This hermit crab epitomized our day - taking a s-l-o-w stroll along the beach, stopping for long periods to enjoy the sun.

Now that’s more like it! To counter yesterday’s arduous day, we had a leisurely breakfast and an all-day beach day at the delicious sugar-white Playa Destiladeras.

“I will be back with your coffees in a Mexican minute,” the waiter at Paninos Terrala Restaurant quipped. I replied, “OK, See you tomorrow.” We all laughed. It did take a good 20 minutes to get our coffee.

Service at Paninos’ might be slow, but the food and coffee was terrific. It was a preview of the rest of our day.

After breakfast, we took the bus straight to Playa Destiladeras, the best beach that we have discovered in Riviera Nayarit. Mo remarked on how the funky ratty parking lot turns into paradise when you top a small hill that hides the beach from the lot.

It was only 11 am when we reached the beach. It was early enough that even being family beach day (Sunday), the beach was empty. We staked out our chaise lounges and umbrellas for the day, ordered an early margarita, and laid in for the day.

The ATM bus drops us off at a dusty desert-like corner.

After rounding a corner and topping a small hill - PARADISE!.

Grace claiming her chaise lounge.

The waves were the perfect size - powerful but not suicidal. Grace and Mo got in a couple of good licks in the ocean, but Wanda and I invested at least two hours of hard-core playing in the surf. I got one of the best body surfing rides in my body surfing career in. As I was barreling along in the frothy breaker, it catapulted me up in the open air in front of the wave, only to recatch me for another 50 feet of sheer delight. The best part of a good body surf is the vibration you experience as you ride the energy-charged foamy breaking wave. I liken it to shuddering vibrations astronautics report feeling as their rocket launches.

Bracing for the big one.

The mile-long stretch of white sand is an invitation to a slow stroll to the end where the jagged rocks block off the south end.

The white sand at Playa Destiladeras is a perfect walking surface. While the sand at most beaches is deep and loose making walking a chore, Playa Destiladeras offers a smooth surface like an expensive berber carpet. It is even better when in the water. It is firm but not cement hard.

Along the way, there are a couple of shallow caves to offer some shade.

The end of the mile long beach.

We had a couple more rounds of drinks, we bought a couple of Destiladeras’ famous fruit plates, and Wanda ordered a shrimp brochette which she generously shared with me. It was nearly as good as Panchos’ shrimp skewer at Mismaloya. Panchos was A+. This skewer was a solid A.

With all of us red as crabs, me being the reddest, we left around 6:30 pm. I made bean and cheese burritos at the house.

The only damper on the day was Mo’s 13 -year-old dog, Maya. She got word that Maya took a bad turn yesterday. Back home, Mo’s sister, Kack, took Maya to the vet. Kack was given some medication to put in Maya’s food, but the dog couldn’t eat. Mo is bracing herself for the worst.

Dave and Wanda

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