tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32307180240209311052024-03-21T21:45:48.618-07:00Travels in Rosita CasitaJ-G and Fran Nadeauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17787664902517862904noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230718024020931105.post-52292162631339884572016-04-19T14:19:00.000-07:002016-04-19T14:47:55.137-07:0010-Palm Springs - home19:00, The American RV Park, Talent, Oregon<br />
<br />
We have just arrived here after a long day of driving from South Lake Tahoe. You really have to take the park descriptions in the Passport America guidebook with a grain of salt. We are the only visiting RV in a full RV park. Everyone else is permanent with many in very tacky trailers and RVs. KInda scarey, in a way.... Thankfully we are only staying the night and continuing on to Portland in the morning.<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0yw6IuITujaYuSGGt14yp99jcQvsR5c5J0O1CqPnRqAbsLPalT75jq3Lm7xIaJFrJsLVM6V5vJxpQqdRsRG4lMYMl4pNth0H-Ee5JLftt_IPgJk-on-QJy3GPfTWuoGBozRpNxcLlXM/s1600/last+tacky+trailer+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0yw6IuITujaYuSGGt14yp99jcQvsR5c5J0O1CqPnRqAbsLPalT75jq3Lm7xIaJFrJsLVM6V5vJxpQqdRsRG4lMYMl4pNth0H-Ee5JLftt_IPgJk-on-QJy3GPfTWuoGBozRpNxcLlXM/s320/last+tacky+trailer+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tacky trailer; one of many here</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
We have done a lot of mileage in the last week. After leaving Yuma we had an uneventful drive to Palm Springs through some beautiful agricultural areas, watered by the Colorado River, then through the arid wastes along the east side of the Salton Sea. Friends had recommended that we stop at the Fountain of Youth, a hot spring attraction along the way. <br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE14dhEsRISIY-qReEHbB-ZSWZg8jEwZkU6oKa298wUC2n5wjSDNoYzfjs1p_XKU7pn3ZHp5-C8J70-aYxXrB_tGo3AG3yUJWl2gnGYpHm2JXijj3fxwUMcUZ_b8uf9hnmZ36ZPGEge6w/s1600/Last+FOY+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE14dhEsRISIY-qReEHbB-ZSWZg8jEwZkU6oKa298wUC2n5wjSDNoYzfjs1p_XKU7pn3ZHp5-C8J70-aYxXrB_tGo3AG3yUJWl2gnGYpHm2JXijj3fxwUMcUZ_b8uf9hnmZ36ZPGEge6w/s320/Last+FOY+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I wish, I wish</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Q-x5xJEEAdjkllzsT_1NBc2uql9iCfN8vHaa37UCYfU0x6DF19pghneGMWY2wtODIFeHTNGID3F9BAr8fQCp4Wt4-Nj_TNBs0MdUJrgv7WlQZE7VHzfTz5nuRiJTr0V-Db-DD80rRLI/s1600/last+wishful+thinking+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Q-x5xJEEAdjkllzsT_1NBc2uql9iCfN8vHaa37UCYfU0x6DF19pghneGMWY2wtODIFeHTNGID3F9BAr8fQCp4Wt4-Nj_TNBs0MdUJrgv7WlQZE7VHzfTz5nuRiJTr0V-Db-DD80rRLI/s320/last+wishful+thinking+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It ain't going to happen!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
Afterwards we passed through another green zone, predominantly date farms, as we neared Indio. We had to stop and get some mehjool dates, our favourites, and we had a chance to taste a wide variety of other varieties grown there.<br />
Our visit with our Indian Wells friends, Reno and Nina was a lot of fun, as it always is. Their beautiful home is now finished. They are in a very nice neighbourhood but subject to strict rules. We had to park the trailer inside their Walled garden so it didn't show from the street. Reno and I spent many hours reminiscing about our few years together in St Jean, Quebec, just before we both entered Military College and we spent a morning at the College of the Desert where Nina has a booth where she sells her hand-made jewelry. <br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNg01BZCkWDF0zMhtahbATxlAE8l1xxRwkjFis4eIBjgn2ArG77hmQykELfuGo9DWeZiTo6hCe8yDJQ0Y4Xyks8MXj-KuUQpBgYwo-tN9PoJh-HWCJ2t3p_BjMUxABAfBQ9WPHu2IHRM/s1600/LastNOPS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNg01BZCkWDF0zMhtahbATxlAE8l1xxRwkjFis4eIBjgn2ArG77hmQykELfuGo9DWeZiTo6hCe8yDJQ0Y4Xyks8MXj-KuUQpBgYwo-tN9PoJh-HWCJ2t3p_BjMUxABAfBQ9WPHu2IHRM/s320/LastNOPS.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Nina and Reno</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
After a short 3-day visit we were off again, this time towards South Lake Tahoe to visit other ex-cruisers, Pam and Steve (Full Quiver). On the way there we went through some very different landscapes including an area of incredible sand dunes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNnfu6Age2WY0N8Dh-DbiVyROEg6C59cHzX9bWd08kobhcwxAsT2tcYmDVfrYV2qhH8Ez5PaVZ9EeXrspucS9RmxLMMmw5bbugSyBmwGqnM_EIOaEm3qUqWigc3L2TM9qxoaL9JDBtZM/s1600/last+sand+dunes+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNnfu6Age2WY0N8Dh-DbiVyROEg6C59cHzX9bWd08kobhcwxAsT2tcYmDVfrYV2qhH8Ez5PaVZ9EeXrspucS9RmxLMMmw5bbugSyBmwGqnM_EIOaEm3qUqWigc3L2TM9qxoaL9JDBtZM/s320/last+sand+dunes+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Big beach, no water</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
We left Indian Wells in a scorching 90-95 degrees and arrived at Lake Tahoe with daytime temps in the 70's and below freezing during the night. <br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfDorRxjFZVMZC7HT6XGGBz2gy5XiVUAKTKJi-rP-UZ4BHH6d62H_4TW_j3GNaghKU0R_wIddKHS6Er9QeyxgsrG-I6SWGmCHFpRhyphenhyphen9V7WRL8CI306zt29tbzjiOmvAmcpRNLprUtL0Q/s1600/last+colder+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfDorRxjFZVMZC7HT6XGGBz2gy5XiVUAKTKJi-rP-UZ4BHH6d62H_4TW_j3GNaghKU0R_wIddKHS6Er9QeyxgsrG-I6SWGmCHFpRhyphenhyphen9V7WRL8CI306zt29tbzjiOmvAmcpRNLprUtL0Q/s320/last+colder+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Colder country</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWeWyxQsy_RMHhFKl4kNy8ptqk77c36C5m8JiKIiewddl1gSbOZTHiSmc8l3V_GKRR848eRfKi5X_5WUfB18jPr5UaKpAPdySj1OpGNeHpgr152ur8XLBePGjNLXZ8B8M8vE33yfBIoo/s1600/last+expensive+gas+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWeWyxQsy_RMHhFKl4kNy8ptqk77c36C5m8JiKIiewddl1gSbOZTHiSmc8l3V_GKRR848eRfKi5X_5WUfB18jPr5UaKpAPdySj1OpGNeHpgr152ur8XLBePGjNLXZ8B8M8vE33yfBIoo/s320/last+expensive+gas+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Most expensive gas, Bridgeport CA</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
The remnants of deep snow banks beside driveways were disappearing quickly. Pam and Steve are now land cruisers with the bucket list of visiting every national park in the US. They only have 3 left to go, quite an accomplishment when you realize that there are 59 in all. They acknowledge that they will probably miss a few that are only accessible by air. Rosie and Willie, their border collie, greeted each other like old friends. Their home is on the edge of a forested area and they are frequently visited by a variety of wildlife, including bears, which have frequently broken into homes and RVs in search of food. We didn't see any bears but we think Fran saw a bobcat one morning.<br />
Our 2-day visit with them was also too short but the weather was beautiful. We seem to be bringing the sun north with us. Our drive today, from Lake Tahoe was super but long. We were glad to get settled, even though this park is a bit iffy.<br />
<br />
That evening we stopped for the night at Keough Hot Springs, lovely but under-developed. There is so much potential here but, I guess, over the years they have tried but the crowds didn't come. there is an 8 inch pipe spilling huge amounts of scalding hot water into a ditch to be carried away. A hot house complex would be a beneficial add-on.<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ye-lDAGZtvE2K-D2wvml9UYVicBo5bx1OYJMQaOUj3ITH48abT1RfBsg958ahQ6VAbnXT4QSJH6iR_UBcn2xSvMHsH7D9sqj1Vxtma86Yd5yd1mvflG391LrEWDYP05ZvYjMw3Qkqy8/s1600/last+-+hough+1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ye-lDAGZtvE2K-D2wvml9UYVicBo5bx1OYJMQaOUj3ITH48abT1RfBsg958ahQ6VAbnXT4QSJH6iR_UBcn2xSvMHsH7D9sqj1Vxtma86Yd5yd1mvflG391LrEWDYP05ZvYjMw3Qkqy8/s320/last+-+hough+1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2yGQPUSzXmwmJ_CpgScHOVAiWEA_TnQAmcDPQnbTnKHeSYQms3vwp6OKGbwyjSRUCsV3lGupTVQdqIdx1MY4scPuU2Zr1jsx8eY_JnKFWp61HyE4UYk0bLRJLiZOSrqLCWcaMxweXy8/s1600/last+hough+2+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2yGQPUSzXmwmJ_CpgScHOVAiWEA_TnQAmcDPQnbTnKHeSYQms3vwp6OKGbwyjSRUCsV3lGupTVQdqIdx1MY4scPuU2Zr1jsx8eY_JnKFWp61HyE4UYk0bLRJLiZOSrqLCWcaMxweXy8/s320/last+hough+2+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
tacky but full of potential</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9elffvbcQCXTJJUSUIfnZfFAh8EwECwBDaePSrqoZhyi6iec_FTTpW4b0Wh2G04Vh-l-XBV577b5VOiqGzRkcILyt1e47dNMwjLDIX5CgFnEqnqPKRy7ujAB6wMMUpV8UpNq5bF3d5vk/s1600/last+hough+3+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9elffvbcQCXTJJUSUIfnZfFAh8EwECwBDaePSrqoZhyi6iec_FTTpW4b0Wh2G04Vh-l-XBV577b5VOiqGzRkcILyt1e47dNMwjLDIX5CgFnEqnqPKRy7ujAB6wMMUpV8UpNq5bF3d5vk/s320/last+hough+3+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
Such a waste of a precious resource</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
13:00, Friday, 8 April, 15. enroute to Canada<br />
<br />
A cloudy day, the first we have had on our trip to date. We are on our way to the Canadian border from Portland, Oregon.<br />
The drive to Portland, from Talent was uneventful. We had time to stop at our favourite stores, Cabella's and Camping World, along the way but, by the time we arrived at the outskirts of Portland it was rush hour and we hadn't experienced that in several years. What a pain! Our destination was the home of other cruiser freinds, Chris and Sandy, SV Faith, another boat for sale in Guaymas by our broker, Marisa. Looks like most of our friends have swallowed the anchor and have decided on another conveyance to continue their adventures. Chris and Sandy have a big motor home parked in the driveway, ready for another big trip this summer. We spent 2 days with them, got a chance to do some more shopping in tax free Oregon and see two other sets of friends, Mike and Judy (Pura Vida) and Trish and Doug (Ke-Em-Te). We had met the latter in Magdalena Bay on our first trip down the coast in 2008 and have been fast friends ever since. This morning, after leaving Chris and Sandy's we met up with Trish and Doug (Ke-Em-Te) for a quick breakfast visit. We had first met Trish and Doug in Magdalena Bay on our trip from San Diego in 2008 and had sailed with them, on and off for the next few years. Cruising friends are a very special breed! You can never get enough of them.<br />
<br />
16:30, Sunday, 10 April, 15. Waiting at the ferry terminal, Tsawassen<br />
<br />
Home is within sight. We are sitting outside the ferry terminal Starbuck's shop. Our ferry doesn't depart until 18:40 and we have been here for 2 hours already. It is sunny but quite cool, something we will have to get used to again.<br />
Last night we stayed with Janet Jackson in White Rock, our normal stopover when she is home. We were pleased to see that she has recovered very well from her medical issues of a few years ago and the loss of her husband and appears to have a whole new lease on life. <br />
With our ferry late in the afternoon we had time to loiter in Vancouver so we had lunch with our grand-daughter, Jessica and her beau, Sam, shopped for dishes for the boat at IKEA and bought a new mainsail that we had seen advertised on a Craigslist ad by a chap in Vancouver.<br />
Holy shit! $215.00 for the ferry ride to Mayne Island! What a rip-off. Almost feels like they are punishing us for leaving in the first place. On the other hand, it is a beautiful day and the weather is ideal for a cruise in the Gulf Islands, so why complain?<br />
<br />
Well, this season has been a learning experience, to say the least. We have concluded that RVing is very different from cruising in a sailboat. In an RV park you are stuck with the residents, good and bad. You can't go back to your floating, isolated refuge to escape. Don't get me wrong. There were no really bad people in the parks we went to but, at times, getting away from it all, can be a good thing.<br />
We have also realized that we could have been better prepared for the conditions we encountered. Meal preparation, dining, lounging, entertaining in a 17-foot trailer can be difficult. Our awning was a godsend but an enclosed shelter would have been much better. We now have one thanks to Amazon.com and our Arizona delivery service, (AKA Bill and Linda). A camper-kitchen setup is on our shopping list, but all of these new acquisitions require storage/carrying space, something we are short of with the set-up we have now. Before we head out again we will have to re-examine our capabilities and decide whether our existing truck and trailer combination will be adequate. With the new boat on the horizon we will not be using the trailer that much but we still have not seen much of the north end of Vancouver Island and that is on our bucket list for the near future.<br />
<br />
Here are some stats about our Winter trip: (conversion rates from mid-April)<br />
Total mileage: 8550 miles, 13,760 km<br />
Total road tolls in Mexico: 3708 pesos ($272.00 Cdn)<br />
Total fuel costs: Mexico: 9100 pesos ($667.43 Cdn)<br />
USA: 632.81 ($809.43 Cdn)<br />
Gas price in Mexico was 13.57 pesos/li ($1.00 Cdn) the entire time we were there. <br />
Max gas price in USA: $3.00/gal just south of Bishop, California<br />
Min gas price in USA: $ 1.88/gal in Tempe, AZ.<br />
Total fuel consumption: 482.1 (US gal), 1825 li.<br />
Mpg: 17.73<br />
Km/li: 7.5<br />
<br />
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br />
<br />J-G and Fran Nadeauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17787664902517862904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230718024020931105.post-79721795137976752132016-04-19T13:51:00.003-07:002016-04-19T14:47:04.215-07:009-Guaymas north11:30, 25 Mar, 16 On the road between Casa Grande and Yuma, AZ<br />
<br />
We have been on the road since yesterday morning. We left Guaymas just as the Semana Santa madness was beginning. During the previous few days there had been a steady influx of revellers, setting up camp on the beach, partying at the local bars and being watched by an ever-growing number of police who seemed to be everywhere. In a few days the main street will be so crowded that traffic will not be able to get through. <br />
<br />
Ourt last week was a busy one. Once we had all the stuff out of Bill and Linda's storage locker back to the RV park we spent a good day re-organizing the truck bed. Once the dinghy was lashed to the back there was no way we'd want to remove it, unless the border officials asked. We managed to find a place for most of the stuff but we still had a few bins, chairs and bags, some of which will encroach on Rosie's back seat while the remainder will have to be man-handled out of the trailer in order to use it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fqsOFO5uKjCthn8LQtouGDqCRgQBfib88JcsYjtpxDVNdde6TCchmW9c3X2cKzF-OyAvuF-EiSc_72S8MUP9AJwXEOn61zFCpw9YSwACGP1lyCBTIVq8a8edmB-Avmh-OzbRYv8k0j0/s1600/last+full+load+%2528800x496%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fqsOFO5uKjCthn8LQtouGDqCRgQBfib88JcsYjtpxDVNdde6TCchmW9c3X2cKzF-OyAvuF-EiSc_72S8MUP9AJwXEOn61zFCpw9YSwACGP1lyCBTIVq8a8edmB-Avmh-OzbRYv8k0j0/s320/last+full+load+%2528800x496%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Full load</div>
<br />
In the few days before we left we spent mre quality time with Bill and Linda. We owe them so much. They have been a Godsend to us over the years acting as a B&B, mailbox, shipping address, delivery service and storage facility, not to mention, great sailing buddies. I got a chance to, finally, sail with Bill aboard their boat for a day when he was doing a sea trial for a prospective buyer. Once he sells Tanque de Tiburon he will be able to concentrate more of his time on his new acquisition, a 48 ft trawler, The Darkside, now in Ensenada. We hope to be his crew when they take her south to Mexico in the next year or so.<br />
