Drive Chavo Drive....Last nights,,,rugged roads....border crossing and love in 71 square feet.

Our last night in Baja was lovely. We camped overlooking the Pacific and had an amazing view. Not many amenities, but the view alone was worth the 80 pesos (about $4.00) 

Our last night in Baja. Lovely view!

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We were up early and got a good start towards the border at Tecate. The roads in Baja were brutal. They are narrow, have no shoulder, and the worst part is the potholes. Since the roads were so narrow it was hard to dodge them and as I have described before, Mexicans are loco, but very skilled, drivers. We were amazed to see bicycle tourists. 

See how narrow the road is...and this is a semi passing by.
We would hold our breath when they passed!

We did not expect Baja to be so beautiful. The desert would change from green and lush to rocky and full of cacti. There were so many wildflowers that it looked like a Monet painting...pink, yellow, red and orange. Then of course there is the ocean.

Tecate is small border town. We were in line awhile to cross over the border and zipped through by just showing our passport. We could have had a gang of Mexicans in the back and a bale of marajuana. Still, I was worried about taking our avocados over. No problem!

See..there already is a wall!!

When we left Obama was president, and now we arrive to a different America. Tom and I have talked about how we will deal with the dreaded new regime. And seriously, a wall?? Come on.

We love Mexico and loved this trip. Mexicans were so wonderful to us and never ever were we frowned at, talked to harshly or did we feel any fear. Which makes me wonder why so many folks are afraid of Mexico. Our fellow travelers felt the same way. We all were warned of the danger down here in Mexico. It is so curious to me because the violence and crime in the USA is  even evident daily in the newspaper yet folks aren't afraid to travel in our own country. 

We did have one theft...It involved Ruthie's dog bowl. It was left unguarded one evening in a small town. The next morning we found another dog had stolen it. I recovered the stolen bowl, too.

Today we had a blow out on the highway outside Blythe. Even the mobile tire guy couldn't fix it, so we had to tow the van into town. Waiting now for new tires..but in a hotel with a HOT SHOWER!!! Oh life is so good.

Being towed away...Don't ask how much it cost!

I saw a bumper sticker in Baja which said..."No Bad Days in Baja" and I had to think to myself...Yes that is how this trip has been. No bad days. I loved it all...even the bumpy rides. I loved the food, the people, the sense of adventure and being with my man and doggie.

I couldn't have had better travel companions. Tom is gentle, kind, and so easy to be with. We managed to keep loving each other in 71 square feet for over 2 months. That is an accomplishment. Inside the van we had a few rules...one person doing a task at a time...no farting (difficult to keep this one) and we tried to be kind to each other. Evenings were spent talking to new friends or playing cards, scrabble or reading. We walked a lot every day and enjoyed fixing meals and going out to eat.

Ruthie was a treat. If she could talk she would have said "oh boy oh boy oh boy" a lot...either that or "I hate this." She loved the beach, long runs, chasing her ball but hated the bumpy roads. Not sure she liked the kayak ride either. But, we loved having her along. She made many new friends and provided entertainment with her tricks.

We will be home in a few days and have a lot to do with our van. Repairs, washing, and some improvements. We want to research converting Chavo into a more off the grid rig with solar power and get rid of macerator and air conditioner. Or, we may look into other rigs.  Germans gave us some ideas.  Who knows?

So we say Adios to our amigos and amigas in Mexico. We will speak out for Mexico, especially in light of the indignities our president has bestowed upon you. And, of course, we shall return.

Drive Chavo Drive…Ferry, Friends, Whales and Rescue

Brace up, I have a lot to report since Mazatlan. It seems like years ago that we left Mazatlan and we are sitting under our awning on Bajia Concepcion in the Baja as I write this. 

On February 18th we  traveled from Mazatlan to Topolobombo where we would catch the ferry to La Paz. Great name for a town, right? I read that a Mexican novella was filmed there because of that name. We camped in a trailer park which did not match its description in our Camping Mexico book at all. It was pretty much in a shambles, but we were able to take a cold shower in one of their run down hotel rooms. I’ve learned not to believe guide books especially the eight year old camping guide. My favorite new app is “iOverlander" which has updated traveler-written information on anything someone would need. 

