2023-11-20 Travel Home

2023-11-20 Travel Home

Louise and I slept in until 7:00.  I made our usual breakfast, and then hauled what we hadn’t used to the Party Palace.  Avacado, Tomato, Mayonase, bread, butter, etc.

I gave each of Charles and Tristan 1000mx as a thank you.  They seemed appreciative.  We said goodbye, and Charles said if I couldn't arrange a vehicle in January, he would be happy to drive my stuff up to my house.  Very nice of him.

Our shuttle arrived at 9:00 as scheduled.  Andy, George and Chad came over to say goodbye.  We were in a very nice Suburban.  It may be a vehicle I will have to look at as a van replacement.
Our ride was comfortable.  Our driver had a great music playlist, and I made a note of a couple of potential windsurfing songs.

On the way we were amazed again by how green everything is, and at all the washouts.

We got to the airport in lots of time and whisked through our check-in and security with no wait at all.

We changed and then went for lunch at the food court.  We had pizza and a salad for lunch.  It was by far our most expensive meal of the trip at 850MX.

While we waited, I caught up on this log

We did an inventory of our cash.  We brought 15000mx, and went home with 1400MX.  We also spent $300US on the shuttle.

Our flight was on time, and the weather for the first half of the flight was clear.  We had great views of La Ventana, and then the Mexican desert, then Arizona.  We saw where the Colorado River is Dammed, near Page, Arizona, and then a bunch of Canyons, although we found out later not the Grand Canyon.

We arrived home on time at 6:40.  Customs went smoothly and we got our luggage without incident.  The Park n Fly bus came just as we walked out, so we got to the van quickly.

We stopped at the A&W in Niscu for supper (Teen Burger, Moma Burger, fries and a hot chocolate).  The temperature was only -2 and there was no snow anywhere to be seen, so the drive home was easy, although our engine light came on - I will have to figure out what that is about.

We got home before 9:00.  I unpacked some of our stuff, and left our suitcases on the balcony to freeze any critters who may have hitched a ride home with us.

Great trip - nice to be home!

2023-11-19 Last Day at ProWindsurf

 2023-11-19 Last Day

Louise didn't sleep very well.  I got up at 7:00 and finished catching up on this log as well as working on some photos.

I found Wyatt and told him how much we had enjoyed our trip and thanked him for everything he does for us, including storing my gear!  He will be left for Hood River for a medical checkup - something about an MRI and his back.

At 9:15, we left for Palapa Ventana's, where we met Pam and Doug for breakfast.  We had a nice visit.  Doug and I talked about winging.  He is starting to feel very comfortable and is going for ½ hour stretches without falling in.  It sounds like he is a bit more advanced than me, likely because of his kite foiling experience.  Pam had arrived yesterday.  Her mom is settled in a care home.  They will be going home for Christmas and then coming back around January 14th.

When we got back to ProWindsurf it was already windy and people were already out.  I rigged a 4.5 Cabrina for Louise.   She went out and had a pretty good session.  The surf was quite big, so I helped her out of the water when she was done.  I went out on a 5.5, but slogged, so I pumped up the 6m Cabrina and took it out.  I had a pretty good sail for 10km, and then came in for a rest.  
I then took out the 5.5, and when it started to lighten up gain I took out the 6.0 again.  I came off the water after around 20km.  I was starting to fall more often, and tiring myself getting up.  I figured it was better to stop, than carry on making mistakes.

I took the foils off our boards, and we carted everything up to the Casita, where I took everything apart and started to pack it away.  Of course I had forgotten my windsurfing harness on the beach, so I went down to get it, and carried up some wings for Charles and Tristan.

Our packing went quite quickly.  At around 5:00 we went to the Party Palace, and I showed my photos to Charles, Tristin and Thomas.  I learned it was Thomas’s first day today.  No wonder he was so keen.  A few times he offered to help me carry my board – I guess he things I am an old guy…… I also had a chance to talk with his girlfriend on the beach.  She seemed very nice and is excited about winging.  She will be spending the season here.

We took the Red Pathfinder to Marlin Azul for supper.  Our meal we very very slow coming.  All the people who were around us who had ordered after us were finished and leaving by the time we got our meal – but it was worth the wait.  We split a Chicken Cordon Blue again – it was excellent.

