“Mexico 🇲🇽 ~Interior State of Sonora, Town of San Carlos for Six Weeks”

• May 15, 2022
• By Pen
• 0 Comment

From Nogales, Arizona USA 🇺🇸

The last leg of our journey has arrived!
After many nights in Walmart parking lots, continuing to boondock through California and Arizona, we only have five more hours to go to reach our Mexico 🇲🇽 destination!
We always buy insurance for our vehicles, when we cross into Mexico, as our USA insurance will not cover us, internationally, and when staying in Mexico for a long while, we must have a tourist card (UPDATE: this card is no longer a requirement) It’s also a good idea to get Peso, for US Dollars, to pay for the Toll; Hwy Mexico-15.
Even with these extra costs, including our $26/night with full hookup at the Totonaka RV Park, pet month.

Fuel is extra expensive right now, at about $1000, for both vehicles to get us here, to San Carlos Mexico 🇲🇽 from California. We could have cut two days of travel, off our route, by dropping into Mexico from California, but safety first over extra fuel cost, to take this better route.
We are looking forward to fresh seafood, more sunshine, ocean breezes, and plenty of relaxation! If we have decent wifi, I can even play catch-up on blogging. (That did not happen-not great wifi at all!
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We have arrived in San Carlos, Mexico 🇲🇽 yay!

Amongst our adventuring and playing, we also had a list of repairs and other jobs we needed done, while down here; as its far cheaper than in the USA 🇺🇸 

*Daryl got our American flag hanger drilled in. Yes, higher would have been better, but needed the bracket inside to attach to, so it was not just in the fiberglass

*Bigger project is, the LR TV. We brought our Smart flat screen from home, to replace the older (but good working non-smart TV flat screen) ….daryl sold the original TV to a local. Of course the holes do not line-up the same, so new holes drilled and finding proper long screws to hang the new TV with. The Whale has a satellite dish, for Cable TV capability, if we want to buy a cable box, but we just don’t watch TV enough to justify that. But, the smart TV will let us watch a few shows we do enjoy on AppleTV. In the end the switching out of flat screens did not work…ugh! So now we are trying to get the parts to make a smart TV from the 2016 model we already have.

*The A/C at the console does not work on The Whale. The thought is, it needs Freon. It did, but the local A/C guy said the Freon line is contaminated. He does not have the tool needed to blow the line, to clear the contamination out. He said we would need that done in USA. So, $70 later, no real fix 🙃, although the added Freon is definitely working for now.

*Waiting for the plumber to arrive to fix a leak in one of sink drains. Tried to fix, but don’t have the right tools. The whole drain just spins around in the sink

*Before we depart, next month, we have arranged a wash and wax for The Whale. It will take two days. She already looks great, so after this, she will really shine! ($80 here in Mexico..$450 in the states). It’s all the rave here, and we have seen others get done. Beautiful! 

Today (Wednesday) is fresh fruit market day and Thursday is fresh seafood delivery day. You should see the size of the shrimp here!

Our grandson, Luke is a huge Shrimp fan (just like his Mom and MeMa) so we are bringing a feast of Shrimp for the family, from Mexico. (We have a seal-a-meal) to ensure freshness for when we arrive this summer. Luke is VERY excited!

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We have since had a change of plans about driving The Whale to the east coast to visit grands this summer.

1. The price of fuel is too expensive, and
2. Our newly purchased Volkswagen, won’t be ready to roll, till end of summer. BUT, we will fly to the east coast, from Colorado, after our month in Utah, where we will be staying for the rest of the summer.
Luke will get his seafood feast!
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We continue to be two of less then a half dozen Americans in the RV park, that we know of; amongst mostly Canadians and French Canadians.

⬇️ BTW, who else loves Avocado Toast?

I’m using my homemade Egg Bread for the toast…. YUMMY

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I sure love “Glamping!” I can fix up any of our favorite foods in my kitchen, now! I’m even using our convection oven, which is also our microwave; though completely new to me, over a standard oven, I’m getting used to it.

