Author: Contessa Jewall

As usual despite my best intentions life kept in the way of my posting. We certainly have had a lot of rain this summer and here at Las Jaibas we are still drying out from the remnants of Priscilla and Raymond. Hopefully this is the end of the high heat and humidity. It really is time to return to our normal weather patterns. Especially as we will be returning to the Isla exactly two weeks from today. Two nights ago I was woken up at 3AM with heavy rain and strong winds. So strong that the glasses in the cabinets were clinking together. After swaying in the kitchen I woke Colin up as I decided that we really should bring in the side window awnings. Who knew that we had a button to push that says – more or less “moving all awnings in? Quite remarkable!!  The next day Joyce told me that the Isla had received 3 inches of rain 😯  And just two blocks north of us cars were covered with water and were floating.

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Colin missed physio on Wednesday because the Didi network was out and as it is almost a full hour drive to her office it was too late to figure out another method of transportation…I no longer have the Uber app. So Thursday ( the 15th ) the morning after the unexpected rain & wind storm we were flooded and could not get out. Shortly thereafter Colin was told that that the rehab area had been flooded as well – so no physio two days in a row. That did not stop him from doing his exercises in the RV.

I am slowly buying things that we will need there that we can’t get there  ( such as 2L bottles of limonda natural ) but I only have so much room in the RV. We will be limited as Colin will not be able to do his weekly shop in Centro. In fact it will be a while before Colin will be able to get onto the lancha and cross over to Mazatlan.

I have been able to arrange for the newest physiotherapist Sofia ( she is the one he sees once per week ) to come over to the Isla almost once per week during November. Working on December. Colin plans to spend a dedicated hour doing the exercises he does every morning at the rehab facility, in the RV once we move back to the Isla. As well as the multiple hours of a variety of exercises he now does everyday on a rotational basis. And of course he will be walking around a lot, unlike here.

Mango season is pretty much over but we still have about four or five in the fridge to enjoy over the next week. Surprisingly the plumeria are also still blooming but I have been so unsettled lately that I have not even bothered picking any to sweeten the air inside the RV. I really must do that tomorrow. Still have not done so. But I was not into fighting the mosquitoes nor the rain puddles.

 

Plus there have been things happening behind the scenes so to speak, much too much to write about. Things like wasting hours and hours and hours of time on a possible offer on the house, then that person went silent. Then suddenly the other day we had a showing and goes who it was?  Same person but this time with a realtor in tow. And the offer was much lower. Lost that deal last night.  But we still have our original offer pending the sale of these potential buyers home in Calgary. However I think it is time to send positive thoughts out to the Universe that their home sells so that they can buy ours. The buyers set January 7th as the date they want their home to sell by or the deal for our home will be over. Meanwhile we do have another showing tomorrow. So you never know. “Loved our house but they’ve not even listed their home.”

So I started this post two days ago and already there are updates, which I am highlighting in italics. 

On October 7th ( I can’t believe that 10 days have passed by ) the girls had their teeth cleaned at our vets office in Centro. Time is ( finally ) moving swiftly. The vet was wonderful and had offered to have the girls picked up here at Las Jaibas and returned back to us. There was no way we could do that and chose to take a Didi ( a bit of an ordeal as we ended up with tiny tiny car ) to vets office. We sat and held them until they were taken to the back to be put under for the teeth cleaning. We wanted to reduce the stress as much as possible for them.

While their procedures were happening Colin went to nearby restaurant for a long breakfast while I dashed around doing errands. Including picking up cheese and fresh snapper at the mercado. Once done, I pick Colin up at the restaurant and we went back to pick up our girls.

For a grand total of $114.50CAD/1500MXN each, the girls had the works. Toes were dremelled, ears were checked and cleaned and anal glands checked. And basic bloodwork was done. A tiny piece of spear grass was found in Carlie’s gum and of course was removed. Ciela had a tiny “extra’ tooth that was removed as it was wobbly and the area was slightly inflammed. They each received a shot of antibiotics as well as an anti-inflammatory shot. They were groggy when we arrived but in the same crate as I had requested and appeared relaxed and content. We were back in our casa within 4.5 hours of leaving. Wow, great service and at an unbelievable price. By the way, the girls are only two months shy of turning five. This is the firs time they have their teeth cleaned. They only eat dog food, kibble and the very occasional dog treat. Kudos to us.

