Up on the hill

Dinner up Shit Creek last week. Nina and I walked up the stairs, and avoided the rocky path, named Shit Creek by someone long ago .... could have been No Neck Hank, or Jock Strap Jerry, or Orange Charlie, or any other gypsy who spent time here, before my day ! K. lives way up there, but not quite as far up as Ms. D.  I don't have permission to write about her, and we all know she is very private, so I will just call her D, and our host, K.
If you arrive in Yelapa, for the first time, and plan to spend any length of time here, it won't be long till someone tells you the story, of the woman on the hill, D. Stung 17 times by a Scorpion, cuts the head of snakes with her machette, and very rarely ever comes down to the village. I was facinated !
It took a few years for me to ever see her, and then a few more years to actually meet her, and then slowly over time, get to know her better.
The four of us, having dinner and drinks. We didn't have masks on, but washed our hands and were careful. We have all been isolated here, and I've seen K. and Nina on different occasions, so we felt very safe.
No idea how high up it is, I'll have to ask, but I'll guess ..
200 or 300 feet, Shit Rock way way out in the distance, at the entrance to the bay. 
( How do you get to Yelapa from Vallarta ?
   Turn left at Shit Rock )
We sat on the lovely small deck, just meant for 4, nested in the trees, when the mangos are ready, my long arm could probably pick one off the tree !
I'd only been up there once before, so I followed Nina.
One of the 1st places she ever stayed, was up that hill, but on the other side of the creek. That was 45 years ago. 
There weren't a lot of houses to rent, back in that day, so I've heard many other people tell stories about that place.
No electricity, no hot water, no stairs, no bridge, feed the pigs your compost, no plastic bags. Those days you still had to ride the cargo boat to get here, which took about 2.5 hours !
No power boats, until a few years later, one water taxi.    
This year Nina had an extra bedspread and pillow case set that she had brought back from India, where she goes every year, for months at a time, when she can. I bought it !
I've seen the other ones she had over the years, and finally I have my own. It's not Mexican, but my embroidered pillows are perfect match. 
Under normal circumstances, Nina wouldn't be here at this time, nor K., but they live in hot spots for Corona virus,
in USA and the UK, so they will be here a little while longer. Hopefully they are gone before it rains, because their sweet cabins are not ready for that.
No one wants to live in a house with a hole in the roof, where the rain comes in !
Ms. D. is prepared. At 67 years old, she said it's 47 years she has been on that hill ! Many people came then, and stayed 6 months, or a year, maybe 3, but they all left, or died ! She stayed. She never left, except a few years ago when her Mom died, she's been here. For a loner, she's a great talker, and I learned how to care for my teeth with salt, care for my gums with Goldenseal, and make a Vodka mash punch, using fresh basil, lime, and water. Add Anis and Lemon Grass if desired !
I'm on it ! 
I didn't ask about cutting the head off snakes !
I started writing this blog in 2012, to keep connected to my Father, who could only talk on the phone for short periods of time. He died 6 years ago, and today is his 93rd Birthday.
He was able to make one visit to Yelapa, and saw and felt how I loved it here, and had found my place.
He was very happy for me.
I'd like to think I still write to keep that connection to him, and to the Yelapa friends I've met along the way.
Happy Birthday Dad, and Thanks for Everything !