Correction — Total swim time for all 9 bays was 5 hours and 24 minutes, not 10+ hrs. previously reported. I can hardly believe it! but it was reported to me by Wayne Overby who was in a kayak next to Luis the entire time.
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We “summarized” in part 2 by reminding people that Luis was a “man with 2 missions,” one to establish an “open water swim” record for the Bays of Huatulco, and the other to be of assistance to the “children of San Felipe.”
He said that he used as his “mantra” the expression, “Cada Brazada, Un Aliento Para La Niñez,” which loosely translated means with, “Each Movement of the Arms, A Breathe For Childhood,” so that he had the energy to make the necessary strokes to complete the course.
One can only wonder how many strokes or “breathes for children” had to take to swim approximately 14 miles in UNDER 6 hours. No matter, however, for he was doing it for the children of San Felipe.
During the swim, Luis Alfredo Estavillo Chavez was “monitored” by his swimming coach and “shadow” by a security force to protect his safety natural “predators.” However, Luis also had other creatures “shadowing” him, the Dolphins, which Luis has always viewed as a good sign.
The swim lasted many hours (about 10 and 1/2 hrs.) but ended on San Agustin Beach. Here is a photo of Luis at the beach of San Agustin.
We are happy to report that on Saturday, November 15th, 2008, Luis Alfredo Estavillo Chavez successfully completed an “open water swim” of the 9 Bays of Huatulco and “set a new standard” in doing so. The event was a formal judged and certified by Edgar Pedraza Jiméz. The following is a very loosely translated summation by the judge.
The past Saturday 15 of November. I am carried out (certified) the crossing in morning swim of the individual swim of the 9 bays by the sportsman Luis Estavillo Chavez, leaving at 7:00 AM from the Bay of Conejos and arriving after 12:24 PM at the Bay of San Agustin . . . . Giving to faith and legality of, I swim the Judge and Director of Association State of Swimming . . . announce a new sport event in the Bays of Huatulco under the heading of “open water swimming,” and “open” the invitation to any national or international sportsman to try it and to surpass the time established by our friend Luis. It was one pleasing experience to have participated in this project that as much effort him cost to Luis, but obtained the recognition to its effort and tenacity. Greetings to all. Edgar Pedraza Jiménez
Luis attempted the swim twice before but was thwarted by severe storm conditions and strong currents on the previous attempts. On his third and successful attempt, he wisely decided to swim the Bays in the opposite direction of his previous attempts. Apparently, he still encountered strong currents near the lighthouse and Cacaluta Bay but got through by keeping up his strong pace.
The following photo is of Luis receiving certification of his swim from Mr. Edgar Pedraza Jiménez, Judge and Director of the event.
It has occurred to me that some of the readers of this Blog may not be following a forum about Huatulco that is heavily viewed (but often badly participated in) by many people. I do contribute to it from time to time, although not always posting articles with photos. However, I recently posted an article about a condo project in Huatulco with photos, and you might want to scan it at –
The developing group (represented in Huatulco by John Graham) has some even more GRANDE plans to build a complex near La Entrega. You can see initial info about the project entiltled, “the Point,” at –
To my knowledge, “the Point” has not been started yet because of the current project “Playa Chahue Condominum” has not been completed nor fully marketed (in these difficult times).
In Mexico workers often have their children with them while they work. However, it isn’t always easy because what are they to do? We have observed worker’s children playing with rocks, sleeping on blankets, or eating small amounts of food. One day such a “little person” showed up at our “B&B” and we thought we would give her some colored pencils to entertain herself . . . and she did for hours.
A Serious Artist
But, we have another child in this photo, and he is a “working stiff.” Notice the CD on the table by the little girl in above picture. It is a CD produced by a 5 year old singer in Xalapa, and you can hear him peforming on the following YouTube link with his YOUNGER sister dancing (white blouse) on the platform in front of him.
While on route to deliver school supplies – http://tinyurl.com/5k6wkx– a few days ago, we decided to take “the path less traveled” and visit a waterfall less advertized and NEVER visited by our season guide. We traveled on a dirt/gravel road through several villages up the mountains above Huatulco for about an hour and one half before we saw the above sign very close to our goal.
We soon arrived at a rope across the road where a small girl, to whom we had previously given school school supplies, charged us each 50 pesos (excluding our guide and his son) to pass and go down a fairly steep, well graded mountain switchback road until we reached a parking area with a shelter house and restrooms. The same girl wanted to sell us coffee as we were leaving. I think someone should hire her to run their business!
