November 3, 2009
Vera Cruz to Minaltitlan
We decided not to see Vera Cruz today because the weather just has not been very nice here. First off was the wind. Last night was so bad on the coast that I got up and moved the coach so that it was not sideways to the wind. The breakers on the ocean though were spectacular. Wide waves of white foam breaking onto the shore. We had a campsite right on the ocean with a great view down the coastline both ways and the lights of Vera Cruz at night were really spectacular.
We awoke in the morning to find it still windy (like 45 mph) and so we pressed on down the coast on one of the red roads, Hwy 180 (libra roads that are sometimes pretty good) as opposed to the yellow roads (smallest on the map) which are not often well maintained. At first we hugged the coastline and there was wind which was manageable and on the west side were pastures with cattle grazing. This is cattle country with cowboys on horses and the cattle are either a brahma or brahman breed.
Then we climbed the coastal mountains and this time it was winding and we went through many small pueblos and towns. Interesting though even though the topes slowed you progress. Even had a street merchant try to sell us an iguana by the side of the road.
During this part of the journey we were headed inland and the pastureland changed to sugar cane. Up and over the coastal mountain range and we came to one of the most elegant and modern suspension bridges in I have seen. Nothing to describe it in words so I hope that we got a good enough photograph that I can show it to you.
We had lunch at Laguna Catemaco in the mountains. This is really now a lake as it is shut off from the ocean, nevertheless it is quite spectacular. We would have stayed here a night and gone on a boat ride to the islands on the lake but the rain was coming down now, either a sprinkle or mist or light rain and that option just did not seem appealing.
We dropped down off of the coastal mountains at Acayucan and then shortly thereafter picked up the cuota road Hwy 150 going south to Merida. This then will take you to Cancun.
But tonight we are at a PEMEX (gas station) just south of Minatitlan near Agua Dulce. We were to have stayed at a campground nearby but the travel guide warned us that if it was raining the ground there could be soft and some rigs had been know to get stuck. So we are boon docking here tonight but the people have been very nice and gracious to us. Even offered to hook us up to water and electricity, but we are quite self sufficient in Big Tigre (the RV).
Tomorrow, we will go to Villahermosa on the toll road and then Hwy 180 again along the coastline. This should be even better as for much of the journey we will be on islands that are between Laguna de Terminos and the Gulf of Mexico. Sort of like the causeway in Florida. Lots to see and to explore.