Day 60: Sunny Vancouver

Woo Hoo, the sun came out in North Vancouver, and even though it is still cold, everything just looks better when the sun shines. Actually went outside for the first time, but like the proverbial gopher, I ran back inside my home predicting another six weeks of winter.

Day 59: Sorting Photos

Avoided going outside again by spending the day sorting through the nearly 4000 photos I took while I was away. Getting no sympathy from Sue about how cold I am. Even with the heat turned up I am walking around with a sweater on. Damn, I miss the sun.

Day 58: Withdrawal

What a shock.

After living for 8 weeks at 27C in Sayulita, Vancouver seems like the North Pole. Dark, Gloomy and cold. Cranked the thermostat up to 25 and spent the day unpacking and washing everything, and not going outside.

Day 58: I'm Back

Well I am back in freezing Vancouver after 8 weeks in sunny Sayulita, and I will be updating this journal so stay tuned...

Day 57: Going Home

Janet making sure Glen goes home to Sue

Today is the day we fly home, but since we only leave in the evening we had a whole day here first. We also had arranged for a late checkout at 3:30 so after we packed up our bags we headed down to take out a couple of paddle boards one last time.

The ocean was still very choppy but we were determined. However neither of us could catch our balance enough to stand up, so we paddle out to the anchored boat in the bay on our knees, and then called it quits. Had a last breakfast at Panino's of bacon and egg on a baguette and a soy latte.

Afterwards we lounged reading by the pool and worked on our tans until it was time for Jorge to pick us up and take us to the bus for the airport. We had been told to allow three hours at the airport, so we arrived at 5pm for our 7:45pm flight only to find the place empty. We checked in without any delay and spent the last of our pesos at the bar.

The flight was on time and arrived at Vancouver just before midnight. We cleared customs quickly and walked out into the freezing weather that Vancouver has been experiencing. What an incredible shock to the system!

We picked up Janet's car from the long-term parking and she dropped me off at home around 1:30am.

Day 56: Going Live

Saying goodbye to David and Michael at Tres Vistas

We wanted to make the most of our last day here. The plan was to go paddle boarding, but the weather was still blustery and even from our place on the hill we could see the whitecaps on the ocean.

We had originally planned to meet with David and Michael in the afternoon, so we switch to the morning to see if the weather would improve later. Janet had brought them down a WIFI extender but I was unable to install it as their old router would not cooperate. We did manage to finalize the Xocotla website and with appropriate fanfare David pressed the button that made the site officially public.

David and Michael then came to see Tres Vista before we had to sadly say goodbye.

The afternoon continued to be too choppy for us to attempt taking boards out, so we hung around our pool with our books. We planned to have a last great meal at the wonderful Italian restaurant Miro Vino that Sue and I had gone to, but I forgot they were closed on Tuesday's. Bugger.

So we ended up at Calyso's once again and a afterwards sat on the beach and listened to the soothing sound of the surf one last time.

Day 55: Windy

Up early to go paddling before breakfast. Pickup up our boards from Stand Up Sayulita and headed out into some choppy water with an on shore breeze. The conditions made paddling difficult and we manage less than an hour before we headed back tumbling through the waves to have a tasty smoothie at the back of the board store.

We read our book waiting to see if the wind and chop would settle down enough to take the boards out again, but it never let up. Bumped into David and Michael and chatted with them over some beers. Arranged to meet tomorrow to finalize the Xocotla website and hopefully make t go live. They have never seen Tres Vista where we are staying so we invited them over tomorrow to see the place.

Familia Veryka again

We went back to Calypso for dinner and I had their excellent baby pork ribs again. Afterwards we stopped by Don Chow's for a drink and to see what music they had going, and were thrilled to find that the band they planned had cancelled and was replaced by the fantastic music of Familia Veryka again. 

They were rocking and we stayed until the place closed. What a great way to end this trip.

Day 54: Recovery

The therapy pool

We both drank too many margaritas last night listening to the great music at Don Chow's, and neither of us felt our bodies were up to paddle boarding.

We lounged on the beach reading our books to see if we might feel like it in the afternoon, but as this is a long weekend the beach was crowded and we went back up the hill to our private pool instead.

Went to dinner again at Don Chow's but the band was so bad they drove us away early.

Day 53: More Paddling

This is what I wish I looked like on the board

We decided to rent some real paddle boards instead of the soft beginner ones, and got them from Stand Up  Sayulita, a great new store just up from the beach.

They have expanded to use the land behind the Iguana Tree Sanctuary and have planted grass and created a smoothie bar. The staff are happy to help carry the boards to the beach for us.

We both got up on the new boards and controlled them way better than last time, and before we knew it we had blasted past the anchored boat and headed left towards Muerto beach ... and beyond.

