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We’ve had another set of guests this week and construction started on the remodel. So I’m back to sleeping outside and grabbing anything I need out of the trailer when no one is in there. Good news is I have a place to land for some alone time starting tonight. It’s pictured below. The house has an ocean view to the west, mountain view on the east with friends from Montana staying on their property right down the road. In the midst of it all, I did have a dinner party last night to gather new friends and old. It was fun being a hostess down here. Just woke up at 7:00AM to learn we need to drive to Cabo for some building supplies. This is how it goes, no down time and off we go.

PS, Cookie, the puppy has been spayed since I last wrote and doing great. She continues to be a prize of a dog, very smart and personable. I look forward to catching you up more when time allows.

                                                      Where I get to house sit

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New Year

It’s been a week since I’ve written. New Year’s Day, I went for a 5 hour hike with the friends I meet while staying in the rental for a few nights. A family from Ashland, OR. Roz and Gary are 10 years older than me. Leah, their daughter is 41. We all enjoyed each other from the get go and they feel like kindred spirits. Our hike started on the beach, through tide pools and up a cliff for a view of the whales doing their thing out in the ocean. Later, same group plus our friend, Paty went to Marina’s restaurant to bring in the New Year.

Spent the rest of the week with family friends who only had a few days left of their visit, taking care of the new puppy and a few days in Cabo to meet up with my friend, Amy and her husband who ported there for a day on their cruise. I ended up staying 3 nights in a great Airbnb with the most helpful host and hostess. The host happened to be in the automotive business. I asked if there is a Mazda dealership in Cabo. There is not. He offered to take my car to have the bent rims fixed. I’ve been driving with the bent rims since the flat tires earlier in my journey. Even woke up with a flat the day I was leaving for Cabo. They needed to be replaced or repaired. I stayed an extra night in order for my host, Adrian, to take my car in. He brought it back with fixed rims and a clean car inside and out. All for $100. It was going to be $400 – $500 for new rims. If you’re ever in Cabo, I recommend Adrian’s Airbnb

Thursday, I meet Amy and Jamie at the marina. We took a boat right out to Land’s End Arch, saw sea lions v,b, pelicans, and seals catching a ride on the back of fishing boats and getting a free meal. It was a short visit as they were herded back onto the cruise ship just after lunch. Friday, the day before the car was fixed, I found a beach just 15 minutes east of Cabo that offered swimming, sunning and snorkeling without the loud music and crowds that inhabit the beaches right in Cabo. Adrian lent me a snorkel and mask. It was a most relaxing day off by myself, sunning, swimming and snorkeling. Although I did get knocked into the coral a bit by waves and have some pretty good scratches to show for it. The car was fixed by noon on Saturday. Before, I left I hit Costco and Walmart for food and supplies. In Walmart, my cart was mainly full of puppy toys, bed and treats. I couldn’t wait to get back home to her. It was a quick reunion with Cookie, my nephew, his wife and Savannah when I got back to Pescadero. This was Leah’s (new friend from Oregon) last night. So back to Marina’s we went for a send off dinner. Leah is an excellent Salsa dancer. She taught me some dance steps. I’m inspired to take lessons here and keep it up. Today it’s quiet and down to just me, my nephew, his wife and my great niece. We make a good foursome. We woke up slow, made our way to the Sunday market at Baja Beans, back to the casa for naps, walk and a home cooked dinner with fresh flounder. The waves and crickets are now singing me to sleep.

 

                               Chileno Beach CaboFEF9BD6E-EEF7-4BE1-BC0A-1C3BDF8D34D8

Now we’re talking

I’m back at my nephew’s even though my room is not ready. Slept upstairs of the main house in the open air with my great-niece and the two boys who are visiting and the puppy. It felt so good with the breeze, waves and otherwise quiet. Cookie was in her kennel for about 30 minutes before she started whining. I didn’t want her to keep other’s up so she slept with me the rest of the night. She did not get up until the morning. Such a good puppy. I look forward to being on puppy duty until I go to Cabo on the 4th for a day or two. My dear friend, Amy and her husband, Jamie or sometimes known as Scott Knight (once he becomes a famous drummer that’s what his name will be!) are on a cruise. They will be in Cabo for the day on the 4th. Not sure where their ship will port. However, Amy said I should just look for the big white ship. I’ll let you know how that works out.

It’s New Year’s Eve day. Everyone left early to go surf for about an hour. Cookie and I are so content to be here on the open air 2nd floor with coffee and peace and quiet. They will show back up before you know it. Food will be fixed and preparations made to get back out to the beach for more surfing. Cookie and I will go for a bit at the 2nd go round. Not sure what the plans are for New Year’s Eve. Rancho Pescadero , the fancy hotel a block away from the house will have fireworks. Maybe we will walk to the beach to watch.

