Sunrise over Sea of Cortez is beautiful

Good Saturday morning all. Yesterday Beverlee and I took a great tour north or Los Barriles to view the devastation - which was hard to see as the debris has almost all been swept up and removed to the land fills and rebuilding is underway. But we had great visits with Camilla and Kelly at Jennifer's house, then with Betsy which gave her a break from clearing out all their dead palms - Kevin was trying to salvage a few; and finally we took the paved 'road to nowhere' [though perhaps it does go to Cardinal now] and found Juan and Asun who weathered the hurricane in their Airstream until it moved a meter and a window blew out when they retreated to their little car - which I could see lost a window also. How frightening that must have been. Their new house is coming along and has a remarkable view from the mountain top.

Shortly after returning Karen came by to invite me for a swim and because a thunder/lightning storm was brewing we made it a short one. The water is barely refreshing, more like a lukewarm bath, but it felt great and was fun to float on the waves and catch up with a friend.

Thursday evening Beverlee and I were invited to Pam and Blakes for barbequed pizza - mmm delicious.

Rick arrives - never a dull moment

Due to internet/phone trouble in Cabo yesterday I wasn't able to link into the foot doc. However, I did get Rick and his buddy Pat on time from the airport. I saw Farris driving away just as I was entering-he had dropped off a friend. Too bad phones weren't working or we could have combined trips.

Rick now has a new power post ready to receive electric when the CFE gets there to connect it. For now he's without power-stumbling around in the dark with just a candle and wee flashlight. The concrete post behind it snapped in half.

Coley's yard is in good shape and his palapa mess was cleaned up by Hilario the gardener. Inside was another matter - a strong mold/mildew smell and the plywood holding insulation on the large garage doors had blown in at the bottom. Luckily two framed original watercolors were still intact. He and Pat will have their work cut out for them today hauling everything outside to dry/air out, but perhaps we won't get as much sun as usual.

Martes

What a glorious striped sunrise this morning - but how many sunrise photos does one want? With fans going it is a perfect morning but for the insistent bo-bos that get behind my glasses for a swim in my eyes. A big palm in the front left corner took a bad hit and is down to the nub so I hope it comes back. The beautiful bougainvilla that had made its way to the upper patio is now cut off at the base and starting all over with new sprouts.

Started a small paint project yesterday when it was too hot to go outdoors. The purple around the windows never popped like I wanted it to-so I got a litre of semi-gloss a touch darker and sponged it on one window to see the effect - and I like it. The entire room needs painting - but poco a poco is the Mexican way.
More palapa damage in the neighbourhood.

Monday morning sunrise

Sitting on the upper patio listening to the fishermen singing and talking at the Spa Hotel dock before sunrise. Now it is light with the sun just up behind a cloud bank on the horizon and I can see the dock is full of tourists waiting for their boats, many have already gone out. Looks like it will be a good day at sea.

Wish I could have taken a photo of the cat on the post at the patio edge like a tightrope walker, but knew she wouldn't pose and didn't want to frighten her and have her fall two stories. She's used to going out on Karen's palapa roof from any window.

Dave's going fishing

This one came up fast. Finally, a recent photo of my firstborn-with clothes on!

David across the street has a crew getting his boat ready to go out fishing, but they're burning daylight at 7:10.

The water tank is now back on the roof, connected, full and working. This morning at 5 I turned the dripline on so the plants could have a nice cool drink-amazing how dry it gets so fast-well, it is a desert! Its now later [9:10 am] and I have Janet's curtains in the laundry along with a few of my things. I did some work in the garden and am all over sweaty and ready for a shower.

I made reservations to fly to Oaxaca to visit Sally in early October, or did I already mention that...I haven't been to the mainland so am looking forward to seeing new territory and we will take some art classes together.

Cabo San Lucas

Travelling by open Jeep in extreme heat is certainly a challenge. I left home Thursday at 7 a.m. and needed the headlights as the sun was barely up. It was actually cool enough to roll my window up half way to block some wind, but before long down went the window and off went the lights and I was glad to get to the a/c of Costco about 8:30 . Coming out of Costco an hour later it was already toasty hot. Roxanne had the air conditioning on for me and was it ever a nice treat. We could sure use some a/c in a bedroom or two in Spa for these warm months.