The ferry to Baja was a great experience. We drove in the terminal and immediately didn’t know where to go or what to do. We were waved down and motioned to go to a parking lot with hundreds of semi-trucks. I was able to locate a ticket person who measured our van, asked a few questions and I paid about 3,000 pesos which is $150 dollars. If we had used the website to book it would have cost three times that. After buying our ticket, we then didn’t have a clue where to wait or what to do. Finally we figured it out and spent 2 hours watching very skilled drivers load semi trucks into the ferry. We finally were allowed to drive on the ferry and onto a lift which lifted us to the second deck. We guessed about 90% of the vehicles aboard were semis and we’re sure we were the only gringos aboard the slower rustier alternative to fancy Baja Ferries ship which would have required us to rent a stateroom and lock Ruthie in a kennel.  Instead, we were able to sleep in El have which made for an easy crossing with Ruthie. We took a dramamine slept all night and woke up in La Paz.

Baja beaches are beautiful, water clear, blue and
cool.

We stayed with Pete and Nadene, Boise friends, in La Paz. They drive down and stay in a little hacienda in town. It is a few blocks from the Malecon, the bay, and the market. They have a lively time there, taking Spanish lessons, tango dancing, and Nadine attends a writing group. Plus, they have some great friends. I was so happy to meet a friend of theirs who was a librarian at the library blocks from my mother’s house. It will always be my favorite library. We had a great time with them, going snorkeling and just talking and eating. They are great folks! 

La Paz with Pete (taking photo) Nadene and Greg and
Denise their friends from Boise. 

Moving on we drove north through the middle of Baja California Sur,  landing at the costal town of Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos, on Magdalena Bay. Our goal was to see grey whales and their babies. We camped in the parking lot and stayed next to a rig which had a chicken coop built in behind the passenger door!! We got the first boat out and were the only people on the panga. It was magnificent seeing the whales and their babies side by side, rolling and diving.   

Grey whale mama and baby (deadbeat whale dad)

Soon after we drove across Baja from a bay on the Pacific to a bay on the Sea of Cortez, Bahia Concepcion. We found a quiet little spot on the beach and have been “wild”  or “dry” camping for three days. The best part is the water…lovely clear blue and no waves. It is great for kayaking.

Kayaking with Ruthie

We have kayaked each day. The first day was very windy, we probably should have stayed on shore.We paddled to the next beach to the south and pulled in and went for a walk on the beach. As we pulled the boat on shore Tom the cautious one thought we should pull the boat up further….me the careless one said we were fine where we were. BIG MISTAKE!!! We walked down the beach and looked back and the boat was fine…then seconds later we looked and our boat was floating away away with astonishing speed into the bay. Within a short time the boat was a small dot.!! We ran down the beach and two Mexicans (our Saints for the day) pointed to their boat. With their pickup they dragged their boat into the water, Tom jumped aboard.  As they drew closer he could see out kayak and was astonished to see not one but both of our paddles still lying across it.  He and our Saviors pulled the kayak and paddles aboard and returned to shore.   Once again our butts were saved by kind Mexicans. We figured out that the boat owner, Juan Carlos our Savior, was the grandson of the man who owns this little beach we are camped on. Today, Monday, we paddled back to the same beach with a money gift for Juan Carlos, though he didn’t ask for anything in return for his kindness.

Sunrise on Bahia Concepcion

As we travel we meet people from around the world whose travels put us to shame.  And we have seen some equally impressive RV’s, some of which are leading us to reconsider what we need and want in one.  We realize, for example, that relatively few campgrounds anywhere in North America have full electric, sewer, wifi and other services.  On the other hand, our beloved El Chavo is loaded with technologies that require a great deal of electricity, propane, and water:  air conditioner, generator, water pump, water heater furnace, lights, stove, microwave, fan, and sewage pump.  Not only are some of these things unnecessary, they require power (sometimes a lot of it) and also break down (as we’ve discovered on this trip).  Lately travelers from Europe (mostly Germany) have shown us their rigs.  In a nutshell, we’ve learned that they can function fine “off the grid” because all their power is generated by solar panels on the vehicle roof or by the engine, and, each technology they do use is chosen to draw the least amount of power (for example, instead of a furnace and a hot water heater, one low wattage device delivers both).  We love El Chavo but intend to research the European model of travel. 