St Paddies Day<br />
<br />
We are also able to spend some time with Virgil, Gosling's (now renamed, Halcyon Days) new owner. Most of that time was spent trying to transfer some Mexican transfer papers to his name. After many failed attempts we think we have a solution but will be holding our breath until it is finally done. It was good to see her again but not as emotional as our last parting.<br />
We left the Totonaka RV park with a number of other rigs heading north. The drive to the border was non-eventful. We had to stop at KM 21 where the vehicle and visa paperwork had to be done. When we got to the border we had a long lineup ahead of us. We hadn't expected Semana Santa to affect the US border crossing but there were many Mexicans heading north. After a 2-hour wait we were finally processed through, relieved of our bacon (any pork product) and sent on our way. This was another good US border experience for us. The staff was pleasant and courteous, very different from the officious pricks of previous years. <br />
<br />
It is so nice to get back on decent roadways and buy gas that is properly metered and much cheaper! Even with the difference in our dollar values gas is still way cheaper, on average, half the Canadian price.<br />
<br />
Rosie has been a real trooper this winter. She has handled the heat, enjoyed the beach, has been so patient during our long drives and so loyal. Everyone has loved her and she has behaved so well. Everyone have met has remarked on how good a temperament she has. We have to thank her breeders, Blackadder kennels, of Manotick, Ontario for their superb breeding program. She is a bit timid and a barker when someone comes to the door <br />
but she is a beautiful dog, loyal and very smart.<br />
<br />
16:00, 29 Mar, 15 Desert Holiday RV Park, Yuma, AZ<br />
We are in our last day in Arizona. We have stayed at 3 different RV parks since crossing the border last week. Our first night was in an upscale RV park just east of Casa Grande and the next day we drove to Yuma passing through some very fertile farming areas, fed by the waters of the Colorado River, surrounded by desert terrain. There were also many feedlots for beef with extensive solar panel farms providing cover from the sun for the stock.<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qB3rVWgpVjFZMkFXt95A2bQBZei2M3W23UrDS3A-6Ok6mFO3Do1I5j2GQX9Jw5G3LtvMZw9mRap4nJ4KeMT9N2cKQWDY4dZtrtGQ6-0RirasRhRJZPmIZSG_Xj_2TnK41Lq5T_NVE0k/s1600/ast+crad+fieds+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qB3rVWgpVjFZMkFXt95A2bQBZei2M3W23UrDS3A-6Ok6mFO3Do1I5j2GQX9Jw5G3LtvMZw9mRap4nJ4KeMT9N2cKQWDY4dZtrtGQ6-0RirasRhRJZPmIZSG_Xj_2TnK41Lq5T_NVE0k/s320/ast+crad+fieds+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Green desert</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDiHNg5i7mW8D8yHBB2VxipTZLQtt6jB36dYJpoYVj4U8iJMFfIOw5vRMd9SRc7CJYMgnffW6KSefHVNuS3nJbeVE0MGTwPmsgkXHC8yO6iaZSAg-Z-p8ohE278Dxpn9tDjjQYYT180fA/s1600/last+dual+purpose2+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDiHNg5i7mW8D8yHBB2VxipTZLQtt6jB36dYJpoYVj4U8iJMFfIOw5vRMd9SRc7CJYMgnffW6KSefHVNuS3nJbeVE0MGTwPmsgkXHC8yO6iaZSAg-Z-p8ohE278Dxpn9tDjjQYYT180fA/s320/last+dual+purpose2+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Shaded stock pens</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
Once in Yuma we settled in for a few days at a park situated on the bank of the Colorado River. The mighty Colorado has such an ominous ring to it but by the time it reaches these parts much of it has been redirected into canals that feed the agriculture of Southern California; water management at its best. By the time it empties in the Sea of Cortez there isn't much left. In Yuma, there is some river left and, by the remnants of fish heads nailed to a post by the river there are some very big catfish lurking in those depths.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0zQ-R6swQwyDB3en426ewc-0xMp5Cwu4j8gH052uUfiqil4mjeSD0uBQNOy5nwZHqetJ4bvP4bMPsNW2T2gQWXxaOQ8o_bod4ng1qIkePXghRg0L0MOUXs7Y882JvORRy47fiHr_WTU/s1600/ast+catfish+ttem+%2528600x800%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0zQ-R6swQwyDB3en426ewc-0xMp5Cwu4j8gH052uUfiqil4mjeSD0uBQNOy5nwZHqetJ4bvP4bMPsNW2T2gQWXxaOQ8o_bod4ng1qIkePXghRg0L0MOUXs7Y882JvORRy47fiHr_WTU/s320/ast+catfish+ttem+%2528600x800%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Redneck totem pole</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Vou0-T31ptuZYoSG3Eqjwqvwn0Rn0dgVHzlNiaqJT39x-aWBB50Hqe2P9GYWRLc7zZ7fkaFYn7zGbS6SHOFfs3jS_xRMLaEgOwlqJsLh9ilFheyV8cvs3dipKaAuJ2BdcDaGU1MUTaw/s1600/colorado+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Vou0-T31ptuZYoSG3Eqjwqvwn0Rn0dgVHzlNiaqJT39x-aWBB50Hqe2P9GYWRLc7zZ7fkaFYn7zGbS6SHOFfs3jS_xRMLaEgOwlqJsLh9ilFheyV8cvs3dipKaAuJ2BdcDaGU1MUTaw/s320/colorado+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Colorado River</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
We stayed there for 2 days, saw some of the old parts of the city that we had missed the last time we had driven through in 2011. On Easter Sunday we moved to this park to meet up with two couples we had met in Rincon. We were invited to their Easter Dinner that night. We seem to be at the right place at the right time with this group. This is the second celebratory meal we have enjoyed with them. <br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGW0SPviv6dhorFEauMc44sUO4rHopGlotkDTRemdYRrPaSfvbscpICATnaOwc5v3h6G9IcWvSKCRTfbmrUAtpqByvjzKAZT8KosIkhEyIa-gUlZzBtNhtUPAaSrImbJ_sSp2Gd-o0JQ/s1600/last+easter+dins+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGW0SPviv6dhorFEauMc44sUO4rHopGlotkDTRemdYRrPaSfvbscpICATnaOwc5v3h6G9IcWvSKCRTfbmrUAtpqByvjzKAZT8KosIkhEyIa-gUlZzBtNhtUPAaSrImbJ_sSp2Gd-o0JQ/s320/last+easter+dins+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Easter dins</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
The park is situated within sight of the Marine Corps air station. At all hours of the day we can hear a variety of jet aircraft taking off, screaming overhead and landing again.<br />
Our main reason for stopping here was to go across to the Mexican border town of Algodones to get glasses made for each of us. We arrived there about 9AM, each of us was eye tested, frames chosen and, 2 hours later, they were ready. Algodones, like many of the border towns caters almost exclusively to the US (and Canadian snowbirds) for cheap medical and dental work, prescription drugs, vision care,plastic surgery and a host of other services. There is a huge parking lot on the US side of the border run by the local native band where you can park all day for $6 and then you walk through the border crossing and are immediately assaulted by hawkers trying to get you to come to their doctor/dentist/optician. Some are even dressed in hospital scrubs. Along with the facilities mentioned above, there are the usual souvenir stands selling, for the most part, the same, made in China Mexican crap we have seen everywhere in our travels.<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO4jy-wfLu6S2BfT1SIZHLxu9NAnOOmpKKh_KYCno-ZfA9YAPKYbBWDXfLs_bbpf71zqCsY9UEWtP2R5NNNFuYFuXLHI3ISKeim_L0V4Bk04cU4WSAzsKmqHyownpK4nbrr5q5yKZnWA/s1600/ast+algadones+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO4jy-wfLu6S2BfT1SIZHLxu9NAnOOmpKKh_KYCno-ZfA9YAPKYbBWDXfLs_bbpf71zqCsY9UEWtP2R5NNNFuYFuXLHI3ISKeim_L0V4Bk04cU4WSAzsKmqHyownpK4nbrr5q5yKZnWA/s320/ast+algadones+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Algadones</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Tomorrow we enter California, where gas is more expensive, and head to Indian Wells and a few days with Reno and Nina, then onto Lake Tahoe.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />J-G and Fran Nadeauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17787664902517862904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230718024020931105.post-41837282872807532192016-04-05T21:21:00.000-07:002016-04-19T14:46:33.471-07:007-Rincon to Mazatlan15:00, 5 March, 15, Mar Rosa RV Park, Mazatlan<br />
<br />
We are comfortably set up in this very nice RV park, again, close to the water but also close to one of the main drags of Mazatlan. Another beautiful beach but, again, much more populated than Punta Perula. We were truly spoiled there.<br />
Our drive here from Rincon was quite uneventful but as we were leaving, a few of the park ladies insisted on giving us the Flamingo departure. <br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIT2mUblKNVJe-k60f-TKSJ3hm1x4MC0iaiKOiUQhq9BxtjboKYdq5mYMMovFZg2ggVPE9EiNP0IkolsKy5GPY1hsiX2yQ7vEZgb92WSF-k28mmXfPHUbLpRVj8djjRApncxjU-2rAFoc/s1600/Rinc0n+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIT2mUblKNVJe-k60f-TKSJ3hm1x4MC0iaiKOiUQhq9BxtjboKYdq5mYMMovFZg2ggVPE9EiNP0IkolsKy5GPY1hsiX2yQ7vEZgb92WSF-k28mmXfPHUbLpRVj8djjRApncxjU-2rAFoc/s320/Rinc0n+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Rincon</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXFc87Jk53PEhnKv9cajlbcHuijgQR6Rg8VTIs_tJZuwDUPZ7-i55xIjnIQ49GDQG6ZJit_sO1I5oki1-ImKW9HafWPbx39NiqgC9yD624D6OvUilmMj-Oy1PaEBgRrcJyHFBjWwnQtg/s1600/rincon+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXFc87Jk53PEhnKv9cajlbcHuijgQR6Rg8VTIs_tJZuwDUPZ7-i55xIjnIQ49GDQG6ZJit_sO1I5oki1-ImKW9HafWPbx39NiqgC9yD624D6OvUilmMj-Oy1PaEBgRrcJyHFBjWwnQtg/s320/rincon+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Beautiful but polluted</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fB2sdr3VB9uVoPowZz3kLGEd3o2FYY7jjgI257Uw-Si0ydYvW399mVSxDzlexp5ytalIOifGpHDtNsGkzq0QPi5cp7qeX84OQzxu7KIIvx4Uj8mAGa9rEzZR1dhw1ursO0gB5j7K7IY/s1600/send0ff+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fB2sdr3VB9uVoPowZz3kLGEd3o2FYY7jjgI257Uw-Si0ydYvW399mVSxDzlexp5ytalIOifGpHDtNsGkzq0QPi5cp7qeX84OQzxu7KIIvx4Uj8mAGa9rEzZR1dhw1ursO0gB5j7K7IY/s320/send0ff+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Flamingo girls</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do the flamingo.... Wasn't there a song by that name?</div>
<br />
We followed the coastal road through San Blas and ended up joining the toll highway just past Tepic. I would not recommend this coastal road to anyone driving a big rig. Although there was very little traffic the road was narrow, often without any shoulders and with vegetation growing right to the edge of the pavement. High rigs would be knocking branches above, not a good thing for those extra antennas, AC boxes, TV dishes and all the other protrusions most rigs carry. There were lots of topes (traffic calming humps) and curves making it impossible to keep up any semblance of speed until we arrived at the toll road. Speed comes at a cost, unfortunately. From Tepic to Mazatlan we had to pay about $50 Cdn in tolls.<br />
Our Garmin GPS continues to be a pain. The machine, itself, is ok but the maps it uses are poor, even though they were updated online recently. Some roads that have been built in the last 5 years don't appear and the unit occasionally has us driving over blank areas on the maps. Obviously, routes are affected too and often it wants to take us miles out of our way to get to the objective. When entering co-ordinates it sometimes refuses to take what we enter and chooses something close but no cigar. I can't imagine having to rely solely on one source. We have Maps.me loaded on the I-Pad and this free app is more accurate than the Garmin so we often have both running simultaneously.<br />
The coast road was very picturesque and took us through some important agricultural areas, mostly fruit producing. Roadside stands were everywhere and sold fruit in season, mainly watermelon, jackfruit, bananas and pumpkins. There were fields of tobacco, pineapples and huge orchards of mangos but it will be another few months before they are ready.<br />
Speaking of food, I must comment on the Mexican version of Wonderbread. Bimbo is the national bakery in Mexico and they produce some amazing products. Amazing, because of their longevity. Whereas a loaf of bread will start turning hard and mouldy within a few days back home, Bimbo bread will stay fresh and edible for weeks without being refrigerated. It makes you wonder what preservatives the use. We don't eat much bread anymore, so this product lasts us quite a while. We are looking fwd to making our own when we get home. We have noticed that many RVers are using bread machines and making their own gluten free options. Jackfruit has always amazed me. I first tasted it in Kuwait when the Bangladeshi airforce people brought some in and invited some of us over for the treat. It was a big event for them. The following photos describe it quite well. It tastes like a cross between a mango and pineapple but without the acidity, an acquired taste for some.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1I2ud9nhekRnBYWqnfaZothMr7rgYKGvsAZIX8JHZOdiHhk_zLYDJ9atoZpt4eYKPGagnLq3XPSeYVQCHGiVHixRo2utZ_clUfEZvoI6MVIKImSWuMWkMQIdqamNRnAfPkLDXWesGfA/s1600/jackfruit-3+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1I2ud9nhekRnBYWqnfaZothMr7rgYKGvsAZIX8JHZOdiHhk_zLYDJ9atoZpt4eYKPGagnLq3XPSeYVQCHGiVHixRo2utZ_clUfEZvoI6MVIKImSWuMWkMQIdqamNRnAfPkLDXWesGfA/s320/jackfruit-3+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Jackfruit trees</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FeMRzy0HfmVmiVJCIgl0Pmb6hRIeUbaA8tH3rzdkJpeYC8qwzCAxaq9yTVFEZYqIKuHri483_cjIk2rXl9XhRoVpm9rBaRg8n1Wnjnd-U_UnexsI7ZbNP1fSsA_dePslhcEkrZwhWtc/s1600/jackfruit+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FeMRzy0HfmVmiVJCIgl0Pmb6hRIeUbaA8tH3rzdkJpeYC8qwzCAxaq9yTVFEZYqIKuHri483_cjIk2rXl9XhRoVpm9rBaRg8n1Wnjnd-U_UnexsI7ZbNP1fSsA_dePslhcEkrZwhWtc/s320/jackfruit+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fruit pods</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZW87G5d7GuwTBudaxtlPuIncBtNBg-Q07G6NDWHDSIIue3xtV2i-bCqO0G9wXjZKNtfxlRcPrM-ogVnTGE8yX2pl1EKt4kx5v_-rdyYXjadG9654onvDaI9pSye_Esa8UQNjpQP65RJY/s1600/jackfruit-2+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZW87G5d7GuwTBudaxtlPuIncBtNBg-Q07G6NDWHDSIIue3xtV2i-bCqO0G9wXjZKNtfxlRcPrM-ogVnTGE8yX2pl1EKt4kx5v_-rdyYXjadG9654onvDaI9pSye_Esa8UQNjpQP65RJY/s320/jackfruit-2+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The edible bits</div>
<br />
We arrived in Mazatlan after a leisurely 5-hr drive, found the park easily and had our choice of spots. There were only a handful of rigs and the manager said that they were having a very bad winter and the park was up for sale. There will probably be another resort-style building erected here in the near future. We have heard of 2 other RV parks nearby that have closed. Nevertheless,this park is well maintained, has nice facilities, 24 hr security, easy access to the beach and is very close to our favourite restaurant, Fat Fish. Bus service anywhere down town is just outside the gate. Actually, we are just next door to the Quijote Inn, one of the resorts where we had stayed in 2007 while working on Royal Exchange. <br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKp8S_GNa4d4GAC_4lzFW2bCRO61YyTOkaENrzeJpOleA6QG-I_idDkAG3fMJv7-i9x7iRHHntRyQBomJBSVpNIIG6d2So_hG6oc1CxDMJxMYXoky2hky9RqW9Pk2fnoy7Ag_9SqUgeI/s1600/Maz+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKp8S_GNa4d4GAC_4lzFW2bCRO61YyTOkaENrzeJpOleA6QG-I_idDkAG3fMJv7-i9x7iRHHntRyQBomJBSVpNIIG6d2So_hG6oc1CxDMJxMYXoky2hky9RqW9Pk2fnoy7Ag_9SqUgeI/s320/Maz+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<center>
</center>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mar Rosa RV Park</div>
<br />
We have been able to see a few friends while here. Lin and Debbie (Dolphin Tales) are still at the El Cid marina. We had coffee with them and caught up on all of the local cruising news. Gary Moore, a friend from my RMC days and his friend Jane have escaped the Canadian winter for a few weeks, he from Calgary and she from Ottawa. They are staying at a resort further down the beach and we have had some quality time with them over the past few days, first at Fat Fish and Twisted Mamas and last night in Old Town. Also. Our RV pals from Punta Perula, Craig and Allison, from Duncan arrived the day after we arrived and are parked just next door.<br />
