This is not the actual landslide that stopped my trip today, but it could be. 5 tons of rock fell on Highway 199 near the California Oregon border last night. It closed the road in both directions.

I was heading down to Arcata today when I realized the road was closed and I had to turn around.

Having just come from flat Florida it is hard to remember what living in the mountains means. There are only 2 roads from Oregon into northern California. Only 2 ways to cross the mountains. One is to cross them in Oregon and drive down the Oregon coast, or drive south through Grant's Pass and use 199 to cut over to the California coast. The drive down the Oregon coast takes a lot longer but has no passes that could possibly have snow.

My revised plan was to start out early and take the coast route, but I just checked and the road is open now and so tomorrow I will try again. I thought I was deciding what day I was going down to visit, the rocks decided for me. They say tomorrow.

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daylight of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality....I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

- Martin Luther King Jr.

1929 - 1968

you asked for more photos.......

Outside the front gate

The stone well in the yard that the town says Benito Juarez drank at
when he came through Cuyutlan.
(there is a huge "head" of him in the downtown square...)



The bar-b-que. Fish and shrimp - yum!

The outside toilet and shower,

The sink in now a Mexican laundry sink.

The shop and storage building.

Front of house before we moved in.

Lots of bougainvilleas

Mexican bobble heads on the windowsill.

Bedroom

Sitting area of bedroom.

Office area.

Hidden Garden, 4 walls, door and window - no roof.

A mango tree hangs over the wall.

Door to hidden garden.

Passion flower in the hidden garden, first year.

Map, state of Colima, Mexico, Cuyutlan.

Hand painted mural in hidden garden.

(Thanks Jeff and Kathy!)

Good surfing a few blocks from the house.

I boogie board, much safer.....

Nice beach a short walk.

Lots of room for guests with the tent set up.
It is actually very nice to look up at night and see the stars

through the palm leaves.

Lots of coconuts!

Inside bathroom sink.

Kitchen before new refrigerator.

Thanksgiving dinner Nov 08,

Willie and Monaco.

Monaco's wife, Ariel and their adorable son,

Angel. He is too!

in the tradition of thinking too much, I have an idea....

thanks Mexico neighbor Nelson....

for sending me this photo of which is indeed mi casa.

I realize we don't want to sell our property in Mexico, we want to share it.

Same neighbor Nelson once said that the downside of vacation property is under use, he was so right.

Under use.

We are thinking that others might want to share this tropical paradise with us, have a place to come to in Mexico, co-own it.

None of us can be there all the time, we all have other obligations, but we could take turns and someone would always be able to use it, or their family or friends could.

Or sometimes we could be there together, there is plenty of room, and that would be fun too.

It is affordable, especially when we share expenses, and we can leave it to our kids.

Just to give you some idea of how reasonable it could be, we are thinking $20,000 to half it with us, $10,000 each if 2 partners or $5,000 each if 4 partners. Or what is your idea for partnership?

Here is our chance to always have a place near the beach for not much investment. Oh and taxes under $50./year.....

It's remodeled and livable, new appliances, furniture, screens, bikes and boogie boards......

It's an idea and I want to know if there is any interest out there.....

It also available this winter for family and friends to enjoy at no cost if you want to check it out.

Cuyutlan, Colima, Mexico. 30 miles south of Manzanillo, 200 miles south of Puerto Vallarta on the pacific west coast of Mexico.

So please let me know if you or a friend of yours might be interested.
E-mail me and I can give you more information and photos.

ddmichel@charter.net

It's an IDEA, and so I would appreciate any and all feedback - thanks!

I knew I could count on you!

Happy New Decade 2010.

Doesn't it seem like just a few years ago we were thinking about the century changing to 2000. Has it really been 10 years past that?

Where were you 10 years ago? We were still living in Port Townsend.

I have so much to be thankful for in this last decade. My adorable granddaughter, the joy of my life, friends made in Cuyutlan, friends made in Oregon, now new friends in Florida. And I am grateful for old friends who have been with me several decades.

I wish for us peace in this new decade. Let the next 10 years be remembered as the beginning of peace. Peace in our homes, peace in our communities, peace in our states, peace in our country, peace in our world, peace in our hearts.

Peace, sounds so good, how hard can it be?

Peace

2010