We've been in Maz just over a week!

 So what's been going on?  Well...mostly cleaning.  I have been scrubbing, washing, shopping and at this point things are starting to feel like we're really here.  The outside patios were just filthy after 6 months of rain, sun and dirt from all the construction in this area.  The building is still rampant so there's huge dirt in the air.  Eric was really tired from driving and then he had a few days of "Montezumas' revenge."  All good now and he's back out on his bicycle.

                        Yuck!

It takes a couple of big shops to get the fresh vegetables and meat up to speed.  I of course can leave food in the house and I bring a few tubs of food from home.  I like to cook and Eric likes to eat so a well stocked kitchen is important!

I was at the Mercado on Friday and I stocked up on shrimp, sea bass (corvina) and red snapper.  This is my go to stall in the market.  They are fast with their knives and she always removes the big bones.  Home to vacuum seal the fish and clean and pack the shrimp.

Last Thursday I was back to bingo with Marilyn and Marion.  Were a tiny bunch and we miss Pat and Sandi.

That's Izzy hamming it up when Marion won...

.

....twice!  Marilyn was one number short on the 12,000 peso speed round☹️

Yesterday was Eric's birthday and Marilyn and Dennis came for happy hour and pizza.  I was too tired to cook but I did make Eric a rhubarb coffee cake with home canned rhubarb.

Marilyn even got a photo of me.  They brought Eric a six pack of Pacifico which is always a perfect present.  Good friends and we had a great visit.

             The birthday boy chatting to Dennis!

Our youngest grandchild Ava Kathryn Noone is 19 today.

 Today is our youngest grandchild's 19th birthday and we are so proud of what she has accomplished over the last 3 years with Gucci.  Hard work and determination along with  incredible support from her parents, our daughter Krista and husband Jeff and her brother Shane.  Ava's middle name is Kathryn which is my given name and her great grandmother Kathleen "Kitty" Noone was so pleased that Ava shared our name. Kitty passed away in 2014 and Eric and I were privileged to meet her and a little fireball she was!

Ava's horse Gucci is owned by Ava and Shane's godmother and good friend Pammy Grigsby-McCready and without her Ava and Gucci would never have become the partnership that they are.  Thank-you Pam❤️

Ava just had a very large well deserved win over the November 2nd weekend and I've cropped a few bits of the articles. Have a look at Ava's facepage to see more.  This was the culmination of a very good season with some ups and downs but in the end perseverance paid off!  Congratulations Ava and the happiest of Happy Birthday's from your grandparents😊❤️

Our daughter Krista and her family live in Gibsonia Pennsylvania and although we don't see enough of them the are always in our hearts.

Ava's christening photo...isn't she sweet!

       Last years family birthday photo❤️

Nogales to Navojoa and Mazatlan

 So lets start with Nogales, Az to Navojoa and we'll see what I can remember.  We were up really early on Wednesday morning as we had another long day 378 miles, the border and km 21 where we get  our tourist visas and import the vehicles.  

We left just after 7am on our way to the USA border.  Anyone who crosses at Nogales knows it's very convoluted and you wind your way through.  The Mexican border guard pulled us over and asked for the registration for the Triumph.  Checked okay and we were on our way.  

It was quiet when we got to km 21 but we had to wait as the tourist visa agent was on a break.  We went in about 8am and it was quick and efficient.  Nice guy and he had to help us as the print on the tourist visa is so small it's hard to read even with glasses. The tourist visa agent said " your friends are already here."  ?? Huh!  " Lawrence and Christina"  Then it dawned on us he meant Larry and Christine from Las Jaibas.  We had no idea they were there! On to import the vehicles.

Chris gave Eric and I a big hug....I guess because we were friendly faces.  They have a 3/4 ton truck as do we and that has become an import issue as they are now calling them commercial vehicles so...overweight.  Just another dumb rule.  Last year was a two hour fiasco so we were prepared for the same.  Larry and Chris were a bit ahead of us and were getting the run around.  In the end the Aduana or bank agent stamped theirs after he went out and looked at their truck and said he'd do it this year but not next....horse hockey he just wanted a bribe!  Next us and I was importing the truck and trailer while Eric did the Triumph. Last year they wanted pictures but not this year. I went to the aduana agent and handed over the papers and gave him a copy of last years import papers.  He didn't say anything he just looked at it and stamped my form.  I think he didn't want to give a "woman" the run around so that worked out okay.  In the end we were done in an hour so that must be a record. 

