Mexico Wrap Up

I've been home for two weeks and have been taking my sweet time posting the last four weeks of our trip. So the cliff note version is this: Mark and Andrew fished for crocodiles, we went to a funeral and wedding in the same weekend, and finished the trip at the Copper Canyons which are said to be 6 times larger than the Grand Canyon and the part of the trip I looked most forward to.

Before all the craziness, we stopped at Chacala for endless hours of cards, backgammon, beach volleyball, stray dog lovin, and down time.

So here we go. Yes, this actually happened. Mark spotted a crocodile and pulled over, told Andrew to get the fishing pole, then God knows why, but he casted and CAUGHT THE CROCODILE. It was probably 8-10 feet and it was splashed around like crazy until Andrew broke the line. What were they thinking? We never know with them.

Once we pulled up to Jose's house (for the second time since October), he told me his father passed away the night before and the funeral was in an hour. The coolest thing about that funeral was the burial. The family buried him there (cement and all) instead of leaving it for the cemetery officials to handle.

At the burial, the widow of Jose's dad told us her son was to be married the following day and we were invited. It was awesome for two reasons. The first because the same group of people we saw mourning on Saturday were in celebration on Sunday. The second because they invited us the day before the wedding unlike American weddings where you can't show up unless you have an invite. That family is the most loving, giving, gracious group of people I'll ever meet.

From Aticama, we headed to El Fuerte for the beginning of our week in the Copper Canyons. El Fuerte is an old Spanish Colonial town and it holds a lot of beautiful history. From there, we took the train to Creel and at one of the stops, Tarahumara Indians come up to the train to sell their baskets made of pine and apple empanadas.

In Creel, we ventured for a family hike to a 900 foot waterfall and a view that reminded me a lot of Yosemite. We walked down and hung at the water pool at the bottom, then hiked up and around the rim. We bought some Pinole and souvenirs then headed back to Divisadero where all the views were.

Our last days in Divisadero were what I'd been waiting 6 months to do. Andrew and I started our Mexican journey in September and slept either in the van, or tent. Spending our last nights watching the sun rise and set over the canyon from a hotel room was quite the finale to our trip.

I read the book "Born to Run" a few years ago and since then had become obsessed with the idea of visiting these canyons. Over 60,000 Tarahumara Indians live in the canyons and run with sandals made of old tires. They run 60-100 miles per day. They are shy people and you wouldn't know a house unless you were sitting right on top of one. They trade corn for wool and live on the most basic amenities. Most of them don't speak Spanish; they have their own language. Their smiles are contagious and cheeks are permanently rosy from the cold air. Their energy is spread throughout the canyons and hiking through them was an unforgettable experience.

It was bittersweet leaving Mexico yet some memories will never leave me such as mangy dogs, topes and pot holes, military check points, dirt roads, "todo derecho," and the music - so loud... why so loud? I already feel homesick for that ugly beautiful country, but when I saw Jayme running down the driveway screaming for her Bebba, I was happy to be home. In the end, there's no place like home and until I get another itch, memories of Mexico and the company of family will keep me happy.

Saladita and Nexpa II

Not much to report since the last post. I love Mexico more every day, I've become obsessed with pelicans and the ice cream in Michoacan, and I can still eat tacos for every meal.

So we spent Christmas in Saladita with some small but fun surf (good thing for long boards). I fell in love with a puppy we named "mini mange" and the camping was pretty epic - secluded, quiet, clean and the perfect place to spend a mellow Christmas.

We made our way back to our beloved, Nexpa. A piece of my heart has been left there permanently and it was bittersweet to leave after a month. Some of the highlights included sunrise beach runs, coffee and journal time, choco-banana smoothies, learning to do a legit bottom turn, watching whales jump  every day, and cooking on the disco over the fire. It was also fun to see so many girls in the water. About 10 girls from Canada showed up and with the few of us already there, we took over the line up.

Andrew thinks I have way too many journals and he might be right just by looking at that stack. Between the book on top and my Bible on the bottom, four journals might need to be slimmed down to one this year. Although, realistically I'll probably acquire one more for good measure. Five is my lucky number after all.