This is a lot of fun, and an incredible whole-body workout. By the time we had paddled back we were done, and ready for one of the incredible smoothies while watching the iguanas play in the tree.

Familia Veryka

Decided to enjoy our incredible private pool for the afternoon, and in the evening we had dinner at Don Chow's and listened to a fantastic sort of Reggae Jazz fusion band called Familia Veryka jamming some wonderful music.

The music drew people and by the time they ended the place was packed.

Day 52: Lazy Day

Tres Vistas

After our party with the two families at our place last night we started our day slow, and stayed slow.

Neither of us had the energy to get on a board and we ended up reading by the pool instead. Tough day.

Day 51: Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Today we decided to try stand up paddle boarding. Figured it might be easier to learn to balance once we were beyond the waves. We rented two large soft boards from Patricia's and with only a few minutes of instruction we walked the boards to the easier left side of the bay, and pushed our boards through the surf.

These are quite a bit longer and wider then a regular surfboard and it is a struggle getting them out past the waves, if the board is not exactly perpendicular to the wave it easily snaps sideways and flips over onto you. But out past the waves it is stable and easy to jump onto and sit or kneel. Standing up is another thing altogether. But the water is warm so falling off is not a problem.

Gradually we learned to stay standing, and once we got going it was fun. There was a boat anchored in the bay beyond the waves, and we made it our mission to go around the boat before we called it quits for the day and headed back to shore. Getting in past the waves is tricky as the board is harder to control than a regular surfboard, and even kneeling I wiped out. Unfortunately I didn't get any photos as I did't want to leave my camera on the beach, but Joanna from the boat trip yesterday spotted us and snapped this photo of us at the end of our paddle.

Dinner with the two families we met on the boat trip

Yesterday we arranged to meet the two families we met on the boat trip yesterday in the main square at 4 o'clock. Luz showed up in their car, and we went to get some chicken from the ladies on the street while Janet walked up the hill with the rest of them.

Joe and Joanne are from Ontario with their three girls, and Chris and Luz are from Guadalajara with their two girls.

Day 50: Whale Watching - Again

We were up early at Chulavista to get out bags packed and ready for Jorge to pick us up at 8 and take us across to Tres Vista on the other side of the hill. Although the move was only a couple of hundred meters, it was nice not to have to lug the bags and groceries over the hill in stages.

Tres Vistas is a stunning two bedroom place with its own private pool and a large deck overlooking the bay. We only had a moment to appreciate it as we dropped off the bags and caught a ride down the hill with Jorge to go have breakfast before our trip left at 9:30.

Blue Footed Boobies

I had tried to take Sue on this trip while she was here, but the weather never cooperated, it was always a little too overcast or blowy. The conditions seemed perfect today and about 30 people headed out in several taxis to the marina on Banderas Bay and then onto the Chica Loca trimaran.

The water was calm, the sun was shining, and the whales were jumping. We saw a pod of a mother, father and baby, and were lucky to see them and other whales jumping and breaching. What a great sight.

The boat had a good mix of people on board, and we met two families with their five kids who were re-uniting. One family was from Ontario and the other from Mexico had met them when studying in Toronto. We ended up inviting them to our new huge place tomorrow to have dinner and swim in our private pool.

Once again the cruise took us to the Marietas Islands to see the blue-footed boobies and to snorkel. Once again the visibility was poor and the water was cold. However we spotted whales again on the way back which made it all worth while.

Day 49: Exploring Saylita with Janet

Janet leaps the mighty river

After an early breakfast at Panino's I took Janet for hike on the north side of town across the bridge, to see the places and views there.

There is one insanely steep hill there that feels more like rock-climbing than hiking, especially since the road is made of cobble stones. But at the top there is a vacant lot from which is a truly awesome view over Sayulata bay.

Further along I finally found the road to another property that I can see from our place on Gringo Hill that I have wanted to find. These are amazing homes with breath-taking views over the bay.

We want to go on the whale-watching boat trip tomorrow since the weather is clear and calm, but we are also moving to our new place that day.  Back in town we went to see Tamra at Avalos to arrange for the move, and they already have the keys to the place and will move us in early at 8am, so we can then go on the boat trip at 9:30.

After dinner at Calypso we ended the evening on the beach listening to the sound of the surf.

Day 48: Touring Sayulita

Janet at Chulavista

Started the tour with Janet by hiking to Muertos beach along the jungle road and then over the hill by the graveyard and along the main beach ending at Panino's for breakfast.

After breakfast we hiked the beach along the main bay and then back to Chulavista to cool off in the pool and read our books.

Yesterday we met Cathy and Brian who are staying in the top apartment at Casa Juanita where I stayed, and they invited us over for drinks this evening. We headed over there around 5:30 with appies and wine and watched the sun set from the rooftop deck with them.

