November 22, 2015 – December 30, 2015
What’s Happening?
We’re taking a break off the bikes after riding for about 7 months.
Cycling Stats Period
General riding to activities and errands.
305 kilometres
What happened…
Amanda writes: Being in San Carlos has been far better than I had expected. Much of that likely comes from the fact that I struggled with being here for 5 months last year. For those of you that are unfamiliar with how two people cycling around the world ended up in a gringo community for 5 months I’ll rewind a bit.
We originally set out to cycle from Inuvik NWT (near Alaska) to Argentina in about 18-24 months. After being on the road for a few months my brother died and we headed back to Vancouver for the funeral. While in Vancouver Andrew’s Grandfather asked us if we’d accompany him to Mexico. Being on the heels of 50 days of rain we were easily convinced. He said he’d pay for room and board if we made sure he was okay and got him there and back safely. We figured it was a good situation being that we didn’t have a schedule, we could spend some time with family and dry out. Combined with the fact we had planned to settle down in Mexico and learn Spanish anyway, we went for it. And so we ended up in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico for 5 months with Grandpa. The arrangements didn’t quite work out as originally planned, but we spent 5 months in Mexico and Andrew made the best of a hard situation. Spending 5 months with your Grandpa is an opportunity not many have and Andrew is grateful for it, however hard it was. Andrew’s Grandfather is over 80 and there were some hard days. Andrew is such a positive man that he made it work. Combined with his passion for the new sport of kite surfing it was pretty good. I’ll cut Andrew some slack because of the trying scenario however I too was excited to kite surf and in his distracted tendencies while trying to care for his grandfather he didn’t have a lot of energy to learn to kite surf and support his wife who was also trying to kite surf. I’ll admit as a woman it was a steeper learning curve for me and I needed more support which I didn’t get from him because he had other things on his mind. Long story short our time in San Carlos was something we are grateful for, for so many reasons; however it wasn’t what I had planned on and was hard for me to manage.
Fast forward now to us returning to San Carlos and I’d say I’m more prepared. I know that Andrew will be kite surfing for endless hours and this time I know what to expect and frankly look forward to a break. Instead of sitting on the beach drinking beers and gaining 30 pounds while Andrew kite surfs I’m going to do what makes me happy. And because of my approach, I’m having a fabulous time! Andrew and I still battle when he kite surfs for 6 hours in a day and then is a complete zombie for the following two days, but we’re working at it. One of the things that surprised me was the realization that I too wished I was kite surfing. When we first arrived many of our friends asked if we were both kite surfing and my standard reply is “the sport is not for me”. And while this may be the case right now in my life, I do wish I could do it and hope to still master it in the years to come. When I gave the standard response to one of our friends, he hit the nail on the head when he reminded Andrew and I that when I did get up on a board last year, there wasn’t a lot of enthusiasm from Andrew. When he said it I was a bit shocked because while I noticed it big time, I just figured it was me being the annoying wife and expecting too much. As it turns out many people noticed that Andrew was not all that excited about me finally learning the sport. When your partner isn’t supportive or doesn’t want to share something with you, it makes you less inclined to really work at it. And so with that I’ll shelve the idea and just hold on to the hope that some day Andrew will want to share it with me rather than just having me hanging around on the beach all the time. And while it’s easy to type, it’s hard all at the same time because I’ve got my friends encouraging me to get back on a board and even offering to share their equipment. We talk about it and I get excited and then Andrew will snicker in the background and deflate my desire. At the end of the day I need to quit worrying about his involvement and just get out there and do it which is hard to do because as we travel kiting is like most sports, safety in numbers; and if I don’t have his support that just won’t work.
So aside from the mental battle of kite surfing I’m enjoying San Carlos immensely. We just fell right into the groove of our friends and activities with a full schedule. Our hosts Pat and Larry not only invited us into their beautiful home, but welcomed us into their community. There were happy hours and Grey Cup parties and just all around good people to hang with. Within 24 hours of our arrival we went to our friends 50th birthday party and were immediately greeted by so many friends we hadn’t seen in months. I was amazed at how the circle of friends is so large and while we knew the birthday boy mostly from kite surfing, there were so many other friends from other activities. I’ve managed to fill my days with pickle ball a couple of days a week, softball a couple of days a week and running too. The groove is good and it’s making time fly. We moved to a friends place to house sit and that has made things amazing. We have access to a home that is large enough that Andrew and I get a bit of space from each other. Combined with access to a kayak and SUP I’ve been able to really enjoy playing in the water and relaxing all at the same time. We’ve been able to tackle some errands we needed to do and have even managed to have some conversations on where and when we go from here. All of this made possible by amazing friends who have opened their homes to us. We even got to host Christmas dinner with having access to a beautiful kitchen and all. We had some good friends come over and shared a wonderful meal with them.
