Yay! Chet did it! He walked to and into the water at the beach today. Went in up to his ankles and back out. Then, he walked all the way back to the RV park. He was tired and feet seemed to hurt, but he walked and I did not have to carry him. That is the longest walk he has made since we left Beverly Beach in Oregon in November.

I won't be going back north with Shazza afterall. Her schedule is different than mine. She begins her journey north tomorrow. Mine will begin mid-March with short trips to Bay of Concepcion and back to Loreto until time for me to leave.

I do not have to leave this RV park tomorrow afterall. There is a group of huge RV's coming tomorrow, but there is enough space for me to stay. This location, while not on the beach, is within walking or biking distance of most places I go within Loreto. If I want/need to venture further I can unhook my RV and just drive.

Bought some fresh shrimp today and had a feast here at the park. Cooked shrimp and vegies over mesquite on an outdoor grill that is here for us to use. Had freshly baked peach pie from Ette's Pie place for dessert.

Oh. I see I haven't log in for awhile. All is well. Still in Loreto at Rivera del Mar RV park in town. My FM3 has been renewed. Took about 3 weeks for the process. Shazza from Juneau is here and will be heading north soon looking for more remote locations. We will be driving back north together. My brother and his friend arrived.

Today is my last day in this park. Tomorrow Baja Winters comes thru with a large caravan and I need to leave for at least a couple days. I am ready to go back to one of the beaches at the Bay of Concepcion.

As I head north not sure where I have wifi. Will log in when possible.

RAIN today. Loreto in a two year drought so the rain was quite welcome.

Got my renewed FM3 today. Rode my bicicleta and was pedaling along when suddenly my pedals wouldn't work. Finished my errands pushing my bike and using it as a big basket to carry stuff. My last errand took me near Manny's, the bicycle repair guy, and he fixed my bicycle in just a few minutes and for 20 pesos. Oh, he adjusted one of my brake cables too before I left. I tried to find Manny last year, but could not get on the correct street. Directions to Manny's were always like: go past the Super Mercado 3 or 4 blocks and turn left onto a little dirt street. Today, I was to turn left at Arturo's mini mart (which is really Davis y Rubio and not Arturo's anymore)onto a little dirt street and there was a large sign for Manny's. So simple now that I know where it is. :-) Manny's shop is filled with many many parts and he had a Cruiser bicycle (one speed with foot brake) made of aluminum for sale for $350 dollars. Could probably get most bikes repaired with parts on hand and not have to wait for freight. I say most because one of the bikers camped at the RV/camp park is from Germany as is his bicycle and he was waiting for a new rim to arrive from germany before he continued on his journey.

Had dinner with friends at Orlando's tonight.

February 5 was Constitution Day and dates back to a revolution in 1917. The holiday is celebrated the first monday in February and banks and government offices are closed.

Today was an errand day for me. Took my van out to get agua, gasoline and propane. The guys at Pemex told me to say: tanque lleno to have my gas tank filled.

I bought one of the larger water bottles to have on hand and went by Chucos (a local hardware store) to buy a hand pump for my water bottle. Also bought a small pulley and two meters of small rope for another project.

After my errands, went to the town beach and had a picnic with Chet. Three sail boats on the water today. Only one was actually sailing. The other two were anchored. Chet's picnic was salchichas de pavo (2) and two buttered corn tortillas. Mine was tortillas, fake creamcheese, avocado and chicken. Took a short nap and then headed back to the RV park. Got RV hooked up and then took Chet for a walk.

Finished the day by doing my laundry, cooked some potatoes to mash and had dinner.

A lot of RVs came into this park today. I think all spots are filled and we are really packed in close together...........feels uncomfortable.

Market Day today. Walked Chet, grabbed my bicycle and headed out. First stop Orlando's for Hot Cakes integral with huevoes scrambled. The word for scrambled is hard for me to say, but I am working on it. Seems like I get closer to the pronunciation if I say a soft "w" for the "vue". That seems to make my tongue waggle sort of of like it should in the word: revueltoes.