This sticker was on a German RV that we just loved.
The map he is pointing to shows the routes
European travelers use to ship their Rv's. Most that
we met shipped their RV to Halifax and drove across
Canada into Alaska then down south. Most travel for a year or
more. We met a couple who have been traveling for 10 years.
BIMobil is the name of the company that custom makes
amazing RV's (all solar and off the grid) 

This is the most peaceful place we have been on our entire adventure. Millions of stars at night, lovely sunrises and sunsets, few other folks. And no loud music. We only have a slow running faucet to wash off the salt water, and no other amenities. It has been a great stop for us. 

Someone just walked by and said “snowing in Seattle” …..I do miss my pals and home but am not looking forward to the weather. 

Reading 

Tom

The Sun (magazine)

The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway

The Association of Small Bombs by Karen Mahajan

Drive Chavo Drive!!!! My history in Mazatlan

We just left Mazatlan. I have quitea history with this city. Being here brought back many memories of growing up in a family which loved Mexico and its people. They also loved to deep sea fish. 

In 1952,  the year my brother and I were born, my father took a trip to Mazatlan. He was going there to fish for marlin and swordfish I didn’t even know of this trip until I discovered a newspaper clipping featuring my father and the swordfish he caught in Mazatlan. In 1952 a trip like this was considered high adventure it seems. And, my father was quite an adventurer. 

In those days Mazatlan was undiscovered. On one of his trips to Mexico, my  father brought home Tony, the deckhand on the boat he fished on, to live with our family and learn English. I remember having Tony as my Mexican brother and how fun he was. 

 I also remember traveling with my family (in a converted bus) to Mazatlan when I was around seven or eight. At that time we stayed in Hotel El Dorado who's owner was Senor Louis Patron. Louis and my father became friends and most of Louis’ children came to live with my family in California. Louis, Jaime, Sergio, and Gloria all spent a year with my family. My sister Pat and her husband Warren hosted Sergio in San Diego. 

When I was 13 Gloria was living with us and I went home with her to live with her family in Mazatlan for a summer. We took the bus from the border and I remember being scared the entire 24 hours it took to get to Mazatlan. My next trip to Mazatlan was my honeymoon in 1972. (with former husband Stan) 

So, I have seen this city go from a quiet lovely city to a tourist destination over the years. 

So here I am back in Mazatlan again. We stayed on the beach in a campground way north of the old city and the hotel district.  We took a bus to go to the grocery store, Mega, and saw how congested Mazatlan can be. 

The good news is that in Mazatlan lives a man from Canada who repairs RV’s. He came to us in his van and fixed our macerator in an hour…for $30. He just put his drill into the motor to get it moving again and that unplugged it. No more paper down the toilet, though! 

From Mazatlan we drove north to camp close to the ferry to La Paz. We are now in a small village Las Glorias in a run down campground on the beach. Tomorrow we will drive to Topolobombo to catch the ferry to La Paz. There is no Internet in this village at all so we cannot make reservations in advance. We are going early and can wait hours if needed…We have our van, our books, food, and games to keep us occupied while we wait. We are taking the ferry which allows us to stay in our vehicle and also our doggie can stay with us. 

So…see you in La Paz

Visited this town a few days ago. We love the name. 

It has ruins destroyed by guess who?

The Spanish!!! It is also known for baskets.

Drive Chavo Drive....Camping in a Caldara

Tonight we are camping at the bottom of a caldera just outside Tepic, Nayarit Mexico. The name of the campground is Koala Bungalows and Campground at Santa Maria del Oro. We turned off the highway and drove down a very steep and windy road to a beautiful blue lake. It is the first really clean and blue lake we have seen in Mexico. The water is warm and I went for a delicious swim after we got set up. Tommy and I also took a boat ride around the lake...then back to camp for dinner.

Koala Campground, Santa Maria del Oro

 Our neighbor is a retired veterinarian from Quebec, and has to be one of most fun and interesting folks we have met.  He has a Sprinter van too but did all the work himself to convert it to a camper. It is igneous! He has a solar system which runs golf cart batteries, so he can be off the grid for weeks at a time. Inside is beautiful and practical. Very clever. We spent a fun evening talking to him and his friends this evening.

Tommy sips cafe...our new vase. We also bought
some coffee from street vendor.

