Sewer Fittings and Wall Foundations

There was supposedly a sewer connection to the lot.  We couldn't find it, and so a new line was installed from septic tank down the road and then a connection to the property.

 The wall between the properties was started.  The footings were done in a day.  Very hard work.  All the rock was moved by hand, as seen in this photo and the cement was mixed in an old fashioned mixer and hauled by wheelbarrow to the men in the trenches.

                                                 
                                                  Adding water to get the right mix.
 

 Footings being cemented.

 Sandals being worn.  No regulations for attire.



Pretty straight forms without  any levels, and these footings are for the wall.  Imagine what they will be for the house!

Rebar being formed to anchor the column.
                                                                                          The trenches for the house were dug.

Slowly advancing

Woke up one moring to this beautiful skyline.  Thought we might get a storm, but the day turned out beautiful.

Yesterday we had a storm with thunder and lightening and then the rain came down in buckets.  The wind was VERY strong and Tom and I were trying to hold down the shade cloth which was blowing and billowing.  We had to get it anchored down or the awning would have been toast.  Don't know how strong the wind was, but it sure made a mess in town.  It was a big storm.  The streets were flooded in some places and the electricity was out, as well as the internet.

Late in the morning there were people on the beach and people swimming.  The dark skies and cooler weather didn't seem to bother them.  Even if it did threaten rain.



The power pole for the  property has been installed and you can see Tom wiring in the power line. 

We had to go to Cihuatlan, about an hour away, to the power company to fill out the paperwork for the electric meter.  We were told it would be 1-3 days, but they had the meter and the power line to the main line installed the very next day!  Our timing must have been right.





This is the church in Cihuatlan and the power company is on the street behind the church.














 

We also have water to the property.

We now need a sewer connection, there is a holding tank, and there was suppose to be a connection on the property.  Apparently the connection was never installed,  So on Tues a backhoe will dig up the street and Raul will installed the pipes and fittings.  Once the sewer is installed on the property we can move the motor home over.

The plans for the house were completed, but we had to make many changes so hopefully they will be ready on Tues and then we can apply for our building permit, in La Huerta.  Again
1 to 1 1/2 hours away.  We put bids out to 3 builders and one builder had an  outrageous one.  One has not returned with a bid and the other we are thinking about. 
  

Progress

We now have an address in Perula, Cancun 5.  Yippee.  That means we can begin developing the property.  The house plans have been approved so we can send them out to bid to decide on a Maestro (contractor).  We have contracted with Raul to build our gate and door that will be in the wall surrounding the property.  He is also going to build the Mufa (this is the post where all the electric is attached).  We have begun. 

 A thunderstorm cloud.  The weather has been hot and humid and many days the water has been choppy.  No swimming or kayaking.








That spec is me kayaking on one of the good days.  This was the first time I'd been able to try out my new sit-on-top kayak.  It's perfect for this weather, I can cool off by splashing water on me and not worry about it.  The water will flow back out. 

Note of interest

While we have never been scared to travel in Mexico, we did have an interesting occurrence this trip.  We were coming into the city of Vicam south of Guaymas on Hwy 15 and saw semi's backed up for several miles in both directions.  As always, a helpful local waved us to the other lane so we could pass all the semis.  In the middle of town a tall cone was set up to make us stop.  Realizing that they were not military or police we were a little startled.  An older man came to the side of rig and asked for money.  Not knowing what the issue was and we don't speak Spanish Tom just said we had no money and didn't understand.  Another man came over and removed the cone and waved us through.

Looking at the internet for Vicam, Sonora, there is an issue between the government and the local people about an aqueduct being built.  So the stopping of the semis was a protest.  I guess it was lucky that we didn't have to wait with the semis.


ON A HAPPIER NOTE!

Our property in Punta Perula is officially ours.  We are now in the process of trying to get an address, as we can not get electric, water or building permit without it.

Our realtor, ROSALINDA and now friend has been doing ALL the running around and paperwork to get things approved.  Without her there is no way we could have done what was necessary.  She knows all the steps and who to contact within the county. 

More travel

 More nice scenery.












Selling produce by the side of the road.












Not sure what they are harvesting in the water.                        An awful looking hotel in Mazatlan

Wish I had this nice looking soil in my garden instead
of heavy clay.                                                                       

   

 We have reached the tropics, lush and green.

This river is just south of Puerto Vallarta.  The summer rains have made the river muddy.  You can see the difference between the river and the ocean.





