Huatabaumpito to Kino Bay
The drive to Kino was really uneventful and now we are at our home in Mexico. So the first evening we spent unloading all of the things out of the RV. What a job and we were really tired.
Next two days we spent trying to organize and get everything cleaned up. I pressure washed the RV even though I will be having someone wax it in the next day or so. Then get the house cleaned up and try to do some of the maintenance work on the RV. Wow we just have not had time to lay down and relax.
I may post two or three more blogs and then it will just be offline until the next trip.
I hope that all of your trips turn out to be as fun and as adventuresome as this one was for us.

Mazatlan to Huatabampito

Sunset and the seagull
Roadway
Campsite

Today was an easy drive and our destination was where we stayed on the way down in Huatabaumpito near the city of Navajoa. What makes this drive really nice is that there are all toll roads so that the driving is easy and you are going 60-65 mph. It is so nice to see that you are covering so much ground in what you seems to be record time.
The landscape has certainly changed to flat farmland all the way. There are large fields of tomatoes and hay and corn which we have not seen in some time.
We are on the beach again in our campsite watching another sunset and walking down the beach.
It is much colder here at night than we have been used to but that is fine and we have full hookups here.

Puerto Vallarta to Mazatlan
January 5, 2010

Lumber yard
Lumber
Road to Mazatlan
Bev's Statue
Bev's statue maker

Today was probably our longest day of driving and it was to say the least brutal. Really got on both of our nerves. We left PV at 8:00 AM for what was to be a 7 hour drive and got to out campground in Mazatlan at 7:30 PM. The last hour was driving in the dark and that is no fun when you are in the country or city in Mexico.
The campground that we are in is the same one that we stayed in on the way down so that is nice except now it is virtually filled with RVs. When we came down the place wasn’t even 25% full. Gosh what a difference just three to five months makes.
We starter out on Mex 200 north which is again a windy two lane road through the mountains heading toward Tepic. It seems that all we have done is cross mountains wherever we go. So when we arrived in Tepic it was good to see a cuota road again and know that we would be on a straight highway for a change.
Some of things that delayed us going out of PV were a stop at two lumber yards to get some wood. There was a further delay here as they had to cut the partial log that I selected into boards. But after that the parote wood that I got was stored into the living section of the RV and we were on the road again. About a two hour delay.
Then there was a delay to get stocked up with food at one of the large Sarriana stores and that took about an hour.
One more delay stopping to look at some wood carvings along the way and then purchasing a really nice one for Bev.
Then there was a delay to have lunch at a roadside pallapa restaurant and that was really slow service but the food was great. I had a pineapple that was sliced in half and then scooped out. Next they added hot shrimp, scallops, octopus, pineapple slices, tomatoes and onions. That was topped with a white cheese. UMMMMM good.
So all of these delays and then we could not find a spot to stay closer than Mazatlan. So here we are tired and grouchy. Well tomorrow will be a better day and we will sleep in. At least now I feel that we are out of the mountains and it should be all nice roads from here to home.

Puerta Vallarta
January 4, 2010

Statue on the Malacon
PV Church
Seaside beach
Luncheon restaraunt
Riverside island shops

Today was another day to play tourist and see Puerta Vallarta (PV). We took the bus down to the Malacon (seaside boardwalk) and started walking around with our tourist map to see all of the art galleries. This is a town full of artists and art work from all over Mexico. Somewhat pricy but excellent workmanship and quality of sculptures, paintings and ceramics. Well we did not resist too much and then had to carry our treasures home with us. Then find a place to store them until we can arrive in Kino Bay. Luckily that is now within reason as we are headed north and should arrive soon.
Then it was time for a walk down the riverfront. PV in the old section of town is bisected by a river and in the river are islands. The islands are both a park and a place where tourists shop for the trinkets that they need to have to remind themselves that they were here. All of those T shirts, small ceramic bowls, towels and purses and belts that say SP on them.
Then it was time for lunch and we ate on the island at the very end where the river meets the ocean. It was an elegant lunch where we sat on a covered patio overlooking the ocean and the river and all was well with the world. So after that it was time to catch the bus back to our RV and just relax until it was time for dinner. I offered to take Bev out but tonight we are eating in and then turning in early as it will be a long driving day tomorrow.
But, take heart dear friends it looks as if tomorrow is the last day of driving on mountain tow lane roads. After that is is all toll roads and we are through with the mountains I think.
So with my glass of vino in hand I will say that this blog is finished. Possibly I will be able to post in the next day or so.

