Big Day For Alex - No Braces!!!!!

After a year and a half Alex had her braces removed this week.  Retainer yet to be fit but we think the results are AWESOME!!!!!!  Happy girl!

Adventures In Our Own Backyard - Playa La Lancha

As the two week Semana Santa spring break came to a close we decided to stretch our legs and revisit a beach that we had not seen for a while.  Playa la Lancha beach is about a 20 minute drive away followed by an easy 10 minute jungle hike from the parking area.

Family day

Ashley and Alex

We loaded up the boards and paddles and headed out looking for waves and to be away from our busy pueblo and the construction site we have been living in the last two months.  We found out that La Lancha is now a very popular day spot.  The amount of cars in the parking area is not a good indication of how many folks may be on the beach.  There is a retail area near the trailhead with a surf school and the public bus now drops off/picks up right there as well.  Needless to say a lot more people were having a beach day complete with umbrellas, coolers and even chairs than we expected.  Just as it should be on a Sunday during spring break.

Gathering tee pee supplies

The surf was pretty flat so the activity of the day turned into walking the beach, Tee Pee building and people watching.  Not a thrilling day but fantastic to get out and do something as a family and go see a place we had not been to in a while.

KIDS EAT MEXICAN SNACKS! | Kids Vs. Food

Funny stuff.  I grew up with Reeces, M n Ms, Hersheys and Snickers.  Alex and Trace love these snacks in Mexico and don't even know about most of the things I loved growing up or that are available in the USA.  Truthfully, I never raid their candy basket after a piñata or party since the Mexican candy I have tried is TERRIBLE!!!  They love it though so that is what matters.  Fun video and yes, the kids know all of these snacks.

Sayulita Scenes - Morning Surf In Sayulita

Photo by Geovani Perez

Alex' New Passion - Horses - Guest Blog Contributor ALEX!!

Horse back ridding has always been interesting, whether my friend, Ava, invited me to a competition or I see one on the road, I’ve always loved the animal. I remember the first time I got on a horse, I remember falling off that same day, usually that would make someone quit or be scared to get back on, but not for me.

When I first went to Vista Paraíso to ride I was nervous and exited at the same time, I think the date was the 7th of October 2017. All the people and helpers were so nice, I felt like I had gone there several times before, but I hadn’t.

Since then, every Saturday I would go to horse and learn to tack up the horse, learn to walk, learn to trot, learn to canter and eventually learn to jump. I also got my own boots, chaps, jogpers (pants) and helmet.

I decided to start coming every Thursday to train and practice.

I competed for the first time last month. I remember not being able to think straight, I was so scared and nervous because I had never competed and it was one month and a half after I had started jumping. Right when I got into the arena all of my fear just went away, I jumped 50cm and only knocked over one pole so that meant I didn’t rank. The next day I wasn’t that nervous, and I ended up ranking and I got a medallion.

I have been continuing riding since that day, every Thursday and Saturday riding the horse that I love, Pegasus. He is a rescue from a really bad situation.

I’ve now jumped 80cm and every day I get comments of how awesome I ride and how fast I learned, and I am thankful for that.

Walking In Sayulita - The Benefits Of More Sidewalks

Now that the kids are older and we live closer to the center of town we walk pretty much everywhere. With Sayulita growing like crazy the traffic in town has become much ridiculous with it's narrow streets and limited parking.  This small former fishing village turned international destination was just not designed for lots of vehicle traffic.  Pedestrians are pushed out into the street since the minimal sidewalk space is occupied by venders, restaurant tables or other folks trying to get away from the street traffic. On our end of town the sidewalk pretty much ends just outside of the center of town and we(and everyone else) always ends up walking in the street around parked cars and bumper to bumper traffic.

An effort has begun to limit parking down town and enforcement is becoming the norm more often than not.  This will free up some space for traffic to flow smoother and give pedestrians some needed walking room.  As more services and lodging becomes available father from the town center more and more people will be walking to and from "Centro" and the need for safe sidewalks will increase.

My question is what is the benefit of sidewalks for a downtown environment other than "safety"?  Why would a town design and invest in sidewalks where there are none?  We were walking home from the Plaza area last night and there were people strolling all over the south end of town on the main drag.  As soon as the walkability or sidewalks ended the vibe totally changed.  The open stores, restaurants still lined the street but the energy quickly changed and we saw many people become disinterested and turn around to return to the center of town.  So, it appears there is something to this and the pressure for the south end to accommodate visitors is only increasing.  More sidewalks anyone?

 I found this article discussing this very topic.  Click on the link below.

New sidewalks going in along the new entrance to town in 2017

Click Here For Sidewalk article.

Big Weekend

A few weekends back the kids had a "Big Weekend".  Alex was competing in her first Horse Jumping competition.  More on Alex' new activity in a future post by Alex herself.  She has been riding for about six months and absolutely loves it.  Vista Paraiso in Higuera Blanca is where she rides and she is part of the Braunschweig Equestrian Club.  This is no little dusty rural Mexico operation.  The club sits in the foothills of Higuera Blanca and I was amazed just how beautiful the little arena is.  She has been progressing quickly and her coach suggested that she compete in her first 2 day competition.  She did just that and did great jumping for the first time at 50 cm!  She even ribboned on the second day!  I watched her walk around the club and she is totally in her comfort place.  I have asked her to write up a post about her experience so watch for it.  Unfortunately, the horse competition was the same weekend as a SUP race and surfing competition so she was not able to participate in both.  Trace competed on the water and I had to zip back from the jumping competition and back to Sayulita for the first day of the SUP racing and SUP surf competition.

Photo by the Cawrses

While Alex was on horseback, Trace was competing in Sayulita in the state of Nayarit SUP Championships.  His small group of paddlers from the Sayulita JR SUP Team were cleared to compete in the technical, surf and distance races.  Up against some of the best SUP athletes in the state, Mexico and World the Team members went out and competed along side names like Fernando Stalla, Felipe "Pipe" Rodriguez and Felipe "Bodoque" Fernandez.  To be honest the kids were not expected to upset the competition favorites.  They did, however, show their determination, dedication and skills in the water at a much younger age than the other competitors.  The JR Team members quickly became competition favorites and gained tons of respect from the other athletes and spectators.

Photo by Team Cotner

Pre-race hanging out

It has been amazing to watch both kids excel at their chosen activities.  Living in small town Mexico has not limited them in any way in receiving high level coaching and in having quality facilities in which to practice and learn.

Competition season will wrap up pretty soon now that it is spring and summer approaches.  Alex will continue to ride, jump higher and get back to the water on a race board and Trace will continue to grind it out on a race board and develop his skills on his new SUP surfboard.