Giving Thanks!
The infamous story of the trip involves us and these two army men who patrol the beach to protect the sea turtles and others.
Before we headed to to Mexico, Rafael suggested that Susan and I get a small beach tent to protect ourselves from the sun.
So when we set up our outpost, I pitched the sun tent and watched Rafael set up his tarp. Later, when I returned from snorkeling, I noted that the tarp looked like it had much more shade than our tent. But Susan was in our tent so I joined her.
Unfortunately, the only way to get some shade was to zip the tent closed. Soon, Rafael and Emmy needed to go to town, so they left us at the beach - and our tent was still mostly closed. Of course, though we were on a deserted beach, Rafael's tool bag and Susan's snorkel set walked.
Once they retuned and we discovered the bags were missing, we hit the road hoping to find the perpetrators walking home. After much running, driving, and talking to kids we returned empty handed.
But soon the beach patrol walked down the beach and said they thought they saw some kids with our stuff. Off we went down miles of bumpy dirt road to sneak up on them from behind. After a few false starts we got close to where the soldiers saw the kids and left the car to sneak up on foot.
Though we surprised them, it was in vain as they were the same kids we talked to as they walked to the beach! And to top it off, after we left them on the beach to drive back to the parking lot they beat us back by walking back on foot!
So here is Raphael with a big smile after a disappointing day - but he does have another good story to tell - and even if you read my version be sure to listen to the exciting version from him. He also gave the soldiers some Russian flashlights that they were very grateful for.