Since being in a home there have been so many little things that I’ve learned to appreciate again. Simple things that I wouldn’t say I’ve taken for granted, but more so things that people wouldn’t normally put in the ‘awesome’ category. Cotton sheets on a bed, being able to wake up and walk around in pyjamas and enjoy coffee inside a sheltered area, water out of tap, snuggling on a couch, eating at a table, going out without having to worry about all my belongings and so many things I’ve likely forgotten to mention.
We quickly learned after visiting our friends place that some friends from softball live next door, again small world. We met Jim and Colleen last year and it has been so awesome getting to know them better. I realize as I meet more people that we tend to have so much in common with others and have an easy time chatting and hanging out. They had their three grown kids out visiting for Christmas and it was great getting to know them too. And we also happened to be in the same neighbourhood as our good friends Jo and Murray and have enjoyed hanging with them … just all round good peeps. So with all of this surrounding fun and friends we’re giving serious thought to staying in San Carlos a bit longer. Our other friends Larry and Mary just arrived and we want to spend some with them enjoying cards and football. So much to do and so little time and yet we still want to see the world.
Today’s Photographs
![A guy crossing the Tetaka'wi on a slackline while being buzzed by an acrobatic aeroplane.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1679/23546584704_b0da76df6d_m.jpg)
![A guy crossing the Tetaka'wi on a slackline while being buzzed by an acrobatic aeroplane.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1514/23879151220_a77e3e7805_m.jpg)
![A guy crossing the Tetaka'wi on a slackline while being buzzed by an acrobatic aeroplane.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1512/24092158621_e33c99ebbc_m.jpg)
![A guy crossing the Tetaka'wi on a slackline while being buzzed by an acrobatic aeroplane.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1711/23546554074_285f5b6d44_m.jpg)
![Sunset over San Carlos](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1605/24092137821_52bb13041f_m.jpg)
![Want some marinara sauce to go with that spaghetti??](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1449/23879107370_08a7f2700e_m.jpg)
![Andrew with sand in his clam after kitesurfing.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1615/24148617696_7786231e11_m.jpg)
![Andrew with sand in his clam after kitesurfing.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1650/23547918373_bf2159dbe6_m.jpg)
![At the entrance to the Tetaka'wi trailhead. No crocs allowed!](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1555/24174690795_a6bb75899c_m.jpg)
![Looking down on Punta Piedra and a beach party.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1603/23879060840_038a892707_m.jpg)
![An enormous cactus.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1547/23546473284_583b76d216_m.jpg)
![Looking down on Punta Piedra and a beach party.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1604/24148560976_cf83f7bab1_m.jpg)
![The Punta Piedra shoreline.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1593/24148550636_38df0bdb74_m.jpg)
![The Punta Piedra shoreline.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1458/23547852403_eec6dddf86_m.jpg)
![View from our first casa in San Carlos.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1557/24066570042_b357f8c9c6_m.jpg)
![A little critter trying to get into the house.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1477/23806784969_30251f32fd_m.jpg)
![Andrew kiting in San Carlos.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1717/24091990461_4e1cfaccb2_m.jpg)
![Panorama of Playa Algadones.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1464/24091977721_b474f763b3_m.jpg)
![Andrew kiting in San Carlos.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1519/24174569685_af356e9bfe_m.jpg)
![Catch-22 Beach in San Carlos is popular for kitesurfing.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1573/24066402382_b2cfd200dc_m.jpg)
![Wow! Look how high Andrew gets!](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1468/23806589459_5ee60a3d8d_m.jpg)
![A look inside our second casa in San Carlos.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1695/23878702170_5481156a0b_m.jpg)
![A look inside our second casa in San Carlos.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1488/23547519893_763027667d_m.jpg)
![Watching the sunset in San Carlos.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1633/23547508193_5b25c22f5e_m.jpg)
