Month: February 2026

Please click on the link to read the story in full detail including the deaths and damages incurred. Many are still sheltering in place. Hopefully things will continue to be calm and people will eventually be able to get on with their lives.

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/security-minister-25-national-guardsmen-dead-in-el-mencho-operation/?utm_source=mktg_email_paid

Hola to all our friends! At this time we are safe in Mazatlan and in our case on Isla De La Piedra. As you can see by reading the news there has been some upheaval in Mexico today. Basically a head honcho in the cartel system was killed and all cartels are retaliating. Many states in Mexico have been affected but Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara the worst cities with lockdown in place orders issued including airports closed.

The first map shows earlier in the day and the various states affected, the second map ( a few hours later ) shows Sinaloa ( where we are ) being moved from yellow to red.

 

Colin and I are safe and made the decision earlier to cancel our first social event in Mazatlan since the stroke and stay here on the Isla. Since then the road through Villa Union ( only 7 miles away ) has been closed with burning semis and I read that bus service within Mazatlan has been suspended. This is a difficult time for all of Mexico and we sincerely hope that all will be clear in a few days.

We have also been personally advised to not leave the Isla by three of the top people in the know here on Stone Island.

I just want to let you all know that I really do think about you all. However at the moment we are super busy ( when aren’t I )? Right now I need to think about my family and our future. Things are changing very very slowly – but in a forward direction.  There will be light at the end of this long dark tunnel 💡

Colin continues to progress almost weekly. He is beginning to see changes more often. Two days ago he started to get some feeling in his large right toe 😀 Last week Sophia, his physiotherapist noticed how the tendons on the top of his foot are starting to form and grow. Colin exercises for many hours every single day. He is constantly inventing new methods to strength his right leg. He truly pushes himself and it is starting to show day by day.

We have made the decision to sell our beloved RV. It is not in our future to keep RVing. In about five or six months we will be making a change in our address for at least a year or two. We have not had much free time to find the perfect location but this place is calling to us. Still in negotiations.

I was doing the math the other day and we have been living here on the Isla de la Piedra every winter –  now a total of 16 years. Of course longer each of the past few years. But 16 years !!!  I know of two ( perhaps 3 ) other RV couples who have lived here a year longer than us. Had Colin not had the stroke we would still be RVing but at this time we must make certain required changes to our lifestyle. Sixteen years is a very longtime to devote to a particular area in Mexico. We have given in so many areas including promoting the RV Park to encourage others to visit here ( especially when traveling here was not the thing to do ), to providing a variety of forms of music to this area and even feeding those in need during COVID. It is difficult to make the decision to move into the city of Mazatlan but we are ready for new adventures.