Heading south. 

The highway is concrete and here it's like a giant slalom. 

Small town and huge topes or speed bumps that are really hard to see. 

Melons?

Pretty here as we head towards Santa Ana.

Turn right and you head back to the border through the Lukeville crossing.  

This is the front of the Punta Vista RV park in Santa Ana where many of us stayed over the years.  Edgar and Ana ran it and sadly they have both passed away.  A niece runs it now.  Lots of good memories!

Heading towards Hermisillo and there is a Federal check point.  We weren't asked to stop. 

Between Santa Ana and Hermisillo it's pavement not concrete and it's nasty.

Off in the distance acres and acres of grape vines. 

Much better here. 

Hmmm.....I wonder where these guys are going?

In my mirror I can see Larry and Chris in their white pick up as they asked if they could follow along.  We usually travel by ourselves but no problem.

Up ahead the Hermisilo bypass.  Expensive toll but in the early years it was a slow trip through the city. 

Back on concrete and heading south. 

We picked up fuel and diesel is expensive...almost $8 a gallon Canadian.  Somebodies making money!

Vicam is home to Yaqui Indians. 

The very large Yaqui statue. 

And now the Obregon bypass.  Last year we stayed in Obregon as Navojoa didn't have any rooms available.  Must have been some large event. 

The concrete is showing wear too.  Flat but noisy. 

We rolled into the Fiesta Motel...our usual stop around 4pm.  A quick happy hour with Larry and Christine who arrived just ahead of us and then a shower, dinner ( my last frozen dinner from home!) and bed.  All in all...a good day. 

 

End of Nogales to Navojoa.

Packed up and ready to roll by 7:30. 

Easy spot to park as Eric can just back the truck and trailer right in. 

Larry and Christine ....we joined them for breakfast. 

Heading south through Navojoa. 

Want any dates?

We were stopped here and Larry and Christine had gone through.  There was an interpetor and he said they were looking for drugs, weapons and in the end "counterfeit" money and money over $10,000. US. He did remark we didn't look like "cartel"  He said only the DEA officer was allowed to touch money but there was a very "enthusiastic" woman officer who pulled out the money anyway.   I said just enough for tolls and fuel.  She went through our travel folder and found the Canadian and US money but I said " No muchos"  not very much.  She was unhappy she couldn't bust us so it was good the interpetor was overseening.  The DEA officer did flop through it as he was looking for counterfeit...or so they said as that is a major business for the cartel.  They did not tear the truck and trailer apart and did not find the other money that was again....not over $10,000. US. We were on our way.  I got a text from Christine saying they were in Los Mochis at the gas station where we used to camp and that there was another stop that looked flaky and they drove through...we did too!

Just before the Sinaloa border where the roads will become crummy and we hit this and...then a toll booth. 

Welcome to Sinaloa! 

An agricultural stop but most everyone was waved through.

The hills before Los Mochis. 

Everywhere we went there were cones and crews putting in fiber along the edge of the road. 

Tiny fruit trees. 

Look at that soil...no wonder things grow here. 

Coming into Guasave. 

This is the only RV we saw anywhere on our trip in Mexico. 

Burning along the edge of the highway between Culiacan ( the drug cartel hotspot) and Mazatlan.

More food!

Off to the right La Cruz.

 Not sure which branch of the miltary this is.

There's the Pacific ocean!

Just up ahead is the last big toll.  

Total from the border to Mazatlan 2404 pesos or $184. Canadian.

Not much water in this river.

Up ahead we turn right for the Mazatlan Playas or beach.

Up ahead in the distance the distinctive Riu Hotel.

Heading south on the street that fronts our complex.

We parked on the street to unload the motorcycle and Eric rode it to the house.  I waited and then he went to drop the trailer where he leaves it and I walked to the house. Hot and steamy. I uncovered the furniture and when Eric got back we unloaded the food we had with us.  I bring butter and cheese from the USA as good butter's pricey and getting cheddar is hit or miss. Beer, Kraft dinner and bed.  

That's the back patio...everything outside is just filthy...way worse than other years as there is construction behind us.

Yesterday I unpacked and organized and did a sweep out front and back.  Sushi from a restaurant close by for dinner.  We moved the outside stuff out and today more sweeping washing and the bins of food etc. we're unloaded.  Now it's just grocery shopping tomorrow and onward!

Happy to be here.