Jim's home | Windsurfing home | La Ventana Again home
I helped a kiter for the first time a couple days ago. They usually help each other launching and landing their kites. Unless you know how to handle kites it's best not to try to help. They have a lot of power and you can get tangled in their lines easily. I always say "I don't know how" when I'm asked to help. There are 2 types of kites. The inflatable leading edge kind vs. ram air kites that have vent holes in the leading edge that inflate the entire 2-surface kite via wind. Competitive kite foilers use ram air kites since they're more powerful, though they're difficult to get flying again if they go in the water. A French girl kite foiler was attempting to fly her large ram-air kite when a tip folded under. She screamed "Help!!! Someone grab the white leading edge." Another person closer than I was trotted over to help but grabbed the trailing edge. French girl screamed "Noooo!!". So I ran over, grabbed the right part and pushed it to the ground to make the kite lay down. She then griped about how no one came to help her right away. I told her not everyone knows how, and that this was my first time. She thanked me and said I did the right thing.
A kiter's lines at a more northern beach entangled a windsurfer a few days ago, dragged him down the beach where he hit his head on something. Died of a heart attack in the hospital at La Paz. Apparently he had a weak heart. Scary. So, careful about those kite lines!
My good friend Bill left a few days ago. He's from an LA suburb and is a good sailer. Good sense of humor. Plays guitar and uke. His wife has cancer now for the second time and had a doctor's appointment he needed to go to. A happy hour send-off was held for him the night before he left. Will miss him. Had fun playing country songs by Skeeter Davis and the punk anthem "White Punks on Dope" by The Tubes with him.
Happy hour send-off for Bill.
Bill on his way out.
More tacos, more fish. I've realized a large part of what makes a good taco is how well the tortilla shell is cooked. Much like how sushi is really about the rice, not the fish. We ate fish tacos at Mr. Fish last night and discovered their chipotle sauce. Hoo boy is that good. Their pickled red onions are so good too. I bought Cabrilla fish the other day and found I like Jurel (yellow tail tuna) and Bonita better, even though Cabrilla is more expensive. Still wildly cheap by U.S. standards.
There are many dogs in the campground. Some are Mexican strays. A bit of a dog drama is unfolding now. It's not uncommon for people from Canada or the U.S. to adopt stray dogs here. Well, there's this nice, cute dog who thinks he's found a home with neighbors Annie and James from Utah. They fed him and named him Buddy. Buddy's now in love with Annie. Follows here everywhere and sits at the bathroom doorway when she's in there. Even though they can't take him (no pets at their apartment back home), they paid for his shots. Now they've found that a woman who owned Buddy for 4 days prior to them will be coming to collect him. She lives in La Ventana. We suspect that Buddy will find his way back to the campground and Annie. Interestingly Buddy took Mica's sandals this morning. One is still missing. Pics here show Buddy and Annie.
Went on a long bike ride north of La Ventana the other morning and took pics of a couple of the vacation houses, some with domes. Also model homes from an outfit that makes them from steel shipping containers.
Am reading my 5th book since beginning this trip. A couple of recommendations shown in attached pics include "Empire of Ice and Stone", a hair rasing tale of Arctic exploration, and "The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra". If you like the Number One Ladies' Detective Agency you'd like inspector Chopra.
Neighbor Jon (pronounced yon) accidentally filled his diesel van with gasoline about a week ago. Pic attached shows him with his jugs of gasoline and siphon/pump. He drove less than 10 miles over 3 days before it ran so rough that he figured it out. Diesel is heavier than gasoline so it sinks to the bottom of the gas tank. That helped him. In the U.S. diesel pumps/handles are green. In Mexico they're black, and the green ones are for premium gasoline. He forgot this at the one gas station in town where you pump your own gas. After pumping out the gas he had a Mexican diesel mechanic purge his fuel lines and replace a filter. Unfortunately he reassembled the fuel lines incorrectly and it wouldn't start. Came back 2 days later and fixed it after sliding out from under his van with a sheepish grin.
Friend Tom during a sunrise.
Friend Don's nose sunguard (he's had cancer on his nose).
Jacain grooming her dog Luna. I like Luna.
A windsurf board rack.
