We're on Mexican Time!

We're on Mexican Time

Seems like it has been a while since I updated this blog. We left Casa Grande in Arizona on Nov 22nd, and travelled south and west to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. This is a very unique national park in the Sonoran desert. It is home to many types of plants, but the most spectacular are the cacti. I would have liked to spend more time there, but we were meeting up with our travel buddies and so only had one night.-  



Organ Pipe and Saguaro Cacti





Prickly "Bear"



Saguaro - these are probably close to 100 years old







Chainfruit Cholla





November 23rd - away we head south over the border to Mexico.  It's always interesting going into Mexico - there are so many pieces of paperwork that need to be completed.  Tourist cards, vehicle import permits and what would seem to be a rather simple procedure, took us 2 and 1/2 hours.  I guess it didn't help that 4 rigs pulled up at the same time, but then again, we were the only people there.  You have to get your tourist card - then go to another building to pay for that - then go back to the same building to get your vehicle permits stamped - then go back to the other building to pay for the vehicle permits . . . then you're on your way.  It also didn't help that the Immigration fellow left his reading glasses at home, so he couldn't read the fine print - and he punched the tourist card # in wrong so the computer said that someone in Tijuana had already entered on that number . . . off he went to get that figured out and left Arturo and me sitting wondering where he went - and what he was doing.  Finally, he came back and I gave him my $20 pair of Walmart readers - "ooooohhh, Senora, gracias, I see the problemo now" - punched in the correct number from the form and we were on our way . . . I let him keep the glasses! 

So that put us a bit behind schedule, so we stopped in the little town of Santa Ana for the night.  Edgar and Anna run an RV park in the back of their house for overnighters . . . they are a very nice couple and don't hesitate to make you feel right at home.  

Santa Ana RV "park"

November 24th - Up and on the road to San Carlos.  Last time we were here, we stayed here for two days.  It's a very nice place to get your Mexico feet under you and get "climatized".  Kipper went for a swim in the ocean, we did a bet of poking around, but mostly relaxed.  It wasn't really warm here - you needed a jacket at night.



Kipper loves the beach!

San Carlos - twin peaks of Cerro Tetakawi

Three days at San Carlos, and we're on the road again!  Again, we travelled through some very, very poor areas of the state of Sonora.  Once you cross the border into Sinaloa, it is appears somewhat more prosperous - but I use that term loosely.   Travelling with other people definately has its benefits - but it also takes a bit longer to do everything - so we stopped for the night in Los Mochis at another RV park just for overnighting.  We shared the park with just two other campers, and roosters and chickens.



Someone forgot to tell the roosters that cock-a-doodle doo is supposed to be at sunrise - NOT 4 a.m.!!

November 28th - arrived in Celestino in time to watch the Grey Cup . . . too bad Rider fans, maybe next year!  ....beautiful deserted beaches, sunshine and sunsets!  Only stayed for two nights - again, it was a bit cool here in the evenings.



November 30th - off to Lo de Marcos!  We had to decide whether to take the the San Blas cut off from the toll road, or go through Tepic and maneuver the infamous Tepic hill.  We chose the hill . . . and while it wasn't what I was thinking, it was a long, windy road that kept going down, down, down.  Before the hill, however, we went from a 4 lane toll road to a one way cobblestone street right through a neighborhood - WTH???  If we hadn't been with other seasoned travellers, I would have thought we took a wrong turn - but no, that's just the way it is - Mex 15D changes to Mex 200 (to Puerto Vallarta) through a neighborhood.  Strange, but true!  This day of travelling took a lot longer than we anticipated, which got us in to Lo de Marcos in the dark.  Anyone who has travelled in Mexico, and especially in smaller towns, knows what a nightmare it is to maneuver RVs through busy streets - and in the dark it's just that much worse!  But, we made it, and with the help of Ron, the park owner, we all got parked and settled for the night.



OSA likes oranges - making fresh OJ!!



That's all for now . . . we're just getting the lay of the land - need to find the depositos (beer store), veggie shops and bakeries.  Other than that, it's been pretty quiet since we got here - oh wait a minute - there is a Mexican holiday being celebrated - Feast of the Virgin Guadalupe - which is actually December 12th - however, 9 days prior to that, people walk through the towns to the church, and at the same time, let off fire crackers (or something like that) - anyway, for some reason, the priest in Lo de Marcos wanted to start the tradition earlier, so since December 1st this has been going on.  The first night we were here I woke up to the sound of Bang-bang - I was sure it was gun shots!  Kipper does not like it at all and tries to hide under the bed - in the RV that's pretty hard to do!  Anyway, it's they way it is . . . and it will be that way until Dec 12th. 

We are looking forward to the beach - the waves have been really big since we've been here - but we spoke to a local today who told us that will change to calmer waters soon - let's hope so.

Will keep in touch -

Arturo y de Beeb