From the Pier

One of the owners of one of the beach houses was painting this mural on her street side wall. Looks really neat.
Well I changed the picture in the logo– it will have to do for now until I can get a better picture of Jennie and Willie with a nice background.
Today it got so hot I had to drag out my shorts and sleeveless shirts (and shave my legs.) Right now we have the door and windows open and there is a great breeze off the water. Skies are blue with puffy white clouds and birds are singing – how much better could it get? I see there is snow forecast for Indiana later this week. Poor babies. And it is only 22 today.
I have mentioned all the vendors who come through the campground. But I haven’t mentioned the two ladies who walk through every early evening – they have hot meals. A couple of days ago it was tamales. Yesterday it was chili rellenos – guess who chased them down and bought some – and he devoured them for dinner. Says they were delicious. Wonder what they will bring tonight? Maybe no cooking for me again. (Phooey - they didn't come last night.)
Power went out for a while today while we were gone. Learned another lesson, when the power goes out so does the satellite connection. No problem just had to reboot, so to speak, the modem and we were back up and running.
Spent some time on the pier again today. It’s always interesting to watch the boats and fishermen. Today we saw a panga tied to the end of the pier. A couple of guys were in it and seemed to be waiting. Also in it were plastic grocery bags and two crates of eggs….
Soon more men came out the pier and got in the boat. We asked what was going on. The groceries and men were being ferried out to the shrimpers in the gulf. Groceries and new crew members.
Also watched the launching of one of the pangas from the beach. Quite a complicated project – took about an hour. First a really old beat up reddish brown SUV of unknown origin drove on to the beach and then drove down about half way into the water. That got our attention. Then the driver threw it into reverse and powered backwards up the sand.
Until he got stuck. Back and forth he rocked, a couple of guys pushing him, finally got unstuck. Repeated whole process except he got further up the sand before his engine quit and he got stuck. More pushing of the truck, it started.
Back to the water, another roaring back up – this time the engine kept running and he was only a little stuck. Then one of the fishermen from one of the little boats brought a rope out. Tied it around the engine on the boat and to the back bumper of the SUV. Lots engine revving, tires spinning and sand flying. Couple of guys got behind the truck and pushed. Truck jerked forward – Rope broke. Lots of talking and gesturing going on. Hands thrown up in air and shoulders shrugged. SUV drives off beach. Boat is still way up on the sand with everyone standing around looking at it.
We walked out on the pier a ways and by the time we came back there was a newer green pickup truck on the beach. Slowly he backed up the sand. A stronger rope was tied to truck and boat. He slowly moved forward till the rope was tight, it held, then he hit the gas and drove towards the water.
The boat digging up the sand as it followed behind him.
Just before the trucks wheels touched the water he turned left along the sand. The boat continued on towards the water.
The rope was released from truck and boat. Several fishermen pushed and pulled the boat until it was pointing towards the water. The final launching process began. Again the green truck was involved. He slowly backed up to the back of the boat gently putting his bumper on the boat then pushed it into the water.
Pretty interesting to watch.
Still love to watch the boats come in too – here is one just before he hits the sand – going full tilt.
Ah – simple things amuse simple minds. Life here is much less complicated.
Just had a scare my laptop refused to do anything – but seems to be working fine now.

