Careful Beach Days

Oh the sun and surf are glorious!  We are just in from the beach, eyes still stingy from saltwater wash, but pleasantly tired and thinking I hear that ice cold Tecate in the fridge calling my name....ahhhh....yep, that's just what that beer was saying.  With a fresh slice of lime, it's the perfect saltwater antidote.

Word amongst the resident surfers is that the hurricane changed the surf point a bit, moving it southward, but that it is still good surfing.  We have been cautiously studying the waves as they pound into shore, noting that even the surfers sometimes have to work to come safely ashore.  Our first day's swim was merely a quick dip out beyond where we could touch and then a quick trip back in.  We found we do have to time the shoreward movement to coordinate with the waves, as the undertow is pretty strong and neither of us is a strong swimmer.  The sand under the breakers drops  steeply toward the ocean, making the waves break close to shore and swimmers find themselves soon in over their heads.  The second day we stayed in a little longer, and the third, etc, etc,  until today, when it changed again:  the ocean bottom not as steep today, making the waves break further away and with much more force.  Not quite the predictable, gently sloped ocean floor where I spent my teen-aged years in southern California.  (But then, again, my body is not quite the vigorous one which I took for granted in those days, either.)

The sun here seems to shine brighter,  longer and more intensely than back home.  Although we smear 30 weight sunblock over every exposed piece of skin, about an hour and a half on the beach is about as much as our winterized skins can take at this point.  I look forward to the time we can spend entire days out there without fear of burning!

As we spend time on the beach and in the neighborhood, we are beginning to see old acquaintances.  Dr. Robert has a place with rentals just down the beach.  We watched the SuperBowl with him last year in a bar/restaurant that was taken by the hurricane.  He told us how the roofs on all three of his buildings were blown off.  He told us his third trampoline was gone.  He laughs as he tells us it is out in the sea making its way back to where it came from...China!  He has had all his roofs rebuilt and is back in business renting out rooms.

Last year I was envious of a family of surfers with a sweet camping spot just down the beach from us.  They had a huge palapa, with running water, and camped out underneath it within easy view of the ocean.  What a life!  Further back on the property stands a more substantial building, a small secure, circular cement structure.  I imagine small bathroom, shower and kitchen within.  This year not only is there no sign of the surfing family, but few signs of recent habitation.  While the cement structure and small homemade cargo trailer remain intact on the property, the palapa lies broken on the ground like an old mushroom.  Sad to see.  Wonder where they are this year? And I wonder if their little blonde boy is approaching other waves in another part of the world with the same confidence and skill.

Today as I came near the end of my run, Gary's handyman and our old "amigo" from Gary days, Lupe,  stopped alongside the road, sharing his joy and glee over our return!  He is still driving Gary's old car, left to him, from one Mexican citizen (Tata Gary) to another. I can't believe it is still running!

Makes me feel like we are home when I see people like Lupe and Dr. Robert after nearly a year's absence.  And home always feels good.