Thursday Dec. 15, 2011
Yesterday we took the bus to the Stone Island Ferry. We caught the green bus 9.5 peso’s or about 60 cents and had a pleasant ride into town, through centro and on to the ferry dock where the buses turn around. The bus ride is always interesting as you can see how close they get to every vehicle they pass. I might add that you don’t want to be that vehicle! Right next to the ferry which goes to La Paz on the tip of the Baha is the small panga ferry to Stone Island. There is another departure point but this ferry is quick and an easy walk along the beach to the Stone Island town. The cost for a return trip was 25 pesos or about $2.00 and it was a quick trip.
The weather was pleasant and warm so it was a nice ride over.
Marilyn & Dennis
Mazatlan docks.
Coming up to the panga dock.
We walked up the beach and were immediately accosted by restaurant workers etc. trying to get us to stop and eat. Stone Island is a popular weekend destination for the Mexicans to come to the beach but like many areas of Mazatlan it is now very quiet. Only a few restaurants are still operating and the RV park that was previously full is now only partially occupied. A lovely beach and very quiet but it would be a hassle to bring groceries back and forth from town. The road out is a long and slow dirt road and most people use the ferry to access the mainland once they are parked there.
Dennis and Marilyn had some goods for friends of theirs who are now making their home on Stone Island so that was our first stop. Shelby and Mel are originally from Washington in the U.S. and Dennis and Marilyn were RVing neighbors of theirs in years past. Shelby and Mel are leasing an apartment and are planning to stay in Mexico year round. They have their motor home bus for sale and have just moved into their new accommodations. Shelby has just had a back operation in Mazatlan so she is just recovering from that.
We had a nice lunch at Carmelita's restaurant in front of the building Mel and Shelby live in and it was very pleasant. It was a long wait for the food but I think that they get so few customers that they have to start from scratch. Mel treated us all to lunch which was a surprise and not at all what we expected. Thanks for that Mel.
Marilyn and I had a little relax in the sun while Eric jumped into the water for a short swim. He had expected it to be really warm as it was so shallow there but …..it was not! Oh well, I guess it was refreshing. We then loaded ourselves back into the panga for the short trip back to Mazatlan and lucky enough for us the bus back to the RV park showed up almost immediately. Bonus! A nice ride home and another good day done.
We are here at Tres Amigos on Isla de la Piedra. Just discovered your blog. FYI, if you check my blog post from a few days ago, there are 21 fully functioning restaurants just on the beach alone, never mind inland.
ReplyDeleteThe reason the RV park is so empty is that 7 RVers in the last year alone have made either Stone Island or Mazatlan a permanent home!! PLus we have 4 out with family medical problems just for the year. I think only 3 have not returned at all, one being Sam's sister.
Certainly not a problem living here, we go into Maz once every 2 months. Absolutely everything we need is here on the Isla. Personally we could NEVER stay in Mazatlan. Good thing there are choices for us all.
Have a very happy 2012.