Long before the dayspring, I rise and get dressed. Checking the time, see that it is five-thirty and methinks I must needs wait until at least the suntouch, so, instead of driving to the border, drive to buy a cup of coffee.

At the convenience store as I sip slowly from my cup of hot and since no one else is around, I bring up the subject to the clerk that most all of the Christmas practices are not really Christian, but are in fact from non Christian sources.

After mentioning the "Christmas tree" I ask him What does a tree have to do with Jesus? In reply, he says, That′s interesting. I then explain that the only celebration that Jesus commanded us to commemorate was the memorial of his death which command is found at Luke 22:19.

In reply, he asks, Can I learn more about this on the Internet? I answer yes and tell him about the website.

Looking out the window, I notice that the dayspring has just begun, there is a touch of light on the horizon, so I bid goodbye to the clerk and drive to the border.

On the drive down the interstate, I notice that the sky is full of clouds and the sunglow is now a brilliant crimson highlighting all of the cloud edges. I drive right up to the toll booth, pay three dollars and head across the river bridge.

This journey to the Transcontinental Volcanic Mountains, which in fact are where the butterfly sanctuaries are located, begins in the rain and even thought I can see mountains in all directions, most are covered with fog and clouds.

Despite the fact that they are a bit pricey I decide to take the toll roads because as I have been told, the toll roads are the best roads. Still, even on these roads, there are places that could use some major work.

Awake at sunrise, arise and drive west towards Morelia on FH 15, a federal highway which was built during 1926-1939 and winds it's way some 428 miles between Mexico City and Guadalajara in Jalisco.

Up long before the dayspring, get dressed and go into the d-mart to clean up. Later, I drive to the Kingdom Hall, park directly outside the gait to wait for the service group to arrive and watch as the sunglow turn into a colorful sunrise.

Playa Azul, Blue Beach, is the southernmost latitude thus far, just below the 18th latitude at 17.981000, -102.348500 and I do not anticipate going any closer to the equator during this journey. I saw this town on my map and I just had to come here to see the blue beach.

It rains off and on all night, and when I look outside this morning, I see that the road is flooded like a lake, as deep as four or five inches in places and it is still raining. Upon getting up, I go inside and find that both Dick and Bella are already up. Bella asks Dick to make some eggs for breakfast before I head out and we share one more meal. I have really enjoyed my stay here with this great couple, the feather of their hospitality is surpassed by few.

The cockcrow begins before six and finds me awake, quill in hand adding words to this, my written journal. I have come only recently to feel that the days for me to continue here in México have come to be few in number and yet I begin each morning in my same routine. Today, the visiting friends will leave for their home to the north and I bid them farewell until we chance upon each others path once again.

I too have decided to begin my journey to the north today, returning to Texas by way of the interior high route through the Sierra Madre Oriental up to Monterrey and Laredo instead of the low route along the Gulf Coast.