 His theory is that Americans do not really travel, and it seems true to us on this trip. We have seen very few Americans. We see many Canadians, some Germans, French, Dutch and Swiss, but only a few from our country. Tom and I have noticed that most people at home we talk to about our travels in Mexico responsd with the same comment, “aren’t you afraid”, and it is a bit tiresome answering this question. We feel very cared for and safe traveling in Mexico. The people are helpful and kind and good spirited. And, unlike in America, few are carrying a gun. But I seriously do not mess with the police here, even though we always wave as we pass them and they wave back. 

Here's our location.

We had a fun time in Patzcuaro.  On our last two days there we explored a few villages around the lake known for their crafts. One village had a lot of copper and we discovered a shop with very unique copper goods. I saw Jesus wearing a skirt in the iglesia there. Can’t figure that out. We bought a copper towel rack for our bathroom. The other village had a ruin which we explored and then the shops were filled with baskets and lots of pottery. The name of this village is a mouthful Tzintzuntzan. We bought a bowl there with a man and a woman painted on it…in honor of Valentine’s Day. 

The last two campgrounds have been like parks. We are surrounded by lush vegetation and flowers. The grounds are grassy and the one in Patzcuaro had a swimming pool and here we have a beautiful lake. The cost at both have been around 220 pesos, which is about $11.00. This includes water, sewage and electric hook ups. 

I would like to stay here longer, but we have a ferry to catch in a few days. We will head out to Mazatlan, which is 250 miles to the north. We drive on mainly toll roads, spending around $20 a day on tolls alone. There, we hope to get our sewage system fixed and then we will head up to Los Moches to catch the ferry to La Paz.

Books

I am reading Louise Penny’s 3rd mystery now. Can’t remember the name. It is on my Kindle.

I finished Salvation Boulevard, which was a great page turner.

Tom still reading The Wright Brothers and I feel like I have read it too. On the road today he told me all about the book. Sounds good.

Play List

We listened to CD’s today..taking a break from Spotify.

John Piizzarelli

Orchestra Boab Ab

Ottomotapiia

Ernest Ranguin

Tracy Chapman (anyone know what she is doing now?…we need her songs more than ever) 

Nigeria Special

Drive Chavo Drive!! Pat Squirrel

I don't think I would be living this traveling life if I hadn't met Steve and Kathy Addington many many years ago. When we first met they told us of their life of travel and opened my eyes to a new way to live and explore this world. They are Greta's godparents and it was a great loss of this world when Steve died of a brain glioma. Kathy just texted me that they visited Patzcuaro too and Steve called it Pat Squirrel. Which brings me to my sister, Pat, who also visited this part of the world and helped us make our travel plans. We are all indeed connected. 

Hot spring fed pool at campground.

Our first night enroute to Patzquaro we camped in Villa Corona at a cool hot springs campground. Each night they empty the big pools and then fill them after cleaning. We discovered that the pools were full by early morning, so I was able to soak before we hit the road.

Strawberry fields forever....

It seems like each campground has a wise sage. At Parque Aquatiko in Villa Corona it was George who had traveled to Patzcuaro for 15 years and is sort of a fixture here in Patzcuaro.  He gave us driving directions for the scenic route and a note for some other campers at our destinations. The drive was only a bit over 200 miles but was windy, hilly, and sinouso, and ..7 hours...but lovely. 

We passed through busy and colorful villages along Lake Chapala and miles of strawberry fields and raspberry fields. Let's hope that Agent Orange (a name for our new presidente whom I refuse to name) does not go through with a tariff on goods from Mexico. Think of what it would do to our raspberry, strawberry and (gasp) avocado consumption! 

Where we are...Jeez, we're 2/3 of the way south in Mexico!!

Villa Patzcuaro is a lovely campground. It is grassy, full of flowers, grass,birds and a swimming pool even. And it is quiet! (and cheap) We love it here.  We had a few life topos (speed bumps) since we arrived. First our toilet poop grinder broke...I walked to buy new fuses (8 for 9 pesos) which didn't do the trick..then walked to mechanic who said he didn't repair RV stuff. I think my Spanish went like this..."Hello...good day, we have a camper car which has a toilet which has a pump which has much paper in it. It will not go and can you look at it please?" I guess I got my point across.