We then all walked down the hill for dinner at one of the restaurants by the square, and of course we bumped into Michael and David from Xocotla there too.

Janet loves the sound of the ocean too, so we ended the evening sitting on the beach listening to the surf. Unfortunately along the way I dropped my prescription glasses out of my shirt pocket and lost them in the sand somewhere. Fortunately I have one spare pair, but that was a lesson to always carry them in their case which has my email address in it. Damn.

Day 47: Company Arives

This was the second and final day of the Surf Competition. It included a race on stand up paddle boards  with four loops around a course of buoys, and on each loop they had to land and run up to the start on the beach and then re-launch through the surf for the next lap.

For the finals of the surfing in the afternoon they used an electric radio-controlled helicopter with a camera attached to film the surfers from up close.

Radio controlled helicopter photographing the surfers

Janet, a friend of Sue and mine in Vancouver, had convinced me to extend my stay for another week so she could come and visit.

She caught the bus from the airport and Margaritas is about a hundred meters from where you are dropped off in Sayulita.  In the afternoon I headed over to Margaritas where we had planned to meet.

Our timing was perfect, Janet had just walked in as I arrived, and we sat with a beer before I lugged her bag up the hill to Chulavista.

As we headed down the hill for dinner at Don Chow's we went by Casa Januita so Janet could see where I was before, and we met and got talking to Cathy and Brian who are are staying there now. They invited us over tomorrow night for drinks on the rooftop deck.

Day 46: Surf Competition Day 1

Today was the first real day of Surf Competition. The beach was packed from one end to the other to watch the people who were invited from around the world to compete in Paddle Board Surfing, Woman's Longboard and Men's Longboard events.

Yes he is surfing backwards

As you can expect the level of expertise was amazing, and because of the small waves people went for style. It was a long day sitting in the sun on the beach and I must have shot thousands of photos. I will publish more photos on the Sayulita Photo Album.

At the end of the day it was refresing to be be able to jump into the pool at my casa to cool off.

Says it all

Met Christen  and her son Ross from Quebec at pool, also on one year sabbatical, here for 7 weeks. Her husband Patrick was able to do some work remotely via computer so he could join them.

Ended the day back in town and dinner at Don Panchos from where I could watch and listen to the live music on the stage they had constructed on the beach.

Day 45: Surf Competition Setup

Practicing for the competition

The first day of the Surf Competition turned out to be a practice day. After breakfast at Panino's I sat on the beach learning to use my new telephoto lens as the surfers practiced for the main events starting tomorrow.

The beach was crowded from one end to the other, and they were busy constructing a large stage for live music tomorrow.

I am reading The Wave by Susan Casey, and I found I was hooked from the first page. Far better than I expected, she has a fantastic ability to draw you in and paint a picture of the search for these giant waves.

Day 44: Xocotla

Joshua

After breakfast at Panino's I spent the morning with David and Michael working on their Xocotla website.

Spent the afternoon reading by pool at Chulavista, and then as the sun started to set I headed down the hill for dinner at Don Carlos.

Met Marylee who owns surf shop with Joshua, and she was reading The Wave by Susan Casey, and recommended it as a good read.

When I got back I downloaded the book for my Kindle.

Day 43: Lake Saylita

Decided after loafing around reading yesterday it was time to go do some boogie-boarding and enjoy the surf while I can. But first I needed some exercise before breakfast, and hiked what I call The Jungle Road to Muertos beach, which in reality is the longer way to get there on the back road around town through the trees.

Imagine my surprise as I came over the hill past the cemetery, and saw Sayulita bay stretching out before me as flat as a Canadian lake. Not a sign of a wave, and only the merest ripple at the shore.

Sue would love this as she is a lake-girl, but the surfers are going to be hugely disappointed on Friday if the waves do not pick up before then.

In the evening I watched Wasteland that was screened outdoors at the Activity Center. This is a powerful movie about the people who make a living picking recyclables from the largest garbage landfill in the world outside of Rio de Janeiro, and the filmmaker who helped them turn garbage into art.

Day 42: Just Hanging

For the first time in the five weeks I have been here, today was a truly relaxing day, with no hikes or other activity whatsoever.

The day started overcast and foggy looking, as it has been often, but by early morning it had burned off and the rest of the day was warm and I spent it reading a good book in my hammock that I purchased and rigged up on my deck.

The view from here

It has been a long time since I read a good SF novel, and I tripped over Hominids by the Canadian writer Robert Sawyer. Turns out this is the first part of a trilogy called The Neanderthal Parallax.

The second part is Humans, and I am now starting the last part Hybrid.

I am actually going to get out and head down to town for a bite to eat for dinner.

