Other Photos from January 31st trip.

Jeff wading the estuary.

Fishing?






The main boat ramp in Cholla Bay right by JJ's.







The guys prior to the RCPM show.






The patio at JJ's.




The wheel that sealed Grant's doom.

Jeff Turns 40 and RCPM

We picked a great weekend to run down to Mexico and celebrate Jeff turning 40 and catching RCPM at the January Jam....but I am getting ahead of myself......

Jeff, Grant, and I departed Phoenix late on Wednesday January 28th. The truck was loaded with furniture (Grant says he has never gone down to the house when I have not had some type of house hold item loaded), food, beer, fishing stuff, and Jeff's crab traps. The trip down was uneventful except for the roll of wire that flew out of the back of the truck just outside of Gila Bend. It just so happened that right behind us was a Border Patrol truck who ran it over, then pulled us over. He was very cool and he just asked us if it was something important and to check our load. The border was easy and we arrived at the house around 11:00 pm and settle in. Thursday morning we had a great breakfast of elk sausage and eggs. Jeff had made up some crab traps that we wanted to try so we went to the estuary behind the house and placed the taps using a concrete block, some rope and a milk jug float to mark the location. Last May this area was full of crabs and little fish, but this time of year it did not have the same about of sea life, but we set the tarps and hoped we would catch a couple. We then ran into town to get some squid for bait and a couple of items we needed at the house. We tried a small fish market closer to the house for the squid. In our broken spanglish we learned we could get the squid at La Lei (spelling of that I do not know for sure) which was great as we could then get everything at one stop. We picked up the squid, some catchup,and a couple of telcell cards for my two Mexico cell phones and we were set. We wanted to bait fish on an incoming tide. Our first try was at the mouth of the estuary West of the house. The signs say that this area is for members only, but we talked to the caretaker and he said it was ok for us to fish there but that this was not the right time of the year (a common trend for the week end of fishing). We casted out into that area and spent the rest of the afternoon watching our line and drinking beer....but no fish. That evening back at the house Grant made up some elk corned beef and potatoes and we enjoyed the evening. We built a good fire in the fireplace and started to get the house warmed up.

Jeff setting one the crab traps.....and yes the water was a little cold.

A side line on owning a concrete house. As I stated in a prior blog, it takes some time to get a concrete house warm as the mass of the house stores energy (cold or hot). Once you do get the inside of the house to a comfortable temperature the house stays fairly constant, but still a little on the cool side.

The next day after another good breakfast we tried to fix the water pump. We had noticed the night before that the pump had stopped working, and agreed that we would tackle this job during the day. After a bunch of running around and checking voltages with a borrowed voltage tester, we were able to wire the pump motor with a cord to a wall outlet and we had water pressure. It was not a permanent solution, but one that could work. After we resolved that big issue at around 10:00 am we started off to another estuary spot we had scouted about 6 months prior. When we left the house we locked it all up and shut the damper on the fireplace to prevent a down draft into the house. This fishing spot was a lot more promising. At this location some locals launch their fishing boats and the bay appears to be a good crab fishing area as there were many old crab traps up on shore....but none in the water. We fished this spot for a few hours. Might of had some nibbles, but no real strikes. We did get to see a local land his two pongas and unload his catch. Flounder and rays were the majority of the fish he had caught. He cleaned the fish right there and the birds went crazy. No wonder this area had the crab traps if the fisherman cleaned there fish all the same way; leaving the fish parts in the water for the crabs and rays. We stayed in this area for another hour and then went back to the house.


As soon as we opened the garage door I knew I had problem. Smoke poured out of the house....the fire in the fireplace was not totally out when I closed the damper. The house filled with smoke as it had no place to go. He aired the house out but it took the remainder of our stay to get the smell of smoke out of the house. That night we fixed some carne asada and settled in awaiting the rest of the gang.

Darren and Chris arrived around 10:30 - 11:00 that Friday. We had a few gin and tonics and vodka and tonics, etc. Sometime that night Grant started to talk about palm trees and then vanished to his bedroom.....so we assumed the remainder of the week end that anyone who mentioned palm trees must be drunk.

