Jay Richards

Greetings from Mexico!!! Photo of Jonell as seen from the balcony of our hotel room. The hotel has a webcam on the other side behind where Jonell is and you can see the same view we are seeing. Be sure to check it out during the day.

It has been a great two days so far. The weather is just about perfect with fresh air coming off the ocean and temps in the upper 70's lower 80's. It takes a day or two to adjust to the slow pace, no kids, no phones etc. I am keeping on top of the e-mails because if I didn't, there would probaby be a hundred when we got back. We have hit some of the favorite places. Since we are only here for four days, we are sticking to the knowns and not trying anything new.

Jonell had her once a year manicure and pedicure so I went out riding for almost two hours while she did that. The place she goes to does a fantastic job, the price is "almost free" and they use this laser that is illegal in the states for some reason. Jonell has seen this woman for the past three years so she has gotten to know her. Today she said "if you and your husband want real Mexican food, let me know" Tacos with cow brain, eyeball and tongue. Jonell said "you are kidding, right?" But the lady swore no. Yikes!! I don't have a problem doing the roadside taco but I don't know about the eyeballs.

Anyways, I went on the back side of the mountain that you see behind Jonell. Most of the ride was in the shade so it wasn't as hot being it was in the middle in the afternoon. I climbed for almost a hour (the top of that little mountain is about 5000ft) so from sea level a nice little climb. On the way up I ran into a local that was flying down on a mt bike and he had no helmet, this huge headphones on and the old Nike shoes that had the red stripe. It's all good as the guy was all smiles. I stopped to talk to him and take a picture but he didn't speak English and my Spanish is porquitoso we did some hand signals and what not and we went on our way. At the end of the forest roads, there was some singletrack I discovered that I hadn't been on before so I rode part of that but it was super technical and tight so I had to hike a bike. I just went up another 15-20 minutes then came down and sailed the descent back into town. On the way down I brushed along a cow that was camoflouged on the side of the trail and a mexican cowboy riding a horse of course. I rode pretty conservative but the tech stuff I did on top ranks with some of the more technical singletrack I have done. Basically it is a donkey/horse trail and tight and narrow. All in all it was a great ride and I felt really good. I rode more this fall then previous and I could tell today. Tomorrow I will get up with the sun and go up the valley and climb up into the bigger mountains for a hour or so.


Well thats about it, off for some asian food and harrassing from time share folks. The two most faqs are 1) on honeymoon, (they don't believe us that we have four kids)( and I will take it as a compliment after 13 years of marriage)) and 2) first time to Vallarta. One of the highlights is going to eat. We hardly eat much Mexican food as the Austrian, Italian, German, Asian and Mediterranean are all top notch.

About 5" of new snow back home. I am a bit restless knowing that but we are here and soon we will be home and I can work it.

Cheers!