After we checked out of the downtown Austin hotel returned my tux, it was one last visit with Quinn, Monika, Pramila and family at the Singh home. Of course we arrived in time for a nice lunch and watched the newlyweds open their greeting (gift) cards. Some quiet hugs and goodbyes and we were on our way. Always hard to say goodbye. But we will see Monika and Quinn at Christmas in the NW.

We had a short drive out of Austin, staying in Fredericksburg, TX. Two days later we were in Corte Bella, Sun City West at the Olerich's. We love staying with them. We always have a good time and the casita is the best hotel room available anywhere. Les and I got in a round of golf at Corte Bella and we were generally consumed by the upcoming elections. Since Leslie and Les and Marcy and I are political liberals, we were revelling in the predictions for an Obama victory. We went to see the movie W . Good movie and the characters were incredibly like the actual players, Cheney, Rove, Rice and all the others. I read that the movie is pretty factual which makes this past administration even more scary than I thought.

Saturday afternoon Les took us over to the Tufesa bus station where we loaded up and rode for 19 hours to Mazatlan. Thankfully the Tufesa buses are comfortable. We were the only Gringos on this trip. Only one stop for inspections and that was at the border in Nogales.

Mazatlan hasn 't changed in the five months we have been gone. Not surprising. Charm is in pretty good shape with some accumulated dust and very warm inside. It's very humid this time of year. Should be great in about a month. Everything works! The fridge has to work pretty hard for awhile and out come the electric fans to blow around the warm air. Clean off the bed and we are sound asleep.

Several of our cruising friends and acquaintances have already returned for the season and many more will arrive in the next two weeks. We will be missing Jim and Judy of Kind of Blue and Pat and Carole of Espiritu this season. They are special friends who have returned to the States. J & J are in San Diego in a new home very near their young grandson and P & C are always on the move. Right now they are crewing on a big catamaran in the HaHa, and have sold Espiritu. We keep in touch via email.

Charm is getting its new autopilot installed??"whoopeee. Next week the salon cushions get a needed dry cleaning. For now, the sun cover is up and we are as comfortable as can be in 90+ degree weather with high humidity. I'm seeing reports of 40ish in Lacey with rain. This is better.

The picture with this note is another of the wedding??"actually of family attending.

We have been in touch with Russell and Fran from down under and we're all looking forward to a reunion here in Mazatlan early in January.