When we got home, we went to the Party Palace.  I chatted with Ed and Andy most of the night. Great guys.  Ed gave me his email address and asked me to email photos of his son to him.

Chad and Rose got back from supper with their sons, Owen and Bryer.  One of the new guy’s Dave, who I never did meet, took them out scorpion hunting in the dark.  Very exciting.

When we got back to our Casita, we finished most of our packing, although some things were still drying outside.

Great day.  We both slept pretty well!

Ted on a 6m

George

Chad

Rose

Thomas

Sofea

Tristan - ready to breach!

Thomas

2023-11-18 Another Windy Day at ProWindsurf

 2023-11-18 Another Windy Day

Louise and I slept in until after 8:00.  I made the usual breakfast, and then worked on photos and this log.

We went down to the beach at around 11:00.  It wasn't windy, so we sat and read.  It had been a good surf morning, so Charles and one of Owen (Chad and Rose's oldest) were surfing at the Buf.  I will have to try to go with them sometime to take photos.  Apparently it was pretty good.

Al and Ingrid dropped by to chat for a while.  Al got out yesterday, but his first hour wasn't great - then his second session was really good.

The wind line appeared around noon.  Louise and I went up to the Casita where I made some Guacamole for lunch.  We headed back down around 1:00.  The wind was building.

Louise went out on a 5m Wing and got going a few times.  She is still tentative about committing to letting the board come out of the water.  She had a pretty good sail.

I went out on a 6m wing and had no trouble getting going.  I sailed around Louise a few times.  I practiced my outside turns.  The wind continued to build, and I got a bit over powered, but only going upwind.  I practiced bending my knees when wave riding and trying to pump.  It seemed to work a bit better.

I came in after 10km for a drink and a rest.  Louise was taking photos on the beach.  Wyatt went out and put on a show for us doing his tricks right by the beach.  Charles, and Phillipe were also performing.

I went out again and had fun crossing paths with Rose, who was windsurfing with a big smile.  She was going out and back, and I was doing more of a triangle, but seemed to always cross her path as she was heading out and I was heading upwind.  Fun!

I came back for another rest after 20km total.  I sat with Louise and had some more water.  I thought about going back out, but the wind had dropped a bit.  I probably should have, but instead I put away our gear.

We quickly showered and cleaned up and then left for supper with Al and Ingrid.  We went to the Don Cangrejo.  The power went out a few times, leaving us in the dark, but the staff were friendly as usual, and the food was excellent.  We tried some jalapeno's wrapped in Bacon which Wyatt told us were delicious, and not hot.  My first small bite almost did me in!  Very hot for me. 

Louise had the fish tacos and fries, and I had a stuffed potato.  All excellent.

Back at the Party Palace, Georges son Rudy and his family arrived.  It was a happening place.  I chatted with our neighbour Ed, who works for a firm which determines the environmental impact of chemicals released into the environment, he used to travel all over, including to Japan fairly often.  He is an interesting and very friendly fellow.

Louise and I didn't stay late.  Louise went to bed, and I worked on the day's photos for an hour or so before heading to bed.

This little guy was posing for us on the beach path

I was enjoying jibing in the waves close to the beach!

Louise is getting so close!

Wyatt was putting on a show for us!

And so was Charles!

And so was Thomas!

2023-11-17 Windy day at ProWindsurf

 2023-11-17  Windy Day

Louise and I slept in until 8:00.  I made my usual scrambled eggs with cheese, toast, grapefruit and fried tomatoes for breakfast.

I worked on photos and this log until about 10:00 when we went down to the beach to read.  I never did get reading.  The wind was already up, and there were big waves.

I was talking with Wyatt down at the beach and asked about gear storage.  He said it would be no problem.  I helped him carry some boards up to the garage, and then Tristan came to tell him that Andy had cut himself while trying to slice some bread.  Wyatt drove him to La Paz where he got 10 stiches.  He won't be sailing for a few days now.  Fortunately, Charles and Zyra were already in La Paz so they were able to drive him home.

I rigged a 5 for Louise and a 5.5 for me.  The waves were big enough that I walked her board into the water and then again out of the water for her.  She went out for a run and then asked me to rig her a 4.5.  She went out again.  Tristen insisted I got out and that he would help Louise.

