It is March and time to
start heading back to Mexico. The Corona Virus is in Washington so
it is definitely time to leave. We are still trying to get over the
colds we had so we don't need anymore sickness.
Ron and Noreen have
offered to put us up until we are ready to leave. We figure Monday
will be a good day. We have had a nice visit with them and they have
been such good friends over the years. We love them like family.
Sunday the 1st
we packed and loaded up the truck which wasn't much. All we have to
do tomorrow is strip the bed and gather all our toiletries.
Monday we said goodbye to
Ron and Noreen and thanked them for their hospitality again and
headed south. We got as far as Salem and stopped at a Best Western
Hotel. Dave was tired so we figured we wouldn't push it and just
take our time. We planned not to stop at relative or friend homes on
the way down. We just wanted to get home.
We got up the next morning
and headed out after breakfast. We got to Redding and found a Best
Western Plus Hotel. Dave mentioned, after we got settled, that he
was having trouble emptying his bladder and it burned when he
urinated. He thought it might be a prostrate problem as he had that
in the past. So he tried to find a clinic open but unfortunately it
was too close to 5:00pm. So Dave was wondering if he should go to
the ER. I told him that it was necessary he do that since we are
going to be on the road. So we asked at the desk where the nearest
hospital was and the lady mentioned she had good results at Mercy
Hospital not far from the hotlel. We got the directions and headed
out. We got there and since Dave was still coughing a lot, he got a
mask. I didn't need one. We went inside and checked in. They asked
all kinds of questions and then it was just sit and wait. We sat as
far away from people as we could. The waiting room was pretty full
with people coughing and hacking. While we were waiting the hospital
lost internet so they had to do everything manually. So it took
longer but they did a great job. They got to us as soon as they
could and then they took us to another waiting room. Then it was
into an exam room where they did an ultra sound and had him urinate
into a container. Then we waited. Another doctor came in and asked
questions. Then we just had to wait to see what the test results on
the urine was. We waited 4 hours and found out it was a urinary
Tract Infection. So they gave Dave a pill to take right then and
made out a prescription for him to get in the morning. I was
impressed at how well he was treated and all that they did. When we
got back to the hotel we went to bed. We were both exhausted.
Next morning we had
breakfast then went to Walmart to get the prescription filled,
however, the pharmacy wasn't open until 10:00am. That wasn't going
to work. So we went to a Walgreen’s and got it filled. Then we
were free to head down the road. The medication Dave was taking
seemed to make him really tired so when we stopped in Lodi,
California for lunch, we noticed a couple hotels across the street.
It was 1:00pm but we said lets just go get a room and both of us can
rest up. So that is what we did. Again we stayed at a Best Western.
We took naps and just relaxed. I was surprised they had a room
cleaned and ready for us.
Next morning we headed out
after breakfast and decided we would go as far as we felt like it.
So we ended up in Lebec just off I-5, the grapevine. Dave wanted to
go to the Iron Skillet for dinner so the hotel was close to that.
When it was time for dinner we walked to the Iron Skillet and found
it had shut down due to power outage. They had just gotten the power
back on and were planning on reopening the restaurant as soon as they
got all the food prepared. Well we waited and waited. It must have
been like an hour and a half. The restaurant was in a little mall so
we browsed in the one store there and thought of having Baskin Robin
ice cream for dinner but didn't. Pretty soon the restaurant opened
their door and we went in. We checked out the buffet and salad bar.
We got a seat and then ordered dinner. After people came in and had
finished their meals and went to pay and the waitress said it was
cash only. Well that didn't sit well with any of us. But the
solution was to use the ATM outside the restaurant to pay for our
meals. They didn't charge us tax which was nice. The waitress had
told us and others near us that they should have just closed. People
were getting a little upset and said they should have told everyone
at the beginning it was on a cash only basis. Live and learn. We
walked back to the hotel and had a restful night. Dave is feeling
better but still very tired. He still has a really bad cough and I
still have my cough but it is getting better. We are glad to be
going where it is warm and where there is sunshine. Washington was
too wet and cold.
Next morning we were on
the road again and we drove as far as El Centro which is just on the
north side of the Mexican border. We stayed at a Hampton Inn which
was really nice. We walked over to have dinner at Olive Garden.