It was a busy day following her to the radio station for 11 to tape her East Cape report for Cabo Mil which you can listen to on the computer. The Happy Hour Sundays, from 6-7pm www.cabomil.com.mx and click the 'escucha' button top right corner. She asked me if I would be interested in doing it every week for the winter, but I couldn't make a commitment. I think that would be a kick.

We had lunch at Senor Greenberg's. Hadn't had a Reuben sandwich in years and it was delicious. Imagine eating Jewish food in Mexico.



At 1 she had rehearsal for the play Nunsense which was a hoot, with Isabel [red dress], the director from Steel Magnolias [I played Clairee and Roxanne, in white above played Oiser]. I felt right at home and joined in on the songs-a chant that moved right into up tempo rock. Luckily the Cabo Tomato ladies gathering was at the same lovely home so we didn't have to run anywhere, but stayed til it ended at 5pm. Lots of eating and drinking with a few announcements is what that was about. After an almost refreshing dip in Roxy's pool we had supper and it was early to bed for this visitor.

Friday morning I relaxed while Roxy went to Pilates then we visited a friend who happens to be a Podiatrist, which I needed - to check my wee foot problem. The rest of the day Roxy and I shopped for clothes - first downtown in the extreme heat. Trying on clothes when sticky and wet is a chore. Then we hit the a/c in the large mall. I needed some light cool cotton dresses to wear outside the house in the heat. My hot weather clothes aren't very presentable to the public.

I waited until almost 5pm to head out for the hot drive home. The Tomato ladies had loaded me up with boxes and bags of stuff for the Hurricane John victims in LosBarriles area, added to my Costco purchases-the Jeep was stuffed full. Traffic was heavier than normal and it was cow crossing time so it was almost 7 when I arrived home to a sauna in the closed up house. Opened up all the windows to get some air moving which fortunately it was - moving that is. Watched Brokeback Mountain then crashed into bed.

Ebb and Flow

Noon Tuesday - another scorcher but enough breeze has come up to blow away the bugs. I was so happy to see Camilla arrive for a visit this morning, we had lots to catch up on. We had iced sun tea and Bimbo cinnamon buns. It's going to be very quiet on this street for awhile. Eddie, Victor and Oregon Bob head north today and the next incoming wave starts next Tuesday with Alaska Rick, Beverlee and Karen. Our neighbourhood still has work to do. Frito's palapa car port is being worked on today.

Drove into Los Barriles to get a few things - new mops as the three here are looking very haggard, dirty and stringless after doing extra duty. There are still a few remains of John - bent metal power poles, light posts with broken globes, holes in roofs, or roofs missing entirely; however, much of the clean up has been done, windows and doors replaced, plants and trees trimmed or removed and to a newcomer's eye it appears quite normal - just not very lush.


Stopped in to the Plaza del Pueblo to say Hi to Rick and Julie Marks. They only lost a couple of windows in their new house, but both of their cars took a hit with smashed windows-possibly more damage. They asked when Dylan was coming to school, but I couldn't give them an answer. All Dylan's friends have been asking - Manuelito, Christian, Salvador and Hector and an older kid whose name I don't recall.

On my way home I checked at our local plant nursery El Genie de su Jardin to see how much devastation was heaped on her and to my surprise things looked fairly good. She has been working hard for the past two weeks to clean up all the mud and debris and though there are no flowers the foliage looks good considering all its been through. I had $200 pesos burning a hole in my pocket so I got 2 lantanas, a small colourful croton and an hibiscus -colour unknown.


The grader is in Spa!! The main road from the highway down past Manuel's is smooth now - he's going to have to dig all the topes out again. Hopefully he will deal with the great gorge at Gene's corner as its getting worse and is trecherous.




Paco, Marisol's husband came by to refit our water tenaco. It needs 3 new parts to reconnect it including a float, but the tank itself is undamaged. He brought their son Eric [3] who is now watching a cartoon video while the other 3 kids are in school.

