October 31st - Mazatlan

Well, Cerritos, actually, we're about 10 Km. north of Matzatlan, along the beach.  Turns out that the RV Park we are at (Baraka's), is also part of a Beach Club - much basso profound, unka - unka into the night.  Surprisingly, though, for a Friday night, they shut it down at 11:00 pm.

Nancy found a land tortoise wandering through the RV park.

And last evening, Nancy walked the 100 yards down to the beach and took a few photos.

Our faithful readers have opinioned that having Nancy, myself, or Kirk in the photos would improve same.  Alas, Kirk is not permitted into some areas, and I cannot match the boundless energy of our heroine, so the choice remains subjectless photos or none.
Nice to see Magnificent Frigates again.

Nancy - I went to the Old Mazatlan market today with Dawn and Bob.  We took the local bus for 8 pesos there and back.  It was an open building many blocks long selling everything.  The meat section brought back fond memories of being on my grandparents farm.  People making headcheese, farm size chickens, all the parts are for sale, etc.  We bartered dresses for us and a shirt for Bob from a group of truly lovely Mexican ladies for about 30 minutes.   Managed to get them down by 30% still probably paid 15% too much.  Bob was surely outnumbered when Dawn and I sided with the ladies on a shirt he really didn't want but got anyway. The good news of the day was that the RV left in Los Mochis had been fixed and they will rejoin the caravan later today.  They had it serviced in Utah on the way down, and the Mexican mechanic here discovered that the impending doom fault that shut the RV down was due to the wrong filter being installed in Utah!  Happy outcome.

On the road again tomorrow, theoretically landing at La Penita RV Park, the destination of our long trek.

Supper at Fat Fish, Mazatlan.

October 30th - Mazatlan

Apparently, Sinaloa is drug dealer territory, so they can afford wa-a-a-ay better roads.  Although the tolls were frequent and expensive, we could usually do over 90 Km., happily, and without wondering if you were destroying your RV.

Sinaloa has lots of high dollar commercial agriculture, including large scale irrigation and entire fields covered in some kind of tall tenting (bird creation prevent, pollination control, ?)  Also big, big, green houses

 
Sinaloa also had small scale agriculture, including these guys, grazing their cattle on the shoulder of the cuota (toll highway)

The roads continued to improve.

We pulled into Mazatlan, and found our campground, set up, and celebrated with a beverage.

459 Km.

October 29th - Sinaloa

I like Jeff Gerwing's Elk Centaur better, but it's hard to argue with the sheer size of this guy.  Unknown significance (hard to stop to investigate when in a convoy)

The morning after the night before.  Tecate store parking lot, Emigdio Ruiz, SIN

Well, it looks like the late start was ill-considered.  We had rain, impossibly rough roads, and construction, lots of construction.  And, just as we crossed the state line into Sinaloa, as the sun was setting, one of the class A's dumped it's Allison transmission, luckily, in one of the few places to pull out of traffic we saw all day.  We stayed overnight in front of a Tecate (brand of beer) store, at a agricultural inspection station.  We each gave the guard 50 pesos, and Nancy gave him and his buddy a handful of Kitkat bars.  The plan this morning (30th) is to find out how bad the tranny is (Allison dealer in Los Mochis, about 50 Km. south) and then make a decision.  Mazatlan is about 478Km.

302 Km.

October 28th - Miramar SON

We hit the road about 10:00; it takes a while to get the herd up to full stampede.  Hermosillo was as busy as advertised.  A slight navigational error landed the caravan heading into town, instead of around the bypass.  Barrio residents were watching in amusement, and drivers were very patient  in letting us interfere with traffic, as we put the broken up caravan back together, and worked our way back out of town.  (think slightly dim, very large elephants, trunk to tail, trying to bumble their way through a small campground, at night)

The rains have been later than usual, only having stopped in the last few days.  As a result, the Sonoran desert is very green for the time of year.  It was 38 C where we stopped at a Pemex (gas station) for lunch.  It cooled down to 33 C, and humid, when we got down to the ocean at Miramar, just west of  Guaymas.