We left the car secured and traveled briefly down through a path in a cornfield to reach the area of a mountain stream. See next photo of my spouse and the son’s guide, Miguel, working their way through the cornfield.
At first, when we got into the mountain ravine and began to follow it up stream, it didn’t seem like we were going to see very much. Oh, we saw a small stream and some water coming from springs along the mountain side, but that was about it. But then we saw a mountain pool that we could look right down to the bottom of because it was so clear.
“Each arm stroke, a breath for children” – says Luis
There are children in the state of Oaxaca who live in a remote village over a mile high in the mountains not far from the head waters of the Rio Copalita . Their community, San Felipe Lachillo, is part of the Santiago Xanica Municipality. Within the community are over 200 school children who live in “extreme poverty” with little food or other needed supplies.
Now, how Luis Alfredo Estavillo Chavez, owner of Onix Restaurant in LaCrucecita, ever learned about their struggles and found them is beyond me because the village is miles inland, slightly northwest of Huatulco, and without roads or rivers to or from its location. Like too many children, in too many countries, the children of San Felipe Lachillio have little food and little energy to attend and concentrate on learning while in school.
Luis Estavillo, has decided to do something to help the children. He believes his own life and that of his spouse, Elva, has been very blessed, and it is time to demonstrate his gratitude using some of his own funds to help children who are in much distress. Luis would like to see some kind of an industry started in the community of San Felipe that would make enough profit to pay for the food for breakfasts of the school. Perhaps a small scale “fish farming” industry could be started or maybe something could be manufactured from bamboo that could be sold in the markets of Huatulco, Pochutla, or even Oaxaca City.
He has the support of the community already. The following is a photo of families of the community gathered at the “city hall” where they learned about the plan for the children of their community–
With the support of the community, a new shelter was constructed as a kitchen and breakfast area for the children in order to protect from the sun and rain. It is under construction in the next photo-
We traveled to Pluma Hidalgo in the mountains above “old” Santa Marie Huatulco yesterday and discovered a hotel on a coffee farm that is modest in price and offers a retreat from the world. We met the current owner of the farm, Medardo Rodriguez Pérez, who told us the land has been in the family since 1725.
Silversard, Medardo Rodriguez Pérez, and MsSardo
The Hotel, named “El Refugio,” is place for people to spend three days to two weeks in contemplation, bird watching, hiking, and study. It could also be used as a “conference” site for a modest group of people serious about generating results in a short period of time. The hotel has 25 nice rooms with modern private bathrooms, a spacious conference room, a large restaurant, and a deck with a wonderful view of the mountains above Old Santa Marie Huatulco. If you find yourself in some trouble generating the solutions you need for yourself, your family, or your company, there is even a chapel for you to use as a “first or last” resort
Huatulco is a popular tourist destination for MEXICAN tourists as is clearly evident this Easter (Semana Santa) holiday. As “Genuine Tourists” we “booked” it out to Santa Cruz to get a look at the ocean since our visit to the area in February of 2007. It would be an understatment to say we were “startled” by how filled the beach was with visitors. You can see for yourself in the following photos.
A popular activity, particularly with the young people, appeared to be riding the “Bananna Boats,” which to us seemed like something fairly new to Huatulco.
Or better yet, perhaps you would like to go ”out to sea” along with them by clicking on the next “Youtube” video.
Video of Bananna Boat just a click away — click here
In order to raise funds to start industries in a community to buy food for a school breakfast program, the Huatulco Tri Sports Club Civil Association and Luis Estavillo are sponsoring a swimming event on the 18th or 19th of August, depending on weather conditions.
Luis will start swimming at 7:00 am from San Augustin bay and end at Conejos bay around 15:00 pm. His arrival will be celebrated at Conejos beach with food and drinks for everyone. It is a SOLO, NINE BAY SWIM, a total of 23.5 KM or 14.6 miles.
With “each stroke of his arms, he will take a breath and give breath to children.”
We saw Luis practicing for the NINE BAY SWIM in a previous post accompanied by dolphins, a great sign –
Luis is now ready to do ALL NINE BAYS in order to raise money to buy food for this school kitchen and breakfast shelter –
To learn more about Luis and his mission, go to the Page on the right entitled, The “Rest of the Story . . . “
