Grey Cup, Turtles and spit and polish!!!

Week 3 (and a half)

Sunday was Grey Cup – and Art’s team, the Calgary Stampeders, took home the trophy.  We watched the game in our little TV tent – and our neighbor, Al from Arizona, peeked over to see what all the commotion was about!  He came and enjoyed a couple of cool ones as he learned a little bit about the game of Canadian football!  Congratulations, Stampeders!

Grey Cup Sunday - Mexican style!

 

We are all settled in to Lo de Marcos life now.  Somedays we have to take a long walk on the beach and stop at Olivia’s for lunch – and a cerveza.  This week, we are really glad we did because we heard about the turtle release . . . . as we have posted in the past, sea turtles make their way to the beach and lay their eggs in the sand (Tenacatita) . . . unfortunately, they are an endangered species now because the eggs are considered a delicacy so are harvested by poachers.  Conservationists dig up the egg (Manzanillo) and move them to a secure location until they hatch.  Tonight, they were releasing the hatched eggs back to the sea – it was really amazing to be able to link all the pieces together.

Bev had to take a trip to the local vivero (plant nursery) to pick up a few things to spruce up the site – such beautiful plants!!  She picked up a gardenia and basil plant for special guests coming in January . . . . but look at the Poinsettias!!!

We also hired a local crew (Santos) topaint and spruce up the old camper.  These guys are great – and did a first class job, don’t you think?  They said they would make it like new again, and I think they came pretty close.  We are lucky that they can come to us . . . and work right at the RV park. 

Not a bad looking 1998 Citation Camper - too bad they don't make them anymore!

 

 Bev is also working on her “tan line” . . . until next time – cheers from Arturo y de Beeb!

 

 

Week two . . .

Week two is now in the history books!

We are in Mexico now – and had a beautiful trip so far.  Last Friday, we left Casa Grande early in the morning and headed for the border.  After the four previous trips across, you’d think we’d have all the paperwork and information ready . . . and tada!!!  We did it!  No wrong turns, all the correct paperwork – ½ an hour and we were back on the road.  First stop, as always, is San Carlos, Sonora.  The Totonaka trailer park was probably about 1/3 full – and we recognized a lot of travellers heading to Lo de Marcos as well as some of our winter friends – so that was great. 

 

Totanaka RV Park - San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico

 

San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico

 

Long haired Kipper at the beach in San Carlos - hard to drag all that wet fur from the water!

 

Beautiful shells on the beach!

 

We had to set up the satellite dish to watch the CFL Western Final - Edmonton against Calgary.  Tere was a couple of Edmonton fans in the park, so we invited them over to give Bev company!   Gordo and Nicole are on a two year trip through Mexico and down to Panama - check out their facebook page .    Midlife Siesta . . . two adventuresome people and a St. Bernard in a van . . . should be an interesting two year!  Always great o meet people on the road!

We ake Kipper to get his Mexican haircut by Manuel (the dog whisperer) – he is such gentle man and Kipper really seems to be happy once he’s got some of that fur gone.

Kipper - clean shaven!

A favorite stop is JJ’s tacos – we had some time to kill while Kipper was at the groomers, so we went to JJ’s.  It’s a new location this year – but same great food and cold beer.

Camerone tachos - soooo good!

JJ's new restaurant - inside

JJ's new restaurant - outside

JJ's - drive right up!

From San Carlos we travelled a bit south, and then headed inland to Alamos, Sonora.  Alamos is an old silver mining town – we’ve been before there before so this was just an overnight stop. 

Alamos - we were the only one's in the park!

Alamos - beautiful old colonial structures

Flowers, flowers . . . Alamos

More flower - Alamos, Sonora Mexico

 

It wasn’t hard to find a spot to stop – we were the only ones in the park . . . we walked around town a bit, had a bite to eat and then early to bed for another day on the road . . . not before another successful round of crib for Bev tho ;).

Alamos-church
 

 

On the road to Celestino . . . I’ve said it before, but the roads in Sonora are just the worst in places . . . no shoulders, rough, lots of truck traffic.  We did pass a semi roll over – it had just happened as the other vehicles involved were still there, and so were the police.  No ambulance, tho, I really don’t think it was needed if you know what I mean.