We had three very large 5th wheels pull in very late afternoon – like after 5PM. No idea where they are from or where they came from today. But they seem to be setting up for more than a night or two. Hope to get more into re the roads etc.

Can you believe that we are down to 12 sleeps including tonight. We had plans to visit here and there but things never worked out re bugs and weather and other reasons. I am not wishing to spend more time here in order to do these things. So looking forward to getting back to the Isla.

The next post will be about the progress of our new site on the Isla.

So from the fall of  2009 to spring of 2023 we lived at the Tres Amigos RV park. Then the winters of 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 we lived in what I called the “compound” with Genie and Joe. So now we are moving four lots over southish – towards Chivos. The compound was comprised of 3 individual lots which is why it was so large for the two RV’s.

We are moving to an even larger area which is actually 4 individual lots. There are now two homes in that area, one is newly built and is actually two separate apartments, the other is the owners huge wonderful home. Plus there will be our RV, another large 5th wheel ( they will be coming and going and not there on a daily basis ) and the old 5th wheel which has been moved to the back of the site along the wall and rented out for a period of time. So three cement ( I really wanted to say brick and stick ) homes and three RV’s which will pretty much be permanent. So should I call it a commune? Certainly better than #15. Any and all suggestions will  be considered.

Next post will be all about the Isla updates with lots of photos.

 

Living the best we can during TS Raymond.  We now have a waterfront site. Our food delivery person barely got here an hour ago because there is a real lake ( over pulmonia tire height ) leaving Las Jaibas onto the main road.

And now this, taken just 30 minutes ago in Centro…..hard to believe it….

https://web.facebook.com/reel/1257638763075954

 

She did not make a direct hit but by stalling in one place for three full days off shore @ about 569 KM off shore she left her mark in many many ways.

The following are some of the photos and maybe a video or two to click on re the effects seen Tuesday in Mazatlan along the malecon. There are so many photos all over the media to share but I think these will give you the idea of what happened.

It was a full moon as well as high tide and of course Priscilla parked off shore for three days.

These images are specific to Isla de la Piedra with special thanks to Dallas as noted.

 

 

 

I have been told that the road between El Velero and Puesto del Sol is no more.  Also that the road along the Isla Malecon – along the shipping channel from where the pavement ends all the way to just past the Playa Sur Embarcadero is pretty much impassable. Erik the RV tech does not think that we could get our RV through that area. But we have a few more weeks to go.

Sadly El Velero, one of the favorites on the Isla, did suffer some damage. Click on the link below for a 20 second video.

https://web.facebook.com/reel/800847629022190

Click this link for another Isla video, rowing a boat inland……https://web.facebook.com/reel/1492198482112131

There is yet another possible hurricane system out there. The forecast is for extensive rain this weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before we get into the storms out there, I just want to share that in my last post yesterday there was some good news about a pending sale of our home.

Hopefully it won’t be too bad for us here in Mazatlan. But we are a bit concerned as we have a 9AM appointment at the vet in the morning so the girls can get their teeth cleaned. If it floods we will not be able to get to Centro where our vet is located.

The main thing is that large ocean swells are mentioned with peak seas near 18 feet.  Seas are probably as high as 30 feet near the center of the hurricane.

Per Dallas, the waves are building back on the Isla.  Click here for a wee video.

So much for viewing the supermoon tonight!

 

 

Colin and I and of course the girls left Canada a year ago yesterday. In true ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ style we left Canada, October 4th 2024  towing a U – Haul filled to the brim behind the Jeep ( also filled to the roof ) and here we are a full year later still in Mazatlan. Who knows where we would be right now if Colin had not had his stroke on April 28, 2025? Back in Canada for the past few summer months or in the Lake Chapala area or perhaps somewhere in the USA.

So very many changes  in the past year but we have overcome them as best as we can.  Still need to overcome some things but we are working on pushing onward and upward.

