Day 3

We just had another great weather day at the resort.  I decided not to go diving, nor did we drive into Playa Del Carmen to check out the local flavour.  There is a bit of regrets, but nothing I will dwell on too much.  I can always come back! 

This resort does not have much of a beach area.  Some, but not what you would typically think.  There is a lot of rock.  Like heavy bolders of rock.  The other thing about this resort is there is a lot of green space and shade.  The builders did not simply cut down every tree in sight, lay concrete, then put up the resort.  Quite the contrary actually.  Each pool area has a lot of shade and natural cover from the sun.  We have typically just gone to one area, but in the morning it is all in shade.  By mid afternoon, full sun until about four thirty.  By five we have had enough of the pool area.  Back to the room for a bit of a rest and clean up.  Meet for dinner by seven....  That has how most days have gone.

My Monday morning run was dreadful.  I thought I was done for with a pounding head ache and feeling dehydrated and hungover, but I did get a respectable 4 miles in.  On Tuesday I hit 5 and 6 for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday....  Not too shabby.  Better then nothing.

Cancun Continued

The last 2 days here were hideout days.  Hideout from the rain.

On Tuesday and Wednesday it rained very heavily.  Despite it being warm, it was not so nice.  We tried to hangout at the pool, but it just didn't really workout that well.  The only place to find shelter from the rain was under a bridge - although you would still be wet from the chin down.  I guess the thinking was at least your head and hair would be dry.  Tuesday was spent in the luxury suite ordering lots of drink and room service, and having a pretty decent euchre tournament.  The losers would have to tip that night at dinner....  Jamie and I won, Bill and Chris would be laying the gratuities.

Thursday came and it promised to be a spectacular weather day.  It would be to the pool.  I sort of have a wee bit of an itch to get out into Playa Del Carmen for a scratch and a sight seeing adventure.  But since we missed two pool days, that hasn't been taken care of....    On Thursday I also jumped into the pool with a scuba tank on and got a bit of a refresher.  Chris is going out for a few dives on Friday and I am half thinking about doing that as well.  The last time I dove was in 2007.  But the company ran my name into the data base and it is on record that I have my PADI certification, so I am good to go.  Money talks more then anything down here.  They weren't so concerned that over 10 years have passed since being underwater with a regulator in my mouth....  Can't decide what to do.

What is most impressive down here is the friendliness and hospitality of all the workers.  You don't ever pass someone who works here that doesn't make eye contact, then offer a hello and how are you.  The service in the restaurants is amazing.  Top shelf for sure with taking orders and serving the ladies first, topping up water, coffee or wine, pulling plates, and all those go-to things that it takes to get it done in the industry.  Everone is just so nice.  Nobody who works down here is tall.  The average height of the guys is mid to low five feet tall.

But today is Valentine's Day and I have sent a quick message back to my sweethearts at home.  I am thinking of quite often on this trip...

Cancun

On Sunday 6 of us left Toronto, another 2 from Detroit, and we headed to Cancun, and then ultimately another 60km south to Playa Del Carmen....  We are even another 10km south.  The ultimate destination would be the Occidental Xcaret.  It is a huge facility With about 750 rooms for guests.

So the cast of characters included a bunch of high school friends.  They have done a pretty good job over the past 10 years of traveling and meeting up with one another.  Although I have been invited, I haven't gone on any of their winter destination holidays.  This year would be different.  Able to go, I said it would be great to join them.

Chris an I would be rooming in the resorts premier section, and premier rooms.  It is something else.  It isn't so much as a room, but rather a mini house with a huge deck and hot tub, living room, massive bathrooms, a decent living space, and just an all around great vibe.  We checked in with champagne, and an incredible set up including full room service, laundry, different dining and eating areas, private swimming area, and conseirge service.  There would be maybe 50 guests in our somewhat gated area.  It is the nicest hotel room I have ever been in.  The whole resort is wonderful.  The highlight is being with friends however sharing lots of laughs and social time.

It is raining quite steadily today, and I hear it is raining miserably in Goderich.  But the 26 degree celcius rain is much different then the -10 degree rain.

Transformers

A few weeks ago Wally slayed his fourth birthday.  Shelly and I weren't all that impressed as it was just after the holiday hustle and bustle, but that will be the way it is for him with an early January date.  It was just more toys, basically, and more wrapping paper and more people and more, more more....  Oh well, we had a relatively simple party.  He really wanted to have lots of Transformers around - it is his favourite go-to toy these days.

Shelly splashed together the cake, we had some pizza, the kids played and fought, it was a typical affair.