Reflections

Our yard is fairly much cleaned up but looks so sparse with many branches and some trees gone compared to the lush jungle prior to John. The lime tree is a third its former size. I harvested several grocery bags of limes and the ground was littered with them.

It seems to be a controversial subject, but we must have several small tornados hit with extremely high winds during Hurricane John. Stories abound that sound so unlike hurricane damage, but more like tornado - things levitating - being picked up, moved and set down without damage. Our water tank is one example. Stranger yet, at Debbie and Victor's there was a vase on the top shelf of their entertainment system - after the doors were blown off the vase ended up inside a lower shelf intact. Artist Dave said a plate landed in his yard that wasn't his and it wasn't broken.

Monday is trash day

Please bear with me as I try to improve this site. Thanks to those who have emailed me about it. Try the Comment section now to see if you can post under Anonymous without logging in. Thanks for your patience while under 'construction'.

Felix the cat kept me awake much of the night, but I managed to get up early to put the trash out to the street. I heard a strange screeching noise just before I got up and hoped he hadn't jumped out the second storey window but didn't hear a thud; went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and there he was on the patio roof. He easily jumped into the bathroom. He made quite a leap over a long possible fall. He's used to going out any window onto the palapa roof at Karen's.

Again there is no breeze and the sun, humidity and bo-bos are intense. So I'm sitting at the kitchen island with two fans directed at me, the last or second last load of Maus' in the machine knowing there are many things I could be doing - poco a poco.

Pam is coming for dinner tonight - chicken mole - it was my hurricane protien but it didn't happen. Last night Victor Maus took Eddie and I out to Campestre for dinner and I had the most wonderful paella-took a photo which I will post later. Went to Tio Pablo's for flan but ended up having drinks instead [club soda for me] and talking with Paul til after his employees all left - a late night for Baja - 10:30pm.

Sunday, 17th - noon

Devastation and disaster gets tiresome so here are a few photos that make me smile.

I lit candles and said a prayer when I thought for sure that Hurricane Lane was coming our way.










Dylan's eleventh birthday getting ready to fly to Canada - April 12, 2006.


























At noon on Sunday:
Blue skies, sunny, hot, muggy, sticky, a slight breeze is just stirring the palms so the fans are all still working overtime - and still this is paradise.

The washing machine has been busy again this morning and the sun is doing a great job of freshening the stuff on the line - still from Maus' place. Even though there wasn't much mildew because I think perhaps the salt water must resist it, everything in the place, including the linen closet was damp and funky smelling.

Otherwise this is going to be a lazy day with my feet up drinking lots of water. I'm so thankful that I'm not in Lake Tahoe raking pine needles or in Kerrobert where the unraked leaves are now covered with wet snow. Thanks Bob for letting me know that you and Dylan and Marj are all fine without me for a while longer.

I'm thinking that perhaps on my way home I might take a little detour over to Oaxaca to visit my friend Sally Lask/Smith who built our house and has since handed the business over to her daughter. Sara, as her Mexican frinds call her spends the hot summer months there working on her art. There may not be a better time and I'm geared up for adventures.

Sunday, September 17, 2006 4:45 a.m.

When we first visited Mexico I wondered why the roads were in such a deplorable condition and so many homes were unfinished, without paint, plaster or even doors and windows. I just thought it was a very poor country and certainly that was part of it. However, the dance with nature means threes steps forward and two steps back. When there is a reprieve of a few years between hurricanes the growth is amazing, but if an area is hit by one storm after another the devastation is just too much for people to handle. It says a lot for the Mexican attitude - why worry about tomorrow when today is all you know for sure.

Enough of my penny philosophy. I'm still working on this blog, trying to improve the look and make it easier to navigate and read. I think you can now post a comment without logging in.

Its sad to admit but after all the preparations and excitement it feels like a bit of a let down that we didn't even get a drop of rain from Lane and it looks like Miriam will give us a miss too. I know I ought to be celebrating, but my muscles are too tired for dancing.