I’ve lost count on how many times I’ve had the pleasure of making a mess in my kitchen, baking goodies. It’s been so many years, it’s like new, with all my favorite recipes!

I am having a hard time wrapping my head around having a dishwasher in the Motorhome, though. Still washing by hand. Maybe someday I will use it, and  probably just to make sure it’s operational and all.🤔

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Mama needed a new straw hat!

I went on a solo walk for about a mile, total. I found a roadside stand and a young girl with the perfect hat for me! (many to choose from).
~200 pesos (like $10)
I also stocked up on Mexican Vanilla for baking. It’s the best I’ve ever used! I’ve done this every time I’ve gone in to Mexico.

Finally, the plumber came by today, and will return at 9AM, tomorrow, with a cutting tool to repair under the sink (slow leak)
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I’ve been reading so much, I’m blowing through all my kindle downloads, way too fast, so I stopped at the RV clubhouse to barrow paperbacks, for free!
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Late afternoon, we are going with new friends to a beach Bonfire! Well yeah! Life is good 👍

La Manga 4, Mexico 🇲🇽
(fishing villages)

Beach evening with friends: Canada, England and America represented.

We had such a great time! Thank you Brett and Sheryl for including us!
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We’ve been in Mexico over two weeks, and this was our first dinner out!

There are quite a few places to choose from, in restaurants, and we hear they are all good. We were not disappointed at this one! We went two times.

Eating out is not a cheap thing in Mexico, and we know this already, so it’s a real treat!

The big guy tipped the man to serenade me….aaawwww ❤️

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With 1.5 weeks left in Mexico, we changed spots, today. I even got behind the wheel of The Whale!
We are now next to the little pool, and on solid concrete, so a very nice break from the dirt pads of dust. The pool has finally warmed up, with the warmer (hotter days)

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We honestly still can’t believe that beauty in the picture is really ours….. still sinking in.
Life is good!

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Yesterday, our friends from Canada invited us for a tour; off-road. They’ve been coming here for a few years and know where is where, and have the vehicle to get there!….. like where the movie “Catch 22” was filmed. Only by 4×4, could we have gotten to several of these spots.

Beautiful! Thanks Brett and Cheryl. We will miss you when you take off! 😁

……more photos ⬇️

⬇️ The last few photos are of a “Club Med,” that is now a ghost town. The resort didn’t go beyond one season. It’s a rough road to get there, first off, and the water around the area is cold like the Pacific Ocean; being the California Gulf…. Not your Cancun type destination.

On another day, Sheryl showed me where more places are to go, which we can do in our AWD, as we went to a fresh seafood place in Guaymas. I bought us 3 kilos of crab (already cracked and shelled), as well as fresh, bacon-wrapped scallops! ….Just finished vacuum sealing and putting in the freezer, (again) after gobbling on fresh crab!! YUM!

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From Mexico to Yuma, Arizona

….Up at 4AM and out the door 30 minutes later, we drove just our vehicle; 9.5 hours to Yuma, AZ to look at purchasing our tow car for behind  “The Whale” (our Motorhome).
I’ve wanted another “Bug” for years…both of us each having owned two, previously! Daryl said okay, and favors the convertible.
So, let us introduce you to “Jonah.” Why the name Jonah? Well, so now we have “Jonah and The Whale” 🐳
The couple who sold us the 1972 Super Beetle are keeping the Bug for us, till we leave Mexico and make our way to Williams, Arizona, before the end of the month. From Williams, It will be a 5 hours drive down to pick ‘er up!
In the meantime, we are ordering a tow bar, and hopefully find someone to put it on for us, in Williams, AZ, while there. For now, we are starving (long day) and are eating, Yay! …then to find a hotel for the night for less than $250! 😳
In the morning, before dawn, we will be up and at ‘em eatly, again, for the 9.5 hours back to The Whale, in Mexico 🇲🇽
Whew! It’s never dull in our world!
Here is our future “toad” vehicle to pull behind The Whale!

