BacalarBlog

     Folks, we are leaving towards Puerto Vallarata this morning around 6 am.  Mariann’s flight is at 11 am so hope we make it.  More later !

Adios,

Frank, Rita & Hunter

    Folks, we finally made out on the high seas with Jim & Bliss in their 33′ sailboat.  Sunday around 11 am they came in from Blue Bay where they spent the night and anchored off the beach in front of our camp.  Jim came in with his dingy and that’s when the fun began.  Rita not liking the ocean very much was reluctant to come out with me and get aboard the dingy which was being held on the far side of the wave break by Jim.  I had already gone out and dropped off a load of stuff we were taking, some T-shirts, towels, Rita’s purse, our camera & cell phone all of course in plastic bags, just in case.  Well it was not just in case as what happened next was a comedy of errors.  I went back in and walked Rita out to the dingy all the while she’s having a frightful time as the waves were big and we had to walk out past the last breaker.  It was pretty rough and I finally managed to get her over the the boat and Jim pulled her aboard, so far so good.  I then pulled my self in and Jim got the motor in gear and off we went toward the sailboat.  The waves as I said were pretty big and we hit a few head on and soon the small dingy was full of water, and it sure didn’t look good.  One bigger wave and that was it, over we went.  Dingy capsized and we’re all in the sea.  Luggage and Crocs floating about.  Rita managed to get hold of the boat and I went swimming for some of the stuff but I soon realized it was better I stay with Rita as she was not having a good time of it by now.  Jim swam back to the sailboat to get a rope to tow us over.  Meanwhile I look over on shore and there is a massive effort of folks mounting a campaign to come save us !  Nice to have concerned friends !  Well, two Mexican fellows who had been using our canoe got the canoe and came for us.  BUT, just one problem, the night before I had seen that the drain plug was ripped off and I had spent the morning drying it out and gluing it back in place with GOOP.  I had removed the seats and hid the paddles so they would not use the canoe until the glue had dried.  Well, they found the paddles, under the van and were coming without the seats.  The canoe in the water and it sure looked like the glue was holding.  They eventually managed to get out to us and get Rita and what stiff I had managed to rescue and off they went back to shore.  Then the rest of the gang which had come out with Kayaks and swimming, then towed and pushed the dingy back to shore.  We got it upright and empty.  Whoa what a trip !  I then took the canoe and went to get Jim.  We came in and survived the situation.  Rita OK, all luggage accounted for, stuff in plastic bags survived the dunking except for the cell phone, outboard motor may be OK, washed off and it started.  All, OK, so now I ferry Jim back out to the sailboat with the canoe and come back and convince Rita to go with me on the canoe.  Success, we get there and have a lovely afternoon of sailing around the La Manzanilla bay.  We learned a lot that afternoon not only about sailing but about putting too many people in a too small a dingy !  A big thanks to Jim & Bliss for taking us on board and it was a great lunch we had on board ancored in Blue Bay.  Some photos below of the sailboat but other photos taken by Bliss will come later.  Our camera survived the dunking but the cell phone died and we had to go into Melaque to get a new Mex cell phone, now with new number, 315-109-4147. 

Jim & Bliss's 33' sailboat

       Folks, I have sure been lazy about writing.  Way too much to do around here sorry.  There really has not been much too exciting to write about either, just the hum drum life of sitting around on the beach.  a couple weeks ago there was some action over at the El Tamarindo resort across the bay.  Google El Tamarindo if your not familiar with this place.  The Presidents and their wives of France, Italy and Mexico were over there spending taxpayers dollars.  Helicopters, plane fly by’s. big yachts, the Mexican army with gun boats in the bay, quite the spectacle watching from our side of the bay !  On our way back from an afternoon in Tenacatita we were help up by an overturned propane truck which was blocking the entire two lanes of the Mex 200 just up the hill from the cut of to Boca de Iguana.  I’m talking a big 40 foot tanker here.  Finally a road through thee bush was made to get small cars through and around the tank.  Big trucks and buses were there for several hours before they got the tank empty and drug off the road .  YIKES.  Looked like the driver came into the corner too fast and put it sideways then flipped it !  Mexican driving at it’s best !  We finally met up with Jim Cochoran from up in San Carlos who had offered a sailboat ride earlier.  He and his wife Bliss, same name as the boat, and two dogs, Chica and Sofie showed up at our camp in their Westy.  The boat is now in Barra and we may get a ride this week some time.  Mike & I went out on a fishing tour yesterday with two other of his friends, Patrick and Herb.  Herb was the only lucky guy catching the one and only fish a small tuna, photo below.  I got sea sick and was hoping the chum would attract the fish, no such luck.  We came ashore, bought more fish and Marianne, Rita and some others made a fine diner for us all !  Today Rita & I have a dentist appointment at 1:20 then we’re off to Melaque to see the St. Patricks Day Festivities. 