![Watching the sunset in San Carlos.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1643/24174273895_39811b9a71_m.jpg)
![Amanda sits and enjoys a San Carlos sunset.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1531/23546055594_e2fb013521_m.jpg)
![Enjoying sunset at Playa Algodones.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1488/23806404389_6189915536_m.jpg)
![Jesus the cricket, trying to hitch a ride on Amanda's bike.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1470/23806360649_f009afc4b3_m.jpg)
![Fred and Debbie, some of our favourite pickleballers.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1482/23806348419_cafd6c17d7_m.jpg)
![Enjoying sunset at Playa Algodones.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1465/24174151645_6f0dda6dd3_m.jpg)
![Andrew kitesurfing in front of the house.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1532/24066069822_48313540b2_m.jpg)
![Enjoying sunset at La Manga Dos.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1605/23547315883_14a6ca2b6e_m.jpg)
![Enjoying sunset at La Manga Dos.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1513/24147901486_e295db211b_m.jpg)
![Amanda out in the Gulf of California on a stand-up paddle board.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1500/24091353251_f5f31bb643_m.jpg)
![Amanda out in the Gulf of California on a stand-up paddle board.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1549/23878305330_1ec6d0d947_m.jpg)
![Amanda out in the Gulf of California on a stand-up paddle board.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1522/23545709884_87fa4fef34_m.jpg)
![Amanda out in the Gulf of California on a stand-up paddle board.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1701/24091288511_a8df753b1f_m.jpg)
![Enjoying sunset at Playa Algodones.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1654/23545593754_147773459a_m.jpg)
![Our friend Murray has been so kind and generous.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1523/24147659246_ca874e9b10_m.jpg)
![Andrew, Hans and JimEh in La Manga Dos.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1463/24173732855_7c51a08388_m.jpg)
![Burning wire in a campfire.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1686/23878094220_bcdd942e52_m.jpg)
![Marina Vista; San Carlos, Mexico.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1702/23805824789_ff4505c4be_m.jpg)
![Enjoying sunset at Playa Algodones.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1546/23805812909_416bcbfca1_m.jpg)
![Enjoying sunset at Playa Algodones from inside our house-sit.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1700/23877998440_77e4eda91c_m.jpg)
![Enjoying sunset at Playa Algodones.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1643/24090997751_81462e4a6c_m.jpg)
![Enjoying sunset at Playa Algodones.](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1701/23545381704_2561b9fcac_m.jpg)
Darwin & Betty
Jan 7, 2016 -
Hola Amanda and Andrew….
We’ll be in San Carlos by end of the first week in February sometime so if you are still their we”ll see you then. We will be staying until the end of March.
Cheers
Darwin & Betty
Spruce Grove
Amanda
Jan 10, 2016 -
Look forward to seeing you when you arrive Darwin!
Patricia Adams
Jan 7, 2016 -
Wonderful, blog, Amanda! How sensitive, intuitive, and sincere your words are. You are a talented writer, and have the knack of inciting interest!
Pat
Amanda
Jan 7, 2016 -
Thanks for the great feedback Pat and thanks again for being a big part of our enjoyment here in San Carlos.
Javier
Jan 7, 2016 -
What a nice experiencie in my town.
Before nothing, let me introduce with you I am Javier and live here in Guaymas. I was spanish teacher in residents and visitors office, so I met to Murray because I was his teacher. I dedicate my life to tourism and history.. I have a Major on this and I love it.
I was a time guide tourist here in San Carlos and I am always looking for New ideas to develop.
it would be great know more about you and what you do.
I have a fan Page on facebook, it is: Mr. Turistólogo and I post everyday some information about my town and state.
Ps. I read all your post, regards.
Amanda
Jan 10, 2016 -
So great to hear from you Javier. We would love to connect with you. Let’s try and connect while we’re hear in Guaymas.
Connie Markell
Jan 10, 2016 -
When and where is the next Pickleball game?
May our paths cross again someday, so we could play a few games together. Take care of yourselves and enjoy the sun and sand!!
Happy new year!!
Connie
Amanda
Jan 10, 2016 -
Connie! Come down there is a tournament here on the 17th. Come and play.
Marylou Sewell
Jan 13, 2016 -
Hello you Beach Huggers….The colours are so vivid…like a Georgia O’Keefe painting….Happy 2016.