Toll booth ahead - yes, we pay to travel on these roads  ;)
 

And then crossing into Sinaloa – shoulders, better roads, lush fields of every kind of vegetable you can imagine.

 

 

Celestino Gasca is a small town of about 100 people just a short drive off the Mex 15D.  We pulled in to the Villa Celeste RV Park – and we weren’t the only people there – there were three rigs this time.  And wouldn’t you know it, we knew one of the couples from our last two trips to Lo de Marcos – Lloyd and Marilyn.  They are staying at Celestino for the season – I’m not sure that they will stay the whole season … it would get pretty lonely being there all by yourselves. 

 

The park is well maintained, and we were able to park looking out on the palms and the ocean. 

The sunsets at Celestino are stunning!

The owners of the park, Noe his wife, are lovely people.  Noe took Art, Lloyd and Marilyn to some petroglyphs nearby.  Bev and Kipper stayed back and relaxed by the ocean.

 

Two nights in Celestino and then, next stop Lo de Marcos.

Our winter home
 

Tonight is taco night – so must go and get ready – which really means putting on bug dope, getting a few pesos in the pocket, and maybe putting a jacket in the back pack – it has been 30 degrees in the day, but as soon as the sun drops, it really cools off – well to about 17 degrees – but that’s perfect for sleeping.

 We are having the camper all spruced up with new paint and polish next week!

Huasta Luego - - -- Arturo y de Beeb

Week one - we're at it again!

Travelling ramblings – 2014/15

Our home for the next 4 months or so - 9 1/2 feet for two people and a dog!  Sometimes less is more!

 

Week one

Well, here we are again – back on a winter trip to points south!  I noticed that last year I barely posted – I promise to be better on this trip.  As you can see, we have downsized our living accommodations.  Seeing as we are outside most of the time anyway, and hope to get off the beaten track a bit – we decided to put the camper on the back of the truck and try it out for this year.  It’s a great camper – and so far (this IS only week one) – so good!  It’s kind of cozy, don’t you think?

Kipper's spot

a place for everything and everything in its place

 

Our trip started on Friday, November 14^th from our driveway by Water Valley.  One left turn, one right turn and straight south til we find the sun and sand.

 

All the essentials - toolbox, camera, golf clubs, satellite dish . . .

 

Kipper's ready to roll

 

and we're off . . .

 

Heading down the road!

It was a frosty day when we left – can’t remember the temperature now, but it just got colder as we headed south on Hwy 2.  Our first stop was Lethbridge where it was -24 degrees Celsius overnight.  Brings a whole new meaning to that word “cozy”!  We have a good furnace tho, and a little electric heater so we were just fine.  Good enough that Bev kicked ass at crib – that title will be determined at the end of the trip.

 

An early start on the 15^th got us in to Pocatello, Idaho for another frigid overnight stop – the temps were about the same – like I said, “cozy”.

I tapped these flip flops together three times and . . . 

nothing happened - still in Pocatello.  I must be doing something wrong!

 

 

  Next stop, St. George, Utah – the land of the red rock and white steeples.  We have just loved stopping here in the past, and it was no different this time around.  We usually stay in a beautiful state park outside of town, but it was extremely windy out there, so we opted for a park in town – nice and convenient for shopping, etc. for two nights.

Then the fun started – travelling through the magnificent Zion national park – just can’t get enough of it!  Please forgive me for posting so many pictures - I can't help myself!

Tunnel in Zion - if you are overheight, you have to book your time to travel through the tunnel.  The rangers will stop traffic coming the other way - you drive right down the center

In we go - sure hope nobody's coming!



Inside the tunnel

That looks like an interesting road for another time!

Lake Powell



From the dam on Lake Powell

 

Because we aren’t pulling the fifth wheel, we took a new route – through Page, Flagstaff, Phoenix and to Casa Grande.  This was a long, full day of travelling – which was topped off by sitting in the rush hour traffic of Phoenix – I swore we would never do that again – but, never say never.  We got into Casa Grande about 7 p.m. – tired, hungry and CRANKY . . . ahh, the fun has just started!  A good night’s sleep at Doug and Linda’s and some of that Arizona sunshine soon fixed that.  Doug and Linda are great hosts and we enjoyed our three days with them.

And that, my friends, brings us to the end of week one!  Highly uneventful – but we like it that way!

Stay tuned – week two coming soon!

Arturo y de Beeb