 

View from our beach camp

View from our beach camp

Hunter and a crab

One of our friendly neighborhood crocs

Fishing boat capitan with Herb's tunaFish party at Herb's

Our Dentist's office

Folks, it’s been one week now since planting ourselves on the Playa La Manzanilla and it sure has been great to be back in this wondrous location. Of all the places we have been in Mexico we like it here the best. The beach is still so nice for walks, swimming, biking and full of activity. The grackles still fly north up the beach at sunset and down the beach southward in early morning. We see the occasional whale and porpoise.  Fish are always jumping although I have yet to figure out how to catch one using what I have at hand. Still a short pleasant walk to town, shopping, Internet at Jolandas, and music shows. Our friends from Quebec, Jean-Luc and Angele are still here with us and it’s great to have their company. They were only going to stay for a day or two but not it’s turning into a week and they are getting set up to stay longer. Just as this place did to us all last year it’s doing the same to them. Party at Ann & Sally’s, friends of M & M,  had some good times and crazy costumes that Marianne brought along !  We all took the bus into Melaque on Tuesday to meet up with Jean and Richard & Terry, Jean met us at the bus stop and we made plans to meet for lunch after we did some errands. Somehow we got the restaurant location mixed and we never did meet up. We hiked over the south end of Obregon to Jean’s apartment, he was not there then on to where Richard & Terry’s van was camped on the end of the beach. No one there either and after waiting awhile decided to head back. We met Richard & Terry not long after and all went back to their camp to spend the afternoon. Never did see Jean again ?? A couple days later Richard & Terry came and camped with us for a day so that I could do some work on the van then they headed slowly North, we may stop is BC to see them on our way home. Meanwhile life here on the beach is good, off to Yolandas now and then for Internet and a beer. Spoke with Hans, he’s back home, spoke with Ben, he and Sylive are back from Florida, Ernst, Peter & Jonathan are still in Myrtle Beach, freezing ! We went out for diner at Raymond’s new restaurant , the Mayahuel, it was good food and live musis to boot. Market day, Friday, we met up with Lilo and got a pic of him with one of his pieces of art.  Yesterday we had a beach party here, Mike brought his blender and it worked off the inverter. Solar powered Margaritas were enjoyed by all, Mike & Marianne, Walt, Sally, Ann, Frank & Rita and Hunter & Baracho !!!! Then we all went off for pizza in town and more Margaritas. All survived and most went to Yoga class this morning EXCEPT Mike and I. I’m here typing and testing hammoks today !

Adios,
Frank, Rita & Hunter

Enjoy the photos below, click on them to enlarge !

Tenacatita Lunch

Mike at Tenacatita

Marianne at Tenacatita

Walt & Ann at Tenacatita

Baracho with Crocs

La Manzanilla new paved street

Rita & Angele

Jean-Luc & Angele & Frank - Sinkys - Melaque

Raymond's new resturaunt

Lilo with painting

 

Crazy Party Girls

Crazy Party Guys and Katrina

Beach Party

Frank,

We did not make our departure from the US as planned. My son had delays and is still in the process of moving from Mexico City to Leon. My work schedule is such that this causes a one month postponement, so we won’t leave until 03/27. This will put us in the Manzanillo area on the second week of April. This is quite a delay and it is likely that everyone will be gone by the time we arrive. I hope not…….

Miguel