Sam And Saundra's Year Long Adventure - Part 81

Sam And Saundra’s Year Long Adventure – Part 81

Mexico 

3/24/09 – Mazatlan – San Fernando RV Park

Judy and Peter had spent a part of their last day in San Blas finding a better route to leave it by.  The wagon master indicated we were going to go back the way we came and continue north from Tepic.  Luckily, Peter and Judy found a better – much, much better way. On the map, it was a yellow road, but it was much flatter, straighter and in better general condition then the road we came in by – and it would save us time.  In addition, Judy wrote up a detailed travel log for this revised route that was very accurate and easy to follow.  Thanks Peter and Judy!  The only other complication this morning was that Mike and Penny had gone out kayaking yesterday and Mike stepped on a sea urchin.  He did not think too much about it and continued playing.  When they came in out of the water, they discovered not all of the spines had come out and were not willing to come out, even with all the efforts of Mike, Penny or the two resident nurses.  He plans to drive to Mazatlan and see a doctor there. 

Small Town

Greenery?

We hit the road and it is much, much easier.  Not as ruggedly beautiful as the way in, but we were ready for calm, especially while pulling or driving the RV’s.  No problems until we take a morning break.  We have pulled to the side of the road in front of several houses.  We plan to be there for only 10 minutes.  Unfortunately, Peter and Judy’s RV won’t start.  It is a big thing, the one with duct tape keeping the front right fender on.  The men who are, or wanna be, mechanicos go to work looking and pondering and trying things out.  The rest of us wait.  I get my chair out and set it up under a tree and enjoy the whine of the passing vehicles until I remember I have my IPOD.  Much better beat and easy to dance to. Mike and Penny are parked behind us, about 25 feet back.  I happen to look their way and they were not looking too happy.  Mike was in pain.  I talked to them, they talked to the wagon master (the tomato farmer was trying to get a live mechanico on site) and I talked to Sam.  We were going to go ahead, acting tail gunner for Mike and Penny so he could get medical help.  We make it down the road about 25 miles, where we stop at the Pemex station, just before we are to get on the main cuota to Mazatlan.  We have heard that the rest of the group is on their way.  The problem is a broken gizmo on the air conditioning thingamabob that keeps the engine of the vehicle part of the rig from starting too.  Stupid system if you ask me.  They can get the part in Tepic and will try and catch up later.  Klaus stays with them. 

On The Road

The rest of the trip is pretty uneventful.  We make it to the RV park.  Mike is taken to the hospital in an ambulance. We get set up in our assigned space.  I email the people that were left stranded in Puebla area at the Teotihuacan RV park.  They finally got their truck fixed.  They have talked to the police and insurance company about the extreme tow money they had to pay (their insurance company will only pay $300 of the $3000 US that they paid for the tows).  They took picture of the people who did the tows and the police say they will try to find them. They are waiting until the caravan they were with is in an area that they want to see and plan to rejoin them there.  (They are heading the opposite direction from us).  I feel better that they are safe. Mike gets back from the hospital and the doctor indicates he was close to gangrene.  He is safe.  Our 178 mile road trip day that was to take about 5 hours has been a long one.  I am so thankful that we were able to take the route we did.  If Peter and Judy had broken down on the ‘extreme road’ we entered San Blas by, who knows what further danger would have been faced.  The only thing I don’t understand is why Des went to the hospital that Mike was in just to get weighed.  Or why when they finally allowed him to weigh himself, he made issue about whether or not the scales were right, since they showed he had lost weight, then he left.  Hmm. And you think I have a strange sense of humor?

Big Cost Of Travel In Mexico  - Cuotas

Local Bus Service

RV Park

We are here.  Sam and I have heard about Mazatlan forever. We are here.  We saw some of the city as we drove in – but that does not count when you are pulling a trailer.  Tomorrow should be fun.  This park is small, but pretty and has a pool.