It is getting close to the end of September and Lilia’s birthday, so we are headed back to states to celebrate.  We were back just in time for our church’s fundraiser.  So much fun with good food, good auction items, and listening to Kindred sing.  If you don’t know Dustin Chapman and Ryleigh Madison, google them.  Ryleigh and Dustin were both on American Idol.

Harley and Jesse drop in before the party so Harley could have her teeth cleaned and no Harley didn’t know her tongue was still hanging out when we picked her up and she was still a little goofy.  

Now, we are off to eastern NC all together - Dee and I, Mom and Dad, Jesse and Harley.  Harley believes that Chic Fil A stops should include her.  We get some early Lilia time before her birthday as we open presents, Harley was not impressed because she got no treats.  After lunch and some BBQ with Capi, Capi and Meems get some Lilia time as she spends the night.  We love, laugh, and explore.  We can’t forget the fun time in the kitchen sink for at bath time,

Happy Birthday, Lilia!  She loved her morning, bottle snuggled on the couch, and enjoyed eating my grits. She is a grit girl now!  Some last minutes Aunt Jesse love.  That afternoon was party time.  Lilia was ready, bring on the cake that Aunt Jesse made just for her.  It went perfect with her Wild One Theme, except she decided not to be wild with the cake.  We enjoyed every minute having our girls together and celebrating Lilia.  It was also a blessing to have my Mom and Dad here for Lilia’s birthday.  Check out her face in the video because she is a sometimes a Wild One!

The next day we headed out to Atlantic Beach for lunch and smell that salt air with Mom and Dad and of course Harley went along for the ride.  We ate at Idle Hour Biergarten because it was dog friendly and I enjoyed their Bloody Mary special which is a meal in one. With a slider, wings, shrimps, and so much more!  Then we walked out to the beach.  Always love to see the waves.  Harley was exhausted from our trip.  On the way back we stopped at NW Creek Marina where we spent last Fall 2021 waiting on Lilia to arrive and gave out a few hugs.

The rest of our stay in NC included watching all the devastation by Ian and keeping connected with friends.  We dog sat for Charlie while Bill and Angie enjoyed Mexico ahead of us and had a date night before going our separate ways for a week.  I headed up to Alexandria to watch Harley while Jesse traveled to Austria and Dee headed back to Mexico to get Journey back together and clean after leaving her in the middle of Hurricane season and hanging out in “The Hole”with friends.

We return to Puerto Aventuras, Mexico in mid July to join our South African friends who live in the state of Georgia.  We met them while we were Key West over a year ago.  They bring along with them more South African friends and their close friends, Jack and Buffy.  Jack who has a dream to live on a catamaran one day and Buffy who wants to know more about this life.  First things first, we need to get this crew out on Journey.  It was not the best of days as the seas were rolling, but we enjoyed a few hours out and Captain Jack got to take the wheel.  Finally, before coming back into the marina, we got a bite on the hook.  Gernot got the honors of getting the fish on board.  Success, we have a nice size mahi.  Jack and Gernot needed a selfie with this catch!
We all plan to meet at Latitudes for Happy Hour , dinner, and dancing.   We begin with margaritas and our fresh mahi for an appetizer.   Next, the boys share their big surprise of being Trophy Husbands for the evening.  They had purchased matching t-shirts to wear.  Everyone including our table enjoyed their surprise and they got all the attention they could want for the evening.  We had a great dinner and a great time!  Before the Trophy husbands could leave the ladies at the table next to us had to have a picture.  Theirweek came to a close way too fast, and then they were gone.
Dee and I were super excited that our cushions were finally done for the cockpit.  They look great!  We love them!   We are so glad to no longer be sitting on flat worn out cushions and finally sitting on these nice super thick cushions.  We are in heaven now.
Bill and Angie arrive for several weeks and we took this opportunity to cross the highway into the poblado to eat at LA PALAPA DE MARLON.  The food was fabulous.  Dee got the tacos de camaron estilo baja (fried shrimp tacos) and I had the tostada de camaron or  shrimp tostadas.  So yummy!  We definitely recommend this place to experience some of the poblado as well.  You will find lots of locals eating here.  
We continue to enjoy our times here Puerto Aventuras and have really become regulars at Dimelo a local bar that serves great food and cold beers at a great price.  Nachos are one of our favorites, but we have enjoyed the wings - which we would like to see a little meatier,  and some of their daily specials.
We also were able to catch up with Rudy and Shari while they were on a resort near Puerto Morales.  We met up at Unico Beach Club for the afternoon.  Good times catching up and enjoying a new spot!
One of our regular weekly trips now happens on Sunday afternoon when we head out to “The Hole”. Robin and Landon usually join us with some others on their boat and we make an afternoon of it!  We enjoy the people watching, meeting others, good libations, lots of laughs with good friends.  

Sunsets continue to be spectacular even though on the east coast of Mexico it is hard to get some great shots, but watching the sun paint the sky as it descends is still one of our favorite times of the day.  I can’t forget Rufino at El Pancracio.  We still love their fresh tacos and Rufino’s freshly squeezed margaritas.  Even had a Mexican shot! (The Mexican flag colors) - using grenadine, light yellow liqueur, and tequila.
The marina continues to share great wildlife with us.  As the rays come by once a day along the rock wall where we are docked.  The starfish returned and spent a few days off the front of our boat this time, and the turtles decided not to be as shy and did a drive by.
Before heading back to NC we spend another day over a El Cielo.  It wasn’t the best of days at El Cielo as the anchorage was rolling, but we were able to pick up a mooring ball. I guess the waters were foreshadowning the storms to come. Funny they came and barely rained on us but  it seemed all around us.  The best part of the day was catching dinner just as got back near Puerto Aventuras.  This time we headed over to Dimelo to let them cook our catch!  Perfect end to our day.
We continued to have water in the port side compartment and finally found it was the hot water heater leaking.  When Dee went to take off the check valve to clean it - well it broke off inside.  Finally removed and several trips to playa Dee were able to create fittings that would work because male check valves are hard to find.  We found they were hard to find in the states as well.  Mexico also sells a lot of brass fittings which we find seem to leak more than plastic.  For now no more leaks.
We are headed home to see the birthday girl!  Lilia will be one