We're posted up in Pascuales for a few weeks until heading north to Aticama again. The lady we stayed with on the way down passed away recently so we'll be paying a visit there for a week with Andrew's parents before heading to the Copper Canyons (so stoked for this). Probably won't have much more to post before then. I'm still living the dream and don't want to wake up!

The film crew from Forge made an awesome video of the boys kayaking in Tlapacoyan so you can see what these crazy boys got themselves into. Not nerve racking at all... Cascada

Happiness

Currently, Andrew and I are en route north at Playa Ventura somewhere between Huatulco and Acapulco. I'm watching the sun rise with a cup of cinnamon coffee, listening to the waves and Marc Cohn, thankful as ever. Pelicans are flying by, low over the ocean. Up, down, side to side, they are in perfect, effortless unison. What a life that must be.

It's funny though, how I have to watch this morning routine of theirs in order to appreciate my own blessings in life. I'm sure somewhere, someone has watched me in the ocean, early in the morning, wishing they had my life as they drank their cup of joe.

In his book, "The Age of Absurdity," Michael Foley translates Jacques Rousseau's vision of happiness: "if you have it, you can't be aware of it, and if you are aware of it, you can't have it." He also makes the point of happiness sometimes being recognized only retrospectively, after it's lost.

It's easy to look in my memory bank to remember some of life's greatest times, but to be present and happy in the moment sometimes slips away from me. Always trying to make something what it used to be, or what it could be, when in reality, I'm going to look back at this morning and realize how perfect it was.

It's a good thing the morning isn't over and I still have time to appreciate it. Life is good, and I'm as happy as I've ever been. Now it's time to swim with the pelicans.

"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."- C.S. Lewis

Jacomulco y Punta de Partida

After a Thanksgiving tailgate in the Bodega parking lot, a crew of us ventured south for a few days to Jacomulco to stay with our friend Misael. He had a double kayak so that was my opportunity to take a stab at kayaking. FAIL. I thought I would be much better at reading white water but after flipping twice, leaving Andrew (who was very patient) and I both scratched and bruised, it was apparent I'm best to stick with surfing.

After three days in Jacomulco, we came to Punta Roca Partida, home of the Rio de Oro. The take out from the Oro is the river mouth so we took the opportunity to camp on the beach for a couple days (leaving the double behind). It's a nice change of pace and it feels good to be living outdoors again with the added bonus of east coast sun rises and a full moon shining on the ocean. Besides "Gangnam Style" being loudly (sooo loudly) repeated every minute on the Mexican Jukebox, and the occasional dog fights, things are pretty peaceful.

The scenery here surpasses all I've seen thus far. I went for a run the other day and the confused looks from both the locals and cows fueled my desire to keep running until I reached a lookout to the ocean. (The concept of running for pleasure hasn't reached this town either). Usually, five miles at high noon with no food or water would be enough for me, but after the ocean view with wildlife surrounding me, I was fueled with all the energy I needed to turn around and take in another five to get back to camp.

Next week I'll be taking a much needed break from boys and heading to the west coast to surf with Rikki and Erika. Even if we get skunked on swell which is quite possible this time of year, it will be nice to get in the water with my girls again. It's going to take me two days to get there by bus so I'm sure I'll have some good stories for you. Until then, que tengan un buen dia.

Beautiful Beginnings

I asked someone a while back if they could change one thing about them, what would it be? The answer was, "I wish I were a morning person." I thought about that and realized I took for granted my ability to wake up with bells on every day (well. almost every day). Part of the reason I love the mornings is because of the sunrise. My favorite time of day is the hour before the sun comes up, when it's still dark but the sky is fading into a lighter blue, sometimes purple and the stars are still bright.

Walking out of my apartment for a dawn patrol surf, I was greeted with the most beautiful morning. The sky was transitioning, and two stars were in perfect view behind the palm trees. This photo wasn't even edited; it's the natural beauty of the sunrise which never gets old. Don't get me wrong, I love a good sunset, but there's something about a sunrise that makes me breathe deeper.

A sunrise symbolizes the start of a brand new day "with new beginnings, open to changes and surprises. New days will always be coming."

II Samuel 23:4

"He is like the light of morning at sunrise

on a cloudless morning,

like the brightness after rain

that brings the grass from the earth."