Dora Pays a Visit

Everything revolved around the weather this week. The first tropical storm of the season, Dora, moved past Banderas Bay a couple of hundred miles offshore. It brought thunderstorms and some rain, but no strong winds. But because of the possiblitity of rain almost every afternoon or evening, I had to adjust my plans accordingly. I finished the maintenance coats of Cetol on the port rub rail just in time, and have started on the interior woodwork. Not many outside adventures, although my neighbor Greg took me to a couple of new restaurants and to Costco so I could get a multi-terrabyte drive for him to copy all his videos for me. The unsettled weather also brought spectacular skies, as you'll see in the photos.

Tropical storm Dora.  The X in the dark green band is where I am.

This is Paradise Village.  The red X on the far right is where Circadian is berthed.

Dora brought the first real rain.

But she also brought spectacular skies.  All these photos were taken in my slip.




 

Despite the rain potential, the heat never let up, so I still spent lots of time chillin' in one of the pools.

Enjoying a waterfall massage.


I decided it was time to brave the dragon slide.

  
YeeeeeeeHHHHHAAAAAA!!!!!!!

Fun!

A short visit from a Kiskadee Flycather on the pulpit

A baby iguana on the dock
 
A selfie on the bus to Puerto Vallarta

The river between Nuevo Vallarta and Puerto Vallarta is also the boundary between the states of Nayarit and Jalisco.  This is what it looks like from the bus.

The Las Adelitas Restaurant, recommended by Greg.

This is the half order of ribs.  It includes chips, salsas, green salad, coleslaw and bread.  Less than $12.  On Wednesdays, they are two for the price of one!

Toca Madera Restaurant, another Greg suggestion.  More trendy than Las Adelitas, and a lot closer to Paradise Village.
 
Well, can't escape the boat work entirely.  Got the second coat of Cetol on the rub rail done just before the rains started.

In anticipation of spending a lot of time holed up in cabin to avoid the heat and rain, I went to considerable effort to get my new phone working with the home theater equipment.  It took a lot of problem-solving, but I finally did it.

Since I knew there would be rain coming, I pulled all 275 feet of anchor chain out onto the deck to let rain wash off the salt with distilled water.  That will prevent corrosion and extend the useful life of the chain.

I started on the interior finish work, both refurbishing places that needed it and applying new finishes to pieces that were never properly done.  I expect it will take quite a while, which is probably a good thing.  Better than cabin fever!
 


A Lot of Birds and a Little Silliness

It's continuing to slowly get hotter, but still no real rain and no thunderstorms (although Curt and Mary in Barra de Navidad, about 125 miles south, had one). Days have been mixed. I've started on doing maintenance coats on the brightwork and other routine maintenance projects, done some more bird photography and made a couple of trips into Puerto Vallarta. Outside work has to be done early in the morning before it gets too hot.  Most afternoons I try to escape the heat by soaking in the pool or in the air conditioning. I've registered online for a two-week Spanish language intensive in Guadelajara in August, but haven't gotten the confirmation yet. Well, it's Mexico....


Yellow-crowned Herons

Having to sit in this nest all day while the old man flies around would make anybody cranky!


Older chick


Angry bird!

Younger chicks


Great-tailed Grackle
Gathering nest material

Sometimes it's a bit of a stretch!

Getting it just right!

Kiskadee Flycatcher
Mom (?) at the nest



Look closely and you can see the bug in the beak.


A different nest.  Might be a kiskadee flycatcher's or an altamira oriole's.

Around the marina

Snowy egret.  Everyone admires the footwear.

Green night heron.

Baby iguana (in the mangroves)

Baby bananas

Mature fungi (in old town Puerta Vallarta)

Thought these clouds might bring a thunderstorm...

...but they didn't.

My view many a hot afternoon

The heat brought out the devil in me!

But still having fun!
Selfie on the malecon