I've settled into my winter home, and am about a week away from beginning my northward migration again. I'm in Mainland Mexico, in Michuacan, and the water is warm (but getting a little cooler every day) and the waves are fun. Life here seems to stay pretty much the same, year to year; while further north in Puerto Vallarta, hotels and condos are being built and the patches of jungle are getting smaller and smaller, here the changes are smaller and slower.
There are lots of pigs and chickens in the backyards and along the streets, as well as a herd of goats that are sent through town to pasture, and there are lots of migratory birds in the river.
Here is a Greater Yellowlegs! Possibly the same one I've seen up in the small rivers of Southeast Alaska!
And here are some Black Necked Stilts, who I really enjoy watching. I got to this place about a month ago, with Lindsey, and we rented a little room to explore and play in the waves from. After a week we moved to a different one with a view of the river and the waders chasing after the little fish... Now Lindsey is back in Baja working with the Gray Whales and I'm in a campground along the rivers' edge, and surfing as much as I can before my time is up.
There are a lot of interesting plants and flowers here, and on one of the hikes I found this mixture of a cucumber and a death pepper. It looks tasty and devilish at the same time.
Also there are a lot of this flower in the river (on a small island) and it really shines at sunset.
But what I really came here for was surfing!
Here is one that Lindsey took when she was sick of surfing for a little while. The wave is fun and punchy, but doesn't often barrel.
On the full moon I delayed getting into the water to try and take some pictures of the moonset and surfers, and took this longer exposure showing the palm trees moving in the wind...
And this shot of the moon over the waves. I wanted to get one of the moon and a surfer together, but sadly I was a day too late. I needed to be there the day before the full moon to get the morning surfers with the moon setting behind them, and the proper lighting. So maybe next year...
This one of my friend Morgan going for a high cutback.
And my friend Wes going for a little tube
Another friend Kreigan on a steep take off.
When the morning winds blow the offshore is really pretty, and down the beach in the beach break it looks awesome with the sun slanting in at first light.
This one is above my level, and about 30 ft from the shore, but it looks really pretty.
Sadly, with surfing, there are some consequences. I've got a few bumps and bruises and cuts and scars on my legs and arms, and just yesterday, I got one on my head. It wasn't a huge wave, but when I jumped off, the breaking water threw the board at me and the fin got my head as it went past. A pretty looking little gash!
I showed it to Wes and he recommended stitches, but I didn't want to pack up everything and go for a long ways to town. So I got a second opinion from my campground neighbor, who said I could probably just let it be with some Iodine in it... but then one of their friends who was stopping by (and had a great medical kit) mentioned she had a stitches kit and iodine, and I asked her if she wanted to have a go at it. Initially she was reluctant, but it being a great learning opportunity, she agreed and we began our surgery!
The first stitch hurt a little, and took some time, but the second, third, and fourth were professional and quick. I think this is the kind of medicine (provided it is a simple cut and no muscles involved) that pretty much anyone can do and they need only the confidence to start, (and the steady hand) and it is mastered quickly. I kind of wish I could practice this, in my Wilderness First Responder course. Maybe on a pigs foot, but better on living flesh...
So here is the aftermath. much better! I'll stay out of the water for a few days and therefore take pictures more. Also, a little while ago it was really windy in the afternoon and I flew the kite to look over the town. Here is an aerial view of the point and the river and the small town.
