Sunday, January 14, 2007
Sat 13, January 2007, Alamos to Bahia Kino (State of Sonora)
Back to where we started this adventure: Bahia Kino. Faithful readers will know that we came back to get the cat that escaped almost a month ago. Success! He’s back and doing fine. We’re trying to get in a frame of mind to leave this beauty and people. Fellows came buy selling lobster last night so that helped!!! $14US for all of these (and they were still kicking!!!
Fri 12, January 2007, Alamos (State of Sonora)
We did some shopping at an native handicrafts store and then went to La Adunana, a village several miles out in the desert. The church (now being renovated) is said to be famous and has a cactus that mysteriously started grown out the side. One person said it had achieved miracle status but we’re not sure of that.
A great find was a first class gourmet restaurant in this tiny village.
A great find was a first class gourmet restaurant in this tiny village.
Thur, 11 January 2007, Alamos (State of Sonora)
A quick drive inland to a town that we’ve heard a lot about: Alamos. It is a colonial mining town that now has historical protection from the Mexican government. It was nice but we were disappointed. We liked El Fuerte better.
Wed, 10 January 2007, Huatabampito (State of Sonora)
Today we drove around the area checking our markets and looking for Maya Indian crafts. We ended up in an Indian village, way out in the desert. Neat village, no paved streets but the village and the citizens were immaculate. We could not find any shops selling the crafts so we stopped at a regular shop to ask. To our surprise, the lady closed her shop and she and her 2 year old got in the car with us and took us to several of her friends who made the articles. These are normally sent to Alamos where they are sold to tourists. Everyone was super nice and we picked up several nice things. It was a nice trip and we got to see some things that very few people ever do.
Tue, 9 January 2007, El Fuerte to Huatabampito (State of Sonora)
Man with gun awakens Daniele
Another short day, 3 hours and 109 miles. Daniele is excited: says it was the first time she has ever awoken to a young soldier standing over her carrying a gun! Geeze, if I had known, I would have carried a gun more often! What happened was that as we get closer to the US border, we will start encountering military checkpoints looking for guns and drugs. At this one, they were walking through every RV and even making the 18 wheelers back into a loading dock and opening the doors for checking. Our 2 soldiers spoke no English but were very polite. One was fascinated with the dogs and wanted to know their names. The other one checked the coach fairly carefully and is the one Daniele saw when she woke up. I recognized his collar patch as being artillery and he was excited that I knew that. I suspect that they rotate units on this duty. Was not a big deal and we were soon on our way to another check point, this time for agriculture (California does the same thing). The various states are trying to protect their crops and try to stop import of fruits and some veggies. For the first time at one of these the nice inspector came in but just looked at the fruit bowl (that was empty), glanced around and said adios.
The route continues through intense agriculture areas with lots of irrigation, even though we’re getting into the Sonora desert. Again, we continue to get waves from everywhere. We found our park (El Mirador in Huatabampito www.el_mirador.tripod.com) and again, fantastic (If you find Navojoa on your map, look SW on the coast and you might see this village…it is very small though.) This one has a very nice restaurant and we’re closer to the water than we have ever been. The beach is almost deserted in every direction. There are only 3 other RV’s here. The dogs can run loose and had a ball. Surf is very calm but the water is a bit cool. We just chilled out in the sun and then had another fantastic meal of shrimp.
Another short day, 3 hours and 109 miles. Daniele is excited: says it was the first time she has ever awoken to a young soldier standing over her carrying a gun! Geeze, if I had known, I would have carried a gun more often! What happened was that as we get closer to the US border, we will start encountering military checkpoints looking for guns and drugs. At this one, they were walking through every RV and even making the 18 wheelers back into a loading dock and opening the doors for checking. Our 2 soldiers spoke no English but were very polite. One was fascinated with the dogs and wanted to know their names. The other one checked the coach fairly carefully and is the one Daniele saw when she woke up. I recognized his collar patch as being artillery and he was excited that I knew that. I suspect that they rotate units on this duty. Was not a big deal and we were soon on our way to another check point, this time for agriculture (California does the same thing). The various states are trying to protect their crops and try to stop import of fruits and some veggies. For the first time at one of these the nice inspector came in but just looked at the fruit bowl (that was empty), glanced around and said adios.
The route continues through intense agriculture areas with lots of irrigation, even though we’re getting into the Sonora desert. Again, we continue to get waves from everywhere. We found our park (El Mirador in Huatabampito www.el_mirador.tripod.com) and again, fantastic (If you find Navojoa on your map, look SW on the coast and you might see this village…it is very small though.) This one has a very nice restaurant and we’re closer to the water than we have ever been. The beach is almost deserted in every direction. There are only 3 other RV’s here. The dogs can run loose and had a ball. Surf is very calm but the water is a bit cool. We just chilled out in the sun and then had another fantastic meal of shrimp.
Mon, 8 January 2007, El Fuerte (State of Sinaloa)
Decided to stay another day and see the town by day. We went to the market area and strolled. Daniele started looking at clothes; Steve saw a tiny barbershop and got a haircut for $3US. Daniele says it is the best haircut in years. We got hungry so we sat at one of the many stands where they make tacos to order. We had 5 delicious beef ones with everything, plus 2 cokes for $5US! By then, the streets were emptying for siesta. We saw a small hotel and the lady invited us in to the courtyard….beautiful! We’ve seen here that you should not judge a house by its front. As you peek down the driveway or entrance path, you will usually see a magnificent, landscaped patio and interior. We ended up at the plaza and enjoyed the quiet. Then, it was siesta time for us too. For dinner we went to a very nice restaurant and had a fantastic meal for about $40US total. Restaurant really reminded us of one you would find in Spain.
Sun, 7 January 2007, El Fuerte (State of Sinaloa)
Today was a short trip of only 60 miles to El Furerte an old colonial mining town way in the hills. Good road most of the way through beautiful agricultural areas and neat villages. We were told that most of the veggies and fruits that we see in the US during winter come from here. The RV park is mid size and we’re the only rig here. Caravans use it in Feb and March as a base for Copper Canyon tours. The owner is an American that is a retired pilot from Frontier Airlines. He organizes dove hunting trips for rich folks he says.
El Furerte is great! We had an excellent dinner of shrimp (what else?) at a very nice restaurant and then went to the Plaza as do many other residents. The Plaza is beautiful, right off of a postcard with a big bandstand in the middle and gorgeous trees all around. Citizens of all ages were strolling around the square or sitting and chatting on one of the benches. This truly is a wonderful snapshot of something you don’t find much anymore. Food venders are at various places around the square and we finally found the famous Churros again. Remember at our first park in Kino the vender came through with a tank of hot oil in the back of a pick up truck selling a doughnut type thing (and Steve ate them all)? Well here they were again. We got plenty this time. Lot to be said for strolling around a plaza munching on Churros.
El Furerte is great! We had an excellent dinner of shrimp (what else?) at a very nice restaurant and then went to the Plaza as do many other residents. The Plaza is beautiful, right off of a postcard with a big bandstand in the middle and gorgeous trees all around. Citizens of all ages were strolling around the square or sitting and chatting on one of the benches. This truly is a wonderful snapshot of something you don’t find much anymore. Food venders are at various places around the square and we finally found the famous Churros again. Remember at our first park in Kino the vender came through with a tank of hot oil in the back of a pick up truck selling a doughnut type thing (and Steve ate them all)? Well here they were again. We got plenty this time. Lot to be said for strolling around a plaza munching on Churros.
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