Deserted Beach

We have always wanted to stop at Huatabampito to see their celebrated RV Park - many of the tour books suggest stopping at this beach.

Well, we did!  It was just as windy as Mazatlan and here the sand was cutting into our bare legs and blowing into the RV.  Not nice at all.

The owners were very friendly and the beach was lovely so I can see that under the right conditions, this place would be perfect.  Even if it is 43 Kms off the highway!

We were the only unit parked on this beach and it was completely quiet when the restaurant closed at 7:30 and the workers went home.  Maybe a little too quiet and deserted!

Maggie loved it as she could run free and not worry about anything - especially us.  Who in their right mind would walk a dog in this sandstorm?

Exploring the City

We braved the wind and caught the bus down to the historic district of Mazatlan.  It was a complete surprise to us [its been many years since we were last here] as the historic centre was awesome.

There were many sidewalk restaurants, quaint streets and cathedrals. We walked for miles until we couldn't move our feet anymore.

We even caught one of their open air taxis to the Gold District so we could see the original resort area.  Very busy and so much to see!

Moving North

We left Lo de Marcos and its beautiful weather for the windy weather of Mazatlan.  When we arrived at our destination we couldn't believe what was happening...so windy the door to the 5th wheel would not stay open.  After 58 days of absolutely no wind, this was a little hard to take.

We arrived at 4:00 and didn't leave the unit all evening, except to walk Maggie.

Maybe it was the 191 topes I counted or the fact that it took us 3.5 hours to travel 125 kms, but something put us in a bad mood.  We were arguing about the setting up within minutes!  I'm sure our neighbours could hear us, but what can you do when your spouse won't listen to you!  That goes both ways!!

A Few More Sights

Fixing a small tear in the rubber seal....a gift from the phone line we tore down.

Maggie's grooming.

View from the RV Park.

Maggie checking out the ocean view.

Fred checking out the ocean view!!  Or is he really interested in kayaking?

Sights of Lo de Marcos

I should have named the title “Sights and Sounds of Lo de Marcos”, but I am definitely video illiterate and find it impossible to post one.  So this is what you get!!

Lo de Marcos certainly grows on you...the quiet pace and wonderful weather are the two constants that become part of our everyday life.  

Of course, the course!

Laundry Day!

Pineapple Stand

Christmas Dinner

Being serenaded while getting a haircut!

Stocking up on the wine!

Rush Hour!

Our favourite restaurant!

Supermarket!!

Butcher Shop!

Water Supply!

Special Delivery

Almost daily, a Mexican Senora comes around to the RV units taking orders for the next day’s supper.  She makes and sells fajitas, chile rellenos and today it was tamales.  She cooks the meal at her home and assembles it in front of your unit.  We have heard very good things about the meal, but don’t expect me to test that out.  As many of you know I do not like Mexican food!  I live on fish and chicken!

Two young men often come around selling fresh chickens and our neighbours always order one.  The men always say they will be right back and within the hour they come to the door with a freshly killed chicken  It’ s cleaned, but still warm.  

Friday's Routine

Most Fridays we do a long walk and this week was more of the same.  We walked to a secluded beach 17 kms from here.  We were joined by a few four legged friends to make the trip that much more exciting.

We passed through pineapple fields and irrigation overflows to get to a high vantage point before the beach.

Every so often we needed to take a liquid break as the day was hot and humid again....just like every other day in this part of Mexico.

Awesome view at the top as we walked toward the beach.  The beach was perfect and very secluded.

We clean up well!!  As always, there was a meeting of the minds after the hike where a few cervezas were consumed!

High Tide

Yesterday we realized the weather would be changing when the waves started to hit the beach restaurants.  True to our prediction, today was cloudy and a lot cooler.  It never did reach 26C.

It actually felt quite nice for a change!

The surfers loved the high waves and rough water.

No Blisters

I don’t really know what we were thinking when we decided to go for a 25 km hike from our RV Park to San Pancho area.  We went with a hiking group from the next park and obviously they were the leaders as we didn’t have a clue where we were going.  As a matter of fact, I’m not sure they did either because we got lost in the jungle twice - nothing serious, just confusion as to which trail to follow.

The first 6 kms were on a wider trail that took us away from our target area, but toward the river.  For the next 4 kms we climbed and climbed and climbed some more.  There were only three hills but they were very steep.  That part of the hike took a lot out of everyone.

For the next 10 kms we followed the river as it flowed to our destination.  This was difficult as well because we had to walk over rocks and through the water.  We must have crossed the river at least twenty times and for the first five or six times I tried to stay on boulders in the water to keep my runners dry.  Yeah well, that didn’t last long!  On one crossing I slipped on a rock and both feet went into the water in hopes of keeping the rest of my body dry.  After that I didn’t give a darn and walked right through the river.

We even found a swimming hole to cool off in, although not everyone was willing to strip to their scivvies in order to get wet!

The canopy of the jungle kept us cool up to this point in the hike, but the last 5 kms were brutally hot and I was very glad to see the end.  Fred and I thought we would end the hike near the town of San Pancho and were surprised when we realized the final destination was underneath a bridge on the main highway, about an hour away from the nearest taxi.

How do we get home?  I sure as heck wasn’t walking back!  All fourteen hikers were debating this problem when we spotted a big Greyhound type bus cruising down the highway.  This bus was from Puerto Vallarta on the way to Tepic and they do not stop for passengers on the highway!  No way!

But...to our surprise the drivers pulled over and gave us a ride to Lo de Marco for the hefty price of 10 pesos [about $.80].  I couldn’t believe what happened and neither could the sleeping passengers who were shocked to see us board the bus.  

It was an awesome day full of new adventures and the chance to make new friends. The group picture shows the six hikers from La Parota RV Park.   Our next  group hike is a three hour excursion which will have us climbing over steep hills to get to a secluded beach.  Our hiking “leaders” promise there will be taxis to take us home.

It felt so good to put my feet up and have a cold cerveza!!

It's a Dog's Life

We meet these two mutts on our daily morning walk and they don’t have a care in the world!

When we start out Maggie is her usual pushy self always leading the parade!

By the time we head home, she is exhausted and dropping behind with her tongue close to the ground!

And this is what she looks like after a few minutes at the RV.

We Had Rain

It rained hard for one day last week and we found that the canopy held the water too long.  The type of canopy we have is not adjustable enough to allow the water to run off correctly.

This was Fred's solution to the problem!!!

Hiking

Yesterday we joined a local hiking group on their climb of the hills near Lo de Marcos.  We left at 8:00 hoping to beat the heat - didn’t work!

We were even joined by a local caballero!

The climb was interesting and very hard on the legs and lungs.  The grade was steep and continual, with very little flat land.  It took us 2.5 hours to get up and down.  The views at the top were awesome, but not as spectacular as Tetakawi.  

We were in dire need of fluids when we got down,  so when in Mexico do as everyone does....have a cerveza!!

Next Friday we have a four hour hike planned, but this one is not going to be straight up and straight down.