<div align="center">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSfuuiowmLA48b5aX97i5ueNxSURiDtGAldzS-B12_XOUYjPH8bxmOjsaziGhmuvgRIySSE1Ze-ErJ_iVXeEX_fFw2uGzamh82jVsOw0s9Y90w2G77t0__NmB3UzVacoMKhqQJ9YGVrc/s1600/twisted+%2528800x533%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSfuuiowmLA48b5aX97i5ueNxSURiDtGAldzS-B12_XOUYjPH8bxmOjsaziGhmuvgRIySSE1Ze-ErJ_iVXeEX_fFw2uGzamh82jVsOw0s9Y90w2G77t0__NmB3UzVacoMKhqQJ9YGVrc/s320/twisted+%2528800x533%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With Gary and Jane at Twisted Mama's</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKp8S_GNa4d4GAC_4lzFW2bCRO61YyTOkaENrzeJpOleA6QG-I_idDkAG3fMJv7-i9x7iRHHntRyQBomJBSVpNIIG6d2So_hG6oc1CxDMJxMYXoky2hky9RqW9Pk2fnoy7Ag_9SqUgeI/s1600/Maz+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKOmwIIB5i4ccdOMzVjNiEcReZZ9ivEeDp6m50VBuWzhTdZ2PYAEbBlS8DjcsX6NEg65fWernSfjbEyxVGOT5RoRcHtsTvXrJmTXllVJMFJOfJxGTKXDHwJs3Hi-4zvCa-tWgjEUrFWs/s1600/Fatfish1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKOmwIIB5i4ccdOMzVjNiEcReZZ9ivEeDp6m50VBuWzhTdZ2PYAEbBlS8DjcsX6NEg65fWernSfjbEyxVGOT5RoRcHtsTvXrJmTXllVJMFJOfJxGTKXDHwJs3Hi-4zvCa-tWgjEUrFWs/s320/Fatfish1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImiBtGbI8I0UFZKupG1P_d-Q_QRwE4k4NUZfJCcIR8jTFGBQA_LMl6uy2pWRJw2YOrGZHZ4cLDIYydMZ27FtuhcrSARULSw2fY1MAFuG4WYHjYw0VLvtKmTYn4pygo4I1wQIZnNqAT78/s1600/fatfish2+%25281%2529+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImiBtGbI8I0UFZKupG1P_d-Q_QRwE4k4NUZfJCcIR8jTFGBQA_LMl6uy2pWRJw2YOrGZHZ4cLDIYydMZ27FtuhcrSARULSw2fY1MAFuG4WYHjYw0VLvtKmTYn4pygo4I1wQIZnNqAT78/s320/fatfish2+%25281%2529+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Fat Fish, great ribs!</div>
<center>
</center>
<br />
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br />
<div class="blogpress_location">
Location:<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Avenida%20Camar%C3%B3n%20S%C3%A1balo,Mazatl%C3%A1n,Mexico%4023.257041%2C-106.460717&z=10">Avenida Camarón Sábalo,Mazatlán,Mexico+</a></div>
J-G and Fran Nadeauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17787664902517862904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230718024020931105.post-75506669763847506292016-04-03T19:59:00.000-07:002016-04-19T14:46:44.634-07:008- Mazatlan to Guaymas14:00, Wednesday, 9 Mar15, Villa Celeste RV Park and Resort, Celestino, Gazca, Sin. MX <br />
<br />
We are again set up just a few hundred feet from the beach at a lovely site, 75 km north of Mazatlan. This is much more remote than our previous stops but the beach is wide, the surf is intense and we are loving it. <br />
<br />
We departed Mazatlan on Monday morning after another fun night at Twisted Mama's. It as a fitting end to our visit to Mazatlan and our last evening with Gary and Jane. Gary had promised that the Sunday night band would be better than on our first visit and we were not disappointed. The tunes were a bit heavier and the performance was spectacular. The two lead guitarists, a father and son (17 years old), were fantastic. Their rendition of Guns and Roses' Sweet Child of Mine was as good, if not better, than the original version. It was interesting to see Fran in awe of the two lead guitarists, the younger one, in particular, even when he was playing some heavy metal riffs. Now, a guitar player, she has a new appreciation of guitar talent and skill.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yWagcOpdAqpwgFuv7H3c3TIAZrk04aNkSeWqkYgJ5uxqZ5tdAH91FNmHElNoumuZjRW4um4T4NDvArrmx1PymN3_whvX1k4MPtwCRzin_Yu5EDARTewaiMbjAEF0u6FY4CWPn4kSqws/s1600/Maz+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yWagcOpdAqpwgFuv7H3c3TIAZrk04aNkSeWqkYgJ5uxqZ5tdAH91FNmHElNoumuZjRW4um4T4NDvArrmx1PymN3_whvX1k4MPtwCRzin_Yu5EDARTewaiMbjAEF0u6FY4CWPn4kSqws/s320/Maz+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Mare Rosa, Mazatlan</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
Monday morning we packed up, said our good byes to Craig and Allison and drove north, passing through the Tropic of Cancer, just a few kilometres north of Mazatlan. We arrived at Celestino Gazca by late morning and found the RV site we were planing to stay at to be locked up tight. We retraced our steps and found the Villa Celeste site to be the only one open of 4 along that road. The manager said that there have been very few RVs staying here this year. The US warnings of drug activity in this area have seriously affected tourism here. The federal police ambush of a drug cartel gang a few years ago, at the highway exit to Celestino has probably contributed to the bad publicity. 7 cartel members were killed and within days all the parks along the strip here were vacated of nervous RVers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNq3TW78_BppCMbOGRK8bEeKL_zmAFA0zTFR8ObWTq3IwFgbk61ATlQoUfdlBAOhJGDDEBAV_c_U05OyMCzH8uXIBduCWSCSXg5pNyZEIIv3P3XdWZ8Num8mzgwQ3eDjWQ0TKydTsRYM/s1600/celestshore+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNq3TW78_BppCMbOGRK8bEeKL_zmAFA0zTFR8ObWTq3IwFgbk61ATlQoUfdlBAOhJGDDEBAV_c_U05OyMCzH8uXIBduCWSCSXg5pNyZEIIv3P3XdWZ8Num8mzgwQ3eDjWQ0TKydTsRYM/s320/celestshore+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Celestino Gasca</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4azdlsbgLC1p5C0WfLXD_gHgLhKPCrcPCgegKpgNl3KEauIfGj9tFizPbmrR2uo_y_U3-AnIPSyTfB33tQVkWPZucFS7UwRqW4sap7ghioOHZ9ctQNHCGpwZ7RNxup5ytX-NVnXe3RBA/s1600/celestsunset+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4azdlsbgLC1p5C0WfLXD_gHgLhKPCrcPCgegKpgNl3KEauIfGj9tFizPbmrR2uo_y_U3-AnIPSyTfB33tQVkWPZucFS7UwRqW4sap7ghioOHZ9ctQNHCGpwZ7RNxup5ytX-NVnXe3RBA/s320/celestsunset+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Green flash was there but didn't get it on camera</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
The night we arrived we had a significant change in weather. Fran read about the weather warning on the net and by sunset clouds began to move inshore. During the night we had several showers and by morning the sky was dark and threatening. What better time to drive east into the hills to visit a 'magic town'..... Cosala was on Fran's 'trip home bucket list' and it had to be today or never. As we drove east into the hills the sky behind us got progressively darker and, by the time we arrived, the wind was blowing hard and rain was intermittent. It was a quick visit and we were not that impressed. After a few hours of wandering around town, a great taco lunch while waiting for a heavy shower to pass, we headed back to the beach. By the time we arrived back at the park it was blowing a gale with an occasional rain shower and temperatures in the mid teens (C), time to dig out sweaters and long pants. Back in Mazatlan Gary and Jane were pelted by walnut size hail and in Chamela, Kirk and Charlene observed 2 waterspouts in the distance, not something you want to tangle with in a sailboat. This morning the gale had passed and the sea was calm with light winds but still a heavy surf in the bay. As I look at the horizon now I can see heavy TC clouds to the south. Mazatlan and points south must still be getting hammered.<br />
This morning Craig and Allison rolled in for the night. Their destination was a 7 hour drive away from Mazatlan so they decided to break it up by stopping here.<br />
Tomorrow we continue our journey. We are aiming for El Fuerte where Zorro was reputed to have come from. Rosie will be upset. She has really enjoyed her time on the beaches. From now on it will be more controlled walks and less free rein.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3ibCckpSsD9nJAhV2oJoR-Be9StUdaZhb8U06kcicCgXVAP4RbSGZ4H4kB79DofCU2DHRIJhBPfZkzC-6v8Bt7B34Nsj82ip2j16Qjcxu4nKImfNPGuvJmto1AEemHEgBFcs8H-b5HA/s1600/cansign+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3ibCckpSsD9nJAhV2oJoR-Be9StUdaZhb8U06kcicCgXVAP4RbSGZ4H4kB79DofCU2DHRIJhBPfZkzC-6v8Bt7B34Nsj82ip2j16Qjcxu4nKImfNPGuvJmto1AEemHEgBFcs8H-b5HA/s320/cansign+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Advert for a local band. Seems to be a pre-occupation with drugs and guns......</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzSLoPZ5CXXm1t7rik4fbcprE7ggjY9MnOgM8LQUnLzett9N-zVBdTEgUQR5MBiplnkem041Ia6hMH5t_o2zDh1wASyfsTNvDGOQlXbQP5Wq9sgCSsSXvOrWVz30dgUovuv91dywSR8Q/s1600/pert1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzSLoPZ5CXXm1t7rik4fbcprE7ggjY9MnOgM8LQUnLzett9N-zVBdTEgUQR5MBiplnkem041Ia6hMH5t_o2zDh1wASyfsTNvDGOQlXbQP5Wq9sgCSsSXvOrWVz30dgUovuv91dywSR8Q/s320/pert1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KRhjAVwljl1bFR4BAJ4rmu3icJ7rnMRoq-guARdNeFZzDhZNswyC7bCi-X0BM7uGTfBspJx00iqzhwJMuLwgGnAWrqfJ4N1OawLpA0lAYSrlDgaQvZAC4hyphenhyphenRFsAzGz5m4wWjYB3Reic/s1600/petro2--------------+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KRhjAVwljl1bFR4BAJ4rmu3icJ7rnMRoq-guARdNeFZzDhZNswyC7bCi-X0BM7uGTfBspJx00iqzhwJMuLwgGnAWrqfJ4N1OawLpA0lAYSrlDgaQvZAC4hyphenhyphenRFsAzGz5m4wWjYB3Reic/s320/petro2--------------+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ancient petroglyphs on the beach, south of Celestino</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lower one is a pelican.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
15:30, Monday, 14 Mar, Playa Cortez Hotel and RV park, Guaymas, Son<br />
<br />
We have had a few days of intense driving and are back to within a few miles of where we started from last November. This playa pales in comparison to the beaches we have become used to but we are here only for a few days while finishing business in Guaymas. We will be moving on to San Carlos on Thursday.<br />
The drive to El Fuerte was quite pleasant but made for along day. We passed some of the best market garden areas of Mexico and the source of much of the vegetables sold back home. There were huge fields of tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, peppers, watermelons, pumpkins (oddly enough, types we never see back home), beans and potatoes to mention a few. We also passed processing plants for some of the products where tomatoe sauces were made. As we approached El Fuerte we passed through ares of citrus orchards and where we saw some of the few roadside stands selling fruit. You would think that in an area so rich in produce there would be lots of stands but, up to that point, we had only seen roadside entrepreneurs selling potatoes and oranges but the huge sack. These stands had limes,oranges and grapefruit. We paid the equivalent of about $1.50 for a bag of 8 pink grapefruit. They are super sweet and delicious. Wish we could afford them back home.....<br />
We arrived in El Fuerte by mid-afternoon, set up the trailer and set off for a recce downtown. El Fuerte (the Fort) is another magic town and worthy of that classification. It is full of charming old haciendas surrounded by walls but now many have been converted to hotels and restaurants. The fort/museum was closed for renovations but we had our sights set on the Hotel Posada Hidalgo, the original home and birthplace of Don Juan de la Vega who became Zorro. There is a very nice statue of him in the hotel courtyard and the bar serves a Zorro tequila, made by the Herradura tequila company in Guadalajara. We both agree that this was the smoothest tequila we have ever tasted. When we arrived back at the RV site we found Al and Sue, friends from the Rincon Flamingo park set up beside us.<br />
The following day we took a sight seeing trip down the El Fuerte river with Philipe, a guide from the Hotel Rio Vista, who had been recommended by other RVers. The aim of the tour was to see many types of birds and some petroglyphs that had been discovered in the 1990's after the river level was lowered by upstream dams. It was a good tour but for the bugs. They have a black fly there that is voracious and Fran, who never gets 'bugged' and refuses to use bug spray was eaten alive and has since developed a reaction to the bites. We had to see Dr Sanchez this morning, the same Doctor who had treated her years ago. She will have to undergo a 3-day course of anti-biotic injections.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgkrt-QR111wnMIwBdOb_n3m0psnzGZb5LbpRLl5pPFtwuwz27GvvRuyPswhR9rAZ-1FWucr8kvz6z8mly9T-I9KYOLp61E4vaRNc5cXEwq7ulAyH9bxkuQVfsCWPHEVYCcuxPu4pCuw/s1600/rivertour+%25281%2529+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgkrt-QR111wnMIwBdOb_n3m0psnzGZb5LbpRLl5pPFtwuwz27GvvRuyPswhR9rAZ-1FWucr8kvz6z8mly9T-I9KYOLp61E4vaRNc5cXEwq7ulAyH9bxkuQVfsCWPHEVYCcuxPu4pCuw/s320/rivertour+%25281%2529+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our guide and bateau</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtduqEH-MTI3y0a395XvM45iU211ZgBpInxVMUHzGu6z69p-fWypLueOUHjFJ568-o9EuY5IhjeXN2L20kcN8D996WuNaPFskxPI_7MkAgrnO3MmZAtcPR8b_mqEHzHdZ_Bc1y2YpaF0/s1600/bigbird+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtduqEH-MTI3y0a395XvM45iU211ZgBpInxVMUHzGu6z69p-fWypLueOUHjFJ568-o9EuY5IhjeXN2L20kcN8D996WuNaPFskxPI_7MkAgrnO3MmZAtcPR8b_mqEHzHdZ_Bc1y2YpaF0/s320/bigbird+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A rare tiger heron</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKVxBk-YkH_xXRBaU_vdWOJItxsfp1K_mQ1uYNlgFZDDy4gPMmXAiHgrI1vuvYSWRg9_BDKSam-R2AnItkrR3s_6nENsBaWb-N5d-zvqIlNHAE_2QOk4v64Zs-s_M5-KQoDmykHdPahs/s1600/hawks%252C+%25281%2529+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKVxBk-YkH_xXRBaU_vdWOJItxsfp1K_mQ1uYNlgFZDDy4gPMmXAiHgrI1vuvYSWRg9_BDKSam-R2AnItkrR3s_6nENsBaWb-N5d-zvqIlNHAE_2QOk4v64Zs-s_M5-KQoDmykHdPahs/s320/hawks%252C+%25281%2529+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Kara Kara hawks</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_X5OxYYBAmRPzgJvQXupsrmDg4V6huSo7GeMcg7Ki3aWR4rdO3Pti90XHdX-4GNNBk3PYREAccjBxtp2z2OvVX736hGcw5iyqIYRTZOGdbVZwuOhexxM1wxmSRKZTFpCrDL-kY05zZU/s1600/petro3+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_X5OxYYBAmRPzgJvQXupsrmDg4V6huSo7GeMcg7Ki3aWR4rdO3Pti90XHdX-4GNNBk3PYREAccjBxtp2z2OvVX736hGcw5iyqIYRTZOGdbVZwuOhexxM1wxmSRKZTFpCrDL-kY05zZU/s320/petro3+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
more petroglyphs</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkdDXfIqMA0Sx_bNa_uoD05IY1YqoIkPVEusNMblYkO3CkrwrnjNbH3EjeYNq1s2si_tkUCgLLzz8Mshx4_WGjXSYvXF7vjOakzdFLqbgInRP5aYQpllV6Gyb8b7djQkG2njEJeptmlc/s1600/yaquis+%2528600x800%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkdDXfIqMA0Sx_bNa_uoD05IY1YqoIkPVEusNMblYkO3CkrwrnjNbH3EjeYNq1s2si_tkUCgLLzz8Mshx4_WGjXSYvXF7vjOakzdFLqbgInRP5aYQpllV6Gyb8b7djQkG2njEJeptmlc/s320/yaquis+%2528600x800%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Yaqui Indians</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
We spent that evening with Al and Sue who were leaving for the Copper Canyon in the morning and had supper at another old hacienda restaurant. This is probably a good spot to mention the cost of eating of eating out in Mexico. So far we have not spent more that $50 (for 2) for a meal in Mexico. This one was at an upscale restaurant and, with drinks, we still managed under $50. Local bass was the main item on the menu and it as delicious. In Mazatlan, at our favourite rib place, Fat Fish, we were all in for under $20. Yesterday, on our way here we stopped at a small roadside restaurant on the causeway and had a great fish meal for under $15. Ohh to have prices like that in Canada!<br />
The roads along the route varied from poor to excellent. We relied mainly on the toll highways as they are supposed to be much better quality but along the 15D there are some new and some old sections that are being renewed. The new roads are solid re-inforced concrete 8 inches thick and made with a purpose built machine. Just hope their roadbeds have improved. This will make for a much better driving experience in the future. We found the tolls to be a bit exorbitant, but, then again, new roads are expensive. In total we spent about $135 in tolls since Mazatlan. Kind of reminds me of the prices on the BC ferry system.<br />
