our place. We all got to know each other a bit and gave Dave & Margo a chance to bail now if they thought we were all too crazy. Luckily, they fit right in and we are all looking forward to heading south.
Dec 2nd - Sun - to Nogales
We went to Nogales to meet up with the last couple in our group (Craig & Cathy) and to stay in the WalMart parking lot overnight before going into Mexico. We all had some last minute shopping to do - WalMart was jammed with the majority of the cars in the parking lot from Mexico.
Terry & I finished our shopping and set up lawn chairs in the parking lot to have a drink. Pretty soon everyone else joined us. 2 guys in a motor home who pulled into the parking lot for the night also brought over their chairs and joined the group. We lit a buddy burner and had a great time. Had to pull out the heavier jackets as it got pretty cool.
Dec 3rd - Mon - to San Carlos, Mexico
Our caravan left WalMart at 8 and immediately found out that we would have a heck of a time keeping the group together as long as there were traffic lights. Paid for the first toll and were on the highway. Narrow, 2 lane in each direction, with NO shoulders. Rough in some sections. The speed though towns is controlled by “topes” which are large speed bumps. Luckily there are warning signs before the topes.
At kilometer 21 you stop to get tourist cards and also permits for vehicles if you will be driving outside the free zone which is roughly the state of Sonora. Pat & Rick and Terry & I decided to get permits. Terry & I got a trainee with almost no English and it took us 1 ½ hours to get back on the road!
Bill started having truck problems again so we ended up splitting into 2 groups and then waiting for each other and joining back up again. There were 2 more toll booths. It cost us about $23 total for tolls. We arrived at San Carlos just before 4:00 pm. It is only about 270 miles but with the stops and waiting it took us a long time.
We got 4 spots in the RV park (Totonaka) that are all together with Craig & Cathy a little bit away with some other friends. We all got set up and then gathered at Pat & Rick’s space for our first Happy Hour(s) in Mexico. I had not made lunch for us on the road so I made dinner while we were setting up and we were rude and ate in front of everyone else. It was 80 degrees when we got here but cooled down a lot. We were very tired after a bad night’s sleep at the WalMart and the drive so we were in bed watching TV just after 8.
We were VERY disappointed and upset to find out that our cell phones do not work here. Terry had spoke with a Verizon rep in the Tucson Costco and he said we probably wouldn’t get reception as Verizon had lost the use of some towers. We had hoped that he did not know what he was talking about! So we will be depending mostly on the blog and emails for communication.
Dec 4th - Tues - San Carlos
I am sure I will be changing how I post to the blog as we get settled into a routine here but in the meantime I will continue with each day as I have been doing.
We sat out in the sunshine with our morning coffee today, had a late breakfast and then the whole group (4 couples) went in 2 vehicles to explore the town of San Carlos. Rick played tour director in one truck and Pat in the other. It is a very pretty area. The RV park is nicely kept with about 120 spots. It is right across the road from the beach but we didn’t get there yet.
Pat & I took our bicycles back into town after lunch to find a dentist and make an appointment for my broken tooth. A fisherman came through the park this morning with fresh shrimp/prawns so we bought some. $13.00 for 1 kilogram (about 2 pounds). Picked up a couple of small New York steaks at a small fresh produce stand and shared a great dinner with Pat & Rick after meeting with the group for a short Happy Hour. Tough life but someone has to do it!!
Did laundry this morning and met Margo of “Dave and Margo” who will be traveling to Mexico with us. Rick was walking through the park, started talking to them and found out they were going to San Carlos as well and asked if they wanted to join us. They are from Walla Walla, WA. So now our caravan will be 5 rigs.
Went to Green Valley to fuel up and get a couple of items that we thought we might not be able to get easily in Mexico. Had everyone over for “appy” (appetizer) dinner and drinks in our rig. It was pretty cold to sit outside so we made it cozy with 8 of us in our place. We all got to know each other a bit and gave Dave & Margo a chance to bail now if they thought we were all too crazy. Luckily, they fit right in and we are all looking forward to heading south.
