So we got the tandem down off the truck this morning and went for a ride in the country around  Abbeville.  As you can see, it’s a gorgeous morning, we’re feeling lucky to be out enjoying this one. Grabbing the bike instead of going for a walk was a smart choice.

A very common sight in this whole area are fields that are flooded and look like this:

Here’s a close up of  a bunch of traps (the red things).

What they’re farming here is two things. They plant rice, flood the fields, then grow crawfish.  Every day they work their way through their fields emptying their crawfish traps (the red things). We saw a very similar process in Mexico where they were harvesting shrimp in shallow waters. Here’s what those crawfish look like after they’ve boiled them. Here’s ready to serve:

They’re a lot of work, very little meat per fish, but they taste great, kind of like lobster, but a little more taste.

Don’t worry, there’s no test. Thanks for the read.

See the crow hanging on the side of the white dish? Neither do I. The Damn crow was too fast for me!

 We are on a bike ride (the first of 2009 I might add) on our tandem down in Tulum and after working our tails off on a great ride for a couple of hours we stop for lunch. Sitting on the table next to us is a container half full of small envelopes of sugar. We are enjoying a cold cerveza, waiting for our lunch when  a crow swoops in, grabs a sugar and flies off to a quiet corner. He pecks a hole in the bag and commences to enjoy every last granule of sugar. He begins his return for more, flying closer to the table, carefully waiting for his opportunity to grab another. Each attempt is foiled by some distraction, people are coming and going, our server arrives (somebody ordered another delicious cold beer), there is no safe opportunity for my buddy, the crow. We finish our delicious tacos, pay our bill and take our beers heading off to the beach to have a look before we continue our bike ride. I grab a sugar, carefully dropping it in amongst the crow’s sugar bag collection in the sand. I think he winked me a “thankyou” as we move off.

Earlier we had arrived at the hotel, we had asked a manager type if we could park there while we went for a bike ride. “No Problem” was his response as he and a few of his co-workers watched as we took the bike off the truck and prepared for the ride. When we were ready to go we offered them a ride. They all declined a ride on the bike the manager described as “no Mexico bike”. He’s right, the tandem and Mexican roads have nothing in common! This is the first time since the US we have even attempted a ride on the “big” bike.

When the ride was all over and we were putting the bike back on the truck we assembled another small crowd. Yesterday was a warm sunny afternoon and they were obviously enjoying the weather. They had a big bottle of Beef Eater gin, a  block of ice, a yogurt container, a machete and some coconuts, The yogurt container was the glass. The machete was used to chop both the ice and the top off the cocnuts.  

Hmm, gin and fresh coconut milk on the rocks. Doesn’t sound all that bad.

Finally, the summer weather we have been searching for all through June, July and most of August. The last few days we are enjoying mid 20 degree days, lots of sun, and the forecast for lots more days of the same.

This weekend we have taken full advantage of the days, yesterday with a bike ride on our tandem to take some movies back in Grimsby, then carry on for a total 20 or 30 mile ride before we got home. Today the dogs got a huge walk through 50 Point before Mar and I hopped on our individual bikes and rode down to Hamilton Beach and back.

It’s now about 3 oclock and Mar is setting up here easel and canvas to work away on her latest creation. I’m guessing she should be finished soon and I would call his her best yet.

As soon as I’ve posted this my plan is to check out one of our zero-gravity chairs. Maybe this time I can snooze without snoring. OK, OK, not likely, but I can try.

So what’s the picture about you ask? Hamilton is doing a lot of work on their bike routes. Marilyn think the cyclist’s bike route stop signs are “cute”.

See the fancy new tires on our Bicycle Built For Two? So here’s how they got there: As I promised I went to the bike store, credit card in hand, but instead of getting them to fix it, I asked for some advice (not often I do that). Turns out I do know how to change a bike tire, all I need are the correct parts. So now our tandem is sporting two new Armadillo Kevlar tires (the stuff they make bullet proof vests out of) with 2 new tubes. With a little luck we should be good for miles, especially because I bought lots of tire patches while I was there.

Oh, one more thing; I did not shed one drop if blood doing this handy kind of job. Now you are impressed, right?