We're staying at the Hotel Playa De Cortés Trailer Park, which is behind the hotel.  The hotel was built in 1936 as a railway resort hotel, and is still a class joint.  The park has 30 amp outlets, not the norm for Mx, so we had air (without running the generator).  As is the norm, there were many sites where the power was not functional, and a polarity check turned up only one reversed polarity outlet.

We went out for supper with a few fellow caravaners - camarones al mojo de ajo.  (garlic shrimp)

Geezer, out front of the hotel

The view across the bay to San Carlos

Tomorrow, we have a late start for Los Mochis, so we will get the treat of a leisurely morning.

307 Km.

October 27th - Santa Ana, SON

Our 6 rig caravan headed south this morning.  Radios on channel to relay the turns, topes etc.

We are La Penita 4!

Greener here than expected and hilly

 We had an uneventful border crossing at Nogales although we were boarded for a light check.

Nogales border

Then on to the Immigracion point several miles down the road to get our Tourista cards and vehicle permits which took about an hour even though our group and 2 other travellers were the only ones there.  Many copies of everything!

Mexican Immigration

In Santa Ana we settled into our small RV park where they managed to cram the 6 of us in as well as a couple from Oregon.  The older couple who run the place are very nice.  A few drinks and snacks on the patio then supper and nightfall has descended.

Welcome to Santa Ana!

Punta Vista RV Park

Tomorrow we head out for Guaymas although it may take some maneuvering to get us all out of here again.

211 Km.

October 26th - Tucson AZ

Well, it's our last night in Rincon Country West RV Park, Tucson, Arizona, and the United States.  I sure am going to miss the cheap gas; filled the Bigfoot today for $1.99/gallon.  I finally figured out what was going on with the time zones.  We're two hours ahead of Manitoba, but I'd swear we were still in the Mountain Time Zone.  Turns out that Arizona, like Saskatchewan, does not believe in Daylight Savings Time, something about cutting off the top and sewing it onto the bottom to get a longer blanket, I dunno...  So as soon as we cross the line, we'll lose an hour.
Today was spent in last minute details.  We dropped black/grey tanks, filled the fresh water, and the Bigfoot gas tank.  Nancy spent the entire afternoon, shopping madly about, purchasing hard to find in Mexico, or very expensive in Mexico items.  Helpful fellow convoyers gave Nancy a list of such items.
We had another convoy meeting tonight, specifically around our GMSR radios (thanks, Meagan!), which we use to keep track of everyone, and warn of suicidal truckers/buses passing, massive topes, and other such important information.  There was about 1/2 hour of feedback squeals as everyone figured out how to use the radios, and get them on the same channel and privacy channel.
Tomorrow, we hook up the CRV, apply the Very Colourful La Penita sign that Carole came up with to ease the convoy following workload to the CRV back window, and ease on down the road about 9 am.  At least, that's the plan.

October 25th - Tucson AZ

Today we took a drive through Tucson Mountain Park and Gates Pass.  Quite green for the desert.  I still don't know how the coyotes and other animals manage to move through the cholla and cacti.

 Ironwood tree

Prickly Pear cacti, Cholla, and Palo Verde trees

Gates Pass view

We had our first group meeting going over the route to La Penita, stops along the way, dos and don'ts,

and heard many stories of events of the past 22 years of trips down with the wagon train sometimes as many vehicles as 30 and this time only 5.  Although they have had "adventures" such as trailers falling off, fifth wheel hitches collapsing, a few strays, etc they have all turned out fine in the end.  We are a motley mix of Class A's, a truck pulling a trailer, a fifth wheel, our hosts huge 46 ft bluebird diesel pusher pulling a full size 3/4 ton van and us.  At least we can go anywhere that bluebird can go. 

