I had such a wonderful time visiting with friends in Mexico this past month. It was such a wonderful opportunity for Al Ross and I to experience some merlin hawking south of the border. The hospitality and kindness we experienced was overwhelming. A sincere thank you to Shanny, Nicolaus, Ricardo, Adrian, and Ulisses...brothers! You guys made it a trip of a lifetime. Al and I were hosted by Shanny and his wife, Charis, at their home in Chapala. Their house was home base and Charis spoiled us with good coffee, wonderful food, and great conversation.
This is the back patio where we started most days with hot coffee, merlin talk, and warm sunshine...a nice reprieve from the Idaho winter.
We spent a very long and fun night at Ricardo Padilla's home in Toluca to kick off the group gathering. Many thanks to his wonderful family for tolerating a bunch of overly excited merlin guys as we took over their home for the night. Nico and Ricardo took me out for some excellent street tacos that evening! A pretty darn good meal to celebrate my 40th birthday with my friends. Many libations were had and the merlin talk got louder and louder as the night went on. It was a fantastic time. The next morning we were out hawking in the fields of Toluca with Shanny's and Adrian's female merlins. We got some good flights and both birds flew well from nice pitches. Ricardo had a new Richardson's female just beginning her lure stooping, and he handled her beautifully considering the pressure he surely felt from the panel of peers watching his every move! HAHA! He is a talented falconer and was spot on with his new charge. I can only imagine that they are enjoying some excellent spring hawking together now.
The next long night of visiting and talking about merlins took place at a wonderful lake home of Adrian Reuter's in Valle de Bravo. What a gorgeous little town on a mountain lake. We hawked in a valley above 8000 feet in elevation getting slips on horned larks and striped sparrows. The birds flew well and the bright sun burned mine and Al's winter complexions. Both the merlins flew really well again, and had us all running around like lunatics trying to get the crafty sparrows out of some fairly thick clumps of cover. There was a lot of laughing and many more stories told before heading down out of the mountains. I signed some books for my friends, and we enjoyed an outstanding lunch before parting ways.
Shanny, Nico, Al, and I got on the road to Chapala for a few more days of rest and relaxation before heading back to the cold northern winter. We relaxed in the sun and enjoyed the smiling faces and wonderful people in the local community around Lake Chapala. The chilaquiles, pina coladas, and company were amazing. Thanks to everyone that participated in making it an incredible trip. Al and I both are sincerely grateful.
Shanny, Nico, Al, and I got on the road to Chapala for a few more days of rest and relaxation before heading back to the cold northern winter. We relaxed in the sun and enjoyed the smiling faces and wonderful people in the local community around Lake Chapala. The chilaquiles, pina coladas, and company were amazing. Thanks to everyone that participated in making it an incredible trip. Al and I both are sincerely grateful.
RSS Feed