                                                         Morning time0844DDA1-E64C-4831-9F14-7DCC91D4D7C5

                                                            My room

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What’s on the inside

It’s 6:00 AM. The house I’m renting is in the town of Pescadero. The walls are thin and the roosters crow starting around 5:30. During the night I’ve heard some terrible dog fights. My mind goes to missing my daughter and grandchildren. I give that a few tears then get up and get the coffee going. This morning I’m going to get in some quiet time with a walk on the beach. I look at Facebook a bit. Love seeing what everyone is up to, until that one photo of grand parents and grandkids shows up and then I have click off. Grief is complicated as it is. Experiencing grief for a child who is still alive, who does not want you in their life adds another element of complication. It’s a grief that goes unrecognized. When I’m with everyone at the hot springs I will excuse myself for a little nap. No one has to know why. Alone time is more essential so that this grief does not interfere with everyone’s good time.

Update

It’s been busy. I can’t say I’ve been able to relax into the Baja routine that I imagine will happen down the road. My nephew’s family and their friends with 2 boys are always up to fun, beach time, surfing, etc with a delicious meal cooked in their open air kitchen and dining area at the end of the day. Only to get up and we do it all over again. In addition, I’ve made some friends in the area where I am renting a little casa for the week. On one of my previous visits here, I recall seeing this woman at the market. She had a smile and way about her that made me think, she looks like she is enjoying life, I’d like to know her. Well, she lives in the house right next door to where I am staying. Her kitchen and eating area are open air out front. So when I get up and the others that are staying around here, we often find ourselves right at Paty’s getting a morning visit in. She has lived here for 9 years after coming down for several years before that. She and I are planning to go out for coffee tomorrow at Baja Beans.

Yesterday, my great-niece and I went to meet a litter of puppies. None of the ones I posted pictures of were available anymore. We did fall for “Socks”. We will pick her up tomorrow afternoon. The arrangement is that we will foster her for a week to make sure it is a good fit. I really hope it is. She is a good-looking and sweet puppy.  We would have gotten her today, but we took the whole crew back to Santa Rita hot springs. The day ended back in Pescadero eating true Mexican enchiladas at Felipe’s. Too full and tired to tell you more. For now Buenas noches and dulces suenos.

           Socks

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Pelicans, whales and coffee

74028243-9C06-45F5-93DF-F1E2CE845188This morning finally got down to the beach for a walk. There were lots of pelicans as well as whales doing their thing out in the ocean. Then back to help my nephew get some work done on his house. There is construction happening. His goal is to have it ready to rent out directly and via Airbnb. (keep that in mind for a future vacation). I will most probably be your hostess. I went into town mid afternoon for a stroll and a some window shopping. The local bookstore is going to carry my greeting cards. That’s exciting. The next stop was one of my favorite places for afternoon coffee, La Esquina.

My niece in law and great-niece arrived tonight from Colorado. They have friends coming this weekend for a few nights. It is going to be a full house here. I found a cute little place to stay not far away. I am looking forward to some alone time at night and in the mornings. We all plan to spend days at the local surfing beach. Tomorrow, my 11-year-old great niece and I are going into town to do some Christmas shopping. She is excited about getting some presents for her parents. It’s just the right amount of Christmas for me. Having a child around is what makes it special anyway.

 

Hot Springs

For Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Even though I landed yesterday, I didn’t stay out of the car today.  I was not driving thank goodness for a change. My nephew had to pick up a trailer in Bahia de la Ventura. We made a day out of it. First stopping in an old mining town, El Triunfo for breakfast at Cafe El Triunfo. Excited to know there is an art festival here in the spring. Our next stop was El Chorro hot spring nestled in the foot hills of Sierra de la Laguna. It was beautiful with a nice spot for swimming. The hot spring was minimal however. We ventured over to Santa Rita hot spring on dirt bumpy mountain roads. Amazing that google maps got us there. Santa Rita has very nice pool that could fit maybe up to 10 people. We only stayed long enough to dip our toes in and visit a bit with the family that was up there from Portland, Oregon. Our next stop was la Ventura with dinner on the beach after picking up the trailer.

                                                          Cafe el Triunfo908247DC-FD68-447E-A4A9-EE109045B40C

.                                                         El Chorro7E422121-10B9-4A5F-9F7D-7B2E64854D13

                                                 Santa Rita Hot Spring52B8E697-80F7-439D-AAC5-9686051AACC5

Made it

Wow, I’m here. Got here just in time for the sunset. Then a bite to eat in Todos Santos. I’m settled in at my nephew’s. He’s in bed early since he has been working so hard on his house. It is beautiful. Tomorrow the plan is to get up early, run some errands then go try out some nearby hot springs. His wife, child and friends will be arriving on Friday. We want to see how nice the hot springs are so we can take everyone up there as a surprise.

The house is about 2 blocks off the beach. From the 2nd story of the house, one can catch a sunset and smell of the ocean. By the sound of the waves as I write this, it sounds as if we are right on the beach. Thinking it might be almost too loud if we were right on the beach. This is perfect.

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