October 24th - Tucson AZ

The Bigfoot's screen door latch broke yesterday; cheap plastic, like a lot of RV accessories.  Luckily, Tucson is home of a gazillion RV's, so there is a wide selection of RV shops.  Having learned our Camping World lesson last year (expensive, limited selection, and minimum wage employees), I looked around and found just what I was after, the direct opposite.  Merrigan's Arizona Road-Runner RV  has been run by Rick & Betty Merrigan for over 46 years.  Free water fill for RV, free sewage dump, and you can live in your RV while they are working on it.  We hopped into the CRV and headed over this morning.  You know you're in the right place when there's a 25 pound orange cat sleeping on the main counter.  They had the exact part, it was cheap, and when I asked Betty if there was a metal upgrade latch, she snorted "Of course not; they've got a good thing going there!"  I wandered the aisles of new and used parts, admiring all the inventory.  Unexpectedly, they have an online presence, and tell you if you don't see what you need online, to give them a call and ask.  I took a card, and Betty confirmed they had no problems shipping to Mexico.  I feel better travelling just knowing they're in business.

The new latch was a direct replacement, which took 30 seconds to screw in.  The replacement of the latch was only possible, since after many fruitless searches last winter, the first thing I did when we arrived home in the spring was to throw all three sizes of Robertson screwdrivers in the Bigfoot tool kit.  Just try and find a Robertson screwdriver in the States....

  

This is a large RV Park, but the streets are all smooth, lovely pavement.  I've probably put more miles on my Lyric Runner here than I did all of last year.  Even Nancy has taken to tooling about on it, using it to motor over to Friday night's Chinese food truck and bring home supper.  I used it to head over to the pool this afternoon (pool was very nice, but too warm), then put it on the charger to bring the batteries back up to snuff (20 mile range means infrequent recharging necessary).

Giant Swallowtail- forewing span average 14 cm - they like our tree

Anna's Hummingbird

October 23rd - Tucson AZ

Hmm, seems a little busy near our destination.  Hope it clears up before we leave on Tuesday.  Most of our fellow RV caravaners arrived today and although there has been some speculation, overall we have a lets wait and see attitude.  I set out the hummingbird feeder and Anna's hummingbirds have been frequenting it.  We are relaxing and meeting our co- travellers (is that a word) so there is a photo deficit at this time.  I know, I know if we were already in La Penita the blog would be more exciting.

October 22nd - Tucson AZ

Decided to continue on to Tuscon today.  I think Cam was afraid if I started gold panning or fishing for 50 lb Stripers in Caballo and got something either way he'd never get me out of there.  We drove through Hatch where chilies are #1 - red chilies, green chilies, dried or fresh, - you get the idea.  It felt more like Mexico than USA.  

 Hatch, New Mexico - Chilies anyone?

 Chilies drying on hill

Lots of chilies, even fields of chilies

We arrived at Rincon Country West in early afternoon, read the brochure on the hummingbirds and rattlesnakes.  Kirk and I were warned away from the oleander shrubberies as apparently the snakes hide out there.   Bought barbecue for supper from a food truck in the park, palm trees, refreshments, warm breezes, etc etc.  Carpe diem.

Rincon Country West Park

349 Km.

October 21st - Caballo Lake NM

Southbound on the I-25 today

It rained steadily throughout the night.  Watching the neighbour hook up his trailer, in the rain, at 5 degrees C, in the dark, made me very glad of our class C.  The rain got heavier as we went; Santa Fe rush hour was not a problem, but oh, Albuquerque.  We got there about 9 am, figuring the worst of the rush hour would be over.  The rainfall was torrential, visibility was very bad, especially when passing semi's blew by.  Then, to our puzzlement we came to a stop, crawling ahead, then stopping again.  4 lanes southbound, plugged.  Accident?  Construction?  None we could see, after a 20 Km/hr. crawl for miles through the city, everything eventually loosened up, and we slowly got back to normal freeway traffic speeds - posted 75 mph, us doing 55, everyone else over the limit.  Just another city rush hour, I suppose.

About Socorro, we noticed white along the edge of the road.  Yep, snow!

There was a lot of moisture in the air, the entire drive today was in and out of dark blue bands of clouds and rain, with the occasional bolt of lightening to liven things up.

