Feliz Navidad

Some words from Dave:

I figure it's about time I had something to say in this blog before everyone starts to suspect Dar is on this adventure without me.  

It's funny how we just sort of retired then hit the road, and until recently I haven't really felt like I am retired.  I have felt like I am on a holiday or vacation until yesterday.  Yes, it all started yesterday at 

5:30 a.m. when a coconut fell out of the palm tree over our trailer and made the sound of a shotgun going off three feet from my head.  I woke up instantly and knew what had made the sound and why the sky was getting all shades of orange, blue, red and pink.  

I am in Los Barriles, Mexico......Kite surfing capital of North America.  Yeah - That's right.  We stopped to camp (ha ha ha - yes, we're camping) here because it is beautiful, and ended up in a community of kite surfers from all over the world.  And the funny thing is they have accepted us and we have made a large number of new friends in a real short time. 

We are also surrounded by musicians, which is lots of fun (especially on open mic night Wednesday nights at the Roadrunner.)

Just to give you an idea of the talent within our RV park, there are 3 guitarists, 1 banjo player, 1 sax player, 1 fiddle player and me on cajon, or harmonica if I get drunk enough.

You know you are having a good time when there is so much to do, you have a hard time deciding.

I recently met Helmut, an "older" wind surfer and I mentioned that I used to wind surf.  He said "no such thing as used to.  I have an old board-let's get you set up".

OK, I now admit to feeling retired because I have a wind surfer and am looking for sails, masts, etc. and it just feels totally different from getting up, going to work, and shovelling snow.  Sorry Canadians.

OK, since I started writing this I have received a second surfboard and two sails so now I just need a few other items and I'll be out there in the sunny wind.

Tonight I am giving a surf instructor some drum lessons which I may trade for some Salsa lessons.

Hell - I may never come back!!

OK, back to Dar's update.

This is our campsite from the back end.  We now have neighbours behind us.  The park is really filling up.

Darren's siesta.

We had a great time with Shelley & Darren.  The week just flew by.  After we dropped them off at the airport we did some shopping in Cabo.  We saw this "little" yacht.

We also saw some interesting vehicles.

There are lots of pinata's for sale.  They are very popular at Christmas.

Another pretty sunrise.

We have been so busy we have hardly taken any pictures.

Here's another one of our beautiful beach. The wind has returned and the kite surfers are out.

A different night sky over the campground.

Our crockpot nuts 'n bolts turned out great!

Sunset.

Since Dave's blog posting he has managed to put together everything he needs for windsurfing.

Tonight we are having a jam session at our place.  They are practicing because tomorrow night, Christmas Eve, they (the Pink Flamencos) are performing at a beach bonfire.  It's a long story but Dave was auditioned this morning by an amazing flamenco guitar player who performs in the Baja and is very well known.  After he heard Dave at our place, and our neighbour who plays guitar, he had them over to his place this morning to play.  They came up with the name this morning, they are practicing tonight and playing tomorrow.  

This is Dave's "girlie" drink he had last night.  The bartender thought it was quite funny when he put the umbrella in it.

Well my shopping is done.  Dave has his windsurf stuff and I have chocolate tequila.  Merry Christmas to me!!

To all of our blog followers Merry Christmas and we wish you a wonderful 2015!

Dave & Dar

Getting to know Los Barriles

A great sunrise.

Early morning dog party.

We went to an art show on Sunday.  It had a huge assortment of paintings, pottery, blankets, hammocks and many other hand made crafts.  We saw a lot of nice things but didn't buy anything.  We really have to consider whether we have room in our trailer for anything. 

On our way back from the art show we saw a bull crossing the road.

According to the sign on the right, I guess he was going to the restaurant.

We also saw goats.

A nice place to hang out.

Cleo's friend Zena.

Time for a siesta.

My Christmas decorations.

Some of the roosters that wake us every day.

There is a donkey walking on the road but you'll have to zoom in to see it.

Another early morning.

Selfie.

Moon in the morning.

Our neighbour caught a big fish!  A dorado, I think.

Shelley & Darren have arrived!

Right about the time this picture was being taken we were all stung by jellyfish!  Ouch!

We are discovering more about Los Barriles all the time.  Wednesday night is open mic night at a nearby bar.  It was great!

Siesta time.

Our neighbour Reece and his mom.

Pool time.

While we were at the pool we were watching the whales play.  They were slapping the water with their tails.  In the middle of the water, way in the distance, you can see the white splash.  Unfortunately that's all I could get a picture of.

Here comes the sunset.

Cleo likes to play at the edge of the pool.  I'm sure one day she'll fall in.

I just can't get enough of that sky.

After dinner we walked over to a bar with live music.  We had a lot of fun.  Too much to tell on here but we'll have some great campfire stories for Great Woods.  They mostly involve Shelley meeting some Russian fisherman and Pink's mom!!  (We think). We had consumed a few margarita's by then but we're pretty sure she was either Pink's mom or mother-in-law.  She had pictures!

The next morning we walked over to the community market where I bought some smoked fish, veggies and a couple of chicken tamales which Shelley and I ate for breakfast.  They were delicious!  I will be buying more next Saturday.

Of course I was the only one who reacted to the jelly fish sting.  This is the inside of one arm.  I had it worse on my other arm.

Here we go again.

Good thing we brought ear plugs.  There was blaring loud Mexican music going all night long until 6:40 a.m.  We heard that it might have been a celebration for a girl turning 15.  Hopefully, there won't be too many more Mexican girls turning 15 while we are here.

A sunrise with clouds.  Unusual.

Because it was slightly cooler this morning we decided it would be a good day to find the hot pools, natural thermal hot springs.

Flowers at the gas station.

The road to Santiago.

A really big tree trunk.

We are driving through an arroyo.

Interesting yard ornament.  

We found the hot pools!  Kind of disappointing but it was an adventure.  There are others we might try to find another day. At least Shelley went in.

It was an interesting drive.

Back in the arroyo.

We stopped at Palomar in Santiago.  Great choice!  Many famous people have visited there.  Eisenhower, Barbra Streisand, John Wayne, Bing Crosby.  There was an airstrip right across the road that the celebrities would fly in on.

Only a couple of kite surfers today.  The wind is just starting to pick up.

Another great day in paradise.  

We have heard that there is a bar close by that has music and bonfires on the beach on Thursday's.  Our calendar is getting full.  Retirement can be exhausting.  :o)