Dave wasn't really hungry and I wasn't either so we had a big salad
to share and bread sticks and Dave ordered soup. That hit the spot.
Walked back to our room and called it a night.
We didn't end up crossing
the border where we thought we would as we followed the signs that
lead us a different way. We wanted to stop at Walmart just off hwy
111 but the way we were directed took us way beyond that. There was
no hassles or waiting time at the border. We had nothing to delcare
so we breezed into Mexicali, Mexico. We actually got a little lost
and couldn't find the main highway but found it eventually. Then it
was 5.5 miles to home. The way we went was down highway 5 which
takes us through San Felipe. That road and the bridges they built
all were destroyed in the last hurricane that came through and it has
taken a long time for it all to be replaced and repaired. But now
the road is new as well as the bridges and it is a much faster route
to take then from Ensenada. We arrived at our house early afternoon
and was glad not to be on the road still. Because we didn't have
much to unpack, we were settled in no time.
After being home for a
while and watching the news, more cases of Covid-19 are showing up in
Washington and everywhere. Now it is getting really serious and
schools and business are shutting down. Brooke and Ernie are home
schooling the boys and Ernie can't start his new job until it is safe
to do so. So they are going a little stir crazy. We are lucky as we
haven't had any cases here. But it is inching closer.
We have had cloudy days
with quite a bit of rain. The people that live in Rincon, across the
bay are stuck there until the flats dry out. That could take a while
as it gets slick with thick slimy mud. No one can get to Rincon
either. I am sure glad we didn't decide to live over there.
Our little black truck has
old windshield wipers and since rain is predicted for later today, I
will stop at the mechanic garage and see if he has any that fit the
truck. Today the gals are getting together for Mexican Train. I've
been having a lot of sinus problems and really didn't want to go but
my friend from Oregon was here and leaving soon so I wanted to see
her. When I stopped at the mechanic garage the man that owns the
place said he had some wipers but he was in the middle of working on
someone's car so I told him I would stop by on my way home. Well by
early afternoon the skies were getting darker and I was getting antsy
to get going. I had to do some grocery shopping since I didn't have
much at the house so when we were done with the game, I left and went
to one store and got a few items and decided I better get to the
mechanic and get the windshield wipers on because it was going to
rain. So that is what I did and then I went to another store and got
the rest of the items on my list and on the way home it rained.
Thank goodness I was able to have the new blades on.
The word is out that the
border may be closing going into Mexico and the word was put out that
if anyone was in Mexico that was from the U.S. Should get back before
they couldn't for a long while. Well this is where we live so we
will stay here until it is safe to travel. We were going to head
north again to Washington in May, but with all this happening, we are
just staying put. We are supposed to be camp hosts for Illahee State
Park in Bremerton in June, but the parks are closing at least for
now. They will be closed until the end of April and then the powers
to be will decide whether they will open them again. We really don't
care as we want to stay healthy and no sense traveling when you don't
have too. Family seems to be holding their own. All kids are
healthy.
Ernie and E.J. are having
a great time crossing the country seeing the sights they wanted to
see for a long time. Like the Football Hall of Fame. Ernie and E.J.
are such sport buffs that it was perfect for them. They are supposed
to be in Spokane on the 14th for Brody's basketball
tournament. This is the end game of the season. Ernie said they had
good roads and weather until they reached Washington. Then they hit
snow. But they made it safely. They were all back in Marysville on
Sunday which is his 45th birthday. E.J. will be with
them for a couple days and then head for Sacrament to Travis Air
Force base.
Talking to a friend here,
I mentioned I wasn't going to play Mexican Train this week just to
keep my distance. I have to go into town to shop for grocery's,
water and gas and didn't need to be around anymore people. When I
left the game last week I didn't feel good when I got home. I was
starting a sinus infection and I started coughing again so I decided
I wouldn't be around anyone unless I absolutely had to. Well Train
wasn't played this week. Not many locals or Americans out and about.
Smart. I enjoy playing but don't want to risk getting sick.
