A ride to El Tigre

Yesterday we took a ride to the beach south of us for lunch.  We have been there many times and it is one of our favorite rides….especially now that we have the Mazatlan bypass. 

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Map Point makes a map that I can easily copy and shows our route.  Unfortunately it doesn’t like to go the way I want it to….hence all the dopey markers as I coax it along!  Lunch was around marker 12.  It also doesn’t show the Mazatlan bypass.

We left the park on our usual route and continued on the bypass south.  When we left the Mazatlan bypass and turned right to go into Villa Union you can see the turn around or “retourno” that you would use to head back to Concordia on the free road.  It still means that you would be trying to cross two lanes of traffic to execute this move.  The approach was blocked by many large trucks the last time we came this way so we didn’t know it was even there.   

Left to Tepic on the free road or right to go into Villa Union.

South end of Villa Union.

This fellow was packing a bale of hay across the street from the feed store. 

That green sign way up ahead says turn left for El Walamo which will send us west out to the beach and lunch.

Slight problem!  We have never approached this turn from the south and when we got into the left turn lane and crossed the street we realized we were on a one way street ….going the wrong way!  We made it a block against the traffic, turned right, went over a street and were now on the one way street….going the correct way!  Next time we’ll have to go a block further north and see if there is a sign to turn left to El Walamo there.

Valentines day and the stores are full of colorful wares.

Buy something for your sweetie for Valentine’s day.  

At the end of the street….turn left and continue on to El Walamo.

It is green out this way with lots of different crops.

The mango trees are huge and in full flower.  A sweet scent in the air.

The gate to El Walamo.

A quiet little town with not much happening.

Did I mention how big the mango trees are.

There was a fair bit of traffic on the road today even though this lonely shot doesn’t show it.

The cattle where everywhere today.  Not much for them to eat and they are all along the edge of the road.   Don’t drive at night!

The horses are usually tied up as they seem to be more valuable.

We pass through a couple of small towns past El Walamo and in this one the kids were waiting at a bus stop.  I lifted the camera and they all posed for me!

Picking chili’s?

Some sort of a nursery behind the mango trees.

We are now riding along the beach and the ocean is behind those palms.

Hardly a blade of grass for the cattle.  Very dry out this way too.

Small beer stores along the way. 

Shrimp farming all along the way and a lot more this year.

There is a beautiful big house behind this stunning border.  We used to be able to see it but now it has a plant screen.

Wash your vegetables thoroughly!

El Tigre up ahead on the right.

Parked and ready for lunch.

The surf is large and the beach is endless and empty.

The menu at El Tigre’s…..no prices shown.

While we had a beer (Dos Equis )  I spied a shrimp boat way out in the ocean.  I zoomed and you can see the birds around it.

We ordered fish fillets breaded and although this looks good it is not up to their usual standard.  The fish wasn’t very tasty and also over cooked. 

Eric likes tortillas and rolls them up Mexican style to eat. 

I tried lightening this picture of me but it just got worse so we’ll call it artistic!

 

Even around the restaurant the cattle graze close.

The pelicans were flying right along the edge of the beach on the sand.  Usually they fly much farther out.

This heifer was right by the washroom….don’t step in a cow patty!

Lunch is done and we are back on the road. We will travel back through Agua Verde to El Rosario.

A big bull.

and…..more cows.  Some are pretty skinny and not what you would want on your plate for dinner.  The trucks were hauling poblano chili’s today and we dodged the spilled ones as we rode along. 

Coming into El Rosario.

On other trips here we have stopped and had a look around. 

Turn left when you reach the round a bout by the church.

Down the wide pretty streets on our way out of town.  Not much traffic today.

We stopped for fuel in El Rosario and now we’re on the free road back to Villa Union, the bypass and home.

We turned right at the south end of Villa Union to get to the bypass.  Not one sign to direct us….I guess that will come later!

They are constructing a round about to circle the traffic back to the bypass or….you could go straight through on the free road to Concordia.  All a bit confusing….you bet!

The pavement closer to Villa Union on the “new” bypass is already breaking up. 

The west side has a lane closed and it’s being repaved already as it’s turned into a gravel pavement mixture.  It’s only been open since Christmas!  The rest of the bypass is concrete but this part is paved. 

A good ride.