Day 2 Northward in Mexico

WHERE ARE WE? La Penita, Nayarit, Mexico

Up and on the road this morning about 8;30.  Planned on doing just over 400 kms today.  This was where Archie and I travelled today.  Ended up at Parador Turistico San Pedro.

The first part of the trip was easy peasy even on the two lane portion of the trip.  Here in Mexico if you are on two lane highway, you travel with one tire on the shoulder which frees up the center of the road for passing.  All you have to watch for is someone else trying to pass and you yield to them.  It works really well once you get the hang of it.  Here were a couple of my passes.

this guy was giving up too much road

This is how its done.

Once I got heading north on 57 the truck traffic really picks up.  This is a route that serves San Luis Petosi and on down to Mexico City.  From here to the border will be mainly truck traffic and you just pick one that is going your speed and hang with it.  Because the traffic is so thick, things tend to happen that bring everything to a slow crawl.  A truck pulling out from the side or maybe a traffic stop by the cops.

Notice the plates, Illinois and Maine!!  Lots of trade going on down here.

Today I went through the Monarch butterfly migration zone, but it is the wrong time of year so I never saw one.

Saw lots of cops and marines and National Guard on the road today along with some new chassis for something going down the road.  Its funny to see them with helmets and goggles sitting on a box herding these skeletons of vehicles down the road.

I got all set up for the night at Nuevo Leon, Parador Turistico San Pedro truck stop.  It is in the middle of nowhere between the lanes of the 4 lane highway so they get lots of traffic stopping for meals and a nap or gas or diesel.  It is a noisy place but noise doesn't matter much to me so I will be fine. Its only like 350kms to the US border from here so I will be there by noon I hope. 

Had a nice supper in the restaurant tonight.  My last Mexican meal for a few months.  I had pollo, frioles, arros along with tortilla's and Agua Fresco Pina.  All for 165 pesos.  

Some pretty palm trees here up against the mountain background

While I was having supper a tour bus got ready to leave and one of the drivers opened a side hatch where there was a single bed and crawled in and shut the door and off they went.  Kinda like the secret sleeping places on big airlines.  I guess he will be ready to drive the night shift.

I was parked beside the gas price sign and got to thinking.  I will need gas tomorrow so where will I buy it.  Mexican gas has been around 23.99 since we started coming here 7 years ago.  Although it is expensive here, there are no surprises at the pumps here, unlike at home.  

So I need to decide where the best deal is to get fuel either in Mexico or the USA. So here is what I figured out. My tank holds 300 liters so in Mexico it would cost $570 Cnd to fill it, or I can limp into the USA and fill up where it will cost me $345 Cnd. That's a $225 difference. Well that's a no brainer so I will fill in the US.  Just for giggles that same fill in Canada would cost about $465 Cnd. $120 difference from USA.  What the heck??  Someone is not doing a very good job up there.  Think maybe I will take my time travelling in the USA and enjoy some of the benefits a country that looks after the needs of its people, has to offer.

Tonight was Survivor night again.  There were a lot of weird angles on tonights show but I am really enjoying it.  A couple episodes of Sons of Anarchy and off to bed. Good Nite!!

Day 1 on the Road.

WHERE ARE WE? La Penita, Nayarit, Mexico

Well its time to move on.  I shared a coffee with Sergio and Joel before saying goodbye and heading out.  Archie made sure there were no chickens on chicken street.  He will be my navigator for the trip.

Some friends just hangin out

Had a good day on the road and made it to Largos de Mareno where I will spend the night.  I did get pulled over by the Guardia National just after a toll booth.  Not sure why, but brought out my TIP and they seemed happy and shook my hand and waved me on.  

I think I get a picture of this purple flower tree every year.

He sits up there most of the day and he can spot a cow miles away!!!

This was our route today.  We hope to maintain a 400 km a day average so we have 58 kms in the bank. lol

Near the end of todays trip I ran into a half hour delay.  Trucks were crawling along at a snails pace and there were more of them than I could see ahead of me.  Typical Mexico.

All parked up at a nice water park/RV park in Largo de Moreno for the night.  400 pesos for the night but what the heck.  We have stayed here a few times in the past.  It was still hot at supper time.  Speaking of supper, thanks to Fany for the premade meals that will keep me alive on the road.  They are Yummy.

Delicious

Just a parking lot style RV park but quiet

Last Day in La Penita This Season

WHERE ARE WE? La Penita, Nayarit, Mexico

Well today will be the last long walk on the beach for a few months.  We might get a short one tomorrow but thats only if I get up in good time.  Archie will miss all the rotting fish smells, and chewing on all the fish bones that are on the beach.  He must have guts of steel by now with all the strange things he has eaten.

I headed downtown about 12;30 to check to see if the pills I ordered on Sunday had arrived.  Yup they had just arrived so I paid for them and now I can get ready to leave tomorrow.  I was hungry so I headed over to El Toro for lunch.  Fish tacos were my choice today.  I love this restaurant because they own the fish shop across the street so everything is fresh.

waitress going to get my fish

I noticed the street construction crew had brought a grader in.  It is all painted up nice but is an old 120G Cat much like the old grader we used to have on our construction crew back home.

I spent the afternoon loading up RRV and the Jeep to get ready for an early start tomorrow.  It was real hot today so I had to spend some time in the pool to keep the body temperature in check.  Oddly enough the last Flyball ball decided we were done for the season so it decided to give up.  Good timing.

The pool felt pretty good.

Archie keeping a close eye on me today

By the time the sun was going down, I was all loaded up and hooked up I was ready to relax a bit. 

lined up ready to go

Sun set was a bit of a let down as the clouds obscured the actual setting, however the after colours were well worth waiting for.  And Joel dropped by to say goodbye.

close to a sunset

awesome pinks

Joel says see you later!

Another dip in the pool

I went to check out Oscar at the old Cafecito and Kenia, Suzanna and the new staff at the new cafecito. Both places were doing a surprisingly brisk business. That is good.  Kenia made me a yummy strawberry smoothy.  They thought they might come to see me off in the morning.  I better get some sleep so I'm good for the trip tomorrow. Good Nite!!!

Suzanna giving everything a special touch

Oscar is busy

A yummy smoothie

Soy checking her movies

Very professional setting

Kenia posing again.

Kenia's Cafecito Opening

WHERE ARE WE? La Penita, Nayarit, Mexico

Well this is delay day Number 1.  That means I got to go for another walk on the beach with Archie.  

And you guessed it, one more time to have birria for breakfast. 

There are a bunch of streets getting torn up.  They are going to rebuild them which will be nice for biking.  Apparently the municipality of Compostela is looking to spend a little money in La Penita.  I look forward to seeing the progress they make when we come back in the fall.

Today is the big opening day of Kenia's new Cafecito.  I spent some time there this afternoon watching them all working like busy little bees.  Kinda funny, now that I am older, they don't expect anything from me.   They set me on a chair and I get to watch.  LOL  Things are coming together real nice.

lots of snacks to give away

tasty treats

'Waffles

Suzanna doing quality control

The grand opening was advertised for 5 pm and true to Mexican timing, about 7:30 they opened the doors.  There was a nice little crowd to cheer Kenia on as she cut the ribbon to open the place.  We are very proud of her, and she is over the moon for realizing one of her dreams.

Kenia even gave a little speech

A big bouquet of flowers for Kenia.

And our cute little Katherine was there and she was proud that Auntie had given her a Cafecito tattoo. 

The sunset was great tonight, however I forgot a picture until it was too late.