There hasn't been much of winter this year.  There isn't a whole lot of snow, it hasn't been too cold.  There is no consistency in winter yet.  For example we've got out to go tobogganing one day, but the next day it rained.  There has been a few in climate weather days with school cancellations, but I am not really too sure of the reason because it has been fine out for the most part.  I think I have only shoveled the driveway 1 or 2 times.  But I did use the snowblower once for a pretty big 10 cm dump.   I don't get it.  During December it rained and thunder stormed a few times, and there was lightning.  A person who I work with and farms, said that after such an event like that it means 6 weeks of an open winter.  Sure enough she hasn't been too far off.

Molly and Mia are best of friends and best of enemies.  They are 4 months apart, are in the same class at school, and are as inconsistent as the weather this winter with their behaviour and love for one another.  But where we go, Mia usually comes along.  If Molly isn't home, she'll be at Mia's.

Wally invited this guy Bennett to his birthday.  Their love of long blonde locks make these two nearly identical.  Their birthdays are only a couple weeks apart as well.  As the story goes, Bennett's grandmother was charged with the day care pick up and she grabbed Wally to take home!  (They go to the same day care.)  Both boys could use a haircut, but the long hair has served Trevor Lawrence, Samson and Joel Wright well, so maybe there is something to it.   They do look alike though.

Other then Molly, we all have a great deal to look forward to on February first.  It will be pretty easy to finish off the month and then enjoy the sabbatical.

New Year

2018 wasn't such a big year in blogging, but there were a few updates and stories that will be forever saved.  There may be more in 2019 with another sabbatical from work starting in February.  That always produces the travel recaps and some new content.  

My buddy is on/has been on a great trip which starting during the first of December and they aren't getting home until the middle of January.  It is nice to read about their journey and see the pictures.  I don't think he'd mind if I provided the link.  (http://tremainiacs.blogspot.com/)  I guess it is a bit more interesting if you knew him and the family, but to journal for 35 days on the road, in Africa, the middle east, central Asia, and down to Australia, and home, takes a bit of a commitment and attention to detail.  I know they usually get their blog printed and bound into a book which is makes a fine keepsake.

We didn't get up to too much over the holidays.  We spent a bit of time with the families, a bit of time with friends, and a bit of time at home with one another and out at the cabin.  It maybe wasn't so equal as it sounds, but we made it through the chaos.  Wally scored a number of transformers and rescue-bots.  He also really wanted a Light Saber, and sure enough he got one.  Molly on the other hand wanted a bounty of LOL dolls and other similar things that are small and easily lost.  Sure enough she got some, as well as a bit of Lego and clothes for both kids. Both kids even got a sleeping bag each, an air mattress, and a GT Snowracer.  They are lucky.   

So not too much going on right now.  The big news is that Shelly and I both have a big break from work starting in February until September.  I've got a trip booked to Cancun with some buddies from high school, then Shelly and I are planning on a bit of a trip south as well.  It isn't booked, but it looks like a Costa Rican week at a surf school on the beach which should be so much fun.  We will get to Atlanta at some point to see my sister....  Nothing planned to get out west to my brother's, but that doesn't mean we won't....  I will wait for warmer weather and get on a motorbike trip for sure..... 

A Quick Picture

Freshly taken....

And a new kitten in the house....

We are all very well over this holiday season.

Inside The Cabin

The cabin is all done and has been done for a month basically.  In saying that, I am going to put on some fascia, gutters as well as a railing on the steps.  I am thinking that there might be a need to put lattice on the bottom of it too for decoration.   At any rate it is mostly done.

We've stayed out there a few nights.  If anything it gets too warm and uncomfortable for sleeping.  With wood stoves it is all or nothing.  We can control how fast the wood burns with the air dampers, but it isn't as easy to make the wood burn with any less intensity and heat.  So it is as hot as hell going to bed, during the night it is really reasonable, yet first thing in the morning it is actually a bit chilly with the fire all but extinguished.  Pioneer life is dam tough!

The floor is plywood and it will stay that way.  But next on the agenda is curtains and hooks.  We need curtains for the basic reason to need curtains.  Not only does it make the windows look better and complete from the inside, but it will keep out some light obviously.  The ladder has become our coat rack.  So hooks on the wall will keep our clothing up off the ground and able to dry.  There is probably good reason to add a railing on the outside stairs, add fascia on some boards, and ultimately put gutters/eaves troughs on the front and back of the cabin.

But it is great.  It is really a great spot.  Each time we go out we bring less and less stuff.  There will always be something missing or needed, but it isn't that bad and town is not too far away.

Molly just had her 7th birthday.  She had a big party with friends last weekend, and this weekend we stayed around and had a bit of a family party out at the cabin.