Sunday, November 22, 2009

Adventure Is What We're Not Used To

First full day at Rancho La Puerta in Mexico, the spa where I'm teaching writing this week.

Yesterday after leaving leafy North Carolina in the morning, I was on a bus by early afternoon from the San Diego airport to the Mexican town of Tecate (yes, they make Tecate beer here) Suddenly in sun and mountains and TV Western country. At least that's what it looks like to me, because I'm not accustomed to this kind of boulder-strewn brown mountain land. As I hiked this morning the mountain tops looked like Nutty Buddys rising out of the clouds. Nothing could be more exotic.

Catching sight from the road yesterday of a coyote standing out in a field was thrilling.

What I'm also not used to is how much exercise I get here. It's precisely 10 a.m. and I've already taken a 3.5 mile hike,half of it going up, and a level 2 Sculpt and Strengthen class. I'm skipping a Nia class to rest and post, mainly rest.

I love this adventure. And the feeling of pushing my usual limits a bit.

This afternoon the group I lead is Wordplay.



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8 comments:

Greta said...

Oh,you lucky person! I've love to be there, enjoying the culture and learning from you.

Enjoy every single moment and then come back and brag, I mean blog about it.

kenju said...

Peggy, your first link doesn't work, but I found it anyway. That's MY kind of place! Enjoy, take lots of pix and come back and tell us all about it.

Peggy Payne said...

I do feel quite fortunate, and this is Thanksgiving week, too. Maybe there's a good combo word for brag and blog, Greta. Brog? Bloast?

The gardens here are pretty spectacular, Kenju. Even at this time of year there are some flowers and then interesting shapes of green, cactus and yew and jade plants.

I'm glad you overcame my bad link.

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Debra said...

When you come out to RLP again, I would love to drive down to San Diego to take you out for lunch or dinner on one of the legs of your trip.(That is if I can't make it to Rancho, next time!)

Coyotes are lovely creatures but when you live out here in the west, seeing one means keeping your dogs, cats(If you allow them outside, which I don't!), and small children out of their way. Unfortunately, we humans have moved ourselves into their territory, which makes our pets fair game for them. Still, I like seeing them in the wild. We actually had a bobcat sighting on our street a few years ago. Kind of scary!

Hugs,
Debbie

Peggy Payne said...

What a lovely invitation, Debbie. Thanks so much. I'd love it.

We have coyotes in NC now too. But I haven't seen one. A bobcat would be a serious wow!

Debra said...

Yup, it was pretty scary to know there was a bobcat in such close proximity to our home. Caused quite a ruckus amongst the animal control officers and the sheriffs who came around to access the situation. I'm just glad that the bobcat took off for the hills before the humans found him.

Peggy Payne said...

Bob saw a rabid fox sitting at the side of our wooded driveway some years ago. I was glad I didn't see it. The fox was in the last stages and the county wildlife people said to take no walks for a few days. Never have had anything like that turn up again.