Best news to date, is that as of a few hours ago today, we have a signed offer on the sale of our home. A pending sale as it is subject to the sale of their home by January 7, 2026. So keep those positive thoughts and prayers coming and crossed toes if you must. We are both sad and happy. We loved that house. Colin designed it. We moved in in early October of 2012 but only lived there half the year so the home is almost like new. We have been traveling to Mexico every winter since 2001 and it was only the winter of 2022 / 2023  ( our first winter living in the paradise of our compound  ) that we decided that we would like live in Mexico permanently. Then after Colin’s stroke on April 28, 2025, he made the decision that this is where he wanted to live out the rest of his days – despite having designed the most perfect home for us in Kelowna.

So here I am a full year later and feel sad about my neglect in the documentation. Fortunately Colin took these photos and those for the next blog’s photos or I would have none. Even more special is that he recalled taking them and was able to find them for me tonight. I spent everyday figuring out our travel direction ( and I yes I made a mistake but just the once  😕  ) and then figuring out feeding us and the dogs and trying to make our accommodation for the night “good enough” for us and as comfortable as I could. Unpacking for the night and packing up again the next day.

Once we got to the Isla ( Oct 24, 2024 ), we only had so many days to get our Temporal renewed. It was a challenge. We finally got settled within the compound and set up our site and the RV. That is when I fell apart and began sleeping 18 – 22 hours per day. I missed visiting with our neighbors, as well as Christmas, New Years and Carnaval. I began to feel normal about mid March 2025 and was just starting to become part of the world by mid April. Much happened during those months and I have things to blog about – when I can. Then the stroke happened and I had no choice but to wake up and take on Colin’s care. It has had been quite the year.

So many updates. Hard to believe that we only have 29 sleeps left here at Las Jaibas Trailer Park. All the drama in our lives is ensuring that time is flying by.

The two most important matters at the moment are the sale of our house and not having a home to live in come the end of October.

Easy to answer the first dilemma, nothing is happening. I mean that literally. By end of day Friday we were eagerly waiting to hear from three different potential buyers. Up from two as we had a showing last Friday. This fellow is the very first person to ever comment on how well made our home was and that obviously we put a lot into building our home. One of the realtors is supposed to be replying to a counter offer we made and so we wait.

Of course the next most important item to discuss is where will we live this winter? Judy and Bob, very kindly picked us up and drove us to the Isla last Thursday afternoon. First stop was to look at a very run down and likely infested old fifth wheel. I had seen this RV in its prime when it first arrived on the Isla many years ago and it was a beauty. Sadly the owner ran out of money and moved to a corner of this huge lovely compound and now is back in the US in ill health. Because of ongoing electrical issues all winter we had already started searching for a new place to live but there was nothing suitable. Then the stroke happened and we kept struggling with electrical issues until moving here in Cerritos, Mazatlan area. So we wee aware of this location.

The address of where we are moving to will simply be #15. It is huge piece of land – just about five sites to the right of where we have stayed the past two winters, if you are facing the ocean. A mere slow two to three minute stroll. However the site was ‘yucky’ and dirty, just not something I could wrap my head around.

The owners were so very friendly and are willing to do anything for us in order to make this our home. They still have children at home and have a two story home on the opposite end of the property. Next to them is a brand new two story beautifully designed home that is being rented out as two apartments. Then a small space and then our “yucky” area. We could see the possibility.

Next we went to our compound for the past few years and were heart broken. My plants were covered with pieces of clothing drying out and shoes and hats and so on……

From there we went to what used to be called Tres Amigos RV Park where we wintered from the fall of  2009 to the spring of 2023. The amigos have broken up and there are now three separate sections of rv rental property. All wonderful 50AMP full service sites but now run by three different ‘groups’. Each park has a different name and I believe different pricing structures. The only available spaces at RV3 ( run by David Perez ) were literally in the middle of the road. Our patio would be facing all the RV’s, ATV’s and other vehicles coming and going all day. We had already heard about the noise and dust the ATV’s created and we would be sitting there as they passed us. Certainly not a place for someone requiring peace and quiet along with a touch paradise to be surrounded with. There was no privacy at all.  To be honest we would have had a good view of the ocean and could hear the waves clearly but sitting in the middle of a gravel parking lot just would not work for us. Plus at 3PM we were being chewed by the bugs. Perhaps if a front row site was available we might have considered it, as that would have given us privacy.