We are back, safe and sound; back to The Whale 🐳! We missed her, as hotel overnights just won’t do for us anymore! *spoiled.*
After that fast trip, we are looking forward to tomorrow, when we get to relax, and enjoy a slow coffee morning!
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Right up to our last days here…..

* Got our generator serviced on The Whale 🐳 

* Got oil changed (both car/MH)

* Housekeeper arrived and got The Whale cleaned up from the dusty stay, on the inside

*Got our custom-made mud-flap delivered today, for the back of “The Whale” 🐳… a BIG full-width mud flap, to protect our VW Bug, from flying debris, while traveling.

It only looks crooked, because the jacks level the Motorhome, automatically; this is why it hangs from a chain.

*We had a custom-made back splash done in the kitchen, made out of metal. Originally, we wanted hammered copper plating, but copper is too expensive right now, and not available down here. So, the worker pounded sheet metal for the right look, and instead of installing, we had them just give us the plates. In the USA, we will buy shiny copper spray paint, as well as a lacquer to make it look like copper (my water bottle is the example and the big guy will install. (Daryl had removed a ledge with drawers from in the back of our counter space)

The backsplash turned out really nice.

Just waiting for a non-windy day to make it look like my water bottle color!
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*We were supposed to get The Whale washed and waxed, but the workers for those jobs are out with  C19, so D got the ladder out and got our windows cleaned, before the owner of RV said no running hoses. (Water usage).

Workers here, know their stuff, and cost a fraction of the money, compared to USA 🇺🇸, for which we are grateful! We bought filters, Oil, and antifreeze in the USA and brought it all with us, knowing we would rather pay a  20, 50 or even a 100 dollar bill, and a handshake, for labor, instead of hundreds of dollars, and maybe a thank you.

All in all, the A/C at the front seat panel, (The Whale) we could not get fixed, though we tried (they do not have the right equipment for that one to clear the contaminated line) Also, the Aqua Hot system has a leak, but the part needed is not available here in Mexico, so D ordered the part and we have an appointment in Phoenix next week to install the new circulation pump for the antifreeze. ($650 later)

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From San Carlos, to Guaymas to Empalme, Mexico 🇲🇽 ……one more run for fresh seafood. Daryl made seafood Alfredo Pasta, tonight; loaded with scallops, shrimp, and crab! I Vacuum-sealed the rest, for a future date with our kiddos in North Carolina!
I can’t believe we leave in a few days, after almost six weeks!

All in all we loved our time in Mexico! It was perfect safe the whole time….promise! We might even come back another winter, but one thing we learned from this first trip is: the week before Easter and the week after is a huge vacationing time for the locals. Because of this, it got very crowded and noisy till the wee hours. We would have left early, but we had work on our coach lined up, already, so we just sucked it up. I slept with earplugs! 😂Next visit, we will leave before Easter… lesson learned 😊

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BONUS STORY BY Daryl:

We start our journey with a confusing crossing of the border, as three choices lay in wait. We follow maps to the wrong crossing, as it would wind through narrow streets, not meant for large RV’s.
A tight turn past a watchful border agent removing safety cones as we make our way back to a more receptive wide road in the US. Maps keeps directing us back the same way, but the agent gave directions that we follow, missing the turn. Soon we traverse the proper route and find fuel cheaper than Arizona prices.
The toll road has many stops for inexpensive monies, as we follow a cracked pavement that the wide berth of our wheels seems made for the coach to find every pothole. The left side of the road is more intact and smoother. The rules of the road does not allow a constant transit on the smooth side.
We saw many buildings, never finished, as taxes would commence when construction is completed. The secret is to never finish, but continue to work to keep the tax man at bay.
Traveling through small communities with food carts and the occasional three wheeled ice cream man pushing past rubbles in his path. A man walks with a stack of hats on his head a mile high looking for a few Peso’s for a meager living. Another small tin building with bright clothes, also stacked high and a headless mannequin, are displaying the latest new style blur as we drive past.
My wife is driving our all wheel drive that is not suitable for a toad. We used two way radios to communicate. We did not get enough Pesos and the toll roads only takes pesos, so I suggested she stop at an exchange and get some, and I would drive ahead and stop as soon as I could find a place to park.
I drove for miles through town and found a bus stop to park at, so she could not miss me. Her radio battery died and she missed seeing me. I was panicking after about an hour, since hearing two broken words on the radio, before it died. 

