We ride to Estacion Dimas for lunch.

 Yesterday morning Eric and I decided to take a ride to Estacion Dimas for lunch.  It is one of our favorite rides because it's quiet.  I was last up that way when we went to San Ignacio with Frank and Sandi.  The detour road from the toll road to the free road was so full of potholes that after that ride  I wasn't keen on going until the El Quelite bridge reopened and we didn't have to use the detour.  The bridge should have been open by now but there was a mishap by an operator and a span fell down!  Eric was up that way by himself since and said the road had been repaved in many sections so off we went. 

It says 67 minutes but it actually took 2 hours!

Here we are on the free road heading north and there is no traffic.  After last weeks " kerfuffle" with the capture of El Chapo's son " The mouse" I kind of wondered if something was going on.  We did see the odd car but not many. 

None up ahead either...nice but strange.

Farther along we could see where a truck had been burned across the highway which would have been part of ....the kerfuffle!

Bits and pieces. 

Turn left to Dimas. 

These mango trees were tiny when we road this way a few years ago.  They grow fast and live a long time.

It's dry during the winter but here they have water for irrigation from the Piaxtla river.  Green and beautiful. 

Very uniform which would mean lots of fertilizer. 

There we are!

Crummy picture but we're crossing the toll road to Estacion Dimas.  

We came here many years ago to have a look and ended up coming back time after time.  

It's a lovely little town with wide streets, brightly painted and well kept houses.  Almost everyone is on something motorized, moped, motorcycle or ATV of some sort.

We'll circle around and come back for lunch.  A favorite restaurant. 

Lovely buildings. 

The blue church. 

Here we are...right on time for lunch. 

It was quiet today.  Another table had three older motorcyclists who had just finished eating.  They wandered over to say hi and ask where we were from.  Names were exchanged and the guy talking to us said he was from Alaska but had a house in northern California and Mazatlan.  Another one from Colorado and one from Mesillas which is near Concordia.  We visited Mesillas and had a look as its well known for its furniture that is made in Mexico and imported from Europe as well.  They, like us were just out for a days ride.  They'd had shrimp and oysters and were ready to go.  I mentioned the quiet road and they thought it was just quiet after Christmas. 

These little tortilla chips were really good.  I must look for them. 

Chips and salsa while we waited. 

This is a seafood restaurant and it's all fresh.  They are always cleaning shrimp and filleting fish while we are here. 

The other riders were on BMW's much more practical for Mexico but not so comfortable for me. 

Ready to go.  They were parked out back in the shade. 

Eric had camarones rancheros or shrimp in a spicy tomato sauce with peppers. 

Tortillas to eat with the meal. 

I had pescado frito which is a whole fried fish.  Today it is red snapper which I saw them bringing into the restaurant.  Even the eyeballs which I didn't eat.  I like the fish skin so I ate it all but the bones and head.  Just delicious and both meals were 130 pesos each or just less than 10 dollars Canadian... a real bargain and just delicious as always. 

Ready, set....go!

I had to leave a little rice but I ate the whole fish and it was good.  Only complaint was it was too heavily salted. 

Time to mount up and head back. 

Clothing shop. 

Back over the toll road on highway 2 to the free road. 

Just up ahead is the second burned truck that we passed coming in.  It too had been burned across the highway and was pulled off. 

Eric said it was a doble or tractor with two trailers behind. 

The tow truck was there but it was still smoldering.

A small tributary of the Piaxtla River. 

So nice to see all the greenery. 

The horses look well fed but I'm not sure I'd want to eat that so called hay if I was them.

Turn right and head south for Mazatlan. As we headed back there was lots of traffic so I guess it was just quiet in the  morning.  

Turn right on the road to Marmol to get back to the toll road.  Thankfully it was pretty smooth in the morning and on the way back.

Obey the signs!

No giant potholes this time. 

Onto the toll road and home. 

Exit to Cerritos and the playas or beaches. 

Way up ahead the landmark on the beach...The Riu hotel. 

Rampant building everywhere.  I don't know where the people, power, water, roads and sewer lines are going to come from.  The Mazatlecos or locals that I've talked to are not happy about all the building. 

And we're home.  At the very end of the street is our house.  It was a good ride, a good meal and a good day.  We'll do it again.