The Adventures of Tioga and George

2009-04-27T08:02:00.011-06:00

Boid is around here somewhere!
In all of the many hours that I spent looking for Little Boid, there is little doubt that I walked right by him. Boid is a sort of non-aggressive guy. Outside, he would not fly to me. He would wait for me to find him. To walk right up to where he was. He would wait for my finger to come close. Wait for his cage to be brought near. Only then would Boid come to me.

Boid was last seen as he flew into the tree behind MsTioga at just around dusk Saturday nite, April 25th. Now it is Monday morning. Could Boid survive so long without food and water?

This morning I walked all of the streets around our Camp in Magdalena. I likely walked right by where Boid waited for me since he flew out of MsTioga. The place where Boid very likely passed away.

Boid and George.

Boid's cage hangs outside.
Even though I really believe that Boid has passed away, deep in my heart I hope that he is still alive. So, while MsTioga is still here in Magdalena, Boid's cage hangs outside, waiting for Boid to return.

Waiting for Boid.

12 Noon - Where we last saw Boid.
We have made a Camp near the place where we last saw Boid. There are trees all around this Camp. One of these trees is the last place Boid was seen.

Boid's cage is hanging outside MsTioga's rear window. The arrow in the pic below is where Boid flew the last time that he was seen. We are waiting for a miracle to happen.

Camping for Boid.

2PM - Heading out of Magdalena.
We on The Team have decided to head out of Magdalena. We've accepted that Boid is not going to be traveling with us. We have had a wonderful year+ with our Little Baby Boid!

4PM - Camped in El Arenal.
MsTioga and The Team have made our Nite Camp in the Town of El Arenal. There was a small abarrote store around the corner. We bought an avocado to make guacamole for tonite's supper.

As you may imagine, everybody on The Team is in a somewhat somber mood because Boid is not here. How could a little guy like Boid give us soooooo much happiness? Always doing something interesting. Looking out MsTioga's windows. Singing his songs. Saying his words. Flying on my head and walking around up there. Man-O-Man!

MsTioga Datastorm Location Map

Google Map Link

Google Earth Link

2009-04-26T05:29:00.012-06:00

6:30AM - Waiting for the dawn.
It was only possible for me to sleep perhaps an hour last nite. I watched movies to keep my mind from thinking about Boid being gone. When the morning light comes, I'll be out there with Boid's cage, whistling the sounds that he learned to mimic. And calling out, "Jump, jump baby bird" [the first words Boid learned to say].

8:30AM - Boid is still out there.
Boid did not return to me. I walked the neighborhood, whistling his song and calling out his words. On returning to MsTioga, I looked for some solace. The words of poet William Wordsworth came to me. They are below, although somewhat paraphrased.

Sing you birds, sing a joyous song!
We in thought will join your throng,
What radiance which was once so bright,
Has been taken from my sight.

Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower,
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind.

Boid's first day with us, February 14, 2008.

9AM - Jesus the mechanic.
As you may recall, MsTioga has a problem with her fuel pumps. So, we have Jesus the mechanic changing out the pumps.

One fuel pump is inside the gasoline tank and the other pump is on the frame rail. In order to change out the pump inside the tank, the gasoline tank must be removed. Jesus claims that he will be able to do the entire job today.

Martha the Gypsy.
An email arrived from Reader Martha the Gypsy. I would like to share part of that email with you:

"Boid is a child of the Universe, just as you are, and he is playing out his destiny as surely as you are yours. No matter what happens to him, would his life have been better with someone who had held him more firmly captive? I doubt it."

1PM - MsTioga's gas tank.
Jesus the mechanic removed the gas tank. However, the low pressure gas pump from inside the tank not the same as the pump that we bought this morning. The size and electric connections are different. Jesus has gone to the auto parts store to exchange.

Gas tank removed.

4:30PM - MsTioga running again!
MsTioga is all put together again. It was a hard job putting the gas tank back in place. So, I helped Jesus. A third hand sometimes is very helpful.

The cost of labor to remove and replace the gas tank, replace the inside and outside fuel pump and fuel filter is $900 pesos [$70US]. The parts cost $2,120 pesos [$165US].

Jesus the mechanic of Magdalena.

Showed Boid's pic to the neighbors.
I printed a color pic of Boid and went around the neighborhood asking people to let me know if they hear anything about a parakeet being loose. Nobody has showed up yet. I've pretty much reconciled myself to Boid being gone for good.

I am very sleepy from being up most of last nite. When I try to sleep, I am not able.

Jesus the mechanic offered me a parakeet. He has several of them. I told him no. Boid is the last bird for me.