We made it to Mazatlan.

We arrived here yesterday around 3:30 after a very tiring two day drive. 

We left the Playa de Cortes in Miramar around 9:30 am on Thursday morning.  It had clouded over and become rainy and windy over night but had mostly cleared up by the morning.  

Ramona’s ready to go. 

The car is hooked up and time to hit the road. 

We travelled the airport route that skirts the east edge of Guaymas to avoid driving through the city.  Last year it was full of potholes but this year it was pretty good. 

Travelling the Guaymas bypass road that goes past the airport. 

We come out just south of Guaymas and turn left.

After Empalme (south of Guaymas) you join the toll road (15D) and head south.  For about 30km the road had been repaved and we thought it was going to be much better than last year. However that didn’t last long and we were now pounding along on horrible pavement at about 70km per hour or less. 

Before Obregon you go through Vicam.  All the trucks heading north and south are stopped.  I didn’t know why but Connie says it is some dispute with the Yaqui Indians.  We were waved through.

After Obregon the road is great….new concrete pavement to Navojoa.  After Navojoa  it really gets “shitty” again 60 to 70km per hour top speed.  Navojoa is a really pretty, clean ….almost American looking town. 

Navojoa.  We head straight through town….lots of stop lights.

Not sure what’s in the truck.  You can see how bad the road is. 

When we hit the border into Sinaloa (about half way from Navojoa to Los Mochis the road improved a tiny bit and the good news is there is a shoulder in Sinaloa so you can move over to get out of the ruts in some areas.  There was too much traffic to drive in the fast lane. 

They are burning everywhere….right up to the edge of the highway. 

Welcome to Sinaloa.

Who says you can’t drive a tractor on a highway!

Not sure what’s under there!

Just north of Los Mochis and some of this road is okay….but most of it ….not.

We arrived at the Pemex south of  Los Mochis at about 5:30 pm after an 8 hour drive.  Way longer than it usually takes.  We parked close the fence on the north end because there is always a breeze from the north and that way the trucks don’t drown us in dust while they park. 

We had a happy hour outside the rig and I got bitten by bugs.  Rats!  Eric had his pants and socks on and they didn’t seem to bother Connie and Manny.  Another small Class C rig had pulled in as well and it was a couple from Fort McMurray, Alberta who stayed in Las Jaibas last winter. 

Dinner in the gas station restaurant (go0d) and back to the rig.  Bed time early. 

Ready to go.

Friday morning we left Los Mochis at 8am.  We weren’t sure how bad the roads were going to be and we didn’t want to get in at 5pm! 

Coming into Guasave just south of Los Mochis.

Not great from Los Mochis to Culiacan but better than the day before and at least there is a shoulder to move onto.  We did drive in the fast lane in some areas. 

Lots of agriculture now.

Lots of crops under screens.

At one point Connie and Manny stopped and she jumped out and bought a bag of oranges at the side of the road.  She’s pretty speedy!

We took the new bypass through Culiacan and when we went through the toll booth Connie ran up and told us they needed to stop as their motor home mirror was loose.  What a surprise as the roads could rattle the teeth out of your head.  We stopped at the toll booth and had lunch while Manny clipped his mirror back together.   Onward. 

First toll on the Culiacan to Mazatlan stretch…300 pesos or about $24.   There is another big one close to Mazatlan. 

178 km to Mazatlan and the road doesn’t look great here. 

Not too bad here.

Here they are burning again.  Crazy!

Getting closer to Mazatlan.

The Culiacan to Mazatlan stretch was okay and well it should be for almost 600 pesos in tolls.  It is not very busy so we were able to drive in the fast lane whenever the road got rough. 

The last toll booth before Mazatlan and almost 300 pesos again.  Close to 2000 in pesos from the US border to Mazatlan for us.  We are charged more because of the three axles on the 5th wheel.  A cost of the trip and an irritation because you are paying to drive on some really bad roads.

Manny and Connie passed us here just out of Mazatlan as they knew what site they were going to park in and we didn’t. 

The fall blooming pink trees are glorious.  I forget their name. 

So…into Mazatlan and Las Jaibas.  I was worried that we’d have trouble finding a spot but turns out it is only really busy at the front of the park.  It also looks busy because the park is full of boats in storage.  We pulled into spot #32 around 2:30pm and were easily parked.  We are right across from our favorite Germans! Max & Ursula and Gunter and Regina. 

Whewwwww!   Finally here.  Lots of people came by to say Hi and it was sure nice to see everyone.  The humidity is very high and it’s hot so we were really sweating.  We set up as much as we needed to….hooked up the Star Choice and it was time for beer. 

Dinner and bed. 

An early night!

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476 hard miles.