Dec 2nd - Sun - to Nogales
We went to Nogales to meet up with the last couple in our group (Craig & Cathy) and to stay in the WalMart parking lot overnight before going into Mexico. We all had some last minute shopping to do - WalMart was jammed with the majority of the cars in the parking lot from Mexico.
Terry & I finished our shopping and set up lawn chairs in the parking lot to have a drink. Pretty soon everyone else joined us. 2 guys in a motor home who pulled into the parking lot for the night also brought over their chairs and joined the group. We lit a buddy burner and had a great time. Had to pull out the heavier jackets as it got pretty cool.
Dec 3rd - Mon - to San Carlos, Mexico
Our caravan left WalMart at 8 and immediately found out that we would have a heck of a time keeping the group together as long as there were traffic lights. Paid for the first toll and were on the highway. Narrow, 2 lane in each direction, with NO shoulders. Rough in some sections. The speed though towns is controlled by “topes” which are large speed bumps. Luckily there are warning signs before the topes.
At kilometer 21 you stop to get tourist cards and also permits for vehicles if you will be driving outside the free zone which is roughly the state of Sonora. Pat & Rick and Terry & I decided to get permits. Terry & I got a trainee with almost no English and it took us 1 ½ hours to get back on the road!
Bill started having truck problems again so we ended up splitting into 2 groups and then waiting for each other and joining back up again. There were 2 more toll booths. It cost us about $23 total for tolls. We arrived at San Carlos just before 4:00 pm. It is only about 270 miles but with the stops and waiting it took us a long time.
We got 4 spots in the RV park (Totonaka) that are all together with Craig & Cathy a little bit away with some other friends. We all got set up and then gathered at Pat & Rick’s space for our first Happy Hour(s) in Mexico. I had not made lunch for us on the road so I made dinner while we were setting up and we were rude and ate in front of everyone else. It was 80 degrees when we got here but cooled down a lot. We were very tired after a bad night’s sleep at the WalMart and the drive so we were in bed watching TV just after 8.
We were VERY disappointed and upset to find out that our cell phones do not work here. Terry had spoke with a Verizon rep in the Tucson Costco and he said we probably wouldn’t get reception as Verizon had lost the use of some towers. We had hoped that he did not know what he was talking about! So we will be depending mostly on the blog and emails for communication.
Dec 4th - Tues - San Carlos
I am sure I will be changing how I post to the blog as we get settled into a routine here but in the meantime I will continue with each day as I have been doing.
We sat out in the sunshine with our morning coffee today, had a late breakfast and then the whole group (4 couples) went in 2 vehicles to explore the town of San Carlos. Rick played tour director in one truck and Pat in the other. It is a very pretty area. The RV park is nicely kept with about 120 spots. It is right across the road from the beach but we didn’t get there yet.
Pat & I took our bicycles back into town after lunch to find a dentist and make an appointment for my broken tooth. A fisherman came through the park this morning with fresh shrimp/prawns so we bought some. $13.00 for 1 kilogram (about 2 pounds). Picked up a couple of small New York steaks at a small fresh produce stand and shared a great dinner with Pat & Rick after meeting with the group for a short Happy Hour. Tough life but someone has to do it!!
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Nov 28th to 30th - Amado
Nov 28th - Wed - Amado
Took Pat & Rick to Tubac for shopping today. Not much buying, just shopping. Checked out a different restaurant for lunch. As we were leaving, we drove past some new houses on a golf course/resort and there were some models open for viewing. So Pat went and talked to a salesman, got all the info and then we all viewed 4 houses. There were all furnished in heavy furniture. Some were painted in very bold or dark colors and all had busy, patterned tile in the kitchen and/or bath. All had casitas which are bedroom/bathroom “suites” with a separate entrance and are designed to be rented out by the resort when the owners are not there or not using it.
We each fixed our own dinner and then Pat & Rick came over for some TV viewing. They forgot the remote control for their TV so they cannot program it to pick up available cable channels. Rick’s mom has mailed the remote to Mexico so hopefully it will be there when we arrive or shortly after.