Photos after 'John'

This is Costa Brava but the fans are almost funny if it wasn't so sad. The fans at Jennifer and Ed's on their patio looked the same-metal blades bent right down.














Last Sunday we braved the arroyo north to visit Camilla Ford. They were having a party - Heidi will remember her fourth birthday at Jennifer's. On the left is Grace Kennedy. Camilla, John and Heidi were staying at Jennifer and Ed's place during the hurricane and there was lots of damage and she said it was very scary.









Gary, Janet and David lost some bamboo shade and their ficus laid down - similar to ours after Hurricane Marty three years ago.



















John and Beverlee will have a better view too since all their beautiful large trees took a hike. Its a good thing that we have fast growing trees here. In five years, if we don't take another hit we'll be back to normal.

Saturday, Sept. 16 4:00 p.m.

Now that Hurricane John took care of Dan and Denise Holmgren's palapa across the street our view is much improved. Looks like Lane is causing trouble with lots of rain on the mainland-not a drop here so far.

A hot lazy afternoon watching peliculas/movies with Marisol and the kids. It is clouding up again and there is a bit of a breeze. There were a few huge waves this afternoon-great for boogie boarding Dylan! Now they are smaller and breaking on shore.

Its so weird - after spending the past few hours trying to communicate with my Mexican friends I find myself thinking in Spanish again. Its great practice. Now would be the time to get out my Spanish books and study - but I don't think that will happen. We watched Take the Lead with Spanish subtitles at their request and I learned a few new words - but they are already gone from my memory.

Noon - breathing easier but...

About 8 a.m. on my way to Karen's to get a cup of cat food for Felix I met Chuck who said we might have been given a reprieve [not his words, but my translation]. The weather site I'd been checking didn't show that, so I looked up some others and sure enough they show the path of Lane moving east.

It has been so still all morning, not a breath of air, insects, heat and humidity are intense. But I love this place and the comraderie among our neighbours is heartwarming. Oregon Bob came over and had coffee and I made us toast and we sat on the front step where we hoped for better air, but had to bring a small fan outdoors.

Eddie Walker stopped by to ask if I would check at Janet and David Carlow's for mildew on curtains - I took them down so they don't get wet again, but will deal with washing them after I move this humoungous room full of Maus' laundry. They don't look stained, but it won't hurt to wash them. I liberated a standing oscillating fan from a bedroom as we only have one ceiling fan in our great room and small table fans don't move much air. I thought I'd struck gold - so sure hope they don't mind. What are they going to do-smack me from Lake Tahoe?

Rebecca also stopped for a visit on her way into town asking if anyone wanted anything. I needed change which she supplied on the spot and some club soda to mix with juice. Saved me a trip to the store.

This afternoon Marisol and the kids are coming over and Javier 14] will cut more palm branches on our damaged trees, then we will watch Take the Lead with Antonio Banderas. Yaritsa [12] showed me a photo album of her cousin's quinceanero. Yaritz looked like a bridesmade. The dresses were fancier than many weddings-such pomp and ceremony, very beautiful.

6:45 a.m. Cat visits

It is just getting light out and I can see a bit of pink sky to the northeast, otherwise we're covered in cloud. There is no wind-thankfully we have fans.

Around 5 this morning the little black and white cat jumped on my bed and woke me prematurely. He's a cute but needy little thing, the thumb sucker.

The limes are just a few of many bags harvested from the broken limbs. The Trident Splash is my constant reminder of my son Brendan in Toronto, Mr. Speedo.

The party's over

Everyone headed home at 10p.m. and hopefully are getting more sleep than I am. Its midnight and I couldn't sleep so went down to get the laptop so I could write whenever I want.

We aren't expecting this storm until tomorrow but I think we are all ready. The breeze is lovely and keeps away mosquitos but the lights attact the moths.

A black cat with white paws and tummy has been visiting. I think its one of Karen's brood, but it sure wants attention. And it sucks its thumb or do cat's have thumbs. David across the street seems awfully fond of it and I think would give it a good home in Casa Holmgren.

8:30 p.m. dinner was a hit!

