Rough Ridin

Today started out nice and breezy. We took a walk along the beach in the morning and took pictures of crabs. Scott took Colin's motorcycle up to the marina to check on the mast and take some photos of the progress. We returned home to blog and eat lunch (we've been consuming a lot of sandwiches). Then in the late afternoon, we went with Colin to rent cuatros (ATV's). We got them for 2 hours (150 pesos per hour= about $15 USD). Now- I (Bri) had never been on one before, so in the beginning I was going a bit slow and yes there was some crying in my helmet. Scary! But after a while, I got the hang of it and it was a blast! We rode up north (not quite out of town) and to the beach and rode around in the sand. There were SO many dead puffer fish washed up on the shore, they were everywhere! Colin and Scott got crazy trying to find the biggest jumps they could and it was all I could do to not get stuck in the sand. It was really fun and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
We enjoyed some leftover chicken, potatoes, and frijoles for dinner and then had some cocktails.

Sooooooo, a week and a day in.  We've already done so much it feels like, but then again we really haven't done anything.  I think that's due to the heat.  One hour feels like three when your skin cant breathe because it's so humid.  The first day here we got a nice tour of the city, met Colin's fam and went to bed super early.  The next couple days were all about meeting the first-mate and captain of the Patricia Belle and all of their cohorts.  We were hoping to get some sailing in right away, but it was not that easy.  The 10 year old boat has seen a lot in its short life and as a result of the salty seas, suffers from a case of mast-rot.  We've pulled the fore mast out, removed all lines, sanded the entire thing, planed out most of the rot, killed whatever rot was left with antifreeze, put a mixture of very fine sawdust and bondo in all the cracks and crevasses that could not be planed, and glued a few planks of pine on top in order to get back the wood that was removed.   Those planks will then be shaved down to create a round mast once again.  This process must be done for three spots on the one mast.  Let's hope she holds together. 

In the meantime, we have managed to go shore fishing, surfing on a deserted beach, touring the marina in the dingie, eating and drinking many pacificos on the beach, house-hunting, ghetto-bangin, babysitting, negotiating with the federales after being pulled over for driving too fast on a dirt road, "mega" shopping and sushi snarfing.  Today we will be renting ATVs and getting them stuck in the sandy beaches.  Jet-skis are on the schedule too, but first things first. 


We make daily trips to the marina to see the process of the mast and to make sure they don't need our "city folk" expertise.   Bri is more than half way through her 700 page book, where as I have but 15 pages left in mine and cant seem to even pick it up.  Too much to do, too many mexicans to stare back at, too many undrunk beers.  Wish we could drink the tap water, but deep rock will suffice.  I have talked to the local hospital and dropped off a resume.  They of course have no interpreter posts at the hospital, but will call if they need the gringo touch.  We may have found an apartment right on the beach with a balcony that and big bay window straight towards the sunset.  A little expensive and would have to buy an AC unit, but totally worth it in my opinion.  Or Colin and Lucy have offered to let us stay in their home and split the rent.  If we did that we would be paying $140 a person per month with a $4 water bill and $10 electric bill per month divided by 4.  Just a little tempting, but no oceanic backyard.  Decisions, decisions.......