Some recent photos this last week.

Marilyn above in her new hammock position. We moved tent last Friday after the girls had left so we could be near to the turtles nests corale. (Cannot rotate it, sorry!!!?)

Our new residence under the hand-made palapas which was done by Israel, the camp boss, and Jorge, his assistant. Note the sand door mats!! Still plenty gets into the tent.

Farewell luncheon last Thursday in nearby restaurant with the girls, Cybil and Sammy, plus Tannia, the hotel mangeress who has become a really good friend, and finally Vanessa next to Marilyn from Vancouver, who also joined us for the day. Brilliant seafood lunch!

Photo of Marilyn bird-watching, plus Vanessa, Tannia, and the girls, on the beach approx. 10 km from Mayto. Also last Tursday, 4th Nov.

Shopping in El Tuito today

Hi guys. Today we are shopping in El Tuito and visiting the Bird Nature Reserve at Rancha Primervera after lunch, so thought I´d just update this end. No photos today as I'm in a internet cafe with a screen that has no access to memory stick. I'll post some photos next week or at the weekend.

All is good here as we enter our last 2 weeks at the Conservation Camp. The girls (Cybil and Sammy) left us last Friday to return to the USA and Costa Rica respectively, so Marilyn and I are the only volunteers now and we are really busy with turtle egg night patrols and minding the nest corale next to our tent where alot of nests collected by us in September are now hatching and we are releasing baby turtles every night after sunset to the ocean. 45 days is the incubation period and on Saturday, we expect 12 nests to be ready for clearing!! Thus, the mid-week visit to El Tuito. We have had our problems recently with dogs predating nests in our corale, despite our best efforts to keep them out! 2 last night and it makes Marilyn and I very sad. They find a way in, either under the netting, or breaking it and jumping over. Most frustrating but we still feel we have done our share for turtle conservation despite these set-backs.

We move off to Puerto Vallarta on the 25th to the volunteer flat for a couple of days and then travel to Cabo San Lucas via Mazatlan ferry to La Paz on the 27th. Sight-seeing and staying at hostels on the way. The "Island Princess" is due in Cabo San Lucas on 7th December. 2 weeks of luxury after 3 months of sleeping in a tent on the shore! A comfortable bed is something to look forward to!!

Well, my time is up so I´m off to the shops with Marilyn before lunch. Take care followers and more photos to follow. Jon

Evening trip to isolated beach close to the Camp

Hi again. Some photos taken this week. 2 evenings ago we took the quad bike up to a remote beach 13 km from the camp and watched the sun setting over the ocean to the west. The trampoline photo was taken by Marilyn last night when 2 of my pupils at the school. Juan and Lisette visited us. I am hopeless on the trampoline and restricted myself to jumping up and down only whist the children performed aerobatics!!

Happy Halloween to you all. J.

More recent photos

Hello again everyone. Just a couple of photos taken 2 days ago at the camp. I could not resist the Olive Ridley turtle snap as she came up in the afternoon right in front of our camp to lay eggs- You see her heading back to the sea as she became confused and did not lay in the end. Normally they come ashore in the night. The other photo is of Marilyn and the other 2 volunteers, Cybil and Sammy, in the nest coraal where they have just uncovered some nests. All is great here and we are into the final month before we head towards Cabo San Luca on 25 November. Weather is cooler now at night and we are grateful for our blankets in our tent. Northerly fresh winds are common. Still very warm in the daytime. We are loving every moment of this chilled-out existence. Take care and back soon. Just off to see Marilyn's new grandchild, Finley, on the skype. He arrived in Auckland on 20 October. Jon.

Update since Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens visit.

Hello again blog followers, all 2 of you - thanks Chris and Gill - and here are a few photos of recent events. Those of yesterday show a close up of a hatched turtle being released to the sea - approx 5 cm long - and one of the camp taken from the beach. The two above show my our volunteer colleagues releasing turtles last night to the sea and Marilyn assisting me weeding the beach ready for landscaping and tree planting. She is a natural "gardener's mate"!!? Notice the sweat or is that suntan cream? In truth, the former as it has been really hot here and we have to do the physical exertions in the mornings before breakfast.

All is going well and we are just over halfway through our stay before we head off to Mazatlan north of here to catch the ferry across to La Paz in California Sur peninsula and head for Cabo San Luca to join our cruise on 6 December, bound Panama and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It has been such an enriching experience here and knowing we are helping in the conservation of endangered turtles. I am personally so relaxed and wound down that I have forgotten everything that I do "back home"!! Seriously, though, it has been so good for us both and still alot more to absorb in our travels. Hope all is good at the Consulate, of course, and Raymond, my deputy, is doubtless managing okay with our lovely female assistants.

Off to El Tuito next weekend to visit a wildlife nature reserve. It is going to be a great day out and there are so many beautiful and exotic birds here in Mexico and Marilyn is particularly excited.

Will report back.

Take care, all of you reading this. Jon.

Some recent photos

Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens

Hello again blog followers. Yesterday to celebrate 5 weeks in Mexico, we had an away day and night and visited the Botanical Gardens in Puerto Vallarta. We set out at 6 in the morning and caught the local bus which finally arrived 30 minutes late at 7 a.m. Reached the gardens at 9.30 a.m. and spent the full day there. It was fabulous and well worth the effort. Beautiful tropical plants, succulents, etc, and great walks around the area. We arrived back at Mayto at 7.30 p.m. and stayed overnight at a small hotel adjacent to our camp. Luxury!! A proper bed and mattress and great hospitality from the owners. They are also right on the beach. Met some delightful Americans who are also staying there for fishing holidays. All is well otherwise and we feel re-charged after our mini-break and back to turtle egg patrols tonight. Anxiously waiting to hear the anticipated good news of Marilyn's 3rd grandchild arrival which is due this coming week. Teaching goiing well at the local school. Back soon. Jon.