I went out on the 5.0 and had a great sail for 15km or so.  I tried a tac but fell off the back of the board - lean forward and commit!  I was practicing S turns on the outside (my bad side) and making most of them work.  I came in when the wind seemed to die.

Louise had a few runs and was getting foiling, but on the water.  I think the waves were freaking her out.  She said she had a good day.

After sailing, she sat on the beach and took photos - 350 for me to edit, along with a bunch of video.

After some water and a rest, I went out again - this time on the 5.5.  I sailed for another 10km and only fell in once!  Wow!  I guess I am not trying enough.  It was a good sail.  I was making S turns by the beach in front of Louise and feeling pretty confident.  I was also trying to wave ride - slowly getting it.  I foiled almost all the time, until the wind just stopped!

I came in and sat with Louise for a while.  I started to put all our gear away.  The wind came back up - but I was done anyway.

I left Louise chatting with Andy and taking photos, and went up to the Casita to clean up.  

Louise came up shortly afterwards, and I started working on her photos.

At 5:00 we went to the Party Palace.  Chad and Rose arrived with their two kids.  It was nice to see them.  We also chatted with Bobby and Sofea.

Louise and I went to San Siro for supper.  We sat inside beside an open window.  It would have been cooler outside, but it still wasn't bad, and the seats were more comfortable.  We had Pizza, a glass of wine, and a beer!  It was all very good.  I was going to stop for Churros on the way back, but drove right past the stand.

The party palace was rocking when we got back with Charles, Lilianna, Tristan, Thomas and his girl friend, Wyatt, Zyra, Gorge and Judy and lots of other friends.

Suddenly everyone left for supper except for George, Judy and another lady Janet (with her asthmatic dog).  It suddenly became very quite.  We had fun chatting with George and Judy.  I asked George about his music composition, and he is still doing a lot of it and enjoying it.  He finds it very relaxing, although is son calls it funeral music.

Louise in the big waves!

Ted - Inside Turn

Charles - Showing off for the Camera!

Thomas

Louise's friend Mel

Ted - Trying to ride a wave

2023-11-16 Light Wind Day - ProWindsurf

2023-11-16 Light Wind Day

Louise and I slept in until after 8:00.  I made scrambled eggs with toast, grapefruit and fried eggs for breakfast.

We took our time.  I worked on photos.  Louise read and had her coffee.

At around 11, we headed down to the beach to have a look.  The wind was up, but it wasn't enough yet.  We read for a while, and then decided to go back to the Casita for lunch.

I tried to make an avocado mix, but the avocado we had was rotten, so I used cue cumber instead.  I also ate part of Louise's bacon wrapped shrimp from the other night.

When we got own to the beach, it still wasn't blowing hard, and with the clouds they figured it wouldn't.  I went out on a 6.0, but couldn't make it work.  It turned out I didn't have it inflated enough.

Louise tried on the 5.5 and went back and forth a few times, but said she didn't have enough, so came back to the beach.

We sat for a while, taking some photos.  I then took the 6m (inflated properly this time) and Louise's board and the 999.  It was very easy to get on foil, but tricky to jibe.  I did make about half my jibes or a few more.  You have to be very careful going around to not get too slow, not carve too hard, and maintain front foot pressure, especially in the waves.

Andy had some of his longest Foil rides yet.  Charles put on a show as usual, and George was an Animal - first out on this windsurf foil 5.3m Sail, and then a wing board.

The wind started to back off around 3:30, so I came in after about 10km.  It was a much better sail than I expected.

We put our equipment away and then went back to the casita to clean up, and work on photos.

On the way to the Casita, we were told that everyone was going to the rib place for supper.  George and Judy walked.  Louise and I took the Toyota and picked up Andy at the gate (He had jsut come back from a quad ride with Charles).  Jerzy and Dorota were already there with some friends, and Gorge and Judy arrived just after Andy, Louise and I.  The service was good, and the ribs were pretty good, although fattier than I am used too.  We enjoyed the conversation and company.

We went back to the Casita, and sat with Dorota and Jerzy.  They are heading home first thing in the morning.  Wyatt and Andy joined us.  Wyatt was just back from the start of the Baja 1000.  Apparently he had a lot of fun - said it was absolutely crazy.

