Frank and Sandi are off to North Carolina for Christmas on Friday so there was just time to squeeze in a ride before they left. I chose El Tigre because it is a pretty ride through the country and it ends up on the beach for lunch.
It is about a 60 mile trip heading south so we didn’t need to leave until 10:30 am. Coming back we return through El Rosaria and it’s longer. Here we are heading up past the Liverpool mall on our way to the road south through Mazatlan.
There is Frank and Sandi in their little blue Jeep. We have a little yellow Jeep that would be fun to have here in Mexico but we don’t have any way to get it here. Some day!
We do a little back way, round about route to avoid some of the busier parts of the city and always pass this interesting graffti.
Riding south towards Villa Union.
They are in the process of creating an easier and safer way to get to the airport. At some point we will be able to use the Mazatlan bypass route to get to a road that will pass over the free road and head right into the airport and Stone Island.
You will then leave the airport the same way and take the road to the Mazatlan bypass. Maybe they will leave the intersection the way it is. At this point all the airport traffic has to try and get out onto the highway with no traffic light. Not safe.
Coming into Villa Union….you can see the huge old church on the right.
We could take the bypass to Villa Union and then come north to the turn into El Walamo but it is quite difficult to make a left turn across the traffic on the bike. Most days it is bumper to bumper through Villa Union.
We’ve turned off the main road and all along the way there are vendors.
Need anything for Christmas?
Monday seems to be market day and there is only room for one car to squeeze through at a time.
Something for everyone.
I think I take a picture of this building every time we come this way!
Here we are on another side street trying to find our way out of town. At the end of the usual road out they had a huge tent set up in the middle of the road blocking traffic! Never a good surprise on the bike but we did make it through.
Out on the open road heading for the coast.
Coming into El Walamo and more road construction at the railroad tracks. Luckily there isn’t much traffic.
The gate says “ Al Walamo” but the highway sign in Villa Union says “ El Walamo” …..????
A very old town that is looking worse for wear.
Out of town and now the crops start to appear. They grow a huge amount of tomatoes, peppers, cilantro etc. etc. out this way.
Now that’s a lovely front yard!
Getting closer to El Tigre and huge aqua culture starts to appear.
They are always adding more and I have no idea what’s in the ponds….shrimp perhaps? They are right close to the ocean.
The cattle graze freely here and some are behind fences and….
….some are not!
The ocean appears and it’s a lovely warm, not too hot and not too cold day.
Here we are stopped and parked for lunch.
Someone left their horse tied up to graze and Sandi is saying hi!
Like most of the horses we have met in Mexico it is quiet and unperturbed by everything going on around it.
On our way in Frank and I stopped to browse the fish cooler. Today they had some red snapper or pargo and Frank and I both chose a 1kg fish for the grill.
The view from inside the open air restaurant. When we arrived we were the only customers but later on as we finished eating it started to fill up.
Now that’s lunch! Done zarandeanado which is on the grill with spices, onions, chilis and served with tortillas and a plate of cucumber and red onion. I wonder how much I can eat of that fish.
Eric decided to have his own meal of shrimp rancheros. He said it was good but that the shrimp were chewy which means….they were overcooked. I’d made shrimp tacos the night before and I added the shrimp to the sauted onions, peppers and garlic in salsa at the last minute. The shrimp needs very little cooking or it’s tough.
Frank and Sandi are sharing a fish. They’d have bought a bigger one and had leftovers but ….they are flying out on Friday.
Everyone happily eating…including me after I took this photo.
I managed to eat half of the fish which was just delicious. It’s not often that there is a red snapper in the cooler and I like it as much as I like dorado.
The whole family going by on a moto….dodging the loose cattle.
Here lots of are Brahma. Hoof, hide, bones and not much meat but they are a hardy breed.
As we were leaving the restaurant I noticed the small trees planted at the edge. Some kind of evergreen with the softest leaves. Lovely.
Which mode of transportation shall we use…..?
Ready to mount up and head for home, the bike I guess!
The horse has been moved and is now in front of the ocean. Makes a nice picture and she looks very much like our grand daughter’s horse Zanna.
I’m laughing here because Eric is cuddling the love of his life!
On the road and heading for El Rosario and then home.
The egrets are all in the mud at the edge of the road.
Lots of healthy looking vegetables growing here as well.
It’s a dog day afternoon!
I am “not” going to get in that trailer! Many years ago when our daughters and I couldn’t load their horse King into the horse trailer Eric coaxed him in with ….a jab in the butt with a spike! Worked great and after that he’d always be looking behind to see if Eric was there. He loaded fine after that ….little bit of encouragement!
Leaving Agua Verde.
We share the road with a tractor here.
There were two small pony’s tied grazing at the edge of the road here. I’ve never seen a small pony in Mexico before.
Lovely boungainvilla.
We are in El Rosario and passing by the huge church. Last year when we came through there were detours but this time things were back to normal and we got through with no trouble. Detours are a pain on the big bike as it’s so easy to drop it in a panic situation.
Left/north and home on the free road.
Eric and Kathy on the bike!
North of El Rosario there are agave fields. The plant has a lifespan of about 12 to 14 years and is harvested for tequila between 8 and 10 years. That’s a really long wait!
We are on the north end of Villa Union and are heading over to the Mazatlan bypass. There are no signs anywhere telling you how to get there! We pass over the toll road, go through the large circle and return to the bypass.
We are on and lo and behold they are already repaving the northbound lane.
This is only a couple of years old but already in disrepair.
It’s a quick trip home with one toll.
As we come around the corner south of Walmart you can see they are digging in the distance. They are digging down and it’s all black mud with water underneath. They have big piles of rock to fill in but…who wants a house on a swamp! This whole area of north Mazatlan has been drained into large tidal canals that run behind the RV park and continue a bit farther north to the sewage plant. I wonder how much sewage makes it’s way into the canals. I do know you are not allowed to fish in the canals….maybe that’s why.
When we got back to the park Eric spotted this big iguana crawling past our site. I got a picture and he continued on his way. I think he has no home now and he is trapped by the concrete wall at this end of the park. Sad for all the displaced wildlife.
The wall is coming our way. The guys working on it are a specialized crew that know exactly what they are doing. They start at 7:30 in the morning and don’t finish until the cement is all poured. Some nights it 6pm and later, in the dark. They are always whistling and laughing and working without any breaks until lunch. Their good nature has us laughing as they call to each other. A far cry from north american workers.
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