Went into town and did
grocery shopping and got gas in the black truck and a jerry can. The
rumor around town was that the gas stations were running out of gas
and there would not be any deliveries for a while, maybe even a
month. I was able to get gas so I felt good. We were good for a
while and we had gas for the generators. I have been doing large
loads of laundry to try and catch up. We just got water delivered
for our pila so I have more water for laundry. Dave made a nice
clothesline for me so now I don't hang clothes above the deck
anymore. The new clothesline is in the sun all day so the clothes
dry faster.
Wind was expected on
Wednesday up to 50 maybe even 60 miles per hour. It blew all day
around that and seemed to blow harder in the afternoon. The forecast
said the wind was to calm down around 6PM. I fixed dinner and we sat
down to eat. I made a comment that the wind hadn't calmed down yet
and it was after 6. After dinner I was at the sink getting ready to
wash dishes when the wind picked up to a loud roar and the west
window was shaking so bad I thought it was going to blow in. So I
moved away from the kitchen. Dave was in the living room looking out
the west window in our bedroom when all hell broke loose. The
bedroom window shattered sending glass everywhere, and a big hole was
torn through the west side bedroom wall. A couple of 2x4's were
split in two and sheet rock, insulation and lots of sand was blown
into the bedroom and living room. What a mess. Dave wasn't near the
window or wall so he was safe and I saw the damage and just prayed
for the wind to stop. What happened was the new garage that was
build a year ago, the roof on the west side blew off in one piece,
and was blown 150 ft toward the house. It went over our electrical
room and slammed into the northwest end of the house. But the
amazing thing was it kept going. It skipped across the roof, all
along being turned around and around by the wind. It put about 3
holes into the roof and took out one of our large skylights. Debris
flew and part struck the roof of my art room which is attached to the
north side of the house. Then the roof off the garage landed in the
front yard and exploded sending sheet metal out on the beach and into
the water along with cement and wood. Unbelievable. I was standing
in the middle of the dining room away from the windows praying and
saying aloud for the wind to stop. It finally started to calm down
by 7PM. Our gate guard came over to see what happened and he was
almost in tears because he felt he didn't do a good job on the garage
because it came apart. I explained to him that it was Mother Nature
and his work was good. Things like this just happen. I explained to
him how the wind lifted up the roof and ripped it off. He also lost
a couple of his roofs. The wind also blew our Direct TV antenna off
the roof. Dave called our neighbor George to come over and he did
and helped to secure the sheet metal that was in the front yard to
keep it from flying around and other loose debris. Dave had moved
our big truck out of the big garage and found no damage to it which
was amazing. Cement blocks had dropped right down in front of the
truck!! Later I did find a little scratch but boy were we lucky.
George went back home and then our other neighbor came over with some
plywood so help board up the side of the house and holes in the roof.
Tito, our gate guard and him were on ladders screwing in the boards
and on top of the roof covering the hole let from the skylight and in
the roof. Also patched the hole in the art room roof. Thank God for
people like that who will help no matter what. We felt so much
better getting that done. The sky looked threatening with dark clouds
and I was afraid it was going to pour, but it didn't. It was a
little drafty in the house but eventually it would all get fixed.
Dave and I got all the glass and debris picked up in the bedroom and
living room. All we could do for now is just pile it in the dining
room until the next day. Dave started the generator and I vacuumed
the rug and floors. I had to change the bed as there was broken
glass and sand and all on it. But at least we could sleep in our
bed. We did think of sleeping on the hide-a-bed but it wouldn't have
been very comfortable. Here are some pictures.
Above is my art room roof.
First thing next morning
we contacted the insurance company in Ensenada. We have homeowner
insurance so we were hoping some if not all of the damage would be
covered. He told us to list materials and labor and send it to him
of how much we thought it would cost. The only thing that wouldn't
be covered is the TV antenna. We lucked out though because a friend
here had bought a new antenna thinking he would need it, but he
didn't so he was going to sell it to us for what he paid. Way
cheaper than if we had to order one. After we got finished with the
insurance stuff, Tito came over and patched the gouges in the roof on
the house and the art room so if it did rain we would be alright.