We stayed up late - 11:00ish... Wow.  Both Louise and I slept pretty well!

George was an "Animal" - first out on a windsurf foil, and then a wing foil!

Charles - putting on a show as usual!

Andy - with his best ride yet!

2023-11-15 Another Windy Day - ProWindsurf

2023-11-15 Another Windy Day

Louise and I slept in until after 8:00.  I made eggs and toast with grapefruit for breakfast.

I worked on photos, recovered a lost "2Windy" blog, worked on this log, transferred it to the 2Windy Blog just for fun, and chatted with Wyatt about our spring trip.

Louise sat on the couch and read.  It seems wrong to stay in the casita, but it is cool and comfortable.  Everyone is calling for wind today.  We will see if it happens.

I made an Avocado/Tomato/Onion/Lime mix which we ate with chips for lunch.

We got down to the beach around 12:30.  The wind had picked up and a lot of our group were already out.

I hoped to rig a 5.5 for Louise but they were all gone, so we rigged a 5.0.  I carried her board up to Baja Joes, and then took some photos of her sailing.  She had a great day.  She kept coming in, thinking she was done, and the Wyatt would haul her board back up the beach, so she would go again.  She is so close to foiling.  The board is foiling under the water a lot of the time, she just has to bring it up.  She is also getting very good at dropping to her knees to turn around, and rarely falls in doing this kind of jibe!

I rigged the 6.0 Cabrina Mantice and went out, but struggled.  It seemed like it was not inflated enough.  I came back in and tried a different pump.  Sure enough... it only had 5psi in it.  I pumped it up to 10 and it worked much better.  I was well powered, probably over powered mots of the time.  I should probably have been on the 5.5 - but there weren't any.  I came in for a drink, and then went out again.  I tried to sail with Louise, but I could never connect with her on the water.

I was the last one off the water.  Everyone else had packed up and left the beach.  Louise was taking photos.  The wind was getting a bit light.  I came in and jibed, and crashed.  Instead of just coming to shore, I went out again and never got on a foil all the way out and all the way back.. 

Damn....

Anyway great session - over 25km, and probably less than 10 falls.  I was also sailing in my board shorts, which felt great.

We cleaned up and I worked on photos until about 5:30 when we went to the Party Palace.

Andy was there, as well as Jerzy and Dorota and some new people, Neil and Judy.

Louise and I headed to the Burger place, but saw there wasn't a line up at Marlin Azul so we stopped there and shared the Chicken Cordon Blue - which was excellent as usual!

When we got back to ProWindsurf we went back to the party palace for a while, before heading to bed - Early again.

Great Day!

2023-11-14 Low Wind Day - ProWindsurf

2023-11-14 Low Wind Day

Louise and I got up around 8:00.  I made eggs and toast for breakfast with grapefruit and fried tomatoes.  

I spent a few hours catching up on my photos and this log.

It was a quiet morning, and Louise and I were both sore from our sailing yesterday.

We took the van for a tour, checked out and spoke to the Mini Storage fellow, and then drove North past Fig Tree Beach, until the road became too sketchy to continue.  The Mini Storage is currently full, but there is a chance a storage locker might open up.  The small ones are 800mx/month, the mid size are 1200 and the large are 1600.

I made a avocado/tomato/onion/lime mix for lunch which we had with salted chips.

After lunch, we went down to the beach to read.  The wind seemed to be picking up, but peaked early. 

We watched the neighbour Cookie direct a backhoe to move the large rocks that Wyatt and brought in, further away from the bank.  Apparently she will be filling in behind them.  She seems paranoid that she is loosing property...  WTF...

After a bit, George and I went out.  George took a Windsurf Foil Board, and I took the 7.5m wing.  Neither of us could get it to work.

Robby was their with his girlfriend.  He went out, but couldn't make it work either.  He then came in and took my 7.5 and made it look easy, until he ran hard into the ground with the foil.  Oops....

Thomas was also there with his girl friend.  He went out on an 8m Kite and his Kite Foil board.  After struggling a bit to get going, he looked like he had a great sail.

Pablo was there as well.  He is a friend of Cookies, who lives in La Paz.  He is trying to learn to windsurf using Cookies gear.  Nice fellow, but his dog caused quite a stir when it tried to bite Thomas's kite!