We found an absolute hidden gem for our stay tonight, Caballo Lake RV Park.  Great wi-fi, electricity/sewer & water, lots of room, very clean, a personable owner/operator, next to the state park, a view of the lake, and $15/night!! (plus whatever you use in electricity)  Monthly

rates are $150!  There is a happy hour from 4:30 to 6; Nancy went and had a good visit with the park denizens.  We are ahead of schedule, with 450Km to go to make our Friday reservation in Tucson.  We may stay here another day.

October 20th - Santa Fe NM

As in our last trip to the desert early in this year, if this is the desert, it must be raining.  We trundled down the I-25, bidding farewell to Colorado and hello again to New Mexico.  Lots of antelope along the way.  Our first ever bear crossing sign in the high pass.  As we headed south, the lovely, sunny day became windy, and dark clouds gathered over the mountains to the west.  The dark blue line of clouds started with lightening, a little hailstone activity, some big rain, and then settled into light rain.  We set up in our spot, Kirk & Nancy hit the dog park, and the steady, medium rain settled in for the evening.  A squall line moving north slightly west of Santa Fe was accompanied by tornado warnings.  I thought the whole thing about deserts was that they were dry?

Bird sighting of the day was a large flock of Sandhill Cranes, thermaling, north of Las Vegas (NM, not Nevada).  We will get better at pictures, I promise.

496 Km.

October 19th - Election Day - Colorado Springs, CO

We had an even earlier start today, trying to get in front of the predicted winds, which we did.  

Saw a herd of approx. 20 Pronghorn Antelope grazing a green field.  We climbed the entire drive; Colorado Springs is over 6,000 feet high.  Spudded into an RV Park, hoping to get good wi-fi for tonight's election coverage.  Alas, the signal, which had been fine all day, has crapped out as everyone in the park attempts to log on.  Nancy & Kirk did a big hike today (5 km), in the Garden of the Gods State park.  Here are some pictures.

Balancing Rock trail

walking trail along park road

356 Km.

October 18th - Colby, Kansas

On the road before dawn again, and a good thing, too.  Ran west on the I-80 for a while, then south, and south-west, off the interstates at last.  Surprise of the day was Yucca growing along the highway, in Nebraska!  Who'd a thunk it grew that far north?  It was nice to finally get off the Interstates; the advantage they offer in quick travelling time is also the disadvantage, isolating you from the local towns, wayside stops, and a truer sense of the country you're passing through.  We had lunch at a beautiful county park along the highway, mature cottonwoods, well kept grounds, flush toilets, the works.  The usual lunch, snooze and Kirk walk ensued.  The wayside stops on the Interstates are full, trucks-only, or closed. (Weird to me, why would you close them? Budgets?)  When we started off again, we were steadily climbing into drier and drier country.  Sedimentary rocks are starting to protrude from hillsides, the earth is starting to show her bones.  And then there was the wind.  Gusty 35-40 mph, SSW.  Windy, in Kansas, who knew.  Kirk says, now I know what happened to Toto.  (Nancy)  We struggled along at 80 Kph, with the Bigfoot fighting the 3/4 headwind.  So we called the day early, at Colby.  We pulled into the Walmart parking lot (the town park was back-in only, and the only RV park in town is full of permanent/transient workers, it really wasn't just me wanting to save $25, honest),  behind a building, out of the wind.  To our surprise, it was also 32 C.  We cranked the generator, turned on the air, some tunes, had a drink and a snooze in our quiet personal paradise, while the hot, gusty, gail raged outside.  Ah, bliss!

We only have cell wi-fi at present, so if someone with bandwidth could investigate how to remove those dratted alternate routes from google maps, I'd appreciate it if you could drop me an email.

Election day tomorrow.  Remember, if you don't vote, you don't get to bitch.

407 Km. today

October 17th - York, Nebraska

It was a noisy night in the Casino truck parking lot; early to bed, early to rise, on the road before the sun was up over the horizon.  In the frosty, early morning light we saw a flock of approximately 25 wild turkeys grazing their way along a small field.  We went down the I-29 to Omaha, then west on I-80.  Outside of Omaha, there was a huge field of pumpkins, with thousands of them along a steep hill.  We're still in travel mode, so nothing for pictures so far.  Happy 110th to Gary and Cindy, celebrating tonight.

722 Km. today.