I'm staring at the coffee mugs hanging from their hooks. They'll have to be put away now, ready for the morning. It's funny how quickly you spread out - or at least, I do. Even after two weeks here in Mazatlan, it feels to me as if tomorrow were really "moving day", not just the day we move on.

Robin is poring over maps and the ever-useful Traveler's Guide to Mexican Camping. We aren't sure how far we'll drive tomorrow. San Blas would be a logical stopping place in terms of distance and time - but both the book and scuttlebutt declare it to be infested with mosquitoes, sand fleas, and no-see-ems. To me, it just doesn't sound like a great spot to camp. Something a bit inland, maybe? I don't think we want to drive all the way to Puerto Vallarta tomorrow, so we will have to figure out a stopping point, but I'd sooner it wasn't San Blas.

Today was just another day in paradise - at least, as long as we were on the beach. The waves are still high, and it never did get really hot, so for me it was ideal. I did have to take the bus to the supermarket for a few things, but that didn't take long. While I was there, I sat and had a cup of coffee and a croissant. Of course, I had left my book inside my backpack. You have to check things like backpacks when you go into a Mexican supermarket. I had had it in my head that I would sit and enjoy a cup of coffee while I read my new Michael Ondaatje book. It wasn't until the young man was pouring my coffee that I saw the flaw in my plan. ;>) So I sat and sipped and munched and watched people, instead. Then, my booklessness reminded me that Robin wanted to buy a new road atlas he had read about - so I picked that up and put it in the cart. I forgot to buy eggs, but that was just as well, because what I had bought filled my backpack. With only my backpack, I was able to go across the road and take the bus that pulled up just in time, rather than taking yet another taxi. Later, I cycled up to the local market and bought the eggs. I needed the exercise, anyway.

Good night. If I disappear for a few days, that just means I'm, god forbid, Not Connected. I'll be back just as soon as I can!

On the way to Mr. Lionso's this morning, Robin commented that there were no birds flying over the water - and nobody swimming.There was a mist heavy enough to obscure the city to the south of us. When we got to the top of the beach, though, we could see a group of surfers bobbing in the water, waiting for a wave. The waves were huge. There must have been one hell of a storm somewhere on the Pacific last night, to produce that kind of surge. Surfer heaven. I was enjoying the view so much, I had to tear myself away to go home and make breakfast. As for the birds, they were just a bit late, that's all. On the way back, we watched the pelicans, the ultimate surfers, skimming just above the surface of the waves. The view was absolutely enchanting.

After breakfast, Robin went out for a bike ride, and I took my new canvas chair out to the beach, where I sat lazily, reading and listening to the surf, loving the cool breeze, until I remembered that even on overcast days, it's still possible to burn.

Later, we cycled up to the top of the street in search of some fish for dinner, but the only fish we saw for sale were whole ones, and I wasn't prepared for that kind of project. I really wanted some filets, or at least a cleaned fish. So we came home empty-handed. I have no idea what's for dinner.

We've decided to stay here until Monday morning, so that we can leave with TJ and Kristin. They've gone to something called the Purple Onion to watch football. I'm hoping that either tomorrow, or sometime soon when we're down at Puerto Vallarta, we can all have a bike ride together. They went out yesterday and bought bicycles, having borrowed ours a couple of times and figured out what they were missing!

Meanwhile, though, I have one more bike ride to do today - down the street in the other direction, to buy milk and eggs. Maybe we can have an omelette for dinner. ;>)

Happy birthday to Robin.

He decided this morning to take the kayak out. In our two weeks here, the only people that had kayaked were TJ and Kris. So out he went. I stayed here to have my breakfast and a shower.

When Robin returned, he was wet. It seems that getting out through the surf was no problem, but getting back was another matter. He got dumped.

The two of us then got on our bikes and headed up to the Looney Bean for coffee, after which R went to check on the lagoon while I came home to make breakfast for him.

After breakfast, we caught a bus to go to Wal-Mart, but it turned out we had to get off at the DQ and catch another bus, which was easier said than done. In the end, we caught a cab (one of the golf cart types), and it was only 40 pesos from there to Wal-Mart. I think that a similar cab ride in Nanaimo would have been worth about $20.

At Wal-Mart, I bought the folding canvas chair I've been looking for. We have two of them at home, but they're not doing us any good here. Robin doesn't care for them, anyway, so we just bought one. Robin found a supply of British Bovril, which he regards as his birthday present.

We cabbed home. I ate lunch, played on the computer for a while, then caught yet another bus to go have my hair cut. We're ready to leave, and all of a sudden we're learning All About Mazatlan.

Robin has a prescription for sleeping pills to tackle occasional bouts of insomnia, so while I was in town I took the prescription into a drugstore that advertised itself as English speaking. Sure enough, the pharmacist spoke excellent English. He told me that yes, he carried the medicine I wanted, and it was 900 pesos ($90) for 30 tablets - about three times what it costs in Canada. Since R still has some pills left, I said no, thank you. I'm glad it wasn't something he needed right away.

Home again, we watched the sunset and had dinner, after which TJ and Kris joined us for Birthday Movie Night in Mazatlan - We watched "Breaker Morant", Robin's favourite movie.

And speaking of sunsets, that's Kris's photo on the right. The lovers silhouetted against the sunset are Colleen and Wade. Great shot. And that reminds me - I've belatedly put some of Kris's pictures in the "El Quelite" post.

We are scheduled to leave here tomorrow morning, but TJ wants to stay in town until Monday, because there's a football game (or two?) he wants to watch this weekend, and friends of his here in Mazatlan are planning to watch it. So - we may be leaving tomorrow, or we may wait for TJ and Kris. (Report to follow in the morning)

Sorry, folks, for this disjointed post. I'll try to be more coherent tomorrow. It's been a long day.

Photo courtesy of Kristin Ames