The main problem is that someone has to crawl under the car and release the sewage manually..which could be a big mess as you can imagine. So we next called a plumber who also crawled under the rig and said he could not fix it. Our next resort is pump mechanic tomorrow. I also discovered an RV repair man in Mazatlan if nothing else works. 

Tomas and the mechanic...muchos problemos!
 Amiga Maureen from Boise translated for us via the telephone. 

Tommy had an upset tummy too...so we stayed close to home the first day. That was not so bad since there are such interesting folks here. We became friends with a Dutch couple who traveled from Europe to Halifax, then to Alaska and then down coast to Mexico. They have been traveling 8 months so far. They were the best dressed campers I have ever seen and most organized. They had a huge pot and canned 60 meals at a time and so had food for 60 dinners (5 different dishes) They had a high fat diet and were pretty zealous about what they ate. (no potato chips even!) 

What a rig! This is a German made vehicle...has traveled the world for 10 years now...
They get the clean campsite award. (and weirdest RV) 

 Another interesting couple is from Germany who have been traveling in this huge rig for 10 years!! We plan on having a beer with them this evening and hearing about their travels. I've never seen a rig like that. He did suggest we put chemicals down the toilet and we just dumped baking soda (Royal in Espanol) and vinegar.,.will see if that loosens things up. 

Mercado

Bliss!! 

Two of these containers for 20 pesos (1$)

We finally ventured into Patzcuaro...What a great town. We took a combi into town and walked around the market and bought veggies and strawberries...for so little money we felt guilty. Later, we had a coffee, walked to the main cathedral and had quesadilla outside. My favorite shrimp cocktail cart was operating so I had a shrimp cocktail. The town is lively, colorful and has nice colonial buildings. 

It has been a lovely day. 

It was also laundry day here for us...we hand wash because the laundries here use really scented soap and I cannot handle it. Pat brought us down some unscented soap. It was actually fun hand washing our clothes.

Today, as we had coffee we outlined our next few weeks... I could stay here a month I think but we will head out on Wednesday. Until then we want to visit villages around the lake and a few ruins. Since we have Ruthie here with us we try to just be gone only a few hours. She is great just hanging out in the van with her bone and bed. 

Ruthie loves travel...the only thing she hates is all
the fireworks here. She spends lots of time under
the van or under the bed. 

Reading..We are both on book number 7 and still reading the same books as last posted. Not as much reading here..too busy talking and trying to fix our van and exploring! 

Cannot resist buying treasures like this vase. Coffee good too. 

Drive Chavo Drive!! Adios Sayulita

"What is that feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing?-it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies."
Jack Kerouac-On The Road



In the spirit of Bilbo Baggins*..we are moving on with our adventure. I hated to leave Sayulita, it seemed like the nearly four weeks there sped by. I cannot even remember what we did each day...morning walks on the beach, coffee with friends, walks into town and, of course, the ocean and our books occupied our days. It was a gentle life and the best part was the people we met.

So of course it is hard to say goodbye. Here are some of the wonderful folks at the Sayulita trailer park (and I hope they don't mind me putting their picture in my blog)

She charmed her way into my heart...little Bronwyn was so delightful to watch.

Colin (Bronwyn's dad) and I ...I will miss our daily banter..A surfer from Yukon..Imagine that. 

Katie (Bronwyn's mom)..and not shown is baby Angus...She and Colin are on their one year parental leave. Canada knows how to treat new parents and families. 

We love this couple (Jen and Remi)...their sweet daughter Chaia is so beautiful and loves to read and make art.
They are living a very creative life...work in the movie industry in Vancouver and travel around the world. 

There is another family not shown here from Yukon who also are spending their parental leave in Mexico, Lyndsey and Greg and Cole and new baby Lucy. I will miss hearing Lucy's voice early each morning...and their coffee grinder.  They drove all the way from Whitehorse,Yukon to Mexico. 

So goodbye everyone..goodbye yoga friends, goodbye sister, goodbye basket maker on the beach (he made special hat for my gnome) goodbye bocci ball players, goodbye Toni and Scooter, goodbye wonderful conversations and laughter and goodbye to crazy village Sayulita.

Hot springs pool at Paarque Aquatico south of Guadalajara

Tom and Ruthie playing...

