Wow
, where did the winter go? It is hard to imagine that we are now back at our starting point in Yuma, Arizona. Eleven thousand kilometers, 58 camping spots, 36 fuel stops, 24 Mexican states, just as many military checkpoints, over 50 toll booths (costing us over $800.00 USD) big cities, quaint villages, beaches, jungles, dry desert, and six mountain trips later. Not to mention the dozen or so Pollo Asada lunches, the potlucks, the 128 happy hours, the fishing trips, snorkel trips, sea-do trips, trips to the ancient ruins, museums, art galleries, cathedrals and shopping, shopping, shopping and thousand and thousands (it seemed like thousands) of topes, trips to great eateries and not so great eateries. The trip introduced us to the many native cultures of Mexico, from the Yaqui and Seri in the North, to the Meztec in the Interior, to the Chiapians in the South and the Tarahumara in the Copper Canyon, each with its own culture and traditions.
Our journey took us down the West Coast, across the Sierra Occidental and Sierra Oriental Mountain Ranges, over to the Caribbean via the Chiapas Highlands, up the East Coast, across more mountains to the Interior Colonial cities, down the twisting and turning Devil's Backbone to return to the West Coast, up to the Copper Canyon and then back to Yuma.
I suppose we all had some doubts about how the eight of us were going to get along. Four couples, eight people with eight different personalities and idiosyncrasies. Our common bond was this beautiful and diversified country named Mexico. We were asked many times how the four couples managed to get along. Actually we were amazed at how well we did get along. Other than one or two minor misunderstandings we all respected each other's space. We had undertaken quite a challenge and needed each other if we had any intention to completing the trip together. We all worked as a team. Teamwork is very important.
The only real problems we had with traveling with four units were trying to find enough spaces for overnight parking, finding enough room at the Pemex stations, and making sure we all make it through red lights and busy traffic.
Our advice to anyone attempting this trip is to make sure that you know your traveling companions well enough as your life may depend on them and their decision-making skills. Make sure you have up to date mapping systems, and good communication devices. We all carried marine radios that worked very well.
As in nearly all cases we packed way too much stuff. Being our first trip that far down into Mexico we did not know what was in store. We packed a 12 x 12 foot screen room that never got unpacked as we never spent more than 6 days at any one spot. We packed two shower tents, one got used one time only. It was part of the experience to try out the variety and conditions of the showers at the different camping spots. We found that we were actually looking forward to a cold shower after a hot and humid day. We had one blue boy black water disposal container that never got used because we found using a 5- gallon bucket was more convenient.
We did not need all the clothes we had packed. This was not a resort type trip so ladies, leave all the dressy stuff at home and find a place in Yuma or thereabouts where you can store your winter clothes so they do not take up space. We had way too much non-perishable food on board. We are hauling back at least 30% of what we had started out with! Face reality, it is too hot and humid to be Suzie Homemaker. Leave your baking supplies and pans at home. Keep to the basics. We were never too far away from a major center that would have a super market. Most food items can be found there. We loved the cheese. Beer and spirits were in good supply. The wine, if you could find it, could have been a bit better so that is why you get rid of your winter clothes so you can use that space for your "Charles Shaw". We did find some "Carlos and Rossi" in some places. We stocked up because we never knew when we would hit paydirt again.
If you are taking a tow vehicle, make sure it has sufficient clearance on the bottom as some of the topes can be high and wide. Pie de Cuesta (near Acapulco) and Campeche had some pretty mean topes. We dragged the bottom of our tow a couple of times.
And lastly, be sure you have up to date maps and guide books. Mexico is building new toll highways and Pemex stations all the time. There are also many changes happening with RV parks. Some closing up while others are opening. Recommended books are: Terry and Mike Church's book on Camping in Mexico. A new one should be out soon. Guia Roji Road Atlas, the 2009 copy is out. Mexico Handbook by Moon's Publishing (ISBN #1-56691-1230) Go to Amazon.com to order this older version as it is one big book. Moon's has since published smaller individual books on certain areas in Mexico. Too many books to lose! We also have the software program: Streets and Trips 2009 version as well as a fairly good hand held GPS. Another helpful tool is the "On the Road In" series. This is a road log and driving guide. You can select which areas you would like to purchase. We had one for the entrie west coast and found it to be very helpful. Go to ontheroad,com
Mexico is a beautiful country. We did not feel threatened at any time. We used common sense. We did not travel at night. We followed the rules of the road. We found if we showed respect and courtesy to the Mexican people we were rewarded many times over, especially if we were lost and confused in a town or village, we found they were more than helpful, especially, the Federale Police Officers. On more than one occasion they got us out of a traffic jam by stopping traffic so we could maneuver all of our rigs around or by getting by us and leading us out of town with their lights flashing. A couple times we were parked along side a road having a break and they would drive up and ask us if we were all okay.
Would we go again? ….In a heart beat!
Our favorite spots were:
* Totonaka RV Park, San Carlos, Sonora: They are near the water, a days drive from the USA Border and an nice American style park with all the amenities with lots of nice restaurants and shopping not far away
* Villa Celeste RV park, Km 74, Celeste, Sinaloa: A nice park north of Mazatlan. Swimming pool, showers, laundry. Nice restaurant nearby and shopping at either Mazatlan or La Cruz.
* Chamela Bay: Playa Negrita. A rustic little spot past the small village of Chamela just south of Puerto Vallarta. Excellent ocean swimming. Rustic facilities.
* Huatulco Bay: Fonatur RV park next to Quinta Real Hotel complex. Shower facilities, no pool but a short walk to a good swimming beach. A high class resort area with lots of nice restaurants and shopping in nearby Santa Cruz.
* Paa Mul RV Park: Quintana Roo, near Playa del Carmen. A nice but crowded spot on the Caribbean. Nice pool and restaurant. Handy to Cancun and entertainment and shopping.
To our traveling companions, Bill and Marilyn Mallet from Comox BC:
You guys are easy keeps and so easy to get along with.
To Ben and Lynette Johnson from Cedaredge Colorado:
Thank you for your guidance, Ben and Lynette; once a teacher, always a teacher. Do you think we will ever get the Spanish vowels correct?
To John and Sherry Polcyn from Delta, Colorado:
Thank you for your patience. For newbies to Mexico you did just great. Thank you all for putting up with our bossiness, and for doing everything Betty's way! It would have been a perfect trip if Lynette let Betty win more at cards.
Thank you to our friends and family in Canada and the USA and to all of you kind readers whom we have never met. Your emails and comments about our web page were most encouraging; and to our friends who provided us with information carried over from their recent trips to Mexico. Deni Ida: thank you for the Mexican Road Log…kept us out of trouble on several occasions. Glenna Strang: thank you also for your travel notes and encouragement. Tioga George: thank you for your assistance in getting us started on the web page. Manfrid Reiter: For letting us copy your travel notes. We wish we could have connected with you and Erica at Playa Azul. Charles Thibault: for sending me the article that was written by Bob Shearer on battery charging which is now in trips and tricks. Moisheh from RV.net: for his advice and information
Also, thank you to the many RV'ers that we met along the way who gave us advice on road conditions and what to see and do along the way. To the many kind Mexican people who showed us how to be humble and to appreciate the little things in life. Somehow the roses smelled a lot better down there. Extended thank you to our friends, John and Dawne Jamieson who made room to store our tow vehicle in Yuma for us. And to the kind people at Friendly Acres RV Park who always manage to have a spot for us at their lovely park in Yuma.
Regarding Bill and Marilyn's accident, please refer to the page "2008MexAccident", or
CLICK HERE.
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