We Almost Got Trapped!

Two shorter rainbursts was all it took to convert this boondocking area into a terrible mess. The ground, mostly  mix of sand and red clay has turned roadways into mud puddles where any attempt of crossing ends in getting stuck.

So a lot of people here got worried about not being able to leave the area for the coming days. 

This morning we decided to take a walk around to assess our chances to get our car out for a grocery run.

Walking down the main road we saw a guy coming towards us. It was Brian from Saskatchewan, camping here with his toy-hauler. His mission this morning was the same as ours. So we teamed up in our efforts to find an escape route. It became clear that there wouldn't be any break-through on the main access road. 

This used to be the main access road

So we tried a road running along the power line. There were more problems that way as well. Every little dip in the road was filled with treacherous mud. Another road to the west seemed better. Underway we saw what really no visitor would like to see - piles of garbage. But finally we found our escape route to the paved road. 

 

Both Brian and I had planned to go shopping for groceries, so when he came with his truck, I followed with our car. I went to the Guaymas Walmart and filled my cart with groceries for the better part of a week. If we should get more rain our escape route might turn impassable as well.

Muddy area next to our bus

After lunch we decided to move our rig about 15m ahead to a dryer part of the ground, thus making it possible that the area, now behind the bus, could dry out in the sun. Our trusty green outdoor mat was moved and turned upside down as the area under it was muddy as well.

We have moved and turned our outdoor mat

And I am glad to say that it helped to dry the mat and the ground where it had been. 

Our mechanic did not show up today, though he had made an attempt yesterday but got stopped by the mud. But that doesn't matter as we are in no hurry.

We are hoping for sunshine for several days to end our predicament with the mud.

Beach Condos at the far end of our beach for Americans and Canadians with plenty cash. This is also a gated complex.

Very Beautiful But We Are Sad

What a relief for us when the long weekend was finally over. I had 2 nights where sleep was not possible until after 3pm. That's when the terror noise from town finally stopped. I was exhausted and had to find some sleep during day time. But this last weekend cemented our decision to leave town and head back to the US.

Tuesday it was time to go dumping. The closest opportunity for that is Totonaka RV Park just a few kms towards town. 

This tree is in the way to make use of the full length of the site

After seeing the park which has been in operation from 1983, we are glad we never stayed there. The park is not only dated but downright neglected. The RV sites are so close to each other that you would hear every word spoken from your next door neighbour. And a bar located next door is producing Dunk-Dunk noise until 3am while the park "strictly enforces quiet hours". LOL.

Sites not long enough

The dump holes are located in the middle of the width of the graveled site. They are located in a concrete square sticking out at least 4 inches, and if you hit that block with a wheel (It's really narrow) you can kiss your tire goodbye. 

On the left site of the campground we saw a number of big class A bunched so close together that I wonder how they will ever be able to get in or out, and of course, there are no modern pull-thrus.

Well, this was the first and the last visit to Totonaka here in San Carlos.

So yes, we are very sad that this whole idea of spending the winter in Mexico has not worked out, despite the undisputed fact of the local beauty around here.

Cerro Tetakawi

Our camp site is still the most beautiful we have ever been in, and we had just begun to get to know our neighbours while we were invited to their camp fire with great conversations. 

While we are still on-site we are enjoying the time between the weekends. 

Moonrise 

Did We Make A huge Mistake?

This will come as a big surprise to all of you.

This morning we spelled out what has been smoldering in our minds for the entire previous week. 

Last night was a night from hell, there was no chance for sleep until way after midnight. The reason was the Dunk-dunk noise generated 3kms away in town. It was felt like an earthquake right under our rig. And I wouldn't even talk about if this was a one-time incident. Not just every weekend - but just imagining about what is going to happen during Christmas and NewYears makes me shudder.

And if this crazy noise wouldn't be enough there are these countless 4x4 monster machines turning this beautiful beach into a Highway of Terror. There seems to be no respect for nature and people's desire for peace

Everything else is actually fine, though Bea complains about the sand getting into the coach.

Our return to the States will have to wait until we get our water pump installed though.

We regret this very much, cause San Carlos has beautiful sides as well, but we hate booming loud music, especially Techno with its monotonous beat.

So What To Do Next?

I have to say that this is a very quiet place to camp - during the weekdays. The Saturdays are obviously not all that quiet. Last Saturday we have been "entertained" by some horrible DUNK-Dunk-Music. A group of kids (youngsters!) got the great idea to have their boom boxes on full speed, they even got it connected to some fancy what-ever lightshow about 200 yards away from us on the beach. I still heard them after 1pm before exhaustion got me.

And then there are these 8-cylindred horrible beach monsters driven by kids who load them up with young girls for the purpose of showing off how tough these imbeciles behind the wheel can be. They get these machines from a local rental place and the beach with surroundings are their playground. I get it. We have to endure this. It is their beach. Once Sunday is over, peace is returning to the area. I can live with it. And I believe that Saturday night beach parties will soon be over as the nights are getting cooler now.

Mighty nice new mural along the wall of "Pilar Condos"

This morning I was debating myself what to do today.

There was the issue of my little problem with the solar installation. One of the wires had gotten too hot, because of too much power, so I had disconnected a couple of panels to ease on the power, but then I had run extra temporary lines for those disconnected panels down the side of the bus. Now this needed to get fixed by getting the wires through the roof and inside the rig and all the way into the battery compartment.

Bea in position to "shoot" a bird

So I faced drilling another hole through the roof. The decision to get it done was made because we might decide to go dumping waste water next week and loose wires hanging down the side was not an option.