Now we had to see about getting some of the materials to start
repairs. The insurance man sent us a letter that we needed to sign
and send back. Then Dave and him worked out an amount that the
insurance man said was good. Dave was too low in his estimate so he
and Tona, our insurance man, got it up to a workable amount. So now
all we have to do is wait.
Dave went out to the big
garage and started cleaning up the sand and cement. I was able to
retrieve 3 of the sheet metal pieces out of the water at low tide,
but had to leave one there since it has been partially buried in
sand. When the tide is at it's lowest in a month or so we can dig it
out. The last sheet I pulled out, was awkward handling, and trying
to keep off slick rocks, headed back across the rocks to the sand
beach when I lost my footing and fell. I didn't get hurt because I
had my back belt on, but it jolted me. My butt was a little sore but
no real problem. To get the last one out it was going to be tricky
trying to walk on slick rocks and I couldn't see clear enough as the
waves were rolling in. I decided it wasn't worth the risk so I will
get it when I can. Even our gate guard tried to get it and couldn't
due to it being buried.
The 24th Dave,
our neighbor Lee, and I took a drive to Guerro Negro. We wanted to
get the window fixed and see if the ferreteria (hardware store) had
insulation. We also had to get money and go to the pharmacy to get
some meds for my friend. We were able to get the window done and get
the meds and money but no insulation. We tried another store but
they didn't have any either. So we came back to Bahia and stopped at
the ferreteria in town and they didn't have any either. Dave was
told that supplies were on hold coming from San Quintin and Ensenada
for up to a month. So that means we can't get the beams and wood or
insulation.
In the meantime Dave is
trying to find out from our insurance guy, Tona, just what is
happening with our claim. Well nothing is easy down here, especially
where we live. If we were in a big city it wouldn't be so difficult,
but because we live so far away from a big city, it is going to be a
challenge. Tona told us that they didn't send the claim to Mexico
City. It went to Tijuana instead. That guy in Tijuana needs to have
pictures of all the receipts of the work done so far and contract
numbers and blah, blah, blah. Well the guys down here that work
don't have numbers. And after all is said and done, we may not get
as much money as we need. So Dave is going to give it a while longer
and try to comply with the guy in Tijuana and see where it leads. So
in the meantime we are ordering the supplies and having work done.
Our little Home Depot here, just a materials store, is having
supplies ordered and picked up by his mom and dad in Ensenada. We
will probably have all the materials to put the roof on the garage.
As far as insulation, the guys that put in 2x4's in our bedroom wall
and sheet rock used the insulation that came out of the wall. There
was enough of it to piece it all together. So we lucked out there.
Here is the repaired wall and window.
So now we will be getting the beams and other wood to make the frame
for the sheet metal. We next week we should have that finished.
It has been windy here
everyday starting about 10am so Dave hasn't been able to get the TV
dish on the roof. Because this antenna we got is different from the
one we had, Dave has to find the studs and make sure he is screwing
the antenna into wood not roofing material. So eventually we will
get TV back. For the time being, without TV, after dinner and
cleanup, we read, play games on our tablets and Dave has a war game
he likes to play on his computer. When we lived on the boat and
cruising we didn't have TV so it isn't anything new to us. I have
been reading a lot and enjoying it.
The Americans here have
been keeping their distance. When I go into town to shop I haven't
seen hardly any Americans and the clerks are wearing gloves and
masks. Everyone is trying to be careful. Our little village is
healthy so far, and when we do get new Americans in from the states,
they quarantine themselves to be sure not to spread germs. There
have been cases of the virus reported in San Quintin, Tijuana and
Ensenada. The shelves in the stores are looking a little bare
because supplies are being held back. We all are making the best of
the situation.
Today I tackled painting
the north wall that had damage from the storm. We still had orange
paint, and enough to put 2 coats on. Have to wait for that to dry
before doing the teal color on the west wall. Things are slowing
getting done though. Excellent!!!
Our windows are so dirty I
couldn't stand it anymore and just did a quick wash. Sprayed water
on the windows and used a squeegie to wipe it off. We now can see out
our windows. At a later date I will do a better job. But get
this-----Dave was saying how awful the windows were and then it took
2 days for him to notice!!! What's up with THAT!!! Ha, ha! No
worries.
I'm hoping April will be a better month for everyone!!!