Melaque to Puerto Vallarta
Jan 2-3, 2010

Bev in PV by the banyan tree
RV site in PV
Sunset along the way
Coastal road
Roadway


Yesterday was spent just relaxing in Melaque. We got the laundry done and I went for a swim in the ocean. The water here is still warm and the waves in this bay are just right. Not too rough. Then a stroll around the center of town and some shopping for little things.
We had lunch at a pallapa restaurant on the beach owned by a man from British Columbia who use to own an ashphalt company. Really an interesting person. As always our RV park which is on the beach here is filled with Canadians. Most again are from Quebec and the others from British Columbia and maybe one or two from Ontario. Oh, and one from Alaska. The US certainly does not seem to come to Mexico.
After our dinner we strolled the streets to look in the shops again and to have dessert. This seems to be a town that has more little dessert cake vendors and ice cream parlors than almost anywhere else we have visited. Bev got flan and I had chocolate cake with strawberries. During the day I even had a Thrifty’s ice cream cone. Now you just can not top that.
Today is Sunday and we are moving north again. Traffic was very light but the road was mostly narrow mountain again. Gee will I be glad to be finally out of the mountains. The vegetation was greatly small trees but we are defiantly moving away from the tropical areas. Very nice to drive with the trees forming a canopy over the road though.
We went thru one area called Tomatan and as you can guess the largest crops there were tomatoes. Lots of tomatoes.
The last 50-70 Km to Puerto Vallarta the road surface just got worse and worse. Why is it that a hugely tourist mecca with multiple high rise hotels and condos has to have some of the worst roads we have driven on in Mexico? You would think that with all of the money in this economy here that they could provide and want to provide a road with just a few less pot holes.
Finding the RV park here was the easiest we have encountered in all of those from the guidebook. Maybe we are just getting better at deciphering the book or maybe we were just lucky. Anyway, it is a lovely park (the Puerta Vallarta Trailer Park) with lots of palm trees for shade, nice grassy sites with brick patios. It looks more like a park than an RV park. It is also nice that it is situated close to town.
So tonight we should go out for dinner in town and tomorrow do some sightseeing.

Tizupan to Melaque
January 1, 2010

Bananas and coconut palms
The coastline
Melaque beach
Coastline
Scruffy and the road

Today turned out to be a driving day. I thought and rightly so that there would be little traffic on the road today because it was Jan 1 and it was Friday so that people would not be going places today but would travel on Sunday instead. So after listening to Mexican Country music all night or at least until 3:00 AM we started on the road at 8:00 AM. I can sleep thru anything.
It was sad to leave that spot because it was so nice on the beach and so isolated from people and the staff were really nice. Only 4 RV’s in the whole place and it had a really nice restaurant.
The road was like driving Hwy 1 on the coast in CA or Oregon or the Blue Ridge Parkway in Tennessee. Lots of trees right up against the road with flowers of pink and yellow. Egrets flew across the windshield, and other birds I did not know what kind were in the trees. You had to be somewhat careful because they do not trim back the foliage from the side of the road and so it is easy to brush the side of the RV. Almost no traffic though and few trucks or busses.
Then you would come to a turn in the road on a cliff and be treated to the most magnificent beaches. Long shorelines of white sand and the surf lines as far as you could see. Down the arroyo there would be a shoreline and on either side of this would be rocky cliff sides. Just breathtaking and this was repeated all morning long.
We reached Tecoman after about 150 Km and there the landscape changed to a broad delta. Here there were coconut palms, banana palms and papaya plantations. The land was flat so the driving was faster here and the road changed to a toll road with four lanes.
We stopped here at a roadside cosina (small restaurant) and had a barbequed chicken, rice, tortillas and Fanta (orange drink). Imagine a whole barbequed chicken and all of that made like El Pollo Loco for about $4.50. Luncheon for two was never so good.
We stopped here also at an supermarket and loaded up with some more supplies before heading north. Other than larger cities you do not find large supermarkets but only small bodegas.
Next we made our way thru Manzanillo and I was glad that we came today because this city would not have been easy to navigate on a busy day. As it was we had only a few tight places to get thru.
From there it was onto Melaque and our campground. This is again a huge crescent bay looking out over the Pacific. There are lots of tourists here and we have the last available space in this park. It is right on the ocean and there are lots of shops right behind us and a multitude of restaurants on the beach here. I think that we will spend two days here before going to Puerta Vallarta.
For now it was a dip in the ocean when we got here and then a walk on the beach and then appetizers before going to dinner.