The price of gas everywhere else in the world fluctuates with the price of a barrel of oil. Not in Mexico! The price per litre of gas has been a steady 13.16 pesos/li. since we arrived and it was close to that last year, similar to what we were paying at home last summer. There is only one fuel (automotive gas and diesel) company in Mexico, Pemex, owned privately but very well regulated and, undoubtedly, well protected by the government. They have a comfortable monopoly and must pay big bucks (pesos) to the higher ups to maintain that status. Fuel has always been the major expense in Mexico. Propane, on the other hand, fluctuates depending on where you are. Several companies provide for auto and home use, however, I am told that it really isn't the propane we are familiar with but butane.<br />
We visited Ariana at her new ice cream shop, Good Choice, in Guaymas. Since being let go from the Fonatur marina and since her wedding last November she has resurrected her mother's former business and is making a go of it. She seems happy and is looking fwd to moving into their new house in a few days. We sampled some of her wares, delicious!!<br />
<br />
Wednesday, 16 Mar 16, same location.<br />
Yesterday we went to our old boatyard to pick up the dinghy we had purchased the day we left the yard last November. Bill and MIrjam, now the owners of Tigger, having had their old ferro-cement boat condemned and destroyed, were busy making Tigger their own. It will be a while before they complete the long list of modifications they want to do but their determination and energy is high and they are young enough to get it all done. What a relief it was to find that he dinghy fit on the back of the truck. It has an overlap of about 18" but will not interfere with the trailer setu<br />
Once back at the park it was time to get the truck washed. When we went to the petroglyphs near Celestino we had gone through some muddy patches and the truck was filthy. Add to that 4 months of beach life and the sand and dust. There are several auto washer/cleaners on the road here and I found one that did a complete cleaning inside and out for 100 pesos ($8 ish). They did a very good job. The suspension of the truck had begun to worry me. With a full load in the back and cab and a heavy tongue weight the springs were overloaded and the ride was quite rough, especially over some of the bad roads we have been travelling. I found a suspension specialist garage in town that will install an extra leaf on both sides for less than $200. What a bargain. Hope it does the job.<br />
PS. The entire job, with an oil change was about $200. The end result was a lift of 2 1/2 inches. That will solve the immediate problem. Now to see if truck and trailer will handle the extra weight We also took the timer to have one last feed at Compa Juan's, near Gabriel's yard. We have been having some of the best seafood at this small stand for the past 7 years and have been introduced to most of Juan's family over the years.<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsTr9p2rgcsjJYcXlS0fJz7PjUe-PkSdkdtC0ysaJYFgm9Fs1l5A3IpTWnk2R7J-66NxZy5U1pLIE2oJ2Lb8jd1YWNml3KBwCyWy-4hyphenhyphenvRMMDyLeVo3cb3son087IXz-v9qNYHY4IOxI/s1600/lastcompa+%2528600x800%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsTr9p2rgcsjJYcXlS0fJz7PjUe-PkSdkdtC0ysaJYFgm9Fs1l5A3IpTWnk2R7J-66NxZy5U1pLIE2oJ2Lb8jd1YWNml3KBwCyWy-4hyphenhyphenvRMMDyLeVo3cb3son087IXz-v9qNYHY4IOxI/s320/lastcompa+%2528600x800%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Compa Juan's</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
Friday, 18 Mar, Totonaka RV Park, San Carlos<br />
This park is the most populated one we have stayed in to date. This is the time of year when many snowbirds are on their way home and this is a popular stop prior to heading north towards the border. After we arrived yesterday there must have been another 15 rigs that arrived, some to just stay the night before motoring on, while others appear to be long-term residents.<br />
A few hours after we arrived Bill and Linda arrived, just in time to go out to a few pubs to celebrate St Patrick's Day. Linda brought the appropriated assortment of shirts, hats and other paraphernalia for us to stand out, and we did.<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffKMTJRsZMPjpLg00fbRQOZR53kDK94JpRvSatSkswlU3C7g8amjPPDsoPpEB2giZdegATifB7hYaAIHe2zi2ESNiuxENSt1u9UYl904wKNyE3Hniaq9c4gTjGXfw1nt-QCQNWqo4JZg/s1600/IMG_2158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREdmZnXD-AAvdK6WNnKF5RIaoz4x_zsPVAdfy8d46qBQkM6Y7SRoXr8TF5PNc5qRZv4DF8LDqrfKnCn1lcCoX5NmMwsu1zEJzZVwDvonhaORSMdXs4E6rPaeTqmgDquAREKnXTX3caLU/s1600/st+patty+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREdmZnXD-AAvdK6WNnKF5RIaoz4x_zsPVAdfy8d46qBQkM6Y7SRoXr8TF5PNc5qRZv4DF8LDqrfKnCn1lcCoX5NmMwsu1zEJzZVwDvonhaORSMdXs4E6rPaeTqmgDquAREKnXTX3caLU/s320/st+patty+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
There is some Irish in all of us....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPadJ-G and Fran Nadeauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17787664902517862904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230718024020931105.post-27815965006732639352016-03-04T12:44:00.001-08:002016-04-19T14:46:21.094-07:006-Counting down to departure and to Rincon de Guayabidos12:00, 14 Feb, 2016 Happy Valentine's Day<br />
<br />
Finally managed to post the last blog while having breakfast in La Manzanilla, we were there for market day. Good to know that this app is working and that I am able to upload a video, but didn't know that it had to be uploaded via You Tube. I now have my first video published there but, so far, have been unable to add any details to the listing. Will have to wait till our next good internet connection.<br />
<br />
We are into our last week of this RV park. We are planning to up stakes on Friday or Saturday and head up to La Cruz for a night or two then on to Lodo de Marcos or Rincon de Guayabidos, for a few days, to see Marg and Bruce Walton, who have been wintering there for a few years. Ian and Ellen are leaving Saturday but are on a much more pressing timetable so we will not be travelling together beyond La Cruz. We will have 3 weeks to get to Guaymas to pick up our stuff in storage, have a last visit with Bill and Linda (Tanque de Tiburon and, more recently, The Darkside) and begin our final trek north.<br />
<br />
The park has begun to thin out. Several units have departed, some to other Mexican destinations, others towards home. To name a few: Kathy and Spencer (Colorado) are headed to Texas to pick up a motor home. They have outgrown their camper and want the next degree of comfort. Fred and Charlene (Comox) left last week and should be well on their way by now after a few stops in southern California. Craig and (Maple Bay, BC) left a few days ago and John and Ida ( Sooke) left a few weeks ago.<br />
<br />
Leneita and Doug (Ka'Sala) arrived in the bay a few days ago from La Cruz, on their way south to Barra and Manzanillo. It had been 5 years since we first met and 4 since they returned home to BC, via Hawaii, on their Coast 34. It was a lovely visit, too short, but typical of normal cruising visits where 4-5 days of time together is concentrated in a matter of hours. They have decided to delay their Pacific crossing for a year in favour of some quality time up in the Sea of Cortez and a summer on the hard in Guaymas.<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmiEKT5N22-qmhIpvl3tj_aTgT6aRhx8vhPXrC6_unGu-De8GS7Itg10iEUW11tlT1yCmMAIYgUycyVogdnM83sQ0zr37bSzYDGvhDhhEYfIR0aU5O1T2xa548EVkSnCqBXXHjhmeO8g/s1600/Ka%2527SaIa+%2528800x549%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmiEKT5N22-qmhIpvl3tj_aTgT6aRhx8vhPXrC6_unGu-De8GS7Itg10iEUW11tlT1yCmMAIYgUycyVogdnM83sQ0zr37bSzYDGvhDhhEYfIR0aU5O1T2xa548EVkSnCqBXXHjhmeO8g/s320/Ka%2527SaIa+%2528800x549%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<center>
Ka'Sala (telephoto)</center>
<br />
Today is another shitty of this days in Paradise. Bright blue sky, light northerly breeze, some big surf and ohhh, so hot. It is hard to decide on an agenda beyond the comfort of our lawn chairs and shaded patio here beside the Casita. The sound of the surf calls so we will probably move the chairs to the beach palapa soon. We can't help but think of our family and friends back in eastern Canada where temperatures are dipping to the -30 to -50 mark. We recall those frigid times when we lived in Ottawa. The cold is one of the main reasons we chose Victoria to retire. It is +8 there today. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKj0EyDVOxtCGcrtfdsDb89yRmaoHnIZCMNMvtZ9BZdMbnOROsSnrTzzgLh8oILOFt7goJJtvvlxrt8VP-cKhGaM78TAE1p1VU8an9miH3eXq02OaJxVkI4_1Mu2k9wAh-TMUgBMv0uoQ/s1600/PeruIa+Sunrise+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKj0EyDVOxtCGcrtfdsDb89yRmaoHnIZCMNMvtZ9BZdMbnOROsSnrTzzgLh8oILOFt7goJJtvvlxrt8VP-cKhGaM78TAE1p1VU8an9miH3eXq02OaJxVkI4_1Mu2k9wAh-TMUgBMv0uoQ/s320/PeruIa+Sunrise+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sunrise today</div>
<br />
Living as we are on a Mexican beach isn't all that bad. ( a comment contrary to what was the theme of earlier rants, huh?) if you can get used to the RV mentality, overcome the park politics and be open to the activities available to you it can be quite pleasant. The ice maker (churning away beside me here) makes this quite bearable. Even with my bum shoulder I would rather be here than there..... Next year the plan is that we will be staying home for the winter, after our trip to Tazmania. It will be interesting to see how our first winter home in 9 years will pan out and whether we will be planning another getaway for the following winter.<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqkinNYe9iBQMwwC7JzvIru-jSHzaa1SgY8ZtbJu-0859xSvV6LY_NLJUrbvrSHJHPkqt7r-OvBiXznArtDn-t2qEzfPsQAcK-swLcH76s0hPRBthHNZhLQTpehoO58bD1laOBUBNzZo/s320/DSCF0735+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Supper: Surf and surf and suds</div>
<br />
Punta Perula is a fairly remote and small village as villages go. The main industry in town is fishing and managing the large number of seasonable gringos that live in pockets all over town. There is a school and a clinic with a resident MD. On long weekends there is a sizeable increase of Mexican tourists like any other seaside location but during the week and non-holidays you see mainly gringos on the beach, in the restaurants and on their 4x4 ATV's on the main street keeping the local businesses busy. The village population is a mixture of fishermen, service industry, (restaurant, shops, laundry, Internet/video games store, small hotels and RV park employees), a few craftsmen (welder, sawyer, etc) and the odd entrepreneur such as the owners of the 2 pool halls, the two who compete for the gringo pesos with their veg and fruit trucks, the lad with the scooter with cooler on the back selling fresh chicken, the water filtration store and the water delivery and propane delivery service. If there is a service required, there is a Mexican that will provide that service if it is worth the setup expense. These people are so enterprising! As I write this I can hear the ice cream vendor pushing his cart over the beach with that irritating tune blaring but it is not nearly as irritating as the loud music and pater announcing the veg and fruit trucks.<br />
It is hard to imagine what this population does during the long interval when the gringos go home, normally from April to late Oct.<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC1d2UYKCjXUR3HbN59CBUcdgyA_1NlkW2T3J-87KE8OaL2Mk3lz0bxdAPVdJcLT6Gsqogp7VufgyWsK7caLZRHjKT2eUUjilrcuvDr3FTxkn2EwXuLVRWetMZVYoPaafa7hogUjvUIg/s1600/Beach+Dinner+%2528600x800%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC1d2UYKCjXUR3HbN59CBUcdgyA_1NlkW2T3J-87KE8OaL2Mk3lz0bxdAPVdJcLT6Gsqogp7VufgyWsK7caLZRHjKT2eUUjilrcuvDr3FTxkn2EwXuLVRWetMZVYoPaafa7hogUjvUIg/s320/Beach+Dinner+%2528600x800%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<center>
</center>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pescado zarandeado at one of the beachside restaurants</div>
<br />
15:00, Sunday, 22 Feb, Bungalows Costa Bahia, RV park, La Cruz<br />
<br />
We left Punta Perula on Saturday morning after saying farewell to all of the others in the park. We drove north along the coastal road, #200, in company with Ian and Ellen. Apart from a couple of construction areas the road was quite good and had very little traffic until we arrived at the approaches to Puerto Vallarta. Ian and Ellen were continuing north on a faster schedule to get back to their boat so we bid them farewell in PV and continued on to La Cruz. We chose a small RV park close to the marina, just big enough for 4 RVs but there were only 2 when we arrived. The owner makes his living with the 20 or so bungalows on the same property. They are sold out mostly to people who return year after year. We noticed a group of them sporting Scottish flags, actually a group of Scot Canadians who meet up here every winter.<br />
Our main reason for stopping here was to see if there were any people we knew at the marina and to spend some time with the boating community. We couldn't have chosen a better weekend. On Friday night there was a food festival on the breakwater where local eateries were handing out samples of their specialties hoping to entice samplers back to their establishments. There was also live music and a few other exhibits. Looking over the boats in the marina we were disappointed in not recognizing any of the names, however, as we walked along the exhibits we ran into several old friends, mostly on boats that were anchored out: John and Jennifer (Spinnaker) who we first met at the end of last season, the folks of Dodger 2, Girl 4, from 2012 and Chayenne who we had first met in 2007 when we were preparing to sail off in Royal Exchange.<br />
The following morning was one of the few annual markets at the marina where hundreds of exhibitors displayed and/or sold a wide variety of goods. There we met Lynn and Howard Bradshaw (Swift Current), and, to our utter surprise, Lin Learie (Royal Exchange) who was responsible for our venture into cruising. We certainly hope to be able to meet those people again in the near future as we had so little time to catch up at the market.<br />
<br />
15:00, Monday, 29 Feb, Flamingos RV Park, Rincon de Guayabidos, Nayarit<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggb4v5263e34waR1XVf1KjfPyXBOjmS_y_ZdR7pAd8vw4XjBeEV0O0u9ov5rm1bjcxmSnjXjlXdWfq_lBC8ZGiFtArn6NbICcvnY2drwJJoBfYZyJp4-xMGyBveyANjWjhFYPiZLECgZo/s1600/bigdins+%2528600x800%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
We left La Cruz on Monday morning and drove an hour north to Rincon de Guayabidos, where we are now, within a 5 minute walk to Marg and Bruce Walton's winter place. The park residents are mainly Canadians, and most from Vancouver Island. They welcomed us with open arms, included us in their events and insisted we participate in their farewell dinner last night. And, what a dinner! Even though it was potluck style, one of the regulars, from Kelowna, prepared a moose and an elk roast. Together with other assorted dishes it made for a memorable evening.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggb4v5263e34waR1XVf1KjfPyXBOjmS_y_ZdR7pAd8vw4XjBeEV0O0u9ov5rm1bjcxmSnjXjlXdWfq_lBC8ZGiFtArn6NbICcvnY2drwJJoBfYZyJp4-xMGyBveyANjWjhFYPiZLECgZo/s1600/bigdins+%2528600x800%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggb4v5263e34waR1XVf1KjfPyXBOjmS_y_ZdR7pAd8vw4XjBeEV0O0u9ov5rm1bjcxmSnjXjlXdWfq_lBC8ZGiFtArn6NbICcvnY2drwJJoBfYZyJp4-xMGyBveyANjWjhFYPiZLECgZo/s320/bigdins+%2528600x800%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Flamingo park big dins.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