The chiles rellenos con arroz was a smash hit with everyone. How easy it is to host a party when you hire out the housecleaning and cooking. Marisol arrived with the food a bit early and I forgot to tell Pam and Oregon Bob that we were meeting around 8 so they arrived earlier and Pam helped fold laundry and cut jicama. Bob Bordner brought the Mexican cot down from the roof. He said 'didn't I just carry this thing up here!"

Victor and Eddie arrived before 8 and dug right in-they were tired and hungry. Rebecca and Dave had to be called away from their storm preparations across the street and almost missed out on the food. Actually there was plenty and I have a small plate left over for lunch tomorrow.Thumb sucking kitty in David's lap.

There is only a faint breeze, but its humid - we are all so hot and sweaty. All I have left to do it to put the Jeep in the garage and shut the windows and try to keep out the rain or ignore it until the storm passes.

As usual after dinner around our large island, the guys retired to the back patio [I suggested the upper bar but there are not stools there] and the gals are still in the kitchen - not cleaning up - plastic plates and cutlery are all in the basura/garbage.

This is the fun part of the 'calm before the storm'.

4:30 p.m. Breeze is stronger and clouds moving in...

Israel and Holly found our tenaco lid [or one like it] and I duct taped it on-but expect that's a joke-maybe it will help me identify it when it goes flying!

Am going to cut the whale bone down as the knots are too tight-rope is easier to replace than the palapa. I got the Mexican cot half way down the stairs from the roof and it got stuck on the landing and I ran out of steam and my back was about to pop-so am hoping to solicit help from a neighbour soon.

Carlos and Celia came to check the garden. I had to stop them from watering, mind you I started to do just that earlier in the morning. Hardly makes sense with a big storm brewing. Carlos can barely climb stairs with two bad knees so I asked Celia to help me.

Marisol is busy preparing our cena - chiles rellenos at her house so she doesn't mess up my kitchen which she had cleaned yesterday. I'm doing a job of that myself cooking chicken to have - just in case.

Friday mid-day, preparing for new storm

A breeze has just come up-though its still very hot. It was so calm and hot this morning, but I could see the wind line and was actually happy. In the winter we dread the constant wind, but today it is a blessing.

At ten this morning Marisol-33, Emoly-5 and Eric-3 came by to remind me it was time to go shopping - for cena/supper and for supplies in case of a storm. [This must be what it is like to have a daughter and grandkids!] I took 600 pesos and spent every penny getting frozen treats, chips, chicken, cookies, sodas, canned frijoles/refried beans, canned salsa, carrots, jicama and more. I'm starting to think in Spanish because I'm talking with Marisol so much and she doesn't speak English. Mind you my thinking is very simple, a few words with fewer verbs all in present tense. Above is Emoly's first day in the Jardin del Ninos, where Dylan started school age 3.

This morning I filled as many water containers as I could find and am freezing bottles for the coolers and chilling them in the fridge, which seems to be less cold than it needs to be - perhaps its working too hard.
This is the Buenas Arroyo north of town after it has gone down enough to cross.

I'm still doing laundry for Debbie and Victor Maus [all their towels and bedding] but now it will dry so much faster with the breeze. I guess if and when the storm arrives it will be more than a breeze. It is possible that the worst will miss us and turn inland, but 'quien sabe'/who knows. Did a load of my own laundry so I don't run out of skivvies - though going comando certainly is cooler!

Must go to my neighbour friend' Karen's and put her bed down on blocks. Its leaning against the wall so that I could sweep up the broken glass from 2 windows. Will add it to my list of things to do when its a bit cooler this afternoon. I am going to head upstairs and move as much furniture off the low part of the floor as I can-perhaps into the bathroom which is raised [and has a drain of course]. Wish I could drill a hole in the cement wall for a drain just in case, as I don't relish the idea of bailing for 3-4 hours again!!

Bob has hung a large whale bone from our palapa bar on the garage roof and 'John' left it hanging by one end. It is a potential hazard now as it could smash the palapa in a strong wind, but I will need help getting it down-the knots are secure. The yard is clear of potential projectiles, wheel barrow is turned over so it doesn't collect rain. but needs to be put in a safer spot?? Am taking a wee break to rest my weary back so I'm not totally out of commision when the *#@ the fan.