Nov 29th - Thurs - Amado
Can you believe we have stayed so long in one spot!!!
We went to Nogales today so we could get our auto insurance for Mexico and to buy some pesos. Of course, we also had to stop at Wal Mart (plug-in cooler to extend “fridge” space) and Big Lots.
Next we went to Patagonia Lake State Park as we were thinking of moving there tomorrow. It was nice but the weather forecast is for rain and we decided we might as well stay where we are until we leave for Mexico on the 3rd. We looked at a map and figured we could take a different route back to the RV park. Wanda confirmed this so off we went. Part of the road was shown as “other” which turned out to be gravel, narrow, windy and very washboardy for about 6 miles. It was through mountains and was very interesting - at least for the passengers. By the time we got home and boiled some ribs, Terry was barbequing in the dark again.
Nov 30th - Fri - Amado
Paid for 2 more nights and then set off to Nogales. One of the couples that will be traveling and staying with us in Mexico - Bill & Geri Smith from Sequim, WA - had finally contacted Rick and we found out that their truck was having problems and they were at Beaudry Motors waiting for repairs. We thought we would go give them some moral support and go to Costco & PetsMart for some Dolly food. By the time we got there, Bill & Geri were repaired and heading for Amado. We did our shopping, including the mandatory hot dog at Costco, and headed back. Rick was driving today and still figuring out his new GPS navigation system. He was messing with it at a stop light and we ended up taking a long, scenic route back. But again, it was fun.
Pat made dinner for us and Bill & Geri. It had rained a bit during the day and started raining hard this evening. Then the wind picked up and it was really nasty all night.
Took Pat & Rick to Tubac for shopping today. Not much buying, just shopping. Checked out a different restaurant for lunch. As we were leaving, we drove past some new houses on a golf course/resort and there were some models open for viewing. So Pat went and talked to a salesman, got all the info and then we all viewed 4 houses. There were all furnished in heavy furniture. Some were painted in very bold or dark colors and all had busy, patterned tile in the kitchen and/or bath. All had casitas which are bedroom/bathroom “suites” with a separate entrance and are designed to be rented out by the resort when the owners are not there or not using it.
We each fixed our own dinner and then Pat & Rick came over for some TV viewing. They forgot the remote control for their TV so they cannot program it to pick up available cable channels. Rick’s mom has mailed the remote to Mexico so hopefully it will be there when we arrive or shortly after.
Nov 29th - Thurs - Amado
Can you believe we have stayed so long in one spot!!!
We went to Nogales today so we could get our auto insurance for Mexico and to buy some pesos. Of course, we also had to stop at Wal Mart (plug-in cooler to extend “fridge” space) and Big Lots.
Next we went to Patagonia Lake State Park as we were thinking of moving there tomorrow. It was nice but the weather forecast is for rain and we decided we might as well stay where we are until we leave for Mexico on the 3rd. We looked at a map and figured we could take a different route back to the RV park. Wanda confirmed this so off we went. Part of the road was shown as “other” which turned out to be gravel, narrow, windy and very washboardy for about 6 miles. It was through mountains and was very interesting - at least for the passengers. By the time we got home and boiled some ribs, Terry was barbequing in the dark again.
Nov 30th - Fri - Amado
Paid for 2 more nights and then set off to Nogales. One of the couples that will be traveling and staying with us in Mexico - Bill & Geri Smith from Sequim, WA - had finally contacted Rick and we found out that their truck was having problems and they were at Beaudry Motors waiting for repairs. We thought we would go give them some moral support and go to Costco & PetsMart for some Dolly food. By the time we got there, Bill & Geri were repaired and heading for Amado. We did our shopping, including the mandatory hot dog at Costco, and headed back. Rick was driving today and still figuring out his new GPS navigation system. He was messing with it at a stop light and we ended up taking a long, scenic route back. But again, it was fun.
Pat made dinner for us and Bill & Geri. It had rained a bit during the day and started raining hard this evening. Then the wind picked up and it was really nasty all night.
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