This park is right on the shoreline of the bay. We are no more than 50 ft from the waves and the surf can be very loud at times. The trailer often shudders from the force of the surf on the beach, however, it is a nice sloping beach without any apparent shoreline current or undertow, although we are told that there has been 7 drownings this year alone. The beach is much more crowded than Punta Perula. Canadians are definitely in the majority for long and short stay hotels,however, on the weekends throngs of Mexicans arrive and fill up any available rooms. Like any other beach location in Mexico, inland residents throng to the beaches for Semana Santa so all of the northerners leave before that.<br />
We did hear from a fellow RVer (supported by a few other long-term gringos) that this is one of the most polluted beaches on the coast. Only the newer hotels have sewage service while the others have makeshift septic systems. A number of rivers empty into the bay carrying the effluent of many villages upstream. Rain exacerbates the problem by flooding the lagoon where much of the pollution is contained, causing it to overflow into the bay. The bay's orientation and shape creates a circular current passing along the beaches. The hazards are not evident to the normal beach-goer but there have been some weird infections suffered by visitors. I can imagine the same conditions in Acapulco.<br />
<br />
On Saturday night there was a concert in the local park, the last in a series put on by the local hotel association. Paco Renteria, reputed to be one of the the 5 best guitar players in the world and a protégée of Carlos Slim of Telmex Fame, and his band, composed of drums, rhythm guitar, bass guitar and a very talented violinist, kept the audience in awe with a high energy and very entertaining concert with many different styles of music.<br />
Tomorrow we leave for Mazatlan.<br />
<br />
Market day sights:<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalVjlYcYm_z0pEYuDnkDwFD06gmbxvTIVMOE-M3kbw7JrGEFm9Md-6g2Nl0FLxFe4W0iDfpkkfakuXk6fJbqVtRHnOlBFlGZjbwkcGfJDycrlDirXA90jsZUhje-W2itC5smU-sH8N3E/s1600/bras+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalVjlYcYm_z0pEYuDnkDwFD06gmbxvTIVMOE-M3kbw7JrGEFm9Md-6g2Nl0FLxFe4W0iDfpkkfakuXk6fJbqVtRHnOlBFlGZjbwkcGfJDycrlDirXA90jsZUhje-W2itC5smU-sH8N3E/s320/bras+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
When you can't buy shoes, buy bras.....</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKL50NllMfGObEA9UFe1ndHxtDr27SpXsklfi52oZ0OE-AGjQIS6zU35lMW9ZlEOTuHfMr3_IM7Pq4DoD7WTFmS_V3IvN64MFlwUkjLb_VWv9U-LTz7sc2TMB1uSASw8dJ-jXro7waLo/s1600/chicks+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKL50NllMfGObEA9UFe1ndHxtDr27SpXsklfi52oZ0OE-AGjQIS6zU35lMW9ZlEOTuHfMr3_IM7Pq4DoD7WTFmS_V3IvN64MFlwUkjLb_VWv9U-LTz7sc2TMB1uSASw8dJ-jXro7waLo/s320/chicks+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Probably male chicks 90 cents each, plain ones probably hens at $1.20</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSr2AIt3THpEK6wHu0NEBnUHMnkoFm9sqk6cyeqfIidYFKWB0qm_HcntqoIEIgxA1ONTcl1R_j-F3ZGSXSPkpMLZC3NRO3whongmf2YojxVzUTTqC0Oi6KKGccN4cwGdQZWZBpZlJAo9Q/s1600/pups+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSr2AIt3THpEK6wHu0NEBnUHMnkoFm9sqk6cyeqfIidYFKWB0qm_HcntqoIEIgxA1ONTcl1R_j-F3ZGSXSPkpMLZC3NRO3whongmf2YojxVzUTTqC0Oi6KKGccN4cwGdQZWZBpZlJAo9Q/s320/pups+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<center>
Cute and only $80 but most likely puppy milled.</center>
<br />
<br />
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br />
<div class="blogpress_location">
Location:<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Punta%20Perula%20RV%20park,%20Chamela%20Bay%4021.027599%2C-105.266130&z=10">Punta Perula RV park, Chamela Bay</a></div>
J-G and Fran Nadeauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17787664902517862904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230718024020931105.post-48653310925912839492016-02-12T07:44:00.001-08:002016-04-19T14:44:49.425-07:005-Lounging around in Punta Perula14:00, Tuesday, 19 Jan 2015<br />
<br />
This will take a bit longer to draft. The keyboard on the laptop has decided to crap out so I am trying this IPad app to publish the next few entries.<br />
<br />
8 Feb: Looks like I will not be able to publish this for another few weeks, or until I can get to a better internet site. Also could be the features of this IPad app. Whatever it is I am unable to upload this to the website with the Internet we have here, even at the local I-net cafe.<br />
<br />
Another shitty day in Paradise.... It is in the low 30’S, the surf is higher today and is pounding the beach mercilessly and we will probably take advantage of it later and see if we can 'ride the wild surf' on our boogie board without breaking anything. Some of these waves are 6 ft and breaking all along the beach, no curl to be had. Well, I have to do something exciting. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohnBldz6DOP4dccpX7GvDYWeqJoOikadX5LrMBfDB84vOKLX_B8rQm2JshOuD2-EHkwgbxR3ipkpbjgWxzIsdVYSBMllGScMZJTA83Y0iO1vQRKag1aqX65Q7AMXkKBBEtmmH99mzWBg/s1600/high+surf+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohnBldz6DOP4dccpX7GvDYWeqJoOikadX5LrMBfDB84vOKLX_B8rQm2JshOuD2-EHkwgbxR3ipkpbjgWxzIsdVYSBMllGScMZJTA83Y0iO1vQRKag1aqX65Q7AMXkKBBEtmmH99mzWBg/s320/high+surf+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hmmmm, not today.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_zj0YXiZaq_NLKfXk7MdbHruYHRWgIIBn2LzmsU5-36F8UleaPsPNpZFzk6zSYO6tWdx1yqz5I4cplsAdwR6Pu0_WNmorh144DqJZh1bwK7yFiRd6nnor7v69fEnl0TXkwDGRPQz9M8/s1600/just+my+size+%25281%2529+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_zj0YXiZaq_NLKfXk7MdbHruYHRWgIIBn2LzmsU5-36F8UleaPsPNpZFzk6zSYO6tWdx1yqz5I4cplsAdwR6Pu0_WNmorh144DqJZh1bwK7yFiRd6nnor7v69fEnl0TXkwDGRPQz9M8/s320/just+my+size+%25281%2529+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More my size</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Fran has been riding on the beach with a lady who has 2 horses and lives quite close by. She and her husband/partner are from California and have lived here, off and on, for many years. It is amazing sometimes how a single request can lead to amazing results. Fran asked her if she needed anyone to ride with one day and after a 'check ride' Fran has become her regular partner, 2-3 times a week riding down the beach, something Fran has always had in her bucket list.<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeOO4DIuieQFfic_0j9R4-lDdNnZ7AaAmGDnTQA_0uy8IlbTy85gcLEJo6fMnYFZFKUCKblsXO1mDV538FIxwmqkG1TgofMkb2df8DSUfxTbcKXEATtVv6UU5G47NzhsmLejUievcnx0/s1600/Fran+Juanita+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeOO4DIuieQFfic_0j9R4-lDdNnZ7AaAmGDnTQA_0uy8IlbTy85gcLEJo6fMnYFZFKUCKblsXO1mDV538FIxwmqkG1TgofMkb2df8DSUfxTbcKXEATtVv6UU5G47NzhsmLejUievcnx0/s320/Fran+Juanita+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Juanita and Fran</div>
<br />
Since then we have been to a Polo match in Careyes, just down the road, yes, Polo and not just a few locals playing. This was the finals in a Mexican competition, on an official regulated field, among local teams who had recruited ringers from Argentina and Mexico City to supplement their teams. Since then Fran has had the opportunity, twice, to exercise the polo ponies stabled at the facility. She hasn't stopped smiling since, except when she ate that piece of chilli the other night...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQtTFSra-hZSc8Ie3Xo4nIGNZ3cDobS6oatL0jUqODx-z5d6wmc3miy0wPwEI_hZDlSiU4WPbH-pQhzpNVED9SZXq4Piibo9rSF9DvVQRmHu-NSg1ow96Sf4B9Ztbw4Er_4h4RUIY6JI/s1600/teams+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQtTFSra-hZSc8Ie3Xo4nIGNZ3cDobS6oatL0jUqODx-z5d6wmc3miy0wPwEI_hZDlSiU4WPbH-pQhzpNVED9SZXq4Piibo9rSF9DvVQRmHu-NSg1ow96Sf4B9Ztbw4Er_4h4RUIY6JI/s320/teams+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The teams and officials</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3d0_YRyBrQRvSg6Zm6qxDp8L7ck_2t4N1Hx6TA2EOYAyCkGn_gFnAonM8RdBQuVxhCmskBDNa5CWyAAReBqXzL5_eihXdhijTEOpoabolcS2_MLz5aqm-jt3_yHqEmf1Z-7l6hw7wr8/s1600/backup+team+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3d0_YRyBrQRvSg6Zm6qxDp8L7ck_2t4N1Hx6TA2EOYAyCkGn_gFnAonM8RdBQuVxhCmskBDNa5CWyAAReBqXzL5_eihXdhijTEOpoabolcS2_MLz5aqm-jt3_yHqEmf1Z-7l6hw7wr8/s320/backup+team+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The backup team</div>
<br />
I had a chance to do a SCUBA refresher course and 2 spectacular dives last week. We were so fortunate to pick a perfect day for the open water dives. The visibility was almost as good as the San Blas islands in Panama where we snorkeled a few years ago. The SCUBA Republic shop is owned by Gilles, a Frenchman who is also part owner of the Scuba Jazz Cafe, the most popular establishment in town. He is also a very accomplished guitar player and entertains his customers on weekend evenings.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7Yi0ch2HCrz6HCPiJlwjMjg7FLf_1yV4gE45rEH2bwPQfRAiCu2F5itKDjpKOIH2ZiB0-uausng_3G65XkMaWmkctc-hEIJkvEqwgjAyezgTEfC35zVtHEiHM6o389YiUWyg49Uy6lw/s1600/eagleray+%2528800x450%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7Yi0ch2HCrz6HCPiJlwjMjg7FLf_1yV4gE45rEH2bwPQfRAiCu2F5itKDjpKOIH2ZiB0-uausng_3G65XkMaWmkctc-hEIJkvEqwgjAyezgTEfC35zVtHEiHM6o389YiUWyg49Uy6lw/s320/eagleray+%2528800x450%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Eagle ray</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwYOazI-gBYss8qb-nPu0zdAmJPiwitxpK2QR4hACSVuxlAKQU_Sa74suOB8yRnYN_s5Q9kt7_nGh6MNnVQTyYZOE35onY2uZrYOlTOZtgNASn-ZONJuVfMQu3y7wnhN4a-dxOSgjKVc/s1600/DSCF0541+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwYOazI-gBYss8qb-nPu0zdAmJPiwitxpK2QR4hACSVuxlAKQU_Sa74suOB8yRnYN_s5Q9kt7_nGh6MNnVQTyYZOE35onY2uZrYOlTOZtgNASn-ZONJuVfMQu3y7wnhN4a-dxOSgjKVc/s320/DSCF0541+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<center>
Puffer fish</center>
<br />
In addition to the daily RV Park activities described in the last post some of the residents organize events such as the Sunday farm visit where you can have a glass of milk directly from the udder and fortified with a shot of Kahlua. Yesterday we had an old fogey Olympics event consisting of 5 events. Bowling: a set of full (water) 3 litre Coke bottles with 3 coconuts, that game with the small bolos that you have to wrap around a ladder thing, boules: that had to be thrown into a hoop about 30 ft away, blindfolded ball toss to a partner with a bucket who tries to catch them with a bucket and a steel washer toss into a foot square box with a verticals piece of 5in pipe in the centre. 3 points for the pipe, 1 point for the box. Tomorrow there is a at trip to a very nice beach but with the surf this high that trip is doubtful, at present. Last week we had a pool night at one of the 2 pool halls in town. 15 of us invaded the 2-table establishment for a 3-hour fun tourney. Amazing how some people get serious about a fun tourney..... Sunday nights is Texas Hold-me. Fran won the two pots last Sunday. Tonight we have an evening at a restaurant owned by a family who had their Taxi (his livelihood, apart from the restaurant) confiscated by the police and ransomed while visiting in Guadalajara a few weeks ago. The episode smelt like a squeeze play by the police to obtain a taxi for one of their own who's brother's car had been wrecked.<br />
<br />
We are still in a quandary about going to Zihuatanejo. We have heard conflicting reports of the safety along the coastal road we would have to take. Official tourist alerts from Canada and the US advise against it and stories of vehicle highjackings in the past few years abound. <br />
<br />
Saturday, 23 Jan 15, same location.<br />
Ian and Ellen, friends from Cedar near Nanaimo have arrived. They were sailing buddies a few years ago (Kasasa) and have taken to the RV lifestyle. Their boat is up for sale in Guaymas, close to where we kept Gosling.<br />
We have finally decided to stay put and not go to Zihuatanejo for Kirk and Charlene's wedding. It was a painful decision to make but the warnings of travelling along the coastal road between Manzanillo and Zihuatanejo are too worry some. Besides, the roads are not good and any damage to the running gear of the truck or trailer would be next to impossible to repair. The road goes through the state of Michioacan which has been a hot bed of drug activity for the past decade. The official warnings state that the highjackers are mainly targeting 4-door pickup trucks, Toyotas being their favourites. We might as well have a 'highjack me' sign on the front bumper if we travelled that road. Two other couples who were intending on going that way have also cancelled.<br />
Charlene and Kirk, our heartfelt apologies.<br />
<br />
14:00, Monday, 25 January, same location.<br />
Another day at the beach and another heavy surf day. I can hear it crashing on the beach from here. It sometimes sounds like a 747 warming up ready for takeoff. Today is overcast so we don't have to cover up up and it is a bit cooler, actually a few degrees cooler than the water (84F).<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_C_Y0VvIwj5VfbPwoaOAMhyphenhyphenj9DJyGrKn-AvFZh1OVFlsruBAHBGVf3l2qE49YwLCXK97CKX-F4BRORByJal-6fpimJ4IijDoe-RqxUy-3Znh2wZGrTYN7uam10dp-RTGD2uhAzfaXlw/s1600/bigsurf+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_C_Y0VvIwj5VfbPwoaOAMhyphenhyphenj9DJyGrKn-AvFZh1OVFlsruBAHBGVf3l2qE49YwLCXK97CKX-F4BRORByJal-6fpimJ4IijDoe-RqxUy-3Znh2wZGrTYN7uam10dp-RTGD2uhAzfaXlw/s320/bigsurf+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Big surf</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If it wasn't for the date on the blog and yesterday's football madness we would never know that another weekend has passed. The time here just washes over us without any consequence of date or day of the week.Yesterday we went to the beach in front of the anchorage at Tenecatita with Ian and Ellen. There were 22 boats there but only 2 of them were familiar. We had a nice visit with Gia and Overheated and walked the beach. The hurricane last year washed a lot of the beach away and exposed a lot of the bedrock by the charm of the location was not altered. It seems like the political/landowner issues of a few years ago have evaporated. The main beach has re-opened to the public and the boat channel through the mangroves has re-opened. The palapa restaurant on the beach has become an established venue, operated by a professional outfit rather than the rag tag operators of the past. Unfortunately, prices have been adjusted in the change.</div>
<br />
When we got back yesterday the football hysteria was in full swing. The few Americans (mainly from Colorado, Bronco fans) in the park have affected most of the others. Two colour TV's were set up and food and refreshments were set up like a pot luck. Thankfully the last game ended just before the start of the weekly Texas-hold-me event. <br />
<br />
Today was supposed to be a snorkelling day but because of the heavy surf and overcast we decided to lounge about. Mañana.....<br />
<br />
We are now owners of Callisto, a C&C 35. We have concluded the deal with Fred and Charlene, another RV couple here in the park from Comox. It is an older boat but, from all the reports, it has been well maintained and loved. We will be sailing her back to Mayne Island in May or June where we have a mooring ball already arranged. She will need some upgrades but the price is right and, when we get a berth at CFSA it will only be a short walk from home to work on her. <br />
<br />
11:45, Sunday, 31 Jan 2015, Same location<br />
<br />