So back to #15. No English spoken. We actually had an interpreter as to be clear on what we were negotiating. The old RV was being removed and the site was being cleaned up and fresh gravel was being laid. Our extra expenses were outlined and we came to terms on long term rent. We asked for new electrical wiring and a new meter. Fingers crossed. The view is not as nice as what we just lost but there were no bugs and it was a very lovely property with a great deal of security. Also not as big an area but we truly did not need all that we have had.

We had to make quick arrangements to move my plants to safety. Done!!  Then we wanted to save as much wood and palm fronds from our two year old palapa as possible in order to build a new palapa once we move in – mostly to keep the sun off the huge front windshield.

That palapa had been so well built ( under Colin’s direction ) in order to withstand hurricanes that it took a full day to dismantle it. By end of day Friday my plants were saved and we had enough madeira and palmas to do a mini front palapa. No idea yet if we will do a full length palapa along the patio of the RV.

Special thank you to Judy and Bob for being our chauffeurs. One drove and one directed 😎  It is so frustrating for us to not be free to just hop into our vehicle and drive to the Isla.

We really have no idea as to our future. How long will we be at #15, a year or more?? At this time we just want to put in the minimum amount of money to create a wonderful small oasis of peace and relaxation. An environment for Colin to rebuild. Poco a poco!

Last Friday I had sclerotherapy on my leg veins. And only because wearing my elastic stocking for the past 6 -8 weeks and the medication did help close the size of my veins. Big huge OUCH! Over seventy injections. Must have been a large gauge needle as I can count the injection holes. But actually it is the sting of the medication injected that causes the pain. After 48 hours my legs are feeling more normal but I do have to wear my heavy thick elastic stockings until Saturday.

We have had a few vet emergencies in the past few weeks – ALL related to the spear grass and weeds around us. The last time the vet was here she gently suggested that we move as this was not a healthy environment  for the dogs.

The weather continues to remain unstable with lots of heavy rain along with electrical storms most evenings. So of course the mosquitoes continue to live among us.

We finally got three days of dry weather and so were able to get the RV carpet cleaned. I think we had to reschedule four times.

And our banking got more of less sorted out. But effective tomorrow there are new rules as to how much one can transfer to another person. I just can’t deal with that right now.

So we have a place to live which will take a great deal effort to make it what we want it to be, but fortunately, we actually have a place to park the bus 😀

As to the sale of our home, we are bewildered.

……..well actually triple negative update!!!

The offers on our home tumbled one after the another last evening. We never even got to see them on paper. Needless to say we were and still are in shock.

Then this morning we received a phone call from our partners at the compound on the Isla. Genie had been checking on getting weeds removed and the site freshened up as we usually do. I can’t even say long story short because there is no story. Simply a no longer renting the site out. No notice. What  😡 How can you do that to us 😥

Colin’s phone started to ping with messages from our wonderful Mexican neighbor ( the one who just had the baby boy before we left in June ) , Humberto, with suggestions that things were not right with our site. Then the handyman, Jesus, sent Colin a note saying that there was no electricity now and that they were doing renovations on the property and it was no longer for RV rental. So while still trying to understand why we received no offers on the house yesterday we now suddenly ( with no notice ) have no place to park our home on wheels on the Isla. Isla de la Piedra where we have wintered since the fall of 2009.

We were and still are speechless.

Colin and I have been working all day  (other than his first session with the new therapist). Stress is not good for a stroke and I am so sad to say that Colin has been rendered speechless a few times today. He literally could not talk. I am in tears relating this to you.

We saw a photo where part of Genie & Joe’s patio has been removed. However it appears from the following architectural rendering that our palapas will be not be there for much longer.

So with that, the third hit to our solar plexus today, we are shattered.

It only took a few hours this morning to pick up the pieces and now the search is on to first and most importantly to find us a new home on the Isla for the winter. Yes we know the most obvious choice but it won’t  be water front. Dreaming of being on the ocean after leaving the Isla in June is what has kept us going this past months. I feel so badly for us both, but especially for Colin as he needs the inspiration.

Then we realized that we have to save our close to 40 -50 plants.  We need to move them somewhere. And pretty much right away before they are destroyed. Oh and then why not save our imported from the US, 50 AMP plugs and other things. Then what to do with our custom expensive palapa and the wind break that Colin created. We called Alex our palapa builder and told him to take what he could save and use it elsewhere. It was no good to us.