Gin and Vodka Tonics are good around a nice fire on the patio.....Jeff had whiskey...

The next morning we took a ride out to the mouth of the estuary at low tide. I had never been to that part of the beach at the lowest tide and it was very cool. There are some rocks and reef out in the middle of that area with all kinds of sea creatures. It will be a great place to take the kids when the water is warmer to explore. We goofed around over there until around noon and then went back to the house to have lunch and get ready for the RCPM show that evening. We had been told that we needed to be over to JJ's around 4:00 to get a table so we left the house soon after 3:00 to make the run over there. It was a cool night, and a great show. Jeff had never been to a peacemakers show and he was impressed. We drank a few beers from 4:00 until we got out of there at 11:00 that night...good thing they sell beer by the case (but only 20 per case?) It was a great time had by all....we got to see a lady fall off the rock wall and hit her head. She bled all over, and on Chris as he tried to help her. We also got to see Grant get a girls phone number, which was worth the trip in it self. After the show we stopped by a place called Chango's over by Sandy Beach on the way home...nothing really going on there so we stopped by Manny's...which was even more dead. At that point it was time to get home.

Super Bowl Sunday: It was one of those picture perfect days in Mexico in the winter. Clear, very little wind, and the ocean was like glass for most of the day. We hung out around the house, enjoyed the warm weather, made up some bratwurst on the grill, got cleaned up and went to town to watch the big game. We picked the Boo Bar. We had been there a couple of other times and I had see the photos that Myn had taken there of the last playoff game and the place looked packed. With a game this big, we wanted to enjoy a place that would have some crowd atmosphere and we were not disappointed. The game was good (at least the the last quarter) and the half time part of the night was almost as memorable....the attached photo says it all. Needless to say, the Cardinals lost the game, but we have a very good time. After the game we strolled down to the Thirsty Parrot and had a beer but on the way we lost Grant. We hung out on the patio over looking the street and then we caught sight of him. He was wearing a new Mexican pull over jacket and a pair of yellow goggles that only "Hancock" would have on. He tried to explain what a great "deal" he got on the set. Needless to say we gave Grant hell on that purchase for the remainder of the night. Back at the house that night we packed up a few things as Jeff had to be back home very early.

Yes,that is Grant up on the stage in his underwear......

Nice goggles....

Thanks to Jeff, Grant, Chris and Darren. It was a great week end and one of those I think we all will remember for a very long time.

Sunny Monday

What a great day to be from Arizona.....the weather was great this last week end, and to top it off the Cardinals won!!! If they keep this up they will be in the Super Bowl. I was checking out Myn's blog today and she had a good shot of Sandy Beach.....it would have been a good day in Mexico. It looks like the weather will be solid all week. Check out the photo at;

http://mynparty.blogspot.com/

Jeff Hartin e-mailed me about the crab traps he is building for our fishing trip at the end of the month. That should be a great time....hope the weather is like this week. We may need to find a great place to watch the super bowl if the cardinals get in as we will still be in Mexico that Sunday.

January in Mexico.....always a good way to start the year

I have not made a post in some time, but we have not been down to the house in over a month so we have not had any new Puerto Pensaco things to talk about. The holidays are tough, and in my business work gets very slow in November and even slower in December. To compound that, the economy in the building industry is in the crapper, so my typical stress is double. But it is now 2009……and hope prevails.

