Dia de Muertos

This is a festive -- and pensive -- few days in Mexico.  The Mexicans love a party and so there are celebrations for Day of the Dead.  And on October 31, many will spend the night in the cemetery remembering deceased love ones.  The night is not long and lonely -- the cemeteries will be crowded with families and all manner of food and drink (favored by the departed but enjoyed by the families).  The flower shops and street vendors are doing a brisk business.

We spent the evening walking the streets and joining the festivities.

Day of the Dead

Gordon and Alan chat up the locals

An Altar for Steve Jobs

Detail from Steve Jobs' Altar

All Altars feature at least 3 crosses:  white -- gray -- black/brown

Skull for votive candle

Day of the Dead bread with distinctive spider like top

Having fun 

An Altar

An Altar

A Cooling Trend

We are celebrating a cooling trend here in Guaymas.  Today's high was only 85; at least a 10 degree drop from the previous week lows.  Actually it was the first "norther" of the season -- a real sign that the weather is changing and not a minute too soon.

We continue to make good progress on our projects.  It is not easy to describe what we do everyday -- but we start early and work all day and make lists for tomorrow.

The drum and bugle core is practicing the same old tune and whoever said that practice makes perfect HAS NOT listened to this group.  Yikes they are bad.

I will try and post pictures by the weekend!

Hello From Guaymas!

We arrived safely in Guaymas Mexico about 3pm today.   Going through customs we had 2 green lights so were spared any additional paper work and duties.  YIPEE for that.

Alan is back to his old driving tricks:  he missed the exit for immigration station, so let's just drive across the shoulder and back up via the highway on ramp.  Oh well.  No harm!

Magic appears to be in great shape after a long summer in the sun.  Tomorrow we begin our projects and figuring out how much we can get done before heading back north.

On the Road Again!

This is trip # 3 to Guaymas, so we have been experimenting with new routes and throwing in a bit of en-route adventure.  Bottom line:  it is a LONG and decidedly boring drive.  As usual, the car is jammed to the ceiling with all manner of stuff:  an outboard, a refrigerator, instruments, wood, shelving and baskets from Ikea, fabric, etc etc etc.

Our route this time: Davis to Tahoe to Mammoth Lakes to Las Vegas to Flagstaff to Tucson.

We spent an afternoon with Bryan in Davis.  He and Skylar have settled into apartment living.  We baked an apple cake together and then did several errands:  to Target for a toaster, to the Davis Food Co-op to check for fresh veggies, and finally to Trader Joe's.  We had dinner together and then Alan and I headed up to South Shore for a visit with Arlene and Les.

Unfortunately it was windy, gray, and drizzly most of the next day around Tahoe.  We did walk the beach and explored the Upper Truckee Marsh.  But mostly we stayed inside and hung out.  Thanks again to Les and Arlene for hosting us.

Alan and I then left for Mammoth Lakes; determined to make it out to Devil's Postpile National Monument.  It was a great plan and this would mark our 3rd trip to Mammoth to see the Postpile.  Well, I guess you could say we again struck out!!  Last week the area had the first snow of the season and between 1-2 feet of snow fell at the monument and in the Sierras.  Sonora Pass was still closed as we drove down route 395!  Anyway, the road to the monument had been cleared and opened; but the parking lot was a snow pack and the trails to actually SEE anything were covered in snow.   I think it was the first time I have ever asked the ranger:  "Can you just drive to the parking lot and see the monument from your car?"  Nope -- hiking in snow for a mile or two was part of the drill, so forget that.  We drove to some of the Lakes close to Mammoth; enjoyed the snowy views; and figured maybe next year.  Or maybe never!

Then the LONG day:  Mammoth Lakes via Las Vegas on to Flagstaff.  We left early; fortified at Schat's Bakery in Bishop and the scenic road over the mountains to route 95 to Las Vegas.   We saw only 1 car over half the distance (45 miles) and then wow--12 cars in the next 45 miles!   But once on 95 -- well, there is no way to say BORING but BORING.  We were headed to Las Vegas for lunch:  Lotus of Siam, one of the premier Thai restaurants in the US.   It is located in a dumpy strip mall, maybe 3 miles from the downtown.  The place was packed--both locals and folks with suitcases.    Reservations required at night but lunch was no problem.  After our splurge meal:  back on the road, cross the Hoover Dam, and head south towards Kingman.   At Kingman, turn east and on to Flagstaff.  It was a full moon and it was actually a beautiful scene as the reds from the western sunset mingled with the white moon light.

