a few pre-storm tidbits

I drove around the village this morning to see how the storm preparations were proceeding -- and in the hopes I could accomplish a few last minute chores.


What I most wanted was a grilled chicken.  Actually, four.  One for me.  One for the tenants upstairs.  And one each for my neighbors next to me and across the street.  I thought we could all do with a bit of animal protein to comfort ourselves.


It was a nice idea.  But it was not to be.  My favorite chicken stand was closed.  As you can see in the photograph at the top of this post.  As were all of the other restaurants around town.  I guess they thought their patrons would be dealing with their own food this afternoon.


If you look at the bicycle in the photograph, you can see that we have been getting a bit of rain.  Enough to saturate the ground. 


In some places, that could be bad.  I drove through one of the poorest areas of Villa Obregon.  The roads there are almost impassable.  Just a little more water will flood those homes.


Even though the restaurants were closed, the pharmacies were open.  So, I stocked up on a month’s worth of blood pressure medicine.


But it is good that I took care of my mobile telephone issues yesterday.  The Telcel shop is closed -- along with its neighbors.

If you need a few food items, our local Kiosko is doubly prepared.  With plywood to protect the windows -- and with an open sign to welcome shoppers.

I mentioned earlier that Melaque is filled with emergency vehicles.  I took this shot of trucks filled with emergency supplies, and a police vehicle and San Patricio’s emergency warning system in the background.

Due to the road construction, there is only one good road left to travel between Villa Obregon and San Patricio.  When I left the house, a tree had fallen across it.  That seemed ironic.  No wind, yet.  But trees are falling.  I assume from too much surface water.


When I returned, this is what I found.  People who make fun of Mexican efficiency need to see more examples like this.  In less than an hour, the tree was cut up, the debris cleared, and traffic was flowing again.  (And, yes, the left side of the photograph is “the good road.”)

When I got up this morning, the water in my inlet was gone.  Someone must have breached the dunes to the ocean.  Or the waves did it.  They have been quite active.


When I went to the beach, I took the photograph below in about the same position as yesterday.  You can see all of the water hyacinth that has washed up on shore.  Otherwise, we just wait for the sea and the wind to sculpt our lives.