Tuesday March 29, 2011
We arrived safe and sound yesterday around 3:30 p.m. Travelled from Los Mohis at 80 to 90 km which saves the rig and gives us better mileage. The overnight in the Los Mochis Pemex truck stop was a bit noisy but what we expected. The noisiest thing was a rig from Saskatchewan that pulled in next to us with a barking dog and a generator that they ran for 5 hours. Who needs that much power?
Here we are lined up with the trucks before we got a neighbor.
We ate in the restaurant at the Pemex and although my dinner was good Eric’s was horrible. A hamburger that was so greasy (bun included) he could hardly eat it. We’d waited 45 minutes to eat so he wasn’t going to send it back. I had shrimp brochettes which were good. Oh well!
No issues along the way and we came in through Empalme and Guaymas to Miramar where the RV park next to the Hotel Playa de Cortez is situated. An easy right onto the overpass and a straight shot to the end of the road. Same thing out just head over the overpass and north to Hermisillo.
Looking out at the gate where you come into the RV park.
Lots of empty spaces.
The only issue was when we were parked and set up. Eric was setting up the satellite dish and there was an enormous boom inside the rig. Sounded like a gun shot and scared the hell out of me! Turned out that I’d left the water pump on (although Eric says that was not the problem) and the connection to the pump blew off. There is some clip that holds the connection that had wiggled loose along the way and it let go. We had to unload the pass through and pull apart the wall to get at it but it was not a real big issue although it seemed like it at the time. Eric put the clip back and wrapped it in “black magic” so it should hold. When I tried the water at the kitchen sink the water at the cold tap was once again clogged with calcium from the hot water tank so that took a bit to get unclogged. We do run a water filter but it isn’t enough to stop the calcium. For some reason the hot water is never affected. Whew it was really time for a beer after that. Another good reason for short days and not arriving late just in case something goes wrong.
It is very quiet here and there was only one rig other than us last night. Now there are two more. We can get internet here in the lobby of the hotel so that is fine. We were just up to Totanaka and their internet is off again. The hotel was very grand in it’s time, built in 1934 by a railroad millionaire at his wife’s suggestion. You can look at their web site www.hotelesgandara.com.mx for more info.
Walking toward the entry into the hotel Playa de Cortes.
The lobby.
Reception desk in the lobby.
Ceiling in the lobby. Note the intricate timber frame work.
Bar and restaurant where the wood sculptures are situated.
The four sculptures tell the history of Hernan Cortes and the Rape of Mexico. They are 1/4 life size and are in 4 inch relief and are in plied mahogany. The artist was Dick Wiken. Google him for more info.
Once the best hotel in northern Mexico. Still pretty nice.
Imagine this room in the late 1930’s filled with people in evening dress dancing.
Information plaques on the walls.
This is the grand dining room. Imagine how many people could be seated here.
Right on the beach with a swimming pool we can use.
Out front towards Miramar and it’s beach.
The hotel from the beach.
Towards the hotel from the beach. Note the large areas for dancing?
As we are leaving tomorrow I won’t get the chance to use the pool but on the other hand it isn’t heated. Maybe next time. The cost is 270 pesos a night or $22.50. We like it better than San Carlos and the power and water service seems okay.
A look back at the park from the entry to the hotel.
Today we drove into San Carlos to Totonaka to see if George and Sharen were still there. The rig was there but the vehicle wasn’t so we knew they were out. Just as we were leaving they came “walking” in. Turns out the Honda was severely damaged when they hit metal on the road this side of Los Mochis. They think it was something like a crowbar and John hit it first and blew a front tire. Boomer hit it (no damage) Manny missed it and George at the end of the line hit it too. Blew a tire on the car and it turns out the metal put a hole in the differential casting the size of a nickel and all the oil leaked out. They shouldn’t have towed it but they didn’t know what the damage was at the time so they just changed the tire and carried on. So, it may or may not be repairable and they don’t know yet. Bad luck.
We continued on down to the Marina for lunch and it was very good. Fish tacos and crab tostadas with of course a Pacifico!
Looking back through the marina to the Hotel Marina Terra where we stayed for a month 4 years ago on our first trip to Mexico. It’s all been repainted and looks great.
Into Guaymas for some bolillos (buns) for the trip and all done. Back to the rig for beer and relaxation.
There are now three more rigs in the park stopping on their way north.
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