Adios Mark and Brenda

Just over 5 years ago two strangers walked up to Ashley on the beach and knew her name.  They introduced themselves to her, said they had recognized our dog Dillon and had been reading our blog.  They had just begun their own adventure after packing up their lives in Michigan and moving to Sayulita.  We kiddingly called them the "stalkers" after that but Mark and Brenda have been our good friends since that day.

Since their arrival they have lived between Sayulita, Punta Mita and north of the border making friends anywhere they have landed.  They have lived the last few years on the beach in Punta Mita and going over there to surf would not have been the same if we did not get a wave from one of them from their condo balcony overlooking the surf break.

Trace, Brenda, Mark and Alex 2017 Stinky's Beach

Alex and Trace have known them since that first day they introduced themselves to us 5 years ago and they have seen our kids grow up in Mexico.  They are certainly two of the kids favorite people on the planet and it would be hard for them to think of Mexico without Mark and Brenda in it. They have even met up with Ashley on layovers in the States.

We are sad to report that Mark and Brenda are now on to new adventures.  Brenda is super mobile with her business and Mark is following his passions in the contracting world and cannot do that waiting for waves every day in Mexico.  We will miss them and hope they come back to visit often.  Best of luck on your next adventure!  Abrazos.

Brenda and Ashley in uniform

Mark and Alex

Mark and toothless Trace

Sayulita Gets It's First Bank!

Things progress slowly here sometimes.  Especially when it comes to local services.  Sayulita has seen a boom the last few years and Intercam Banco has decided to set up a branch office right here in town.  The very first bank to do so!  Fortunately, we just happen to have all our accounts with Intercam so this is a big convenience for us.  The branch basically has all the same services that their other branches in Puerto Vallarta and Bucerias have but it is walking distance for us and has a secure ATM as well.

The bank will do very well I think since the visitor to town will trust a brick and mortar operation more for currency exchanges and ATM withdraws.  The communities north and south of here will be a client base to draw from as well.  The "in town" location is easy to get to from the transportation routes that go around Sayulita so banking will be easy for those who need to drive to the location.

First a gas station and now a bank.  We are getting so "civilized" here in our small, but growing, pueblo.

Sayulita Scenes - Trace And His "Sayulita Bros"

Trace and his two best friends headed out for a surf trip down the coast a ways via panga yesterday morning.  The panga was captained by Felipe Rodriguez Lorenzo, aka "Pipe", who has been giving the boys SUP surfing instruction this fall.  Pipe finished in the top 10 at the ISA SUP World Championships in Fiji in 2016. Stoked to have another coach for the kids who is also a world class competitor and athlete.  I am going to have to tag along with these groms sometime soon and learn some new things.