Tidepools are also in abundance and are always interesting to check out at low tide . . .

And on those rare occasions when you don’t come back with your limit, you can simply choke the Hell out of your skipper . . .

We have even chartered a boat, captained by a well known gringo outdoorsman and the Field and Stream  “Man of the Year” in 1961, for relaxing afternoons of angling for the true trophy catch . . .

Fishing is another favorite pastime, with the option of little ones in the shallow water or occasionally, a catch bigger than you can chew . . .

While my sister-in-law busied herself with arranging bail for Jerry, my Bride and I spent the afternoon “flying” . . .

You are not permitted to treat a Mexican skipper in this manner but nobody seems to care what you do to the gringos and most fishermen are more than willing to form a line to participate in this activity.  This skipper gets choked so often that his hair is falling out from oxygen deprivation.  Shopping for groceries in Mexico can also prove to be a rather unique experience . . .

We’ll be heading north soon and spending some time in Tucson before our annual pilgrimage to the Irish Mecca of New Orleans for Saint Patrick’s Day parades, food and green beer (uh-oh! another instinctive behavior perhaps??!!).  See y’all next time!  Hugs, Chuck and Kalyn

And so, let us be the first to wish you all a HAPPY GROUNDHOG’S DAY!!!!  Okay, now that we have the niceties out of the way…  We are often asked what there is to do in a small community like San Carlos, Mexico, that would entice world travelers and adventurers such as ourselves back here each year (hmmm... Is this “instinctive behavior”??).  The truth is that there are many activities to engage in or beautiful ocean views to simply kick back and enjoy with a frothy margarita if you prefer a lower level of exertion . . .

Although this may look like a hang glider, it is actually an ultra-light aircraft that can occasionally be spotted buzzing the beach on windless days.  Fortunately for this daredevil, there are many churches south of the border, and some are truly spectacular . . .

Jerry, my brother-in-law, is fast becoming a Mexican land baron and never misses the opportunity to investigate available property.  Things were going well until he began prying the lid off one of the crypts to see if it was occupied.  That aroused the interest of several local officials . . .

Now that is not to say that we do not have a more “physical” side.  In an effort to re-develop six-pack abs and stave off decomposition, we have joined a gym . . .

Of course there are more aggressive methods of “kiting" . . .

We have decided to engage in competitive bird watching instead . . .

If you are into hiking, you can always “hike the canyon,” not the Grand Canyon but, rather, Nacapule Canyon . . .

Those spiny things are called urchins and they can inflict a good deal of pain if you happen to step on one while walking the beach or bump into one while diving.  I have known Japanese people who break them open and spread the gelatinous insides on French bread for lunch.  This is one meal that holds absolutely no appeal for me!  If none of the previous activities generates any enthusiasm, you can always take an art lesson, study Spanish with your ne’er do well amigas who embrace every occasion as an opportunity to drink margaritas, listen to the music of Mark Mulligan at one of the local cantinas or simply take a nap on the beach. . .

 Happy Groundhog                                                    February 2, 2008

It is said that man is not instinctive because there is no one behavior that is displayed by every member of the species.  Unlike the great whales who migrate annually between Alaska and Mexico, or salmon always returning to the very stream in which their life began or the swallows returning each year to the exact nest in San Juan Capistrano, man has no species-specific behavior in which we all engage…..save one!  Every February we anxiously await the prognostication of Punxsutawney Phil as to whether or not we will have to endure six more weeks of winter.  Okay, this IS a bit of a stretch, but HEY! do you think it’s easy to write this drivel?!?!!  And, though rare, down here in Mexico you can witness the emergence of our local groundhog, Sonora Sal, if you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle, a lot of patience and can escape the influence of Froggy’s Bar . . .

Being of the mindset that, “If God had intended for us to walk, He would not have created Jeeps,” we prefer to explore the canyons and beaches of the area in a more civilized manner . . .

as well as those that are simply “over the top” . . .

Thus far my injuries have been minimal, one torn rotator cuff, two hernias and one severely bruised ego!  The in-laws, however, have proven themselves up to the challenge and are even participating in competitive walking . . .

We don’t really want to know, so we have never asked, just what it is someone would do with a pig’s head.  I have often wondered about chicken feet as well. There are many very old towns in Mexico that contain cemeteries that are several hundred years old . . .