Day 17, March 1. 2007

As you can see, this was an early start day as we had to cover 266 miles to the border. We drove hard with just a few stops as we were all ready to get back to the USA and a little anxious about crossing the border. Why, I don't know. We are going home! We got the to Aduana/Frontera office and they came on board to remove our holograms of importation of our vehicles. About 10 more miles up the road we passed through Mexican customs. Glad we didn't have to get in the truck lanes as they had very, very long lines. American customs was a piece of cake. Handed out our passports and they were handed right back and we were directed to a holding area for agricultural inspection. He just came on board, asked if we had any chicken, eggs or plants. I told him that they were cooked. He looked into the freezer at the same time and said, "You've been through this drill before!" I said yes and he turned around and walked out and told us to have a nice day. We drove about 40 miles up the road to a nice campground to add water, dump and do some laundry. Many passed over the border and headed on their own way. We got to say some quick good-byes over the CB radio but it will be strange not following in a caravan this morning when we leave and I really will miss "Thumper" checking our tires in the morning. This is what we affectionately called our tail gunner.

Many few friendships were made and old ones better cemented, so until the next time, Happy Trails and don't forget to visit our two photo albums.

www.picasaweb.google.com/mimmexico/MexicoCaravan

and www.picasaweb.google.com/mimmexico/MexicoCaravanII.

Day 16, February 28, 2007

The drive from Los Alamos to San Carlos on the coast of Sonora, Mexico, was only 160 or so miles. This is the entrance to the RV Park that we stayed in there.

Los Alamos was a town built of old money from the gold and silver days and has and is being refurbished to it's original condition and was very modern in comparison to the many towns that we had already been in. San Carlos is new money, mostly brought in by the Canadians and Americans.

There are MANY new homes being built in this small fishing/yachting town and we were told that the cost of building at this time was about $105/square foot. Each house had about 10 Mexicans working on it and there had to be hundreds being currently built all over San Carlos. We just wondered where they were living as we didn't see the typical Mexican housing anywhere that we went. This was the view from the back of the RV Park.

We had our farewell dinner right there in a lovely room at the RV Park. Mike is saying a few last words and then we ate. After dinner most of us went back to our coach's to get ready for departure.

Day 15, Tuesday, February 27, 2007

After a short day of travel most of us took a walking tour of Los Alamos. This is an old silver and gold mining town and we are standing in front of an old chapel. We had a tour guide that explained the history of the town and it was most interesting.

This is the alter of the chapel. Like everything else in Mexico, what you see outside does not indicate what you will find inside, as is evidenced by the beautiful courtyards behind tall walls.

Here is just one such courtyard.

The bougainvillea was just lovely hanging over the many walls.

After the tour we all came back and fixed a dinner of things that could not be taken back over the border into the USA. I'm sure there were some strange combinations.

Day 14, Monday, February 26, 2007

Travel day for us today leaving about 8 am and we once again crossed over the Tropic of Cancer. Of course, this time was going in the opposite direction. We had traveled this road 4 days ago when we headed down to Mazatlan so the sights were familiar but still very interesting. Especially the farming going on in the area and the harvesting. We got through our first inspection, this one for agriculture. None of us was stopped nor boarded for a search. Great!

Bragging Rights !

Four men from the group went out fishing and Cliff caught the catch of the day. Only some of the fish was taken home and the rest was given to the crew.

We finished off the day with a pot luck dinner. How a group can get together such an array of food on short order is beyond me, and all of it great!

We'll leave in the morning about 8:30 am and head to Los Alamos, a new place to visit. Maybe there will be vendors there???

Day 13, Sunday, February 25, 2007

A number of folks went out on this boat to Stone Island on a tour. It included a bouncy ride in the Sea of Cortez to see some "pirate" caves on two of the islands and then a very small island with some sea lions resting. The sea lions come here in the winter from North America and Canada waters to have their babies. It was quite windy and therefore chilly.
















The Holland America ship Ryndam was in port and was expected to leave at 5 p.m. tonight. It is a small ship in comparison to the mega ships that they are building today but made our little vessel seem very small indeed.

Some went horseback riding, others snorkeled or took a banana boat ride to view the turtles, or a horse drawn carriage ride. All this was include in the tour price of $20 per person. Very reasonable.

We are all back now and getting our coach's ready for travel in the morning. We will be heading out about 7 a.m. and it will be a long drive back to Los Mochis where we will gather for a pot luck dinner.

Day 12, Saturday, February 24, 2007

Today was a free day and some of the group went off in a little rental car like this one and toured the area. Others watched their rigs being washed and waxed and others just rested.

Some walked the beach, others watched the beach walkers!

The evening was a Fiesta at the Hotel Playa. All the food and drink and a show, such a deal!

We have started a second photo album which can be found at www.picasaweb.google.com/mimmexico/mexicocaravanII

Please visit it often as it is updated daily.

Day 11, Friday, February 23, 2007

This morning we all took a bus tour of Mazatlan after a buffet breakfast on the beach at the Hotel Playa Mazatlan, the same hotel that we had dinner at last night.

The tour took us all along the beach front and to the area where the local fishermen drive their boats up on shore and then sell their fish. You can see the many pelicans looking for a handout. Many of us bought jumbo shrimp from a local that brings it right into the park daily. If you go down to buy fish it is the catch of the day and it varies but we never were told just what they do catch in the area.

Mazatlan is also noted for it's cliff divers. We were able to watch as a few jumped off into the pounding surf. Nothing any of us wanted to do, even feet first.

There is a lot of new growth and condos along the beach area. In fact, one of the few RV parks has been sold and a Costco is going in it's place.

We shopped in a local grocery store that carried many of Costco's brands so they are already heavy in the area.

We toured the old town market and this is just one of the many stalls that we found. This is the way most of the people in the area shop, just like big cities of old. I was really impressed with how high some could stack their wares.