My Exercise Route Along The Lake Has Changed

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Like all good human beings, we have the ability to take what Mother Nature has given us and destroy it with the intention of personal gain.  That's what has happened to the Presa San Miguel (the lake in SMA).  

Here are two pictures taken the same day but four hours apart.  Yesterday was an extremely windy day with hopes it would rain.  It did attempt to sprinkle a bit but the gray just hung overhead without letting loose of that "liquido vital" that we all need and can't seem to get enough of. 

This picture was taken around noon on the 25th of January.  You can see that the lake is almost completely covered with water lilies.

The winds picked up early afternoon the same day.  This picture was taken at 4:30 p.m.  You can see that the wind has pushed the water lilies to one side of the lake.

The lake has always had water lilies but not to this extent.  There are several reasons that this is happening.  One is low levels of water causing the water to heat up more quickly.  There is also a lack of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water and the natural balance has been affected.  Add to this sewer discharge from different areas.

Water is being drained from the lake not only by users but also by corporate agriculture and cattle feedlots in the Cuenca del Rio Laja.  Cuenca means basin and here is a picture of the basin and just how much area depends on water that is taken from the river starving the lake and causing the increase in lily cover.

In the picture above the Cuenca is the light gray, San Miguel de Allende is the dark gray and of course, the blue is the Presa Allende or the lake.  As I said, corporate farmers and cattle production further upstream have taken most of the water.  

The major problem is the lack of water for the city and also those that depend on the lake for income.  The fishermen have had reduced catches as they can no longer throw their nets and tourism such as canoeing has been greatly affected.

As I go on my walks I can observe the changes taking place on a daily basis depending on water levels and climatic conditions.  The green is beautiful but it is destroying the natural balance of the lake and affecting all of us.  I'm not a big meat eater but I do know it takes a lot of water to produce a pound of flesh.  

This has been the current solution but they haven't returned since mid December 2021.

Everyday Life Throws You A Surprise!

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Today I drove down to San Miguel de Allende.  I came by myself as Juan has meetings this week and next for school.  Three more months to go until he retires.  It was a nice drive.  I left early, around 7:15 a.m., stopped for gas, and put time on my phone at the ATM. 

Driving along, listening to Chris Botte on a CD, it couldn't get any better.  The drive through the mountains was spectacular.  It's very dry right now so the landscape has changed from green to desert brown in just the last month.  Nature always knows how to put on a show.  I enjoyed every minute.

I made it to Guadalcazar and about 15 minutes later, traffic came to a screeching halt.  I sat there for exactly two hours.  We crept along covering only 5 km during that time.  I don't know why I didn't check sooner but I got on my phone and looked up the route on maps.  It wouldn't make any difference anyway as there is no other way to go.   Turns out it was road work.  I get up to where the highway narrows to one lane and we switch sides so it's one lane each way.  Only 2 km of road work.  Oh brother, what a mess.  

Juan made chicken salad for my trip so I just got out of the car and opened the trunk.  I pulled out the bowl of salad and some crackers.  The truck driver behind me gave me a thumbs up.  I had intended to treat myself to lunch at El Potosino Rest Stop but sat there and had a wonderful lunch in the car and drove right past the place.   Two hours, I could have been at the house by 3 p.m.  Well, that's life.

So here's the surprise.  We had left the keys with Barbara so her friend could finish the painting.  He dropped off the keys at her house.  I come into the house today and there is a note on the stove and a basket of fruit.  I thought, "Wow, that is some friend".  I unload everything and put stuff away.  The ice chest was the first thing in the door.  I was worried I wouldn't have any ice left so I went to check.  I took off the top and spun around and this is what I saw:

That stinker.  We were holding out for a white fridge but to no avail.  There just aren't any available.  I found one in Mexico City at Coppel Stores but they won't deliver here.  She told me she would put out some feelers for a used Mabe brand in white.  That was two months ago and I never heard anything about it again.  I thought, "what chance?"  Well, she did it!  (The spot on the bottom of the door is my phone camera).

Lots to do in addition to the house sit but I'm anxious to see the pups on Saturday and go for my walks down by the lake.  It would be better if Juan was here but everything has its time and place.  He might fly down for next weekend, not sure yet.  It's super cheap from Monterrey to Queretaro.

Anyway, all is good on the home front here in SMA.  More later.  Monterrey is expecting a cold front tonight, below freezing at our house and for the next couple of nights.  Here in SMA, it's a nice 18C.

2021 Was The Best Year Ever!

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A not too long video that tells the story of last year and where we are today.  You can put it on and listen while you work or putter around the house.  Happy New Year!