Hard to imagine that we have been here for 2 months already. It is another beautiful sunny Mexican day and another heavy surf day. Fran is off to a village just south of Tenecatita for an art walk event with Ellen and the Americans are already preparing up for next Sunday's Super Bowl craziness while the group from Quebec is setting up for the hockey game at the same time. Lots of Montreal fans here but they no longer admit it too loudly. <br />
<br />
Not much happening here besides that. There were 15 boats in the bay at sunset last night. The surf is keeping most of them from landing ashore. We are waiting for the arrival of K'sala, a couple from Comox who we met several years ago. They are off to the South Pacific in a few months. This week we had two Canadian boats from Campbell River and Thetis Is pass through. St Leger and Patron have been cruising for over 20 years and are back in Mexico for the season.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLGT1Cap7Wzd1yHWW7LiVyMlQ-Vw4qTihJU2nT50OKpTH8X5seRz8nYqq6150gR4rRk2WLzKwsKLVWN_nr8hLw0M9zIV7bbKTAWccvhwoLy9s-PjzNbsmnpeRJs1_89VjRrOihoTcPio/s1600/Ka%2527SaIa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASCksXQW9lc5f8mxfjoIQh0h8kTrxXQJymeHX7aRM2PGWozyX8nKSHjubxtnXL5uk6i2Tgeq-6AWaJZpwt7vnIjtop3Alu0yOjPG0WNUtq544YQ-_tsUN1vwUL4Q5tIPObRf4uC-8Z4M/s1600/fishwave+%2528800x536%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASCksXQW9lc5f8mxfjoIQh0h8kTrxXQJymeHX7aRM2PGWozyX8nKSHjubxtnXL5uk6i2Tgeq-6AWaJZpwt7vnIjtop3Alu0yOjPG0WNUtq544YQ-_tsUN1vwUL4Q5tIPObRf4uC-8Z4M/s320/fishwave+%2528800x536%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fish wave</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFG94jImUh8tmq_DoioXMeqzLCJf5-rL3x4R70bQ-jPZPXe5afr07ANe-aVzCJ6DKIzdv-yZTrAN5gAMXPmjdkGTTZ44A0C4N-xJVe_47Hot5gNJVB4p_ToYKGkWc4wLDbb8uwp1HBPk/s1600/front+yard+%2528800x450%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFG94jImUh8tmq_DoioXMeqzLCJf5-rL3x4R70bQ-jPZPXe5afr07ANe-aVzCJ6DKIzdv-yZTrAN5gAMXPmjdkGTTZ44A0C4N-xJVe_47Hot5gNJVB4p_ToYKGkWc4wLDbb8uwp1HBPk/s320/front+yard+%2528800x450%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_zj0YXiZaq_NLKfXk7MdbHruYHRWgIIBn2LzmsU5-36F8UleaPsPNpZFzk6zSYO6tWdx1yqz5I4cplsAdwR6Pu0_WNmorh144DqJZh1bwK7yFiRd6nnor7v69fEnl0TXkwDGRPQz9M8/s1600/just+my+size+%25281%2529+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The front yard on a good day.</div>
<br />
We have modified our plans yet again. We will be leaving here on or about the 20th and heading up to an RV site just south of Rincon de Guayabitos. Our freinds, Bruce and Marge will be just up the road so we will have a chance to see them on our way north from there.<br />
<br />
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br />
<br />
<div class="blogpress_location">
Location:<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Punta%20Perula,%20Chamela%20Bay,%20Mexico%4019.588822%2C-105.129898&z=10">Punta Perula, Chamela Bay, Mexico</a></div>
J-G and Fran Nadeauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17787664902517862904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230718024020931105.post-20343021718508902872016-01-05T12:34:00.000-08:002016-04-19T14:44:36.207-07:004-Life at Punta Perula<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">15:00, 5 Dec, 15 - Punta Perula RV Park, Punta Perula,
Mexico<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We are settled into our site in this lovely little RV Park
on the shore on Chamela Bay, a beautiful wide bay facing south and one we have
visited several times in the past 8 years while cruising. In fact, our first
visit was with Royal Exchange in 2007 when we anchored here for part of the day
waiting for a weather window to head north into Banderas Bay. We remember the
stop very well. Conditions then were quite different from the beautiful calm
conditions we have been experiencing since our arrival. Way back then there
were long 13 to18 foot swells rolling under Royal Exchange before cresting and
smashing onto the beach in explosions of spray and sand. We had to re-anchor
several times that day and eventually left in the late afternoon when the
weather window was declared for the trip around Cabo Corrientes. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZw7csBBwuhV8Bp99CyQgwVR0BO_Yu2RxDvDQ5i3Q7B6dk5g9gF5gQzX-em6qZjXtRp-SXaqaXRt9POPJIagLqfjobyie5kc_PiT6ycj6vCAuuhcJp89yI5EG4RE8Ey2saq096RG1QjsY/s1600/beach1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZw7csBBwuhV8Bp99CyQgwVR0BO_Yu2RxDvDQ5i3Q7B6dk5g9gF5gQzX-em6qZjXtRp-SXaqaXRt9POPJIagLqfjobyie5kc_PiT6ycj6vCAuuhcJp89yI5EG4RE8Ey2saq096RG1QjsY/s320/beach1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jF7ZlV2Ipht8BMDeCJxQeL_RFcbeoDtSBqkRm5hown1iwozyj5ZD9Ne60h_o9jSKTk0R9FLlqegTM4lGDj3BzWrk_8McSmtAihPR_mQzNKV2bqJ8MHxb5ww6xwDOrvgVvVecbdJD8mA/s1600/beach2+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jF7ZlV2Ipht8BMDeCJxQeL_RFcbeoDtSBqkRm5hown1iwozyj5ZD9Ne60h_o9jSKTk0R9FLlqegTM4lGDj3BzWrk_8McSmtAihPR_mQzNKV2bqJ8MHxb5ww6xwDOrvgVvVecbdJD8mA/s320/beach2+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p>Our beach</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Today the beach looks quite different with 2-3 ft waves
making it pleasant for swimming and boogie-boarding. In the past we anchored
for free out there, today we are paying customers, plugged into power and
water, buying our drinking water rather than making it, dealing with local
merchants daily but, on the positive side, we don’t have to deal with the
hazards of beach landings with a dinghy.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hhhAIsZe07rY9kOjnCjKwFRASG35PiA2yelTQ14df5easGNFqbv1ADBJnhNXOHmKVIN2ooQNfDQtXAFF2C-gTOrX6D6pKG0S2cHOa7XjqE0hi6cTELWr7HtCq2otQgLxyRPhX0Z_TaM/s1600/checking+the+anchored+boats+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hhhAIsZe07rY9kOjnCjKwFRASG35PiA2yelTQ14df5easGNFqbv1ADBJnhNXOHmKVIN2ooQNfDQtXAFF2C-gTOrX6D6pKG0S2cHOa7XjqE0hi6cTELWr7HtCq2otQgLxyRPhX0Z_TaM/s320/checking+the+anchored+boats+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
Sigh....</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOAom7POz-0qeQw1DZyF9xsH5JGfBAKv0X6_1FJasxWVYVPL6HVwa2QOEmB1IEd4T0T72_dBZ0pCt8Dpksj6kb4cWmA4iuXYW95KCY_KQwXkkiVLGah3-s_sJOnbk7tZdoGWNXgOr_wo/s1600/cruisers+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOAom7POz-0qeQw1DZyF9xsH5JGfBAKv0X6_1FJasxWVYVPL6HVwa2QOEmB1IEd4T0T72_dBZ0pCt8Dpksj6kb4cWmA4iuXYW95KCY_KQwXkkiVLGah3-s_sJOnbk7tZdoGWNXgOr_wo/s320/cruisers+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Double sigh....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">10:30, 28 Dec, 15 – Punta Perula, RV Park<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I have been lazy and have left this blog to slide for a few
weeks but that will probably be the norm from now on. Actually, I had in mind
to stop it altogether but I just got an e-mail from old cruising friends from
Comox who have managed to re-connect with us through this blog. Wonder if there
are any others out there willing to admit to reading my drivel…..<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">To coin an old, overused phrase: “another shitty day(s) in
paradise”. I am sitting on the park’s patio, banished from the trailer for the
next hour while Fran gets her massage, a house call from a local girl and very
popular amongst the resident gringos because of her $25/hour rates. I can
contest that she isn’t bad as I had one last week, but Dove, she has nothing on
you… (Dove is our massage therapist daughter-in-law).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It is a lazy life we lead here, very different from our former
sailing lifestyle of constant activity, fixing, painting, conducting
maintenance, checking weather, participating in radio nets; so many things to
do but it certainly is more relaxing and, I must admit, a bit more boring, but
I guess you create your own level of activity. The daily routine is getting up
at sometime around 8-9, crafts at 10 for the ladies, occasional work parties
for the guys, lunch, dominoes for the ladies in the early PM, sitting under the
beach sun shelter reading, swimming off the beach and boogie-boarding if the
waves are right, at about 3PM. Every 5 PM we have a get together on the patio
for sundowners. Everyone brings an appy and their own drinks and we bullshit
for the next hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday nights is
Texas Hold-em for a $5-6 pot. But, for the masochists among us there is the
dreaded 1000 piece puzzle that someone brought and set up on the patio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate that person! I spend more time on that
damned puzzle than anyone else. Think I am addicted. We have actually launched
and used the kayak, twice now. You would think that we would be using it daily
but, even though it is an inflatable, it is quite heavy and awkward to carry.
We will be making a small, wheeled towing assist contraption when we get back
home, but will we actually use it back home????</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PFSsvLeRHPua5eGPkK1RIoJXyMRk51BcsQcAigpeOOWIB0p0qXxZ1p4yHjj8DdfkCBJKHbz1oJLSO_uGFjFcTBRJ90HUITX3t1PqeUvkPPY11VA1-_tMZE1e34neUeaWjN8CZtdSdPc/s1600/crafty+ladies+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PFSsvLeRHPua5eGPkK1RIoJXyMRk51BcsQcAigpeOOWIB0p0qXxZ1p4yHjj8DdfkCBJKHbz1oJLSO_uGFjFcTBRJ90HUITX3t1PqeUvkPPY11VA1-_tMZE1e34neUeaWjN8CZtdSdPc/s320/crafty+ladies+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Crafty ladies</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSZgZTgiD0UZN82AgNp4XnO_GLmWrMeGJwOkQB-aBtqYNCmGCSfX3RxTgUf-09hV2tMA-Qh_JcoDlnz_mbeND_0asLxaF35320OoPmQua3ojo3lM4ylm6s_Zjp2lXYpcmtIGrIJJgq-o/s1600/waiting+for+the+wave+%2528800x518%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSZgZTgiD0UZN82AgNp4XnO_GLmWrMeGJwOkQB-aBtqYNCmGCSfX3RxTgUf-09hV2tMA-Qh_JcoDlnz_mbeND_0asLxaF35320OoPmQua3ojo3lM4ylm6s_Zjp2lXYpcmtIGrIJJgq-o/s320/waiting+for+the+wave+%2528800x518%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Waiting for the wave</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAV-7y5eHq8B00Bwr2695hHTdunN93wYpYSII2_3t8YuXgW6Qi55cNGk03o_ZG3AHVMbvwO5Hx6X9wrkYxqPIHMddqDpmAVSDN9SsGSOQ2KZ4KBpkaYppMhllUj3j_NHGb_8FPxvxB5g/s1600/boogie+broke+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAV-7y5eHq8B00Bwr2695hHTdunN93wYpYSII2_3t8YuXgW6Qi55cNGk03o_ZG3AHVMbvwO5Hx6X9wrkYxqPIHMddqDpmAVSDN9SsGSOQ2KZ4KBpkaYppMhllUj3j_NHGb_8FPxvxB5g/s320/boogie+broke+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My expensive ($12) board after the wave....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibulqfj9CYOzeDqkFudUKb2Z_8lroARRftWeSU6jLOtFp7C6mbiNk7WIR1sqbhnSBtmKOU1PlnvEH47UeCzbFIGtLsx_lrmk1Yhl2Q_Bdo4L_Re1p9Tx5vf8Sqpc5KqXmJGf22yJOCdJs/s1600/arrgghh+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibulqfj9CYOzeDqkFudUKb2Z_8lroARRftWeSU6jLOtFp7C6mbiNk7WIR1sqbhnSBtmKOU1PlnvEH47UeCzbFIGtLsx_lrmk1Yhl2Q_Bdo4L_Re1p9Tx5vf8Sqpc5KqXmJGf22yJOCdJs/s320/arrgghh+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My nemesis</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Over the past few weeks the work parties have involved with
the re-build of the wooden walkway down to the beach, the repair of the fence
around the medical clinic that was blown down during the hurricane, Christmas
activities and prepping for the New Years Eve bonfire event. Fran is involved
in morning crafts, afternoon dominoes and a few volunteer activities. She and
Sandra, one of the other RV people, donated a bunch of goodie bags for girls of
some of the poorer families in the town. The bags consisted of shampoos, soaps,
nail polish, facial creams, hair ornaments, etc. Now they are collecting to
provide school uniforms for four children of a single mother here in town. The
children were noticed at the school play, a few weeks ago as the only ones not
wearing school uniforms. A bit of investigation revealed that the family was
hard up and couldn’t afford the common items worn by all the other children.
Enter Fran and Sandra.. Tomorrow they will be going to another town nearby to
purchase the items. They have managed to canvass/squeeze 2000 pesos from the
local gringos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The population of the park is mostly Canadian with a good
representation from BC, oddly, 2 rigs from Sooke. One a retired Oak Bay fire
chief and the other, a retired Esquimalt policeman. There are several rigs from
Quebec, Ontario, one from Saskatchewan and a few Americans. We see a few
transients passing through spending a night or 2 and a group of Mexicans here
for the New Years week holiday. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvRIn3B-lYvDICWOuxviRlc1uu1vrUkHvWQ_YQFHkm00raum2V2ZgsrAdxZuHnaqxmILB3i6B3zMxWSJb2ARllS5nN4CV8VtptCojnvasPqnVVwv0egM-OTOhOAhkNkb9yCxomEM8dqY/s1600/park+1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvRIn3B-lYvDICWOuxviRlc1uu1vrUkHvWQ_YQFHkm00raum2V2ZgsrAdxZuHnaqxmILB3i6B3zMxWSJb2ARllS5nN4CV8VtptCojnvasPqnVVwv0egM-OTOhOAhkNkb9yCxomEM8dqY/s320/park+1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fe1Nnst5VubTfBfMUhQLF9Pf3lo1lkToJFEyISP347TCz6vOoWB7sJO8kADckgE9qtp1BtYdEc3seVwHPaizFmrYSmHKbsHFtglmPlqJbKCxKpjkBV9mLdIZvSDB48PRz8nMiqLmYck/s1600/park3+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fe1Nnst5VubTfBfMUhQLF9Pf3lo1lkToJFEyISP347TCz6vOoWB7sJO8kADckgE9qtp1BtYdEc3seVwHPaizFmrYSmHKbsHFtglmPlqJbKCxKpjkBV9mLdIZvSDB48PRz8nMiqLmYck/s320/park3+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The park</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqceXopi3MO_1GrOUcwxJy9Q5qu4A7AJmvzWMMF0JUCiS1Tfe-W3sIgXtuw8z7N-ytp_9UtKRQ4pBS3PwOfIvgojxfxa7c20g8v9OJKsUamh_VQsYUIL_3UhKIhPBVIkd8KvappzbtN4/s1600/fellow+perulas+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqceXopi3MO_1GrOUcwxJy9Q5qu4A7AJmvzWMMF0JUCiS1Tfe-W3sIgXtuw8z7N-ytp_9UtKRQ4pBS3PwOfIvgojxfxa7c20g8v9OJKsUamh_VQsYUIL_3UhKIhPBVIkd8KvappzbtN4/s320/fellow+perulas+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
`The people</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There has been a steady progression of boats, mostly sail,
entering and leaving the bay. Without the aid of a good pair of binoculars
(which we left in storage in Guaymas) it has been difficult to see if we know
any, however, last week we met a couple on Sea Boa (Nanaimo) and, just
yesterday we recognised another, Gia, both from Gabriel’s yard. Gia, Damon and
Desiree’s junk rigged steel boat, boat was easy to ID. We managed to have a
quick chat before they continued on to Tenecatita. Today we met a couple with a
young family from the southern Island on a boat called Shawnigan.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvsvbtwN2z11BoiyGXu7vGKH7aYurmVXiaVsW8HMZczlIKqeclZYshmRWQI5_Upv2z0PJofzkyCW1pG6yWOnIeebVDN-zq9Q8unNl3hmSJWTS78nnrifRMaP7oYBoA9zjP8FlTkIfRy4/s1600/Gia+%2528800x691%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvsvbtwN2z11BoiyGXu7vGKH7aYurmVXiaVsW8HMZczlIKqeclZYshmRWQI5_Upv2z0PJofzkyCW1pG6yWOnIeebVDN-zq9Q8unNl3hmSJWTS78nnrifRMaP7oYBoA9zjP8FlTkIfRy4/s320/Gia+%2528800x691%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Gia</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fran has been searching the internet for our next boat. She
has found likely prospects from BC to Texas and Bathurst, NB to Florida,
however she has settled down for a while after learning that one of the couples
here from Comox has a boat, a C&C 35 Mk II for sale which might just fill
our bill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fran’s birthday on the 10<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> of December was spent
road-tripping to Barra de Navidad and visiting Kirk, an old cruising friend, on
his boat, Freedom Kirkland, in the marina at the resort. The following day was
shopping in Manzanillo and the long drive back to the park, just in time to
experience a fantastic thunder storm. That was the first time since we sold
Gosling that we were glad not to be afloat. We have not had any more rain since
then and the temps have remained quite high, upper 30s, for the past 3 weeks.