Grabbing my battery drill and drill bits I started in the bright morning sun. Naturally, it turned out that my biggest drill bit wasn't big enough to allow both the plus and the minus wire going through. I needed a 16mm drill bit to get that done. Best place to find a drill bit would be HOME DEPOT in Guaymas. That trip would also allow me to drop into Walmart for more food. Better to go today than Saturday.

So off I went. Traffic was light until I got close to Guaymas. I did spend too much time at Home Depot, as I usually do, just to run along the aisles like a kid in the candy store - sooo much to see. At least I got the sought-after drill bit. Once out on the BLVD I got lucky and sped over to the far left lane as getting to Walmart means a left turn. Not too bad for a newcomer in Mexico, eh?

The Mexican Walmart is organized a bit different from US Walmarts, But once one gets the hang of it - it works.

One thing is the same as in the US though, they try to save on paid labour and hope people would use the self check-outs. I had learned my lesson and rather waited in line at a cashiers till.

Driving down a small street from Walmart I noticed people in yellow vests with brooms. They were sweeping the street and sent the dust flying. When did I last see people doing street sweeping?  I think it was in Germany during the fifties. Don't they use those street-sweeping machines in Mexico?  

So much to learn here!

Getting back to camp, it was an hour past lunch time.

Bea hadn't eaten either so we had a quick plate with oats and fruits.

And finally, I clambered back up on the roof, where my new drill bit was put to the test. I am happy to say that the success was mine! Once inside the rig I fed the wire through another hole, ran it behind the washing machine, through a third and fourth hole until I had reached the battery compartment where the wires joined the other ones and fed into the charge controller. A reading of amps going into my batteries now made me smile. Finally I had solved that problem. We would be ready to roll to the dump station any time now.

A "Normal" Day On The Beach

 Are there normal days at all? Isn't every day special?

Beautiful view across the beach

The little umbrella providing some shade for Dixie when she is in her hole!

We might often feel that most days are alike each other but if you think about it most days are somewhat different from the day prior.

So this 13th of November started out the same as the days prior. 

But then small differences are sneaking their way in.

Like our camper neighbour Jennifer being hit by a small baby stingray. When I heard of it she was ready to do the hot-water treatment. Bea went over later to inquire. Jennifer's foot was swollen from the poison. We will see how it's gonna be tomorrow.

San Carlos with its only Highrise 

The Pilar Condos about a half km from us

Across the bay with the "Delfinario"

Another neighbour left this morning with the destination Puerto Vallarta. Have a safe travel Lori and Mike!

It was a really gorgeous day with temps at 27C (80.6F) and a steady good breeze off the water. I started using the flat bed trailer as a tanning deck. It elevates me off the ground so I have a better benefit of the breeze.

It was early afternoon when a nice sailing yacht showed up at our beach. It was a friend of one of our camper neighbours.

What really made this day stand out was the happening after supper. A bunch of local people appeared with their cars, followed by a truck and a horse trailer. One of the young women was dressed in a pink ballroom dress.

The truck driver with a white Stetson unloaded a beautiful Pinto Horse, mounting it and rode out onto the white beach. The sun had gone down but there was still this orange glow over the area.

A lot of photo equipment had been set up on the beach and obviously the girl dressed in pink (was she a bride?) was supposed to mount the Pinto horse. However the horse didn't want to have it and got nervous. Coulda been the fluffy pink dress, I think. They tried it several times but as time went by it got too dark for the photo shoot. I guess they have to ask AI to create that photo.

It got to be pitch dark before the horse was loaded into the trailer again and they left. Horses are amazing animals with a strong will.

Our Tour To "La Manga"

Besides of a few errands in town we wanted to drive out to La Manga, a traditional fishing village a few km out west of San Carlos. I-Overlander mentions a few camping possibilities there and besides of being interested in seeing the village we also wanted to check out camping.

The "La Manga" adventure began with a sudden stop of the pavement. 

Road to "La Manga"

So we followed the gravel road into what looked like a remote village somewhere far away in Central America. Primitive shacks, half finished construction projects, some buildings obviously abandoned a long time ago and  ---- restaurants, a lot of them. They were built like open construction, one or two walls, or no walls at all, the roofs covered with palm leaves

What a great place to eat!

In the village of La Manga

Yes, this was old Mexico as we had never seen it. People there went about their business, a man working on his truck, a couple of people on a beach trying to catch fish, a woman looking down to us from her balcony.

Black Vultures

Beach at La Manga

These fishermen's families have been living here for ever, while modern life developed 7kms away in San Carlos and its outskirts where we had passed along fancy condominium complexes, gated communities and few modern hotel complexes. 

The contrast between rich and poor could not be bigger. While villagers are hoping for "Turistas" to frequent their restaurants, they are also facing a threat that rich developers might show up offering round sums of Pesos for land where they can build even more of the beautiful white condominiums.

Rocky coast at Pietras Pinta

And the area at La Manga is truly beautiful. Small white beaches flanked by rocks with the tempting blue waves of the Sea of Cortez would attract the same type of people who already have invested in their dream property from where they enjoy "million-dollar-views". But it also threatens the century-old way of living for Mexican families.

Cerro Tetakawi new development

Leaving rusty old entrance gates and car wrecks behind, we turned around and drove down to "Pietras Pintas". another truly beautiful beach. This is one of I-Overlander's camp areas, and it would be perfect for a small rig which is capable of navigating along the bumpy narrow roads leading to such treasures, but out of the question for a 40ft bus like ours.

MIRADOR LOOK-OUT

The next stop was the beautiful look-out MIRADOR. One of the most stunning views along the rocky coast. It reminds of coastal areas in Italy or Spain.

View from Mirador

Full of new impressions we made it back to the core of San Carlos and our camp.

San Carlos Air Squadron exercising