Day 41: Making Arrangements

Sayulita International Bus Terminal

After breakfast I met with Tamra at Avalos Realty to finalize the rental of Tres Vistas for Mar 14-21, which is the last week I am here, and when Janet will be joining me. We will get the two bedroom place with exclusive use of the pool.

Janet is going to be adventurous and catch the bus from the airport by herself and I will meet her here on the 11th. So I took a picture of where the bus stops and Tequila's restaurant where I will be hanging at so she will know how to find me.

Tequila's Bar & Restaurant

The weather is warming up this week, and by the afternoon there was nothing for it but to jump in the pool here to cool off in between reading my book.

Going to head down to Don Chow's tonight for their excellent Bento Box and some sushi, and see what live music they have.

Day 40: Catching Up

Chulavista

With the lack of Wifi in my room I was getting behind on updating my journal, so spent the morning down at El Expresso with the laptop catching up on my writing.

Then back to the apartment to read by the pool. Well someone has to do all this research!

In the evening Francico the owner invited me to join him and his family for a picnic dinner in the palapa by the pool.

Francisco and his family

Day 39: Xocotla Website

After breakfast at Panino's I headed over to Xocotla to help Michael and David finalize their website. Doane and Rayata met me and came to meet them and see the place.

We spent a couple of hours going over the details of their website and how to use email and calendars at their new domain name. At that point they were done, and we spent a wonderful couple of hours drinking beers up on their rooftop deck overlooking the bay.

The rest of the day was reading in my new hammock I have strung up on the deck. Wifi is still spotty from my apartment to contact Sue later that evening I had to sit by the manager's desk downstairs facing the wireless router.

Day 38: Finding a New Place

Tearing up the road again

The living area of Villas Chulavisa looks great during the day, but is not comfortable at night and the furniture is harder than office chairs.

So I spent the day working with Tamra at Avalos Realty to find another place for the last week - I have already paid for two weeks at this place.

Once again they are tearing up the roads. They have changed their minds about the road leading from the square to the beach, and are now going to add the wide sidewalks to continue on from the rest of the road leading to the beach. 

Met this guy just hanging

Tamra gave me the names of a few places that are available for the last week, and I spent the morning walking around town checking them out.

One was too far out of town, up a really steep hill, that I felt would feel too removed from everything.

Another turned out to be already booked, but the one I like was back on Gringo Hill just behind the Horse ranch, called Tres Vistas. Tamra managed to negotiate a good rate for two bedrooms for the week starting March 14 until we leave on the 21st.

Tres Vistas

Doane and Renata who are staying at Cas Juanita were interested to see Xocotla since they walk past it every night and it looks so magical through the trees all list up. I had planned to meet the guys from Xocotla in the afternoon to try and finish their website, and suggested they join me to meet Michael and David.

However I bumped into Michael and David in the morning and they re-scheduled for tomorrow morning. So when Doane and Raynata stopped by my casa, we spend the afternoon talking on my deck and drinking beer. Really fun talking to Doane about his photography career, and I think his portraits of actors on his website are stunning.

Day 37: The Mission

The unit at Villas Chulavista looks wonderful during the day, but there is almost no light at night, which may look all romantic, but barely enough to read by. I asked the owner Francisco if he  can find me a reading lamp. However today I decided to go find some 100W bulbs to replace all the low wattage ones they have. Also the deck is crying out for a hammock, so it was my mission to to find the hammock guy.

They have finished paving the sidewalk outside Paniono's and it was wonderful to sit at a table for breakfast that didn't wobble.

I found a hardware store that sold lightbulbs by the river where the Friday Market is held. I got seven 100W bulbs and two 100W spot lights to shine down in the living room to hopefully provide enough light to read by.

The new hammock at Chulavista

The hammock guy has tried to sell me one on the beach for the last five weeks, and wouldn't you know it, now that I want one he was not to be found. I walked all over the beach and over to Muertos and back but no sign.

Sat for a couple of hours nursing a beer so I could claim a deck chair and read my book, keeping an eye out for him. Finally towards the end of the afternoon, just as I had given up and resigned to finding one at Market Day tomorrow, I bumped into him by the river.

We bargained from $55 to $30 (US) and then I paid him in pesos, and headed back to the casa to string it up. Fits across the end of the deck, with just enough clearance to keep my bum off the floor. Will be perfect for reading in the morning as the sun comes on that side.

Francico came through with a small reading lamp for the living room. Will see how it all looks tonight before I bug him for reading lamps for each of the bedrooms too.

The couple I had dinner with last night work in the film industry. Renata Gregory was a Production Designer for many years, and Doane Gregory is a photographer who takes the still shots of actors for movies. You can see some of his fantastic portraits on his website. I mentioned that my next door neighbor Doreen Beaulac does the accounting for movies, and is currently working on the fourth Jason Bourne movie, and of course he knew Doreen, What an interconnected world this is.