When we finally hit the road our language once again deteriorated to four letter words as busses sped by us and cars passed narrowly missing a crash. Things seemed to calm down as we went inland, but still the drive was through mountains and windy curves. It took us six hours (2 more than google maps said) to get to our destination. Parque Aquatico. It is a hot springs campground about 28 miles from Guadalajara and I know Tom was not thrilled today's drive. But, it is quiet, green, and the pools are pretty nice. We hope to get up early and swim before departing for Patzcuaro which we were told will take 7 hours. 

Lessons from Canadians

A year parental leave! Imagine that (for both parents)

Health care care for all...a wonderful thing (not perfect but still great)

It is a good thing for a country to care for its citizens (see above)

Travel!!!

Don't be so afraid of everything!

Trump is frightening for then, too!

What we are reading

Drive Chavo Drive!! Mex sick oh!!

The patio where we hang out for coffee and solve world problems. 

Lest I go all Facebook on you and paint a perfect picture of life in Mexico..here is a grim reality.  You get sick here! They should have a sign outside Sayulita..."Welcome to Sayulita...prepare to barf!" My sister was here 2 days and got sick...I got sick on day three and our friends entire family was sick on the second day visiting. Not fun...not fun at all. However, Tomas don't get sick). 

 There are several theories..but I think it has to do with the untreated sewage flowing into the ocean. Yuck, right? If only Mexico could get a grip on their sewage and sanitation system...Hey here's an idea...Instead of a zillion dollar wall lets actually HELP Mexico. Their water and waste system would be a good start. Seems like it isn't so great for tourism either.

The good news is that I am  fine now and able to exert myself turning pages of books, making pom pons, walking on the beach and swimming (if the water is clean) 

Dinner...took home and grilled

One of many things Mexicans have going for them is their happy temperament and of course the food. The music is lively and fun and it feels great to be greeted by so many happy folks. Despite so many warnings from fellow Americans about traveling south..we have always felt safe here. Our fellow travelers have many stories of being helped along the way by a Mexican. 

Good things

• The film festival is here this week. One of our favorite films was about this NGO... 

http://sayulitanimals.org

• The cake lady of Sayulita...Pat and I had flan last night...Here is the film which was in the festival about her.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA9dJjKdKxE

• Shrimp cocktail..we discovered world class shrimp cocktails a few steps away

• Yoga under palapa looking over the ocean..the best yoga ever! 

Drive Chavo Drive...Buenos Olas!

Our days here at Sayulita Trailer Park are taking on a gentle routine. Many days start with  coffee on the patio watching the surf and surfers, breakfast,  Yoga, and then long walk on the beach. Soon after, it is lunch time (fish tacos anyone?) Our afternoons usually involve shopping for food where we visit several shops and then home to spend the afternoon on the beach reading or in my case sewing or drawing. 

Downtown Sayulita looking up

 I love that the surfers say "buenos olas" to each other. It reminds me of us saying "buenos nachos" ...just a fun take on buenos dias.  I am not sure how this greeting is used...but the waves have been muy buenos, which makes the surfers very very happy. (olas is waves in Espanol) 

The big news here has been THE WAVES!! It's all about surfing here and that is what directs many conversations which go on for hours. It reminds me of Tom and his friends talking about skiing or biking. Same thing. So, the waves have been huge which is good for surfers and watching surfers and bad for swimmers like me. I have to walk down the beach to swim if I want to stay alive.

Talking Surf

I discovered a flower shop!!

Reading

• I finished The Miniaturist byJessie Burton (liked) and am halfway through Gillian Flynn's (think Gone Girl) Dark Places. (page turner) 
• Tom finished the book about Wallace Stegner and Edward Abby and we had many good conversations about this book. I want to read it now. He is now reading a book of stories by Sherman Alexie called Blasphemy

Good Things

• Team Rybus played on the bocci ball tournament..we lost all three games but won the newcomer award. (two shot glasses with Mexico etchings)
• The vegetable truck! A little truck comes twice a week full of veggies and fruit...we just walk out and buy what we need. 
• The Internet is working again.
• My sister arrived Friday...she is the person who introduced me to this wonderful place. 
• Parties!!! We had great fun at a party last night celebrating a big 70...live music, pot luck and a lot of dancing. The younger folks here say us old folks' parties go like this...an hour of drinking, an hour of eating and an hour of dancing...done by 8:30