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.

ha-MIKE-uh

I know I've talked about our drinks of choice here in Mexico.  To be sure, Mexican beer and Margaritas on the rocks are excellent choices.  But we do drink other beverages as well.  One popular drink down here is called Jamaica, pronounced ha-MIKE-uh.  Bob and Linda raved about this tea before we arrived and  quickly introduced this excellent beverage to us.  It is best described as a herbal tea made from dried Hibiscus flowers.

At our local produce stand you can buy bags of these dried flowers.

First you steep the dried flowers in hot water,  dilute with cold water and sweeten to taste.  You can also add this mixture to green tea.

There are studies showing the health benefits of this herbal tea.  Among the reported benefits are lowering high blood pressure and reduced high cholesterol levels in many individuals.  I don't know if all these benefits have been proven but I do know it is a refreshing beverage.

Local restaurants serve it fancy in a margarita glass with a slice of orange.  

The local grocery store sells it in 10 litre bottles.  

With us a plastic cup will do just fine.

Until later. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELLE!!

Today is our daughter Michelle's birthday.  Michelle we hope you have a wonderful birthday.  Thinking of you and the miracle that occurred in the great snowstorm of 1978.  Love you.

Michelle shares this birthday with two of my brothers, Neil and Mark.  So Happy Birthday to them as well.

MARKET DAY

This morning after getting our daily shrimp delivered at our door, we headed into town. We wanted to find a bank  and ATM to withdraw some pesos and then visit the old town area and a few markets.

Puerto Penasco is not a polished American tourist town full of boring franchise restaurants. If you are looking for a Starbucks or a Applebee's you are in the wrong town.  It's fortune, good or bad, is directly tied to the United States.  As long ago as Prohibition, when tourists were lured south of the border for cheap alcohol and gambling, to the 90's with the rapid building of condos, it's good times and bad times depend on tourism.

Right now there are countless unfinished condos lining the beaches.  It's anybody's guess when, or if ever, they will be completed.  This area still draws the spring break crowd thanks to the age 18 drinking law.  There are signs of culture mixed in with the rough and tumble but it takes some looking.

I certainly don't want to paint a bad picture because we are having a great time and enjoying the warm hospitality of the locals.

We went to a small neighborhood vegetable market today and below is what we bought for 98 pesos, or about $7.50 U.S.  Among our bounty was avocado, cilantro, tomatoes, papaya, dried beans, celery, limes, and jalapeno peppers, onion and garlic.

We then stopped at the main grocery store for some cheese, bakery items, and fresh corn tortillas.  Our last stop was at a little tortilla stand for hot off the griddle flour tortillas.  What a treat.

All told I think we spent under 20 dollars U.S. for everything we bought today including the pound of jumbo shrimp.

This afternoon we took Mollie on our daily beach walk and worked on her obedience lessons.  She did great but has a ways to go. Good thing she is such a part of our life.

Until later

MOLLIE GOES TO THE BEACH

This afternoon we took Mollie for a walk on the beach.  It was cool but sunny. There were a few local families out and a few local vendors peddling flowers, pottery and jewelry, but for the most part it was very quiet.   You can see the amount of beach we have at low tide.

Mollie seem to really enjoy running on the sand.

She even managed to find something to roll in.  I think it is much easier on her feet than the desert rocks and gravel we have been in for the last month.

She also enjoyed chasing the gulls.

All in all a great walk for all of us. As I write this, Mollie is already curled up in a chair fast asleep.   Tonight it's shrimp on the Barby.  You know those shrimp I bought outside our door this morning.

Until later

P.S.  Mollie decided this evening that she wasn't done running and playing and slipped out the door to go visit a few neighbors.  Thanks to Bob she was returned safe and sound, was sent to her room, and we did enjoy those shrimp.

FRESH SHRIMP

Did you have fresh seafood delivered to your home this morning. We did.  One pound of jumbo shrimp for six dollars fresh at our door.   A nice way to start the day.  I hear they are really good with eggs!!