Early this afternoon I cooked a whole chicken, [yellow like a real farm chicken] and some chicken breasts since my friend Roxanne in Cabo suggested to be sure to have some protien available for when the power goes out. I'm at the point that I don't know which way to turn nor what I've already written. Guess that means I'd best take a real break and get horizontal for a short siesta - after I fold more laundry, or perhaps before-yes, that sounds better.

Burning daylight

Here are a few more photos before I head downstairs to fill water bottles. We are so lucky to have wonderful hot water from the street in Spa! I'm planning a small dinner tonight for neighbours who have helped and fed me - my new friend Marisol is going to prepare Chiles Rellenos [stuffed poblano chiles] and chicharroz [sausage and rice].

Friday, Sept. 14 [I think]

My back is aching but needs to hold out for the big preparations for another approaching storm-'Lane'. Its hard to believe I've been here a week already, yet in some ways it seems more like a month with all that I've done. It has been a very interesting and busy week and I will fill in the details when I figure out just what I'm doing on this blog business. Its hard to believe I was once on the leading edge of computer use and now am way back in the dust. Lots of folks didn't fare as well as we did as you can see from the photos. The sign on the one above reads "Tres Palapas"!

Will try a photo or two since I'm too weary to think straight after washing, hanging and folding six loads of towels and bed linens for my friends who had so many windows blow out of their beach front home. Another reason to be thankful we can't afford beachfront property! A neighbour lost their large metal gate, but were lucky that Bob secured ours with 2x4s and it held.

Hurricane John Aftermath

Friday, Sept. 1 while the Baja was being hammered by Hurricane John we were innocently heading to Turtle Lake for the Labour Day long weekend and it wasn't until we arrived home on Monday that we discovered how badly our area was hit. With Bob busy working and Dylan happily ensconced in school in Kerrobert it looked like I was going to get an early trip south.

Our side yard was impassable and this photo was taken in the daylight!

Thursday, Sept. 7 arrived San Jose del Cabo after a whirlwind [pun intended] of planning, packing - a carry on [no toothpaste or bug spray] plus laptop and two days travelling fromKerrobert - thanks Jack for getting me to the bus in Kindersley, thanks Dianna for fetching me after much confusion and providing a comfy bed in Airdrie and thanks Bill for getting up earlier than early to get me to the airport. Thanks to an eager to please Alaska Air clerk in Calgary I missed my flight in Seattle chasing around to the wrong terminal and gate. Got on the next flight and made the connection in LA. San Jose del Cabo area looked more like a jungle than a desert. Had three possible rides from the LosCabos airport up to Los Barriles - it never rains but it pours. Genie Evers, a neighbour I hadn't met who had seen me acting with Baja Shakespeare offered - an unexpected surprise. From Las Cuevas north the countryside got less lush looking and shrubs were sheared and trees had few leaves and were blown over. Genie had cold drinking water for her two charges and took us to Chapito's Supermercado in Los Barriles before delivering us home.

Just gaining entrance to our casa was a challenge. Had no gate key so climbed over the gate, had stashed a key under some block by the clothes line. The side and back yard were filled with fallen trees and broken branches but I managed to squeeze between the wall and debris to liberate the key, which turned out to be a back door and garage key. Bob foiled the use of the backdoor key with extra security latches, but once in the garage, which is packed like a sardine can, bless Bob's heart, I climbed up on the workbench, across the Ford pickup to the key rack and found a front door key. It looked good - no windows broken, we had electricity and running water and the floor was dry [downstairs] a few puddles and patches of dirt and leaves.

Upstairs was another matter - we had a wading pool - 3 inches of water remained six days after the hurricane. Changed my clothes and bailed with dustpan into mop pail into toilet.
Around midnight I showered then dragged a single mattress up to the roof and slept under the full moon and beautiful stars with a nice breeze drying the sweat.




The Buenas Aires arroyo north of Los Barriles was running hard a week after the storm.