Only in the past few days have we felt a minor cooling, particularly at night.
Last night was a one fan night rather than the 3 we normally use. The water
temps have also been quite high. Initially there was no refreshing feeling when
entering the surf but in the past few days we have noticed a definite cooling
of a few degrees. Our most prized possession is our little ice-maker. We have
it on all day and have ice cold drinks anytime. Such a great investment!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3r1mTqFP98lfwCTSyKQHiXxRvDC-g8oqMWur2j5iEO-Zczw5C8fw62DWo7gLgEFJeT1jnraft1PeVFY7ohQbELprM05AonLpmUh_FjndF8W7Zvsr9jo04WPfucJTgQ5CQDqy7ng9ANg/s1600/ice+2+%2528586x800%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3r1mTqFP98lfwCTSyKQHiXxRvDC-g8oqMWur2j5iEO-Zczw5C8fw62DWo7gLgEFJeT1jnraft1PeVFY7ohQbELprM05AonLpmUh_FjndF8W7Zvsr9jo04WPfucJTgQ5CQDqy7ng9ANg/s320/ice+2+%2528586x800%2529.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZZwhnTO185TVZtU8YK4PbJ0Fhd25-XWFaqhb2u2aD3YnpGELH0MXIwoYZcQsXb0SOULT9AiGSjgIRFusgkiwhihEn-rbfgUKJ_sIiuCG6n6VIALkLngQueoc3F78i81oNpGCxSq5iNk/s1600/ice+maker+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZZwhnTO185TVZtU8YK4PbJ0Fhd25-XWFaqhb2u2aD3YnpGELH0MXIwoYZcQsXb0SOULT9AiGSjgIRFusgkiwhihEn-rbfgUKJ_sIiuCG6n6VIALkLngQueoc3F78i81oNpGCxSq5iNk/s320/ice+maker+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div align="center">
Creature comforts</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">1400, 1 January 2016. Same place<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We have had a wonderful New Year’s Eve with a visit from
Fran’s brother Tom and his wife, Monica. It was really nice to have some family
with us to bring in the New Year. They are already on their way back to Puerto
Vallarta to their all-inclusive, 5-star resort. Who can blame them for staying
only one night in the park’s 1 star (minus) accommodations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a meal at a local restaurant we joined
the RV crowd on the beach for a bonfire and to bring in the New Year. Also
present were a few Mexican families in RVs or the parks rental rooms and a
Swiss couple. It made or a very fun evening with everyone participating in the
fun, sharing their food and drink and making an effort to communicate in each
other’s language. Our contribution was a vat of Moose Milk consisting of milk,
ice cream and lots of booze, not to be taken on an empty stomach…. It went over
very well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGAgXuTLaA1xHU8Yrlh_I9W3oaKOQfFMJhIeivENS0mCYHHxV6rXYTvc_m3CRkXfExlY_X3TS_j6tf23QUTg8J-ODqKql-n-_ELaDYQh62QAtnIt7gCy17VnMUe5ZJRuJ9mqGgpYgfRM/s1600/NYE+bonfire+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGAgXuTLaA1xHU8Yrlh_I9W3oaKOQfFMJhIeivENS0mCYHHxV6rXYTvc_m3CRkXfExlY_X3TS_j6tf23QUTg8J-ODqKql-n-_ELaDYQh62QAtnIt7gCy17VnMUe5ZJRuJ9mqGgpYgfRM/s320/NYE+bonfire+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p>New Year's Eve bonfire</o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PfLcXTWeWgorn-9bR67gtx1cOPz6fZRCGMFceUfMx01bNekqR-J7TWSaR2aa5QtVuhR74Ic8emjYvKKl4MzUO5c20_xUVV_9ig1abnhF8dulzSbksXZeFxxKQ-mae_d85yaEzeyi9SI/s1600/NYE2+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PfLcXTWeWgorn-9bR67gtx1cOPz6fZRCGMFceUfMx01bNekqR-J7TWSaR2aa5QtVuhR74Ic8emjYvKKl4MzUO5c20_xUVV_9ig1abnhF8dulzSbksXZeFxxKQ-mae_d85yaEzeyi9SI/s320/NYE2+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fran, Monica and Tom</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The park is steadily filling up. Another French-Canadian
couple has just arrived next door and more spaces will be filled up in the next
few weeks. By the time we expect to leave, at the end of the month, most of the
“regulars” will have arrived. Don’t really know if we are cut out to be on the
Winter RV circuit. Rosita Casita is quite small, tiny, when compared to the
other RVs in the park. The closest is a truck and camper but they have a toy
hauler (large Bombardier 4X4 and lots of extra carrying capacity for items like
their outside kitchen setup, their bug-proof dining/living shelter, bicycles,
TV dish, etc, etc. We have concluded that Rosita is more of a short term RV and
we will probably limit our future trips to places we have been wanting to see
on Vancouver Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I doubt we will be
venturing south again any time soon. If we do buy the boat mentioned above, we
will be concentrating more on cruising than RV-ing, so, who knows, Rosita’s
days may be numbered. Others in the park with bigger rigs have their commuter
vehicle (mostly jeeps or smaller 4X4 vehicles) and a few have towed or carried
down their fishing boats. One of the guys from Sooke is an avid fisherman and
regularly brings in dorado and sierra mackerels. For the next few days he is
participating in a fishing derby. He won both categories of biggest dorado and
biggest fish last year. Note: Didn’t happen this year. Although he hooked a
large sailfish, it got away and catches were rather slim this tournament.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIyz6teB8J8ELa1rCxotV9nlltcdjOL7Ckmgo7oD99UzKQsf_fQvrU2k0MTgVT_DZLsVj9fOeDNoQt2kq0bJMhUCQtUsGicEDcLi7sFXxqt4KnHwPmK1qk3dfCZyYf8C-_7QDIQrenrE/s1600/our+nest+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIyz6teB8J8ELa1rCxotV9nlltcdjOL7Ckmgo7oD99UzKQsf_fQvrU2k0MTgVT_DZLsVj9fOeDNoQt2kq0bJMhUCQtUsGicEDcLi7sFXxqt4KnHwPmK1qk3dfCZyYf8C-_7QDIQrenrE/s320/our+nest+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our nest</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Rosie seems to be enjoying her holiday too but the fireworks
really bother her so she spends most of her evenings in the trailer sucking up
to us. During the day she lies under the trailer where it must be cooler. She
loves to play catch on the beach but, when she has had enough she lets us know by
taking her ball and heading back to the trailer. Her favourite is to chase a
frisbee around while people are playing catch. She never gets tired of that and
we have to stop her before she gets too exhausted. She loves the water and will
go in up to her chest but no deeper. We have her floatie jacket with us and
will take her on the kayak soon. She has been loved by everyone in the park and
particularly by Sandra who has insisted on doggie sitting her on a few
occasions when we went off in the truck. She tells everyone that she is Rosie’s
aunt…..</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumwigk0rMDhSay8clnQam5XEDhppGfMa6mLI3e_TWILihHFT2xiZCJDScQSJ1KXrJOotgEujnIeTst31uNvoD4KN8vGf9jAO9vv952L0qbwWlgnUxCH0DTQsNP7k1zFTMi2L2lBHBLVw/s1600/Sandra+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumwigk0rMDhSay8clnQam5XEDhppGfMa6mLI3e_TWILihHFT2xiZCJDScQSJ1KXrJOotgEujnIeTst31uNvoD4KN8vGf9jAO9vv952L0qbwWlgnUxCH0DTQsNP7k1zFTMi2L2lBHBLVw/s320/Sandra+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Aunti Sandra</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwaTNPYIEhfMrY4PANDVsX3-6zJ9ww7xKS7FMTe-mkwsYsgSr-AcVPWoIVlt0CKOjFUelsg4mgtvR8WXBqnDxVtr2uNo25geM1kA4xQ8p0z-8InEkCFuRuvCTaY4xlTooyy4x1AJvoFM/s1600/Rosie++cool+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwaTNPYIEhfMrY4PANDVsX3-6zJ9ww7xKS7FMTe-mkwsYsgSr-AcVPWoIVlt0CKOjFUelsg4mgtvR8WXBqnDxVtr2uNo25geM1kA4xQ8p0z-8InEkCFuRuvCTaY4xlTooyy4x1AJvoFM/s320/Rosie++cool+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Rosie's hideaway</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
J-G and Fran Nadeauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17787664902517862904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230718024020931105.post-75960805394422963572015-12-05T19:03:00.002-08:002016-04-19T14:44:20.723-07:003-La Barca to Comala and Fuego volcano<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">12:00, 29 Nov, 15 Laguna Maria Cenrto Turistico<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">After leaving La Barca yesterday we drove west through the
lake district, then south towards Colima. We </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">passed through many areas growing blue agave, the main ingredient for tequila. This state, Jalisco, is the only one that can call its product by that name.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzP5J917sPQmlwN8UEN877bTljAkyCWPYw7z657uVdPBpeyaVpypIS9ulDkj6uzJc26eoAgHc3CtLpv0msPVKavBWLn2WWB5OFKSAQHNiIMBRlJiRzL_9TA6OVryR7WTlIsbp7UPA9Mo8/s1600/VOSH+tequila+plants+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzP5J917sPQmlwN8UEN877bTljAkyCWPYw7z657uVdPBpeyaVpypIS9ulDkj6uzJc26eoAgHc3CtLpv0msPVKavBWLn2WWB5OFKSAQHNiIMBRlJiRzL_9TA6OVryR7WTlIsbp7UPA9Mo8/s320/VOSH+tequila+plants+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
Raw tequila....</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Our destination was this camping
area, way off the beaten track, that by the map, appeared to be difficult to
get to. We are certainly glad that we decided to navigate the narrow, sinuous
but decent quality roads to this lovely spot. The main attraction was the
majestic view of the Colima volcano, Fuego, an imposing feature of the last
hour of our drive. The last kilometer was not so much fun: a cobble stone
roadway that had not been kept up in some time and the going was slow. Thanks
God for the strong axles that Casita installed on their trailers. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpziUBtakvikAyIMTen3Lf-VEF5QZPu9B-0G1NHLi9PxfHAEplqWxasq96NKDukTB9nDedlXg05-JwOs5xzhmh12w4CSaDZeaH_BrlJJzQ4mONAZtte8OMMekZyT93A3ONNYsitypHrE/s1600/what+do+you+do+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpziUBtakvikAyIMTen3Lf-VEF5QZPu9B-0G1NHLi9PxfHAEplqWxasq96NKDukTB9nDedlXg05-JwOs5xzhmh12w4CSaDZeaH_BrlJJzQ4mONAZtte8OMMekZyT93A3ONNYsitypHrE/s320/what+do+you+do+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A common sight in Mexico No pooping here.....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We arrived at this lovely little grassy campground with
power and water hookups. Surprisingly, it is accurately described in our 2009
guidebook. What the guidebook couldn’t have covered was the Christian youth
group here for a weekend revival meeting. A rough translation of their
denomination is ‘The Apostolic Fire of Jesus Christ”. Never heard of them but
they may be associated with Catholicism. Since we arrived we have been
“entertained” with the hard-sell, hand waving and high-energy bible-thumping speeches
of the group’s preachers, all trumped up with a live rock band accompaniment. The
antics remind me of the religious groups that swept across Mexico and Central
America in recent years, converting many poor and uneducated people who, as a
result, were expulsed from their mainly Catholic villages and forced to become
beggars in the larger cities, something we witnessed in San Cristobal de las
Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, several years ago. This group seems to be targeting the
youth and I must say that I do not agree with the ‘indoctrination’ or brain
washing of young people in the name of some religious doctrine.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzchJlKBSX4N7LrpCspKgFOfeE6qn5saUJyomGplN2WktIPZ_4T7KtdvLsZEIv5tJgOhWxwfURu-PniHglfHEs7rIH4KYQiXOsQeCQ3OTCkMD8hi6DVaqclTCh6-hKMIZjdkodpQFUNrU/s1600/Casita+2+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzchJlKBSX4N7LrpCspKgFOfeE6qn5saUJyomGplN2WktIPZ_4T7KtdvLsZEIv5tJgOhWxwfURu-PniHglfHEs7rIH4KYQiXOsQeCQ3OTCkMD8hi6DVaqclTCh6-hKMIZjdkodpQFUNrU/s320/Casita+2+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p>Settled in for a few days</o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The Colima volcano, fairly young in terms of geological
formations, is still very active and erupts occasionally, sometimes with
spectacular results. Luckily there are no population centres nearby. Two years
ago one of its major events spread ash over this area covering the lake and
killing most of the fish life. We found a good vantage point and saw a
spectacular mini eruption yesterday afternoon. No-one else seemed to be as
excited and thrilled about it so this must be a regular occurrence but we did
get some great photos. This morning the truck and trailer have a slight coating
of, what must be, ash from last night’s activity.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRJUKm4pTnbK_YQ1z1tj3mTl7w9Upp7Qn4-YwKnAfhPLkX_g0SbQ90AU09oPLF1qaHkQVfYIP4qUBibqrRJMUUubEFl1Zlqm0QaGl0zRut9zY4W1pvAM_esbNQHlZ1PKSx20OInduNXw/s1600/fuego1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRJUKm4pTnbK_YQ1z1tj3mTl7w9Upp7Qn4-YwKnAfhPLkX_g0SbQ90AU09oPLF1qaHkQVfYIP4qUBibqrRJMUUubEFl1Zlqm0QaGl0zRut9zY4W1pvAM_esbNQHlZ1PKSx20OInduNXw/s320/fuego1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDs1I68_1JGO6xWWytXX5KvuwbJUYF0f-0Je9Wmy-qUxh2pCLjCfCzEX5XV9iXIeQRGCYrY_yxNlX6NEEeScAGrMmP4yyVa4TzfMg6tABXT9ZtI6Pd_N2g8Iz3zzKKnbuSTv3cKBe5Yz0/s1600/Fuego3+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDs1I68_1JGO6xWWytXX5KvuwbJUYF0f-0Je9Wmy-qUxh2pCLjCfCzEX5XV9iXIeQRGCYrY_yxNlX6NEEeScAGrMmP4yyVa4TzfMg6tABXT9ZtI6Pd_N2g8Iz3zzKKnbuSTv3cKBe5Yz0/s320/Fuego3+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p>Spectacular sight!</o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This area is touted as a bird watcher’s paradise but the
only extraordinary (to us) species we saw was a Vermillion fly-catcher. We also
found, what appears to be, the remains of a former coffee plantation down by
the lake. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-kLq-meBErs2b0HAdd38wwzReqTOKlvRZPsTZJbM64o5H8a7QE9TMX3CtPaf7elrcCpES5UPO2x2Vnmg7C67MfWK2w9ehQGGRiNSU2czMF7GK7qQQVyBUDQnU-CcvpzjDxmS0npJwsE/s1600/Vermillion+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-kLq-meBErs2b0HAdd38wwzReqTOKlvRZPsTZJbM64o5H8a7QE9TMX3CtPaf7elrcCpES5UPO2x2Vnmg7C67MfWK2w9ehQGGRiNSU2czMF7GK7qQQVyBUDQnU-CcvpzjDxmS0npJwsE/s320/Vermillion+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p>Vermillion fly catcher</o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRJUKm4pTnbK_YQ1z1tj3mTl7w9Upp7Qn4-YwKnAfhPLkX_g0SbQ90AU09oPLF1qaHkQVfYIP4qUBibqrRJMUUubEFl1Zlqm0QaGl0zRut9zY4W1pvAM_esbNQHlZ1PKSx20OInduNXw/s1600/fuego1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaUecn3XS1zYy2pX-ngTlgq6i17EeOeX45dAh3WPk0O_jXF7SzX-wVmH8-fvpGXUqPYkQBgIb6zBBUJ4tyAbPL3xeLtWyvV9otV12zqAkZR3La27YAbDhcYrppezfJXrXt9wSzlKwfSA/s1600/Coffee+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaUecn3XS1zYy2pX-ngTlgq6i17EeOeX45dAh3WPk0O_jXF7SzX-wVmH8-fvpGXUqPYkQBgIb6zBBUJ4tyAbPL3xeLtWyvV9otV12zqAkZR3La27YAbDhcYrppezfJXrXt9wSzlKwfSA/s320/Coffee+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Wild coffee plants</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This will be a nice place to wind down for a few days after
our week with the VOSH group, especially after the religious group departs this
afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Tomorrow we head south to the coast to end up in Punta
Perula on the first of Nov and where we will base for the next month or 2. It
was highly recommended by Ellen and Ian last year so it should make for a nice
winter haven. This is the area that was hardest hit by the hurricane last month
so there may be some damage to repair and people to help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Note: We must have missed a grand sight during the night.
