Since we returned from our trip to Patzcuaro, Diane and I, (especially me) have been fighting a cold. We really hate it when we feel lousy.
Yesterday Sandy and his Mexican helper came over to wash the motorhome. I raised my solar panels so they could wash under them and advised against getting any water in or around the satellite dish. Although it wasn't the best wash the motorhome has had, a lot of the dirt is off.
Yesterday and today Ken had a local auto-body repair person do some work on both his car and motorhome. When he was finished, he came over to look at the gouges I put in the side of the motorhome when we were in Mazatlan. He assured me he could fix things and he'll be coming to do the work Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. When asked how much, he said 3,500 pesos which is about 340 dollars. Much cheaper than it would cost north of the border.
The pups are much happier now that they have someone to share the bed with instead of just each other. They were taken to the beach once since we got back but because of Diane's and my cold, it may be a few days before they get there again.

February 22, 2008
Diane and I are still fighting our colds, flu, whatever it is so we took it easy today. Diane did go to her painting class and is just about finished her picture she's been working on for the past couple of months.
In the afternoon, two military trucks filled with Mexican Marines drove into the park. They wanted to check something down at the beach but I'm not sure what. I didn't get a chance to ask Sandy yet.
We have to change our plans about going to the Villa Corona campground near Guadalajara when we leave here. We had friends try to make reservations for us but were told they were booked solid through March. So we're looking at other options.

February 24, 2008
Nothing was posted yesterday because I was still under the weather. However today, I'm finally starting to feel like I might live although Diane seems to be about one day behind me on the road to recovery.
The park is starting to feel empty with only a hand full of rv's left and more scheduled to leave tomorrow. Everyone says good-bye to each other and we all look forward to returning to spend another winter with friends at Rancho B.
We're still trying to arrange reservations at Villa Corona park outside Guadalajara for next month and have some friends who will be there in a couple of days check the availability of sites for us.
Ken and Mary-Beth took our pups with them when they went to the beach today. I didn't want to go as I didn't want to chance a relapse of my cold. The pups didn't care about me a bit. They were just happy to go to the beach.
I drove into town and bought some fresh shrimp. Nice and fresh and large size for 140 pesos per kilo. The lady selling fish also had some papaya's for sale for 10 pesos each. Mexican papaya's are much bigger than those from Hawaii and the one I bought was bigger than a football.
Although having papaya in fruit salads at restaurants, I had never cleaned one. I found there are tons of little black seeds inside and you clean it out similar to a cantaloupe. The skin is very thin, about like an apple and is easy to peal. Not only do they taste delicious but have lots of health benefits.
The auto-body repairmen are to come tomorrow to start work on the motorhome. I'll have to get the camera out again when watching them work.

February 25, 2008
While we were saying good-bye to friends who where leaving this morning, the auto body repair team of father and son showed up to start work on the motorhome.
It didn't take them long to have some of the damaged parts off and ready to take to their shop in town. An hour or so later they were back and the frame around the water heater that they had taken with them and that was badly gouged, looked like new. They took one of the basement doors off because it was badly bent so they could take it back to their shop to work on and will return tomorrow. So far I am very pleased with their work.
We heard from the rv park in Villa Corona which is near Guadalajara. They said that although they do not take reservations, there would be room for Ken and Mary-Beth and us on March 4th. So it looks like we only have one more week here at Rancho B. before we start on the way home.

Damaged area around water heater

One of the damaged basement doors

Repaired Water Heater Door

February 26, 2008
The auto body team didn't show up today until late morning but when they did, they started right in and before long they had most of the job done. The door they took with them had a colored stripe running through it as part of the overall design of the motorhome. The original stripes were decals however the workers were able to match the color exactly and paint a stripe instead.
The 3,500 pesos was well worth it as the job was well done.
The waves were really high today and you could hear them crashing against the shore. We didn't take the pups to the beach because of our lingering colds and also didn't want them swimming in the strong rip-tides.
Tomorrow I have to make a trip to the ATM and also we want to give the pups a haircut as they're starting to look like werewolves.

February 27, 2008
The morning was spent giving Leo a haircut and cutting his toenails. He's not the most cooperative dog when getting trimmed, deciding he'd rather lay down than stand or sit. Nontheless after about four hours he looked much better. Clipping his nails is what he really hates and even though I'm real careful not to hurt him, he comes close to wanting to bite me when I do it. He must have had a real bad experience at one of the groomers when younger.
Tomorrow is Hayley's turn.
In the afternoon Diane and I drove to Aquila to get some pesos from the ATM and on our way back stopped at a road-side BBQ that sold chicken. We bought a dinner that included a whole chicken, rice and tortillas. All for 60 pesos.
When we returned, we thought the pups deserved a treat so took them down to the beach for a little run.
We've been receiving conflicting reports as to the availability of sites at Villa Corona so Ken and Mary-Beth and Diane and I had a meeting in the afternoon to decide what to do. We felt it was too risky depending on Villa Corona and so tomorrow we will telephone another park just south of Guadalajara. If they can confirm reservations, we'll stay there for a few days and Mary-Beth and Diane can go shopping in Tonala. If the park is booked, we'll forgo the shopping and head to Aquascalientes and from there north to the border.

February 28, 2008
Haley had her haircut this morning although not as thorough a job as we gave Leo. The clippers didn't seem to work very well with her long hair so just her face and feet were done with scissors.
Sandy was able to telephone the alternate rv park (San Jose del Tajo) we want to go to and was told there was plenty of room. So we leave here as planned on the 4th of March, spend a few days at the park and do some shopping in Tonala and then head home.
We had a fare-well dinner at the Rancho B. Palapa on Tuesday as more of the regulars would be leaving this weekend. The picture below was taken by one of the other guests.

Fare-Well Dinner at Rancho B.

February 29, 2008
Not much doing today. Diane went to her last art class this morning and started a new picture. The one she just finished is promised to my sister Cheryl in Ottawa.
The beach has been real dirty the past few days with an ugly brown scum coming in with the waves. Sandy says it might have something to do with plankton dying off. It sure is yucky looking and we don't want the pups getting into it.
Only a few days before we leave so this weekend will have to be dedicated to getting things packed away. I also have to wash the windshield of the motorhome and lower the solar panels.
I also bought a spare fan belt as I lost one during the trip on the way down. There's no dash air-conditioning if the fan belt is lost.