A common sight on the road.  The transportation of animals in the back of pickups.

Crossing into Mexico

 This is the wall at the US Mexican Border.  From here we went an additional 2 to 3 miles to reach the Mexican crossing.  We didn't see the sign for motor homes and started through a lane and was told to back up we were in the wrong one.  We can not back up with the Jeep attached.  So had to get out and unhook the Jeep.  We backed up and Tom took the motor home through the correct lane.  I tried to follow and was flagged to go back around and enter through a different lane.  This was because, now I was a single car and couldn't follow Tom.

At kilometer 21 we stopped for our visitor visas and vehicle permits.  But there was construction going on and the normal lanes were closed!  We drove very slowly to figure out where we were to park and enter so we didn't miss the parking lot and registration booths.  Once all the paperwork and payments were made we went to inspection.  They looked at our paperwork and waved us through without entering the motor home.  What luck that was.  In Hermasillo we were stopped at a red light and the man in front of us got out and waved at our motor home.  We thought, oh no a flat tire, but that can't be because we have sensors on all the tires that would tell us.  He ran to our rig and said the compartment door was open.  We asked him to slam it shut and we were both on our way again when the light changed to green.  What a nice person to help us!  We stopped for gas later in the day and Tom figured out that he got scammed.  The gas station attendant got an additional $500.00 pesos.  So what a fun day.

Now have crossed into the state of Sinaloa and we have gone from brown landscape to nice green landscape.  Also the temperature has increased dramatically to 90+ degrees.

Another day of interest

We couldn't be sure, but think this is a salt lake bed.








These power poles were just being strung and were a fascination for us.  They are in the shape of a V, which we had never seen before.  We were wondering if they stood up better in the wind or what other reason for the change from a normal power pole.

                   

Scenery

 As we drive down the road I take pictures out the window.  So, they get blurry or I shoot thru the screen and you will see mesh lines.  But, we can't stop every few miles or we'd never get to Punta Perula!

We see dirt roads that seems to go off to nowhere, like this one.  I wonder why it is there and where is it going.  I'd love to follow the road to see where it ends.

We were driving through an area that was brown and drab, we rounded a corner and were surprised with this bright yellow field between it all. 

On the road again

 Today we started our journey back to Punta Perula, Mexico.  We finalized the purchase of a small parcel of land and hope to build a small home.  After my disastrous tries at getting out to kayak last year, I now have a 14' sit on top.  I have yet to try it, as it arrived when the water in Usk was tooo cold.  You will get wet using this kayak, which is good for Perula warm air and warm water.

This was the weather as we were leaving, and only 29 degrees.





 









                                                                               Last year we had Sadie with us.  During our trip she was unable to wait for potty stops and when we arrived home we had to have her put down.  She was in poor shape and could barely stand.  We are missing one of our travel companions. 

Because the rug was a mess Tom decided to pull out the couch and eating area as well as the rug.  This is what the motor home looked like and below is what we have now.



New flooring, a dinette table and chairs and a love seat with reclining chairs.  It feels like we have more room, but I lost all the storage under the couch and the two large drawers in the dinette set.  Trying to figure our where to store things has been difficult. 

This year's adventure begins.  

Jocotepec

 

Well after spending 2 months in Punta Perula it is time to start home, but very slowly. One of our last nights a rainbow started forming.  Maybe to show us what we will miss until we came back in Nov and hopefully start building our casita.

 

On the way to Villa Purificacion we saw these road signs.

We are currently in Jocotepec on Lake Chapala. It seems strange not to hear the surf breaking on the shore.  Now we wake up to birds chirping in the morning instead. Market day is Thursdays, of coarse we had to go. 

 

 

 A delivery of beef for the meat market.

 

On the way to Jocotepec we saw these stacks.  Don't know what they are.

 

The towns around Lake Chapala are very touristy, with large homes on the lake and lots of gated communities on the hillsides. A very congested area. The lake itself is not one we would want to spend any time at. The shoreline is muddy and from what we've seen not very blue.

We took a trip to Tlaquepaque to look for articles for the casita and check prices. It was too much of a tourist town. We plan on going to Tonala where we're told the factories are that make the articles you see in Tlaquepaque. 

It is interesting to see how they have made the wheelbarrows hold more dried leaves.  Don't think you could move the wheelbarrows if you filled them with wet leaves.