Day Trip to Guaymas

Every time I post I think I need to get a new picture of Jennie for the blog. Need to find a nice backdrop though. Maybe I can Photoshop it. Hum….
After breakfast Monday we drove south to Guaymas. We took the shortest way there, 125 miles through the countryside bypassing Hermosillo. Glad we did it – the road is worse, if possible, then it was last year. In places it has been repaved but too much of it hasn’t – no way to miss all the potholes. So we will take the long way, 150 miles, through the city of Hermosillo when we head out in Jennie. Choices - traffic or terrible road.
More potholes than pavement. And what pavement there is is like a washboard.
We drove to Guaymas more for something to do than any thing else. The area around the port continues to be improved. Lots of the old falling apart buildings are now gone. The area has really been cleaned up and there is a nice marina there.
The streets were decorated for Christmas and as busy as ever.
Lots of traffic and people shopping. There are a couple of really old buildings on the main street sandwiched in with the zillions of retail stores. One of them is an old bank building.
The other I don’t know.
And one of the new stores – maybe a Fredericks of Guaymas – check out the footprints under the windows.
Drove to the older section to check out an old building that was being restored when we were there last year. Finally found it but not much has been done. No picture. Also saw this building – wonder how old it is?
We parked and walked around the main plaza checking out the beautiful white gazebo. It’s all metal work.
And I love the street lights – also white metal. The plaza has lots of green plants and the white gazebo, street lights and church with the beautiful blue sky above it. A perfect picture.
As we neared the church we noticed that the side yard was closed off by a very pretty canvas wrapped around the fence. We were thinking that it was getting set up for a wedding or something as there were rows of chairs set out.
As I was taking pictures a man came up to us and asked us if we knew what had happened. He then explained that in September when hurricane Jimena came through it rained so much the whole roof of the church collapsed. Cupola (dome) and all. This is a picture of the church I took last year.
This is this year. The Cupola should be just behind the light pole to the right.
So now the services are held outside in the side yard.
This is one of the fans in one of the windows. Looking between the blades you can see one interior wall of the church and the sky where the ceiling should be.
Looked it up on line later and there was a lot of damage in Sonora this past September from Jimena. There were reports of 50 inches of rain.
Then we went to the big Ley SuperMercado. Bill pick up some pastries.
And this is the tortilla factory in the store.
As we headed back towards Kino we noticed the big black clouds all around us. Lots of rain.
Check out the rain behind the power poles
Most of it was not right over us thank goodness.
Did make for a spectacular sunset though.
Also passed a very dead and smelly cow on the road. Wonder what that car looked like?

Churros and Sparrows

Can’t believe it is December already. I remember my Mom saying that the older you get the faster time moves. Another thing she was right about.
Seems like it was just a couple of weeks ago that we were here – not a year ago! Just remembered the Christmas decorations we bought last year are still in the Alfa –oh well.
This a.m. is bright and sunny out – looks like it will be a nice day.
Yesterday was busy – yes busy! We had breakfast at Jorge’s – Bill had his huevos rancheros again with his eggs plastico (very hard.) I’m more traditional just bacon and eggs. The eggs here have so much more color and flavor than the ones in the US. And they seem more filling. So peaceful sitting outside on the patio. The Gulf was calm, barely a ripple on the water. The only noise the gentle slap, slap of the water on the sand and the calls of the birds. Could get used to that.
After breakfast we took a little drive – to Guaymas – only 125 miles away! More about that trip next time.
It is so strange here – the one paved main street that runs the length of the new town (about 10 miles long.) is deserted. Only a few cars parked on the street – and they are mostly cars from this area belonging to the workers here. This is a picture of the street, just us and the shifting sand.
The girl in the gas station said all the tourists have gone home – that most of them come for summer – Hum hadn’t thought of that. It would be nicer here in summer than in the city of Hermosillo (very warm there) and/or Arizona. I’ve just thought about the people getting away from the snow. Not the heat.
We stopped at Las Palapas – the restaurant where The Driver got food poisoning last year. We just had coffee – would you believe they brought us cups of hot water and a small bottle of Nescafe! – Also had chips and a green salad. Seemed safe enough. We were the only people there and no one was on the beach. Not even the seagulls. The Driver had to entertain himself feeding the sparrows.


Well Bill is happy as a pig in slop – he finally found the “churro” man. He sets up every night on a different corner in Kino Viejo from about 5 p.m. to 6:30ish. Last night we couldn’t find him. Today Bill was watching the clock. 4:45 we jumped into the car and zoomed off to find him. And find him we did as you can see. Bill buying churros.
The guy turns the crank and the dough comes out the front of the cylinder and drops into the boiling grease. As soon as they brown he takes them out and rolls them in cinnamon and sugar. The churro machine
They are about six to 12 inches long.
Tonight there is a full moon, very pretty. No clouds in the sky.
Next post will be about our trip yesterday to Guaymas.
Might even post it tonight if I feel wordy.