What I am going to really miss is my ‘special seating area’ that Colin created for me to watch the sunset. I still have not written the post about it all. But within days of his completing the project he had his stroke. Now our unique area will never be used by us but hopefully by others.

It appears that we will be going to the Isla tomorrow afternoon, after physio. Maybe check out a few locations for the RV and say adios to the compound. I want my sign back 🙁

 

 

Long awaited updates still coming but first a few very current updates.

“Narda is affecting Sinaloa with a flow of humidity that increases the temperature. This is in addition to the blocking of precipitation in Mazatlan and some municipalities in the southern part of the state. We continue to wait for weather conditions to change or for a strong storm to move in to dissipate the blocking.”  As translated from Spanish.

No wonder my laundry did not dry yesterday 😯 Definitely hot stuff.

Meanwhile we are doing some sweating right now as well – even in the coolness of our air conditioned RV.  Our house has been seen twice by two sets of potential buyers since last Thursday. We have been told to expect an offer, well that would be an offer from each interested party. On day two of waiting for a proper offer on paper. Nothing yet.

Last Friday Colin met a new to us therapist for an assessment. She did a few tests and was surprised to see how strong his right hand was as the grip tester showed it be almost the same as his left hand. Sofia agrees that Colin needs to strengthen the muscles in his right leg in order to be able to walk properly. He will be meeting her tomorrow for his first therapy session with her. She also expressed how strong his heart was. It was a positive meeting. Colin plans to see both rehab facilities as well as continue with exercises here at home.

The meeting was at 5PM and it was dark by 6:10 PM when we left. Strange how it gets dark so much sooner. Yeah, that means it almost time to move to the Isla for the winter. Only 36 sleeps until we are scheduled to return. But that might be delayed now by adding this new therapy. All to be decided in the weeks to come. Most important is having Colin’s physical ability to move properly be improved. So if we have to stay here longer than we will.

It is taking longer and longer for Didi to pick us up. Finally after a thirty minute wait we headed back tot the Cerritos area. Centro was dry but we caught glimpses of puddles on the road.  Suddenly it began to rain and the further north we drove the evidence of a heavy storm appeared.

Got home to a huge mess of mud, water and screaming dogs. Lots of lightning and thunder. It was quite the night. The weather is certainly different here in the summer months.

Still no offers nor even one offer on the table in writing. And so we wait. We refuse to commit to a verbal offer. Legal only please. Guess I’ll go do some laundry and use my dryer again.

After multiple attempts to sort out our debit card problem with the bank, the bank ( well one person ) is actually coming to our home after work today to try and help us get back on track. They certainly work long hours. Octavio starts at 8AM and leaves at 6PM.

 

I have about two posts almost completed but as usual life gets in the way. In a nutshell, we have had 3 vet visits in about 10 days and one was today. All is well or so this new to us vet thinks.

We had a showing of our Kelowna house last Thursday and got an offer of about $150,000.00 less than our selling price 😥  Then that same evening we got word of another showing yesterday, Sunday the 14th. Well those folks are coming back to check out our house yet again tomorrow, the 16th at 10:30AM PST……so fingers and toes crossed and I won’t say no to prayers nor positive energy sent our way.

Yes we had some weeds cut and thanks to a very special gentleman named Carl. More on the weeds and Carl in the very next post. Sadly the mosquitoes are still with us.

We have a working RV awning.

We have all three RV air conditioners working. I almost passed out at the repair price but then we worked out that it was 1/5 of the cost we would have incurred in the USA.

50% of our banking issues have been resolved but I am really struggling with the iPhone app that I need to use. You guessed it, all in Spanish.

Our days are so full that I can’t get it all done. Today I received an email re propane delivery to our house in Canada. Do you recall that my credit card was compromised and that is the card I was using for that company. So it goes on and on.

So wonderful to hear from folks we met on our very first trip to this area in Mexico, Sandra and Frank. Like way back in ??? 2004 and they found us online. I have not had a moment to get back to them – hola dear friends, I totally remember you. Tlaquepaque RV Park. I will reach out soon.  And Carl…..love you  and thank you and you are getting a special post.

I will catch you up as soon as I can find some extra time……..