First Weekend on the Isla

After getting the RV all set up and homey, it was time to start kicking back and enjoying the Isla.  Contessa made sure we had a grand introduction to how to do just that!  The first recommendation was to walk the beach in the morning while it’s still cool and quiet.  Millie (and the rooster that lives behind the RV park) did a fine job of waking me up just as dawn was breaking, so Millie and I did a nice 2 mile walk along the beach.

This island doesn’t have a formal name (as far as I know), but folks call it “Bird” island for all the birds that call it home.  Lots of pelicans fly along these shores gathering their breakfast in the mornings.

Hard to capture the beauty of the sunrises here, but the beach is long, wide, and mostly deserted, making it a wonderful way to start the day.

About a mile down the beach is this old lifeguard’s station.  It makes a convenient marker and turn-around spot for our walks…

Heading back north towards the RV park, we get to enjoy the full view of the islands that guard Mazatlan’s harbor (and also get to see our long shadows on the beach!).

This stretch of beach is mostly a coconut plantation, so there are endless rows of palm trees lining the beach.  Word has it that a developer has been buying up land the past few years with visions of creating a new stretch of high-rise hotels and condos like the Golden Zone in northern Mazatlan.  But, no signs of that just yet, so we can enjoy the sand and surf all to ourselves.

Is Millie still liking the beach?  Oh YES!

On Saturday evening, Contessa and Colin invited us over to their place for sunset and a potluck dinner.  They’re both vegetarians, so it was easy for us to find foods we all would enjoy.  Their site is the first one along the beachfront and has a magnificent view of the sunset (as Contessa’s blog features regularly!).  We wasted no time clicking our shutters as the sun set behind the harbor entrance.

Soon, the horses were galloping past on their way home for the evening…

And the dredging ship was leaving the harbor for the evening as well.  The main harbor is currently being dredged to allow for heavier ships to navigate more easily.

As nightfall descends, the steep footpath up the side of El Faro lights up to it’s lighthouse at the very top.  Just spectacular!

With our visual senses satisfied, it was now time to attend to settle our appetites!  Colin grilled up some terrific slices of zucchini and yummy vegan sausages.

Dinner was served out overlooking the beach.  It was just a tad bit cool, so Colin fired up their wonderful LP firepit that provided plenty of warmth and ambiance.

Our after-dinner conversation did not keep Colin’s dog very engaged…she was soon out like a light!

To end our wonderful evening, Colin treated us to some of his soothing classical guitar music.  No better welcoming to the Isla than I can ever imagine!  Thank you 5Cs!!!

On Sunday, Evelyn, Contessa, and I hopped into the Tracker for a tour of the Isla’s town and then out to the very end of the peninsula, known as Chivo (“kid goat”) island.

Why is it called Goat Island?  Because of the goats that live there!

There’s a great view of the RV park as you look back east from the island.  The RV park is actually divided by a large palm-covered restaurant and white hotel that are in between.  We’re in what’s known as “RV1” to the left of the restaurant.  “RV2” is to the right of the white hotel.

On our way back through town, we found these 3 peacocks guarding their houses from the rooftops.  Quite a sight!

The weekend finished off with a neat nearly full moonrise over our Views.  A big bonfire is planned on the beach this week to celebrate the full moon (as well as my neighbor, Rolf & Jackie’s big pile of wood that they need to use up!).