Today:  Flagstaff to Tucson.  In Flagstaff we picked up 2 new solar panels and various other bits for the system that is going to keep me in cold drinks next spring and summer.  At least, that's the plan.   Hotter and hotter as we head south.  Mercury hit 99 in Phoenix and those fleece jackets, long pants, mittens and hats are gone till we head north.

Tomorrow we cross the border and by early afternoon we should be back to the boat yard!  Once we arrive our plan is to clean enough dust and dirt off the outside of Magic so we can get inside and set up for a good night's sleep.  Work duty starts on Saturday (or is it Sunday)?  Fridge, engines, solar panels, canvas work for better shade and bug control, new shelving in the galley...we have quite a list!

Les, Arlene and Alan by Lake Tahoe

A Rainbow over the Lake

Snow on the Sierra Crest

Fishing at Miriam Lake, Mammoth

Twin Lakes

Horseshoe Lake -- we walked around the Lake and through the snow!

Last View of the Sierras as we turn towards Nevada!

Making the Days Count

One yard sale and 3 loads to the Goodwill -- but this week we made great progress towards emptying the house.  And we ran the final errands to get all the bits and parts to take back to Magic.  This was all done while we experienced the first winter storm of the year:  COLD rain and wind here in San Anselmo and a foot of "Sierra Cement" in the mountains.  We are hoping the weather will warm so we can actually do a bit of hiking at Lake Tahoe and Devils Postpile.

But we jammed through our jobs so we could play a bit too.  Friday -- clear but still cool -- we did a long ride with a fair bit of climbing.  Out to Alpine Dam and then up to the Bolinas Ridge; down to Bolinas and north along route 1 to Olema.  Then back over Olema, through Samuel Taylor Park and up and over White's Hill.  I am trying to remember if there were any level sections other than the bike path through the Park.  My legs are still achy.  But the ride was beautiful mostly because the redwoods had dropped all sorts of red duff on the roads.  It was like riding on a red carpet.

Friday night we went to a Fish Taco party -- a tempting treat of what is ahead!

Today we hiked.  At 3am Alan awoke with a great hike plan:  from the top of Crown Road go UP Indian fire road eventually meeting Eldridge Grade.  Then down and around Lake Lagunitas.  Back up the Grade to the Tucker Trail and over/down/up to Crown Road.  The beauty of the hike is it has a mix of Marin specialities:  fabulous views of mountains, Marin cities, and the entire SFO Bay (today we could see the Blue Angels!), lush redwoods, dry chaparral oaks, banana slugs and black lizards.  The not so beauty of this hike was the entry price:  about a mile straight up in hot sun on an exposed fire road.  Once that was done we said, ok let's skip the lake section and trade that in for a trip to the frozen yogurt store.  A Deal.
But it was truly a lovely mix of Marin favorites.  We did do the frozen yogurt in San Anselmo and walked the Avenue.

Our  days here are about over.  We leave tomorrow; we will be in Mexico by next Friday.  And instead of snow forecasts, we will be watching for hurricane tracks!  Such is the good life we enjoy.

Burn Baby Burn

It is time for the first fire of the season!  Yup, a cold front is passing through and we are wrapping ourselves around the wood burning stove.  It is most definitely time to head south.

A week ago we were out riding the roads.  Check out our "new to us" jerseys that we found in the Big Sur campground.

I think I will be warm soon!

I Believe I Can Ride Some More

My Coast Classic:  San Anselmo to Morro Bay

Summer Winds DOWN in San Anselmo

Yup.  They are forecasting rain for this next week and temps are drifting downward.  So it is time for us to head back to Mexico.  This is a working trip...and yes, by the time we leave there better be 2 working diesel engines and 1 working refrigerator!  Those items will immensely add to our fun on the water.  We plan to be home by Thanksgiving.

Since our ride to Morro Bay (still on a high from that experience!), we have ridden a few times.  I must admit that nothing gets you in shape for road cycling, well, like bike touring lugging all that gear and weight.  We are much stronger and the bikes feel light and responsive.  Zipping up and down the hills and through the Sonoma wine country has been great fun.

And we had a yard sale -- it was a cold dreary Saturday -- but bunches of stuff was sold, especially the leftovers from "HandyMan Al".  We are now on the third trip to the GoodWill with all the picked over bits; but this has been a great milestone in cleaning out the house.   A few items are going up on CraigsList.

This week is a bit about chores:  new car tires, boat list scrutiny, final errands, etc.  We will spend Sunday (Oct 9) in Davis with Bryan, then on to Lake Tahoe for a day with Les and Arlene.  Next stop will be Mammoth Lakes, CA where we will try for the 3rd time to experience Devil's Postpile!  Then on to Flagstaff (via Las Vegas for the food!) to pick up solar panels and finally to Tucson.

We will keep you posted.