Louise and I took some photos of the "action".

We got back to the Casita around 4:30, and cleaned up.  I worked on photos and then we headed to the Party Palace at around 5:00.

At 5:45 we took the Toyota Van and drove to Mariscos El Cone to meet Al and Ingrid.  The service was very slow, but we weren't in a hurry.  I had the pasta and chicken as usual, but it wasn't great.  Louise had the shrimp wrapped in bacon - how can that be bad.

Al said he would ask his friend John if he would store my gear for me.  We had a nice visit as usual.  Al has damaged is large windsurf board - I was able to give him a name of a fellow who would repair it - thanks to Charles - but the phone number didn't work.  I will have to ask Charles.

When we got home, we went to the Party Palace and stayed for about an hour before heading to bed.  Gorge, Judy, Dorota and Jerzy were all there.  Andy and Ed arrived just as we were leaving.  Early to bed again.

Three Heroes - Robby, George and Ted

We found these tracks all over the beach - eventually we found the culprit..

A Hermit Crab - about 2cm in diameter.

Ted Slogging

Robby on the 7.5

Thomas

Pablo

2023-11-13 Not a no wind day! ProWindsurf

2023-11-13 Not a no wind day!

The forecast was for a no wind day, so Louise and I got up at 7:30 to go Paddle boarding.  We headed off around 8:00 and paddled to Palapa Ventana's.  It was a very hot ride, going downwind and against the swell.  We turned around and had an interesting ride back with the swell pushing us, but against the wind.  At least with the wind it was cooler as we were both getting very hot.  Then the wind dropped, so it got hot ag

We showered and cleaned up and then took the red Pathfinder to Palapa Ventana's for breakfast.  It was beautiful as usual and the food was very good as well and reasonable.  We had a nice breakfast as we watched the wind start to pick up.  Maybe there is hope for today!

Louise at Palapa Ventana

When we got back to the room, Charles was hauling some wings down to the beach.  We took out time, and headed down around noon.  Louise went out on a 5m wing and the 999.  She had three or four really good sessions.  I hauled her rig up to Baja Joes so she could concentrate on getting on a foil and not worry about being downwind.  Wyatt also did it twice for her.  At the end of the day, she seemed really stoked.  She was able to control her speed, and back off when she needed to.  She was foiling on the water a bunch of times, and may have lifted off now and then.  Great progress.  I hope we get more wind again tomorrow so she can keep improving...

I went out on a 5.5m wing.  It wasn't quite enough in the lulls, but worked well in the gusts.  I had a pretty good sail for 15km.  I headed up to the campground, but couldn't find Doug.  It turned out that he was a bit further upwind.  While there, the wind seemed to back off a bit, so I rode a wave home.  I should have gone straight to the beach, but I jibed, dropped off the foil, and slogged back out, exhausting myself trying to pump (not quite enough even in the gusts).  I fell in and then slogged back to the beach.

Louise had just come off the water and was very excited about her day.  She went back to the house to change, and I got out the camera and started taking photos.  Andy joined me - his usual chatty self.  Louise came down and sat with us for a while and then I put the gear away while she took over with the Camera, although she said she was talking so much with Andy that she missed everyone as they were coming off the water.

Wyatt, Charles, Zyra, Tristan, Sofea, Bobby, Dorota, Jerzy, Thomas's Girl friend, and George were all out.  I thought about going out again, but Charles confirmed the wind had backed off and that I would probably be fine on the 6 or 6.5.  I had had a great sail and was tired, so I just put all our gear away.

I worked on our photos until about 5:00 and then headed to the Party Palace with Louise.  There was lots of action with Wyatt, Zyra, Sophea, Bobby, George, Judy, some friends of Wyatt's, Ed, Dorota, and Gerzy.

At round 7:00 Jerzy, Dorota and I walked over to Baja grill.  I had a burger which was excellent!  Louise had a salad, which she said was good as well.  We watched some football.

When we got back to the Party Palace, things were still going strong.  We stayed for a while.  Louise had some Gin and Tonic and I had some Rum and Coke.  We didn't last long. 

Great Day

Andy Quinn

Sophea and Bobby

George

Wyatt

Charles

Tristan

Dorota

Thomas and his girlfriend

Sophea