One month gone already

As I write this it is almost exactly the time, one month ago, when I got out of bed ready to start my adventure.
And what an adventure driving back from Huatulco yesterday was. First of all: the rain damage. Boulders the size of cars lying beside the roads and, in one case, on the road being pushed over the edge by a digger. We were glad we hadn't been trying to get through an hour earlier. The highways have been cut through hillsides leaving quite sheer soil and boulder slopes on on side or the other. Cars coming towards you will flash their lights, or have their hazard warnings on, and you know there is something up ahead. Maybe a boulder or two, maybe a soil slip across the road, a shrub or a small tree or maybe the side of the road has disappeared! We came across one bridge which had collapsed but was shored up enough to let a single file of traffic through. All of the storm drains and rivers and streams were in full spate and a lot of standing water and new lakes on the lower ground.
We made it to the outskirts of Salina Cruz - a refinery city - where there is a brand new toll road we needed to take. But it was closed: a major bridge down. We got back onto the main highway only to be re-directed about a mile further on because there was a crowd of people blocking the road. No point enquiring why - some sort of 'manifestation' as I think it's called here. We drove on ever deteriorating roads right into the refinery port and then into a 'barrio' (like a poor neighbourhood). The alleys were aflood with water and ruts and every time we came to an intersection we had to ask which way. It was pretty hairy and we were very relieved when we rejoined the main highway again.
So - a fair bit of high speed driving - lots of 'topes': speed reducers; and potholes to negotiate. Only got stopped by the Police once - for overtaking a bus on a tope - but luckily (apparently) it was the Federal Police and not the Municipal (or was it State?): who allegedly might have been looking for a fine or two. So, nine hours later, we arrived in Cordoba. Betty and DD had driven from the Pacific Coast to the Gulf of Mexico at the narrowest part of the Americas.
And it was as well we left because Hurrican Dora is effecting the southern Pacific coast just about where we were all the way up to Acapulco and heading north.
Cordoba on the other hand today was 31c and sunny :)
DD and B went back to work this morning. I spent 2 hours+ studying on the patio this morning and then walked into the centre to check out what was new since last time. Forgot to take my camera so will do that tomorrow. Am posting some photos of the house and one dog - the other wouldn't pose - now: mas manana x