I Hate Shopping

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Nothing to do with Mexico or anything else.   I have had a gift card for almost two months that was given to me by a school.  I hate trying on clothes.   I'm short, have big legs and calves and all the things they make are for tall toothpick types.   Not my body style.  Doesn't anyone design clothes after a potato?

After three hours and lots of jeans, I gave up.  The clerks at Suburbia said that all the jeans are coming out with narrow legs.  Good for narrow legged people.  The jeans fit me in terms of the waist and the butt (believe it or not) but I can't get my calves past the bottom part of the leg and if I do it is like wearing compression stockings.

This is my style, of course without the eye patch!

I also need some very nice pull over dress style shirts for my upcoming events.  I refuse to wear a button-down shirt and a tie.   No luck so far.  No, I can't order online because then I have to drive to the border to pick it up.  You know, that used to be the Robert Wagner look.  I'm still into that and refuse to change it.

Tomorrow I go out for round two.  BTW, Levi fits great but at 780 pesos they can go to where the sun don't shine.  

Paying In Dollars - Know The Law

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Many places, especially tourist locations charge in dollars.   Or I should say, they advertise their price in dollars.  You have no obligation to pay in dollars and the vendor, seller, or business has the obligation to take the equivalent in Pesos Mexicanos at an exchange rate listed that day by Banco de Mexico.  There are no exceptions.  Here is the law to quote when you want to make an issue of it:

Artículo 8º.- La moneda extranjera no tendrá curso legal en la República, salvo en los casos en que la Ley expresamente determine otra cosa. Las obligaciones de pago en moneda extranjera contraídas dentro o fuera de la República para ser cumplidas en ésta, se solventarán entregando el equivalente en moneda nacional, al tipo de cambio que rija en el lugar y fecha en que se haga el pago. Este tipo de cambio se determinará conforme a las disposiciones que para esos efectos expida el Banco de México en los términos de su Ley Orgánica. Los pagos en moneda extranjera originados en situaciones o transferencias de fondos desde el exterior, que se lleven a cabo a través del Banco de México o de Instituciones de Crédito, deberán ser cumplidos entregando la moneda, objeto de dicha trasferencia o situación. Ello sin perjuicio del cumplimiento de las obligaciones que imponga el régimen de Control de Cambios en vigor. Las obligaciones a que se refiere el primer párrafo de este artículo, originadas en depósitos bancarios irregulares constituidos en moneda extranjera, se solventarán conforme a lo previsto en dicho párrafo, a menos que el deudor se haya obligado en forma expresa a efectuar el pago precisamente en moneda extranjera, en cuyo caso deberá entregar esta moneda. Esta última forma de pago sólo podrá establecerse en los casos en que las autoridades bancarias competentes lo autoricen, mediante reglas de carácter general que deberán publicarse en el Diario Oficial de la Federación; ello sin perjuicio del cumplimiento de las obligaciones que imponga el régimen de control de cambios en vigor. 

Also, tipping dollars is not convenient for the waiter, gas station attendant, etc. especially when they are not in a border city.   If you give a guy a a one dollar or five dollar tip, he then has to find a casa de cambio to exchange it.  It can be a PIA to do that if that was his only dollar tip of the day.  Obviously, because we live here, we never pay for anything in dollars.  If the seller/vendor were to do so, we would just walk away.

The Line Has Been Drawn

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Literally.  The city will be installing water soon.  