Bunny called me from the campground. I was totally freaking out. I took off and met up with her in another hour in San Carlos at Totonaka RV Park. What a relief, I parked in our spot and set up our camp.

We have never been around so many Canadians. Our Winnebago 42QS is so big we could not park next to the concrete pad, because the sewer input was a volcano shaped concrete mound, about one foot tall. Our wheels would set on top and we would never level our coach. So, we moved next to the other concrete pad and ran our sewer hose under the coach to connect. After opening the slides, we took out half of the adjoining pad. Two Canadians gave their opinions as to how I was not parking right. We had no choice and the campground was going to be emptying out in a few days, since peak winter season was over. It’s best to let the RV office make decisions on our behalf, instead of other campers. The RV manager had no issue with our coordination at our site.
We joined a few campers for a beach bonfire. I traveled throughout the town to find firewood with no luck. Buying firewood before traveling to Mexico is a must. The day before, I saw a truck with firewood for sale. Like the girl with home grown eggs, if you don’t get them when you see it, you may go without.
Our neighbors offered to take us on the back roads and explore some special spots. The four wheel drive of the Jeep came into service several times.
We changed RV sites, next to the pool, just before the town exploded with holiday travelers. Easter week is a big holiday, which is celebrated with very loud music and hordes of traffic, slowly moving down the coast.
We had many specialist help us. I had the oil changed on our SUV, our 450 HP Diesel engine, and our generator. A new fuel filter and air filter were also installed. We had a welder make a pho-hammered copper backsplash for our kitchen. We purchased a 1972 Super Beetle convertible for our new toad. Our rear stone and mud flap was missing, so we had the welder make a new one. We had a maid come and clean our coach, very cheap. The guy that was supposed to clean and wax our coach for $90.00 did not show up.
We stocked up on huge shrimp, salmon and scallops. There is no problem bringing back frozen fish.
We traveled back to Arizona, filling up with diesel before crossing the border. Going into Nogales, AZ, we had to take a special exit made for RV’s. Bun was driving in front of me. Cars can exit at a place RV’s can’t. Well you can quess she took the way through central Nogales, Mexico, as the maps still did not cooperate. I told her we had to turn around. So we went towards the border and the streets got very narrow. Several Mexicans told me to go left so I did. I went through some very narrow streets and got locked up with parked cars not giving me room. I was inches away from vehicles on both sides. I stopped, and locals came out to help. I helped to push a car forward out of the way. Another neighbor moved his car forward. Two men stood in the back to direct my movements. I made it out and my maps was doing real good, then not. I was on top of a hill with a route down a curved narrow street. No way! I turned around and found myself going under a bridge with an arched top but very narrow with inches on each side. A man stopped his lunch and guided me through the impossible way. So next, I find myself back at the intersection where I was turned around. A man jumped in my coach and guided me through the same streets I went on before, but with one exception. The border is up ahead and I tipped the kind man all the Mexican money I had. ($20.00)

So, I am crossing the border and I am sent to a particular closed crossing. I sit for about twenty minutes then a crew of five border agents come on board and ask me about everything I am bringing across.
Six weeks in Mexico and buying supplies. I could not remember everything. One of the agents wrote down, on her rubber gloves all the things she was going to confiscate. I had to leave the coach and they rummaged around about twenty minutes. They walked out with five dozen eggs, sausage and salami. The lady said I was lucky she did not fine me. I said I did not know eggs were not allowed. She asked me, but I could not understand everything she said. Eggs are so good in Mexico.
So we made it back to US soil and I found my wife at a designated Walmart parking lot, and looking forward to a good nights sleep!