Over the holiday Matt played in the Winter Nationals Baseball tournament for a team called the Gators. They are a 12U team based out of Goodyear. It was a good experience for him with a new team, different coach, and different dugout dynamic. On this team he was a role player and not the go to guy to pitch them into a win or make the big play. When he was in the game I think he played well, and I was very proud of him. In the championship game for 3rd place, he started the game at pitcher. He had a great first inning. He gave up only one run, and struck out one. In the very next inning, a ball was hit right up the middle and glanced off the mobile pitching mound and hit him right in the mouth. It cut the inside of his lip and he was bleeding…..we washed his mouth out with water and when asked what he wanted to do he said, “I want to stay in the game and pitch”. He stayed in, but he was not as good as when he started. He lasted until the middle of the third and they pulled him with the score tied.
They ended up losing the game, 10 to 6. The team ended up in fourth place out of 18 teams

We finally made it down to Mexico on Thursday, January 1st. The weather was good. About 70 to 72 degrees…nice compared to most of the USA. The house was cold. It felt like it was colder in the house then outside. I guess when you have an all concrete house that is what you get. We sat on the patio and enjoyed the warm sun, and with the sun so low in the sky this time of year the house gets a full dose of sunshine as well. My wife hates the cold, and was never out of her warm clothes. We had a great time; we cooked some carne assade on the grille, watched some movies as a family (we do not do that much in Phoenix as with a 17 year old and a 12 year old we all have different taste), and just enjoyed the quiet.

The only issue I had at the house was the water pump. When we first arrive and turned on the pump breaker, the pump started and was making a high pitch whining noise; like metal on metal. As it got going, and water was pumping that sound went away, and only happened when we let the pump sit for more then 8 hours (like over night). There was no place to lubricate the pump or the electric motor so all I can conclude is the pump is not staying primed, or that the bearings are going out. I plan to buy as replacement and take it down with me the next time we go. I will first try re-priming the pump and inspecting the unit. If it still makes the noise, I will have the replacement unit there with me and I will not have to wait for our next trip.

We only went into town one day. I needed a couple things so we stopped at the ACE hardware, and then at a pharmacy where we purchased a new 2009 tide chart calendar. We swung by the port and had ice cream at the Thrifty and then had lunch (backwards I know, but we were on vacation). We tried a place call "La Cocina Ramon". Ok food; I had read about the place in a magazine and thought we would try it. The article said that the owner used to be the cook at the “Port Galley Restaurant”….we had liked the fish there and thought we would give this place a try. Like I said….ok food. I had fish tacos and my son had the fried fish. The two dishes did not have the same type of fish; his was just like the old restaurant….flakey and fresh; mine was dull and not flavorful. One would think you would use the same fish…….live and learn.

We stopped by CEDO (I am not sure what this is an abbreviation for) over in Las Conchas on our way home. I had never been there, and with the weather it sounded like a good thing. Not a lot to look at, but I purchased as great book on beach combing. I had also been curious about fishing for crab in the estuary. One the leaders of the group made a couple calls and confirmed that sport fishing, and fishing for crab was ok as long as I was not catching a whole boat full of crab. We have plans at the end of the month to do some fishing and confirming the rules on crab fishing was a good thing to know.

Saturday night the clouds came in and the ocean turned from blue, to green, to grey as the storm front moved in. Great to see the Arizona Cardinals win on TV. On Sunday we packed up and headed home. When we left the house we did not think about the time or that it was a holiday weekend; that was a mistake. A two hour wait at the boarder was our end of the holiday gift…….but we had a great time.

Last time @ JJ's.....the Summer RCPM Show

With the new RCPM show announcement for January 31st, I found some shots of JJ's from the last time I was there and took photos.

....it was the Sunday Post Show Party back in May of 2008.

This is a shot of the patio......I guess where the guy is singing is where the stage will be set up for Roger and the gang.

Roger at the meet and greet...

We probably will drink a few of these in January......shorts and flip flops could be an issue, but a good time none the less I hope.

Someone is out there.....for those of you who do not know, Myaann has a great blog about Rocky Point. I check it out at least twice a week....some times every day. The link is http://mynparty.blogspot.com/

She added my link for the RCPM show.....Thanks. I plan to add her blog site to the message board for RCPM.....many fans go to this site for Mexico related things and I am sure they will like her Blog.

Something to look forward to!!!

Another RCPM Show has been added.....January 31, 2009 @ JJ's. Good news in light of how I feel.....I needed that boost!