New Years Eve 2009

Mexican barbaque
One of the bands
The beach where we are
Bev in her hammock

Well Happy New Years everyone Feliz Anyo Nuevo. We are here on the beach and the sun has gone down and we are listening to a live Mexican Country Western Band. They have really set up for the night with a large light system and all the paraphernalia for a real New Year’s extravaganza. Listening to them now without an amplified sound system is rather soothing and although we do not understand the lyrics the sounds are so melodic and sad just the way country music is meant to be. Love lost and love unfulfilled and all of the other sad tales of life.
They had also set up a sort of barbeque or something under one of the pallapas today and the men must have cooked about 60 pounds of meat. It was really interesting watching them cut it up from almost sides of beef or pork.
We are invited to the party and will go for awhile but tomorrow we are heading north again. It was decided to make this a rest day and that is exactly what we did. A walk on the beach and lying in the hammocks was all that we accomplished. This is really a lovely site with the ocean surf waking you in the morning and the site of the crashing surf over the rocky cliff sides that surround this idyllic little bay.
Tonight it will be dinner in the restaurant and I think after watching all that food being prepared I feel like a steak. Maybe even a cervesa if that is not going too far. One does not like as you know to be caught in the grip of the grape. Ah well, it is New Year’s Eve.
So tomorrow, after the night of revelry, all of our resolutions will be made and the football games watched and the sandwiches and nachos eaten and life will be good.

Zihuatanejo to north of Guagua Mexico
December 30, 2009

Tizupan camping beach
Bev at our lunchsite
Sunset at Tizupan
Tizupan coastline


Today’s drive was not a long one but very fascinating. We are about 100 miles from Tecoman on Hwy 200 going along the west coast of Mexico. We are closer to Tizupan than Guagua. Today we passed into the State of Michoacan from Guerrero State. The coastline here is very similar to thee northern California/ Oregon coast with rocky cliffs that plunge to the sea and rocky small islands off the coast with surf crashing over the tops of them. Then you will round a bend and go down a mountain (these are really small mountains) and you will be on a shoreline with beautiful sandy beaches and the surf coming in long rolling waves that just invite you to go swimming. Only the coconut plantations and papaya plantations along the beach made you realize that you were not in Northern California. And, the water here is warm.
Traveling north along this coastline, we did not have anything in the guidebook listing an RV park or place to stay but sometimes you must just trust your instincts that one would be there when you needed it. We stopped for lunch on a cliff overlooking the ocean and had a great lunch. Bev had a whole fish that was just covered with garlic and other aromatic spices, rice, a salad, french fries and some really hot salsa. I had a kind of breaded and fried shrimp but not the usual breading it was more of a special sauce breading, and again salsa, rice, french fries, and a salad. Of course fresh warm tortillas that are made very thick here.
First off trying to select a campsite we came across several potential sites that the roads to the beach were just too steep for Big Tigre. So at one, I asked directions from four Mexican students who were trying to go north. They said that the best beach was still 1 ½ hours north and would I give them a ride if I went that way. So sure enough we gave them a ride. Most interesting kids.
Next a leisurely drive again heading north and then we came to a wide beach with a restaurant, hotel and RV park and just 20 minutes north of our hitchhikers. So I told them that if they stayed the night there I would give them a ride in the morning but they wanted to be on their way so we said goodbye and they were glad for the lift that we had given them. Well now we had a place to spend the night and enjoy the pool as well as a large pallapa to sit under and a hammock to relax in. All the while we could watch the ocean waves curling and pounding as the surf hit the shoreline. Wow, this is just a great place to be. We have full hookups for 200 pesos a night ( about $17.50), almost no one on the beach and a great restaurant right next door.
We had some appetizers at the restaurant and met a wonderfully interesting couple. She was from Mexico and he was from Canada and they had been circus performers for 20 some years. Now he is a project manager for a construction company in Canada and they were visiting her family who own one of the largest circuses in Mexico. It is always so interesting to meet the other travelers on a journey such as this one.
We may stay here for New Year’s Eve or move on I am not sure at this time.

Allagators at dinner
Lunches and dinners
Bev buying souveniers at Tizupan
More food


Just a few photos of our friends at dinner and the beach