Reliving Hawaii

I used to love Hawaii for short stretches. Stay too long and it feels more and more like an island. The surfing, snorkeling and hiking in a tropical setting is hard to beat. It's not cheap but I always found a way to do it on a shoestring.

The first couple visits were in the Navy in the early 1960's. It was a required stop when heading to the Western Pacific. Our first chance to wear our tropical white uniforms, drink beer on the beach and see some tourist sites. A buddy and I stuck our heads in a fancy beach bar and listened to 5 minutes of Don Ho.

The next trip was in the early 1980's when I bought a one way ticket and stayed 6 months. Rented a cheap place just off Waikiki, bought a bike and spent a lot of time on the beach. Snorkel fished with locals, boogie boarded off the Waikiki pier and took the cheap bus over to Sandy Beach and around the island. Even tried driving a Pedi-Cab from the International Market for awhile but those over weight mid-western tourists got the better of me.

Sometime in the early 1990's my sister and husband bought a condo in Hawaii Kai so didn't have to rent but stays were shorter and I was working in Seattle. Sandy Beach was only a 10 minute drive from their place so I was there often. Sandy's shore break is really pretty dangerous if you don't know what you are doing and can be even if you're experienced.  I saw a couple tourists pulled in for not paying attention. The waves can slam you into the sand if you don't bale out. When I first went in the lifeguard came to the edge of the beach checking me closely. After I surfed a couple he relaxed and went back to his tower. Very exhilarating but I'm way past trying anything like that including Skim Boarding here is Mexico. 

Sandy looking toward the Blow Hole

It breaks in shallow water

A photographer

Can get a little crowed

With and without boards

To see a specialist in Tecoman

I'd only been to Tecoman passing through to the Michoacan coast or to go to the beaches of El Real and Boca de Pascuales so I didn't really know my way around or how large the city is. Tecoman is not small, it's not a rectangular grid and it's very spread out.

Lorena had found a foot specialist for Maria that might give different options to skin grafts which were logistically and financially impossible. I relied on Lorena to get us there but she only had an address, no directions, didn't know Tecoman and the doctor was not answering his phone. It was near Cruz Roja so after asking many times we finally found the 600 block of Morelos which was about 15-20 blocks from town center.  Finally the doctor called back and said he would be in his office around 2-2:30 but it was noon and we were already 4th in line.

I had planned on running over to Boca de Pascuales to check out the surf but my city orientation was non existent at this point so I decided to walk back in the direction of the plaza and Mercado. Tecoman is totally flat so there is no vantage point except from upper levels of buildings and that seemed to be 2 stories at most. The city was once the Colima capital so is old but I found very few remains except for a few adobe structures still standing, often protruding into sidewalk space.

Was told the Mercado's name is Cuauhtémoc and is next to the plaza. It's interior is small and dark but lots of outside booths, stores and restaurants. There's a whole market area on the blocks surrounding the Mercado. A large modern church sits on the plaza and I hear it was finished in 2010 .... after the old one was damaged by the 2003 earthquake.  Can't find fotos of the old

Tecoman Plaza from the 2nd floor of the Municipal building

Street booths near the Plaza

Sidewalk store in the Mercado

A walk only street with booths and restaurants 

The famous Tuba vendor of Colima

One of my old Pascuales surf fotos - another day

A very long day in Colima after stopping at Burger King and Soriana in Manzanillo.  Soriana has started their school discount for many of the things kids will need for the following year.  We got back at 7:30

Southern Hemi Swell

There's a lot of talk here in Melaque about the large surf we've been getting the last few days.  Some people have reported waves as high as 3 meters but I've not seen them.   There are signs the water has reached the cement bulkheads but probably only at high tide.  On the other hand Puerto Escondido has been getting some exciting surf.

Surf Gallery 07 Junio – 2013 Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico

During the months of May through September, swells generally approach California from the south and southwesterly direction. These swells are generated by storms in the South Pacific near New Zealand. South Pacific swells, also called Southern Hemisphere swells, travel thousands of miles across the ocean before breaking along the Southern California coast and can produce surf up to fifteen feet. These swells can be very unpredictable with long lull periods, making the ocean appear calm at one moment and then unleashing wave after wave the next.

Surfing road trip down highway 200

This video is about a surfing road trip down highway 200 with the first stop at Arroyo Seco about 45 minutes north of where I live in Melaque. Pascuales Colima is their next stop - and although the surf does not look great, they are just in time for a local festival. Following stop is Michoacan and playa Rio Nexpa for some good waves and hammock time.

Nicely done video and sure feels like Mexico.

Playa La Ticla - Surfing the Michoacan Coast

We Just got back from an 8 day trip down the coast of Michoacan to Playa Azul and up to the Patzcuaro area. I'll put the La Ticla and Playa Azul sections here since I don't really have a blog for coastal Michoacan.

La Ticla is off highway 200 between San Juan de Alima and El Faro (the light-house). It has a very interesting new road in from the highway not suggested for large motor homes or 5th wheels. The road is narrow and has a few very tight turns. The beach was full of camping surfers in mid-January so there would be safety in numbers against thieves and trouble makers. Not a real pretty beach but regularly good for surfing.


Playa La Ticla foto Link


Fotos of the surfers


The beach bar


River mouth


Good but not real large surf


Life on the beach