Then, back on my bicicleta for a ride to the market. Today I purchased, broccoli, kiwis, bananas, apples, squash, and turkey franks (salchichas de pavo for Chet).

Chet has been eating well lately. I started weighing his food so I will know when he begins to eat more. He looks healthy with bright eyes and has begun to walk further. I am working on getting him to walk to the beach and that will be about 4 blocks one way. He has walked nearly there onto the sand on the other side of the Desert Inn hotel, but not down to the water's edge. That was probably 3 blocks one way. Some days his arthritis stiffens his legs and he has trouble walking.

This afternoon, I will join friends to watch the Super Bowl at various places about town.

Spent today in camp. Did final check of my van's plumbing system and all went well. Sort of. Am trying a different method to empty my black and gray holding tanks. Sal helped and went to the hardware store and bought a quick release gizmo for me to use when I hook up the hose to empty the tanks. Later, she took my bicycle to Manny, the bicycle guy, bought a new chain. Old chain had 3 or 4 stuck links. She was going to install the chain here at camp, but Manny did it in about 5 minutes for just a few pesos. Bike rides along smoothly now. Thanks, Sal!

Sal came here on her motorcycle and is staying in town to nurse a sore neck before heading back North.

Nothing really special to report for the happenings of the past week. Eating out/visiting with friends. Spent some time on local beach with Chet to give him a different experience. Chet still eating well now that he has discovered Mesquite grilled chicken and french fries. Still hoping to put some weight back on him as he eats a little more.

It is sundown and Chet is sleeping beside me curled up in his blanket as I write. The evening air is cooler and I have put on sweatshirt and long pants to sit outside and write and check emails.

Saturday, a couple friends and I drove up to San Javier Mission. What an improvement to the road. It is a 21 mile journey and 14 miles are paved and new bridges (puentes) built accross arroyos. Electricity was part of this project and San Javier no longer has to generate their own. The old electric meters and fuel barrel have become a museum piece with a placgue listing the names of government officials responsible for getting electircity to their community.

With 14 miles paved that leaves only 7 miles, right? It is a mighty long 7 miles of washboard with 10 mph max. Other than the washboard, the road is dirt and clear of any large boulders.

It was a beautiful day up there. As usual, it is worth the drive just to see the scenery as you go into the mountains and then to arrive at San Javier to see a beautiful oasis, and vegetable gardens and realize this little community has been self-sustaining for 400 years or so. During my last visit the mission was being renovated and that is now complete. The paintings and icons have been restored and it is beautiful.

A "must" on your visit to San Javier is to go see the 400+ year old olive tree. What a beauty of twisted limbs.

We had planned to dry camp on the mountain, but changed plans. Drove back down to Loreto, refueled and then drove the 60 miles to Playa Requeson on Bahia de Concepcion to dry camp for the night. It is a lovey white sand beach with clear light blue water (maybe robin's egg blue), a little island offshore. There are outhouses, garbage cans and a fee of 80 pesos a night. As with other beaches along this bay, venders come by to sell vegies, fish, water, rugs, jewelry....most people seem to stay about 10 days at a time, then come to town for hot showers, laundry and wifi.

I stayed at Playa Requeson Saturday night, then drove back to Loreto Sunday. My friends stayed over. They said they would come back today, but I will not be surprised if they stay longer.

The Sunday market was still open and had produce to sell when I arrived back in town about 1:30. The venders were yawning, had probably been up before dawn. I purchased aguacates (avocados), squash, roma tomatoes, radishes, grapefruit, apples, orange bell pepper, corn on cob, onions and garlic. The vendor and I laughed about the garlic being a "producto de China". Spent about 100 pesos.

Today, Monday, washed all my purchases in a vegie wash.

Now, back to my coffee and book