TRUST BUT VERIFY

Yesterday we made the 190 mile trip from Puerto Penasco, Mexico to Lake Pleasant Regional Park on the northwest side of Phoenix. 

After carefully maneuvering out of the crowded park we followed Bob and Linda north to the border crossing at Lukeville, AZ.  In spite of a long line we were through there in 10 minutes. 

Since Bob and Linda were going to stop in Organ Pipe National Monument for a few days we pulled over to say our goodbyes.  We enjoyed our time in Mexico with them and are grateful that they took a couple of novices under their wings for our first trip to Mexico. We are going to miss their company and wish them safe travels as they start a slow trip north to Alaska.  You can keep up with their travels at Linda's blog. 

We originally were going to stop in Gila Bend for the night because we needed to pick up our mail.  But we got there early, picked up our mail and decided to move on.

We got another lesson in why not to blindly trust your GPS.  As the saying goes,"trust but verify".  Our GPS routed us 20 miles out of our way and we ended up on a dirt road with no way to back up.  So we unhooked the Explorer, turned the RV around and headed off in the right direction.  A quick check of local maps showed that there are two roads with the same name.  Oh well.....

We found a site and were soon settled in even though we couldn't get the coach level.  We try to be careful using the leveling jacks because a few years ago we cracked the windshield trying to get level.  We settled for tolerable.

This morning we went on a scouting trip and found a much better site.  Since we are going to be here until next Tuesday we decided to change sites.  We went through our normal departure routine, but I got in a hurry.  While the TV Satellite dish was lowering, I unhooked the power.  There was a brief power interruption before the inverter kicked in.  It was off long enough to screw up the dish.  A trip to the top of the motor home and checking connections proved useless.  I came down and called Motosat to see if they could help, since we couldn't move with the dish partway up.  After a 5 minute wait on hold a young man was able to help me get the dish down.  It turns out that I corrupted the memory by unplugging the power.  He walked me through reprogramming the controller and 10 minutes later we had the dish down.

I stopped by the dump station while Judy went on ahead to make sure someone else didn't take our new favorite spot.  The sites here are all "first come, first served".  This new site is very level and has great views of the valley and distant mountains, complete with Saguaro cactus.

We settled in and set up the bird feeders and soon had 2 hummingbirds at the feeder.  This afternoon Mollie took us for a walk and we met some nice people who had a little dog that Mollie liked.  They invited us to sit for a while and we had a nice visit. They are from Montana and had just purchased a new to them 5th wheel. Nice folks.

We enjoyed a glass of wine watching the sun slip behind the mountains and then cooked dinner on the grill.  All in all a nice day.

Until Later.

mañana

Please don't say mañana if you don't mean it
I have heard those words for so very long
Don't try to describe the ocean if you've never seen it
Don't ever forget that you just may wind up being wrong

Yes I guess there is a bit of a Parrot Head in Judy and Me.   

Well, mañana is almost here and our time here in Mexico is coming to an end.  We have enjoyed our first stay here.  We have not encountered any problems during our month long visit and look forward to coming back. Yesterday we went to the market and picked up fresh scallops and still warm tortillas to put in the freezer.

This morning a crew showed up to wash and wax the rv, polish the wheels, and wash and wax the explorer.

Then we went out to our favorite restaurant La Casa Del Capitan which sits on top of Whale Hill for a farewell meal with Bob, Linda, Earl, and Lynda.

Here are a few snapshots of our last week here.

Oh, one word of wisdom if you find yourself headed this way.  The fermented, distilled juice of the Blue Agave Plant packs a wallop, so be careful.   

P.S.  If you aren't tired of seeing pictures of us and Mexico check out Linda's blog as well

CHOLLA BAY

Yesterday we went with Earl, Lynda, Linda and Bob out to JJ's Cantina at Cholla Bay.  Cholla Bay is an old fishing town which also is home to Americans looking for a cheap place to live.

JJ's is an institution in these parts.  An old tavern with inside and outside seating right on the bay.  This is very much a self serve type place.  Since it was such a beautiful day we opted to sit outside.

After an opening round of margaritas we all ordered fish and chips.

Doesn't sound very Mexican but it was local fish.  We all agreed that the fish was excellent.  The girls decided it would be fun to feed a gull who was keeping an eye on us.

Of course when you feed one gull you soon have lots of gulls.  Later we wandered down to the shore to watch the unique way they pull out their fishing boats.  When you don't have a pier, you make do with what you do have.

They would drive this contraption out into the water pull the boat trailer, hook up the boat and drive back to shore.

We noticed a flock of pelicans who were keeping guard on the breakwater.  Soon one of the fisherman showed up to clean their morning catch.

He would quickly fillet the fish and flip the remains to the pelicans who would fight over it.  We suspect that these fresh fillets found their way into today's fish and chips baskets.

One of the things you come to appreciate is the simplicity of these people's lives.  I know it's not easy and most of them are probably living just day by day, but it does make one stop and think.  As I listen to CNN and FOX  today going on and on about politics and weather, I do envy this simple life style.  Could I trade places with these simple fisherman? Probably not, but it is a lesson in being thankful for all that I have.

6 MORE WEEKS OF WINTER

Well according to Punxsutawney Phil we're in for 6 more weeks of winter.  Not that it matters much here.  But for our friends back in Michigan here's a suggestion.  Build a fire, snuggle up and watch a good movie.  Here's a recommendation.

As for us.  Well we are going with friends for a sunset dinner.

Until later.

Aniversario de la Constitución

So how does one celebrate the first of February in Mexico?  We didn't even know it was a holiday.  But yes the first Monday of February is officially Aniversario de la Constitución.  We discovered this while out shopping.  First we noticed the local school was empty.  Then while at the Super Lay (our local grocery store)  we noticed families everywhere.  Then when we got back and checked on some expected mail, we discovered there would be no mail because it was a holiday.  


So how did we spend our holiday?  Off to the ATM to pick up a few pesos.  Then to the fish market for fresh scallops and shrimp.  Then to the produce market for peppers, tomatoes, avocados, limes and cilantro, then on to Super Lay for cheese, milk and corn tortillas.  I even drove yesterday.  Until now Bob has been doing all the driving, but I decided it was time to learn my way around.  With Bob as guide we were fine.  A few more trips and I'll be on my own.  We made one final stop at the place we get our fresh flour tortillas and they also had fresh tamales.  So we bought two pork and one sweet corn and had our lunch.  


Later that afternoon while we were deciding what to fix for dinner, Earl (one of the Quartzsite trailer trash gang) came by and invited us to go on a sunset cruise.  For just ten dollars a head we got all the margaritas we wanted and a lite dinner.  Well that solved our dinner plans.  So Earl and Lynda, Bob and Linda, Judy and I headed out for the evening.  Here are a few pictures of our evening.  

 

 

Until later.