There was a significant coating of volcanic dust over everything when we awoke
the next morning. The ground didn’t shake but the eruption must have been
another spectacular sight.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdTFIFZSrIJDzO6uQBYkO4FyA_nLJFVOtXhYQssxg7XGQs2rHRBlXthw8w0CutvspxboQSoDwye0N3IkZHk3iTUePvBtS1N3yNa0zLDMyZ0715E81cdZ9mYMd_10LMNw5Yt3AZNs64Fo/s1600/Ash+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdTFIFZSrIJDzO6uQBYkO4FyA_nLJFVOtXhYQssxg7XGQs2rHRBlXthw8w0CutvspxboQSoDwye0N3IkZHk3iTUePvBtS1N3yNa0zLDMyZ0715E81cdZ9mYMd_10LMNw5Yt3AZNs64Fo/s320/Ash+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
J-G and Fran Nadeauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17787664902517862904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230718024020931105.post-69618304329266106752015-12-05T18:55:00.001-08:002016-04-19T14:44:03.358-07:002-Guaymas to La Barca and VOSH clinic<span style="font-family: "calibri";">20:00, 27 Nov, 2015 Kristal Hotel, La Barca, Jalisco<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">After a tearful goodbye to Gosling we departing Guaymas we
drove south along the toll roads which promised tom be better quality and
faster than the free roads. By the time we arrived here we had spent almost
$150 in tolls. They aren’t kidding when they say that Mexico has the most
expensive toll roads.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsSnjZzfvrfe2Yyi9uITYd8nT0GfE1f84oC1Bd7uNBxHcX-65N2_mi3EeMZh0WKWef6_XVWTwH6hbfKBYJTqSdZNMmX1gMqxDka0lmUyQKeZWh-wLecZX9P9Xkk_m8TPytfQoV-u3ewI/s1600/what+do+you+do+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiI1aya2kxzl48MqQleQob0vwjgMTXEq4DjImJ4l3qj4fd-qNf04ASbs5D4yPBmsVnDuL-Ij2LMHE8Z-Pttf2HNGj73zWcSlnbsMineLws_oS4kLEL6ZBemVgISZ1Ka_9TD8_grd02ww/s1600/tearful+goodby+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiI1aya2kxzl48MqQleQob0vwjgMTXEq4DjImJ4l3qj4fd-qNf04ASbs5D4yPBmsVnDuL-Ij2LMHE8Z-Pttf2HNGj73zWcSlnbsMineLws_oS4kLEL6ZBemVgISZ1Ka_9TD8_grd02ww/s320/tearful+goodby+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
Good bye, old friend</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Our first night was in a little campground in Huatabampo, a
small bay just north of Topolobampo, well off the beaten track. We were the
only ones in the RV park and we parked within a few yards of the beach where we
could hear the waves breaking on the shore. When we arrived they were preparing
for a wedding reception, our clue to park as far as we could from the
restaurant/reception facility. To our surprise everything wrapped up by 21:00
and we had a quiet restful night listening to the surf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We were off the next morning, but first, we had to get to
the main highway and that was quite a ride on the worst road we have ever
transited with Casita. What should have taken about 30 minutes took well over 1
½ hours of dodging potholes and slowing to a near stop to go over topes, those
mini-mountains built into the roads to slow traffic. They are certainly
effective and can be found on every road other than the toll highways. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Our destination was Mazatlán, where we stayed for 2 nights
at the Punta Cerritos RV park. Our plans to dine at fat Fish, our favourite rib
restaurant, were dashed when we both came down with a slight case of Mexican
tummy, but we did have the opportunity to visit with Lin and Debbie (Dolphin
Tales), cruising friends from Victoria.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBHg5vXzdS04Ju1R10zXNc8CTGi-bv5vaJMOGoVc-_kH2edi-qJ2c3citefyLqWKr87eC2mOTmtFRp_-4FMvrCghh7_2mgRCbnbd7er1j_Ils5MOJiTcRZCfcH0ciVaER5lgjApKbw9s/s1600/Mazatlan+Nov+15+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBHg5vXzdS04Ju1R10zXNc8CTGi-bv5vaJMOGoVc-_kH2edi-qJ2c3citefyLqWKr87eC2mOTmtFRp_-4FMvrCghh7_2mgRCbnbd7er1j_Ils5MOJiTcRZCfcH0ciVaER5lgjApKbw9s/s320/Mazatlan+Nov+15+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Bruha beach, "permanent" motor homes</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Our next stop was at another RV site close to Tequila,
Jalisco, at Delia’s Trailer Park at Ezatlan. This one had a grass covered
parking area with basic services and, again, we were the only ones there
besides the manager and her 4 dogs, one of which, a rescue dog, almost had
Rosie for dinner had it not been for the muzzle and missing front leg. After
the encounter the owner said that they knew it was a vicious dog so they
actually had its front leg surgically removed but that didn’t seem to slow it
down at all. One wonders……<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The next morning was all on good B roads, yes, with lots of
topes, all the way to the Kristal Hotel, La Barca. Our reason for being there
requires some explanation.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAWxGqHpO002i4YwjYkQAzPIfdG6BUtYEFvvU_FKlU07n1H9Zx2o163tD0Z5hNAgYDXD9qTaovl_chu_x59PTLBDZDz1W-bnUL9Jk-qmqtx-ks4cZaYLy51sNNrh5d7nfsUt7tQvJSyk/s1600/VOSH+topes+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAWxGqHpO002i4YwjYkQAzPIfdG6BUtYEFvvU_FKlU07n1H9Zx2o163tD0Z5hNAgYDXD9qTaovl_chu_x59PTLBDZDz1W-bnUL9Jk-qmqtx-ks4cZaYLy51sNNrh5d7nfsUt7tQvJSyk/s320/VOSH+topes+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p>Topes: they are not all this well signposted.</o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Some of our favourite cruising partners during our 8 years
on Gosling were Bill and Janet on Optical Illusion. The name of their boat was
significant, he was an ophthalmologist from Vancouver who participated in eye
clinics missions to countries all over the world. In our time with them we were
asked if we would be interested in participating. We agreed on the spot,
however, Bill passed away in 2014 but this year Janet asked if we would help
out at a clinic in his memory at La Barca, Mexico. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We arrived before the others and parked the truck and
trailer under covered parking, settled into our room and waited for the group
to arrive. The team was made up ophthalmologists and opticians from Canada,
mostly from Quebec and BC, with assistance from optometry students from Chicago
and Australia and a number of volunteer helpers, like us. The entire team,
about 35 strong, was headed by Father Pierre, a Catholic priest from Montreal
who has been active in such missions for years now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Canadian teams brought with them boxes of
specialized equipment and a huge inventory of glasses collected by volunteer
organizations across Canada who painstakingly analyse, label and sort them out.
As can be expected in Mexico, the entire inventory of boxes were delayed in
Customs and would not be released unless a significant duty was payed. As a
result not all the boxes arrived but there was sufficient stock and equipment
to carry on with the 7-day mission and over the 7 days more than 2700 patients
were examined and issued with glasses. All those with significant eye problems
were recorded for further treatment by the Mexican health system.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH34lFsec8NfpecSJT3jQ0b9RjlW9NKR71CIFzL2dpgEvWtqMzdCvHQjfUpRqty2JSQ8zGrXqfWtrkcpXqFgvv4e7vWLfizzZcrZnZTgLDKRnVcMaZfHpIS2g3TJDDPW3964FHiPmiBzo/s1600/Vosh+Students+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH34lFsec8NfpecSJT3jQ0b9RjlW9NKR71CIFzL2dpgEvWtqMzdCvHQjfUpRqty2JSQ8zGrXqfWtrkcpXqFgvv4e7vWLfizzZcrZnZTgLDKRnVcMaZfHpIS2g3TJDDPW3964FHiPmiBzo/s320/Vosh+Students+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The student crew from the US and Austraia</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fran and I were an exception in this group, being the only
ones who had travelled there by road and with a dog. Our daily routine before
and after the work at the mission (07:30-18:00 on most days) was centred around
Rosie. She was a real trooper staying cooped up in the trailer all day. We
played fetch for an hour or so every day on our return and she slept with us in
the hotel room at night. Everyone loved her, naturally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The mission’s hosts and local assistants for the event were
a great group of people. The mayor and his wife, the local Rotary club, Alicia,
the coordinator for many previous missions and several prominent citizens all
contributed their time and energy where they could. Several of them hosted the
group at their houses for dinners and one, an owner of a major greenhouse
complex for tomatoes and peppers (60 hectares), had us over for an entire
afternoon of food and drink. I think he had close connections with a local
tequila producer by the same name (Mendosa) cause all the tequila seen at our
functions was from the same distillery. On the last night they held a going
away party with folkloric dancers, a fantastic Mariachi band, presentations,
gifts and lots of photographs and fond farewells. And then it was over….. When
we woke up the next morning we were, once more, the only ones left. Everyone
else had to leave on the bus at 3 AM, some headed to the airport, others for a
few days in Puerto Vallarta.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmrcoEEeYnNSYPyzr1SREwMGi1pd02mV9wAMSr-akJE8sXrWz4xPj4C97OnMIVFMp93MWF0F99Gt5KqwBS5uhnQhTlyXNEOdB5DKTM0GPb04SAvySWw72aQsTYc0PDSqdzcZUT5cWBns/s1600/Vosh+greenhouse+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBIbMmbI1eQB39QaTJNM0EhgmKLt-ayYBPV6bSQ2-T3SKYLW5mCjinvrdA-yC3BgHWWZv94Zre_FLfVte2qjb_gfZDt-UdC3EqxEpCPWvjmsZF1_4jlk2bZ91czmRFPzjM-A5vvVH95k/s1600/VOSH+outing+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBIbMmbI1eQB39QaTJNM0EhgmKLt-ayYBPV6bSQ2-T3SKYLW5mCjinvrdA-yC3BgHWWZv94Zre_FLfVte2qjb_gfZDt-UdC3EqxEpCPWvjmsZF1_4jlk2bZ91czmRFPzjM-A5vvVH95k/s320/VOSH+outing+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Afternoon outing at the Mendosa farm</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmrcoEEeYnNSYPyzr1SREwMGi1pd02mV9wAMSr-akJE8sXrWz4xPj4C97OnMIVFMp93MWF0F99Gt5KqwBS5uhnQhTlyXNEOdB5DKTM0GPb04SAvySWw72aQsTYc0PDSqdzcZUT5cWBns/s1600/Vosh+greenhouse+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmrcoEEeYnNSYPyzr1SREwMGi1pd02mV9wAMSr-akJE8sXrWz4xPj4C97OnMIVFMp93MWF0F99Gt5KqwBS5uhnQhTlyXNEOdB5DKTM0GPb04SAvySWw72aQsTYc0PDSqdzcZUT5cWBns/s320/Vosh+greenhouse+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Modern hydroponic roma tomato greenhouse</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgTikhUakKZqWNe1WCKz7X2IhXZZloMlKNyRWptBHdaJJzw2uETw5sOBT7AGGpAHHLmXthyphenhyphen-8mMiASwrbUuwzh5IRJWH2O7wqIvLhVUEFdAnVN-FjPE9OI0FtxUt9FIj75KJkcMw0Dgs/s1600/Vosh+certificates+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgTikhUakKZqWNe1WCKz7X2IhXZZloMlKNyRWptBHdaJJzw2uETw5sOBT7AGGpAHHLmXthyphenhyphen-8mMiASwrbUuwzh5IRJWH2O7wqIvLhVUEFdAnVN-FjPE9OI0FtxUt9FIj75KJkcMw0Dgs/s320/Vosh+certificates+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Presentation of certificates</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
J-G and Fran Nadeauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17787664902517862904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230718024020931105.post-85842320983764796462015-12-05T18:52:00.002-08:002016-04-19T14:43:40.141-07:001-Travels in Rosita Casita - Intro<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Intro: Travels in Rosita Casita<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">H<span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;">n vels asita</span>ard
to believe but I have been encouraged to write about our continuing travels
after the sale of Gosling, our Camper and Nicholson 42 sailboat, regrettably
which we parted with last week in Guaymas. I guess some people like reading my
ramblings or they like the photos that I attach to them. Anyway, for those who
asked for it and those who will read this out of sheer curiosity, here goes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">First a bit of history on Rosita Casita. Casita trailers are
built in Rice, Texas and Rosita came off the production line in 2006. She is a
17 ft, Freedom Deluxe edition, the largest and best equipped model that Casita
has produced to date. However, 17 ft is the overall, tongue to bumper length so
it is still a micro habitat and Fran and I bump into each other a lot. It has
most of the options available for this model, including gas stove, air
conditioning, 3-way fridge and gas hot water. It was originally ordered for and
owned by a resident of Arizona so it was not outfitted with the gas heater, an
option which would have been nice for us but we have done well so far with an
electric heater. Since then we have installed a TV (which we hardly ever use)
and an awning.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-uOfwrYl0JSwg5j3rxNs25xQLkUy7o9oEik5h-JKclfW09n1ha_2nZq0gVykB4haOvks9AQXvsMVBjpc0H8eaAJtVqu_d742FV9vFe7SOCAOqZk1s1pkULxb0cwnSbyNACHGE7c1AmM/s1600/Casita+2+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-uOfwrYl0JSwg5j3rxNs25xQLkUy7o9oEik5h-JKclfW09n1ha_2nZq0gVykB4haOvks9AQXvsMVBjpc0H8eaAJtVqu_d742FV9vFe7SOCAOqZk1s1pkULxb0cwnSbyNACHGE7c1AmM/s320/Casita+2+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Near Comala, MX</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We purchased both the truck and trailer separately in 2012
on our way through Phoenix after leaving Gosling in El Salvador for the summer.
Before leaving Guaymas we had sold our old but dependable Chrysler van to SaM
and Dave (SV Islena) who we had met in San Diego while prepping Gosling in Feb
2008. Our maiden voyage with Rosita and truck was from Phoenix to Lake Tahoe,
to Bodega Bay on the California coast, south through San Francisco to the wine
district of Paso Robles and the Nadeau winery (no relation), up the coast of
Big Sur, back through San Francisco, north through the Napa valley, north along
the California coast to the Oregon border and then inland to I-5 and north to
Canada. We had no mishaps on that trip, we cleared the border without any
difficulty and arrived in Victoria safe and sound. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">For the last 3 years Rosita has been parked in Mike and
Dove’s, our son and daughter-in-law, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>back
yard, on Mayne Island (just north of Sidney BC), from May to November where we used
her as a home base for 4 of those months while helping Mike and Dove renovate their
log house. For the winter of 2013, while we were sailing in Panama and back to
Mexico, we stored her at friends in Kelowna who also looked after Rosie, our
Sheltie. For the last 2 winters we have towed her south to Mexico and used her
as accommodations in the boatyard beside Gosling, last year as we prepped her
for our season of sailing the Sea of Cortez (see blog: </span><a href="http://svgosling.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri";">http://svgosling.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">) and
this year while we transferred ownership to Gosling’s new owner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In November 2014 we really got into the RV life as we drove
South from Kelowna (where we left Rosie again), through Idaho, Nevada, Arizona
and into Mexico. The weather had turned quite cold so we didn’t dally too much
on that trip except for a few stops in Palm Springs and Sierra Vista, Arizona
to visit some good friends. Driving north last spring we chose a much more
spectacular route through Arizona, Nevada, Idaho (Monument Valley, Canyonlands,
Arches and Dinosaur national parks and Lava Hotsprings). In northern Nevada an
unexpected cold snap and snow caused us to abandon plans to drive through Grand
Tetons and Yellowstone national parks. By the time we arrived back in BC, near
Cranbrook, we were back in normal BC springtime weather.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">On that trip, back north, we had our first mishaps with 2
blowouts on the Casita, the first in Mexico a few hours north of Guaymas and
the next in southern Nevada. After we left Cranbrook just after passing the
peak of one of the passes we almost lost Casita when a faulty tow hitch pin
came loose and she detached from the truck. Luckily then chains held, the
electric brakes locked and, apart from some frayed nerves and some damage to
the lower end of the front leveling post, all was well. Needless to say, we are
now using a much more secure hitch pin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So far this year, as I write this near the Colima volcano,
we have had a great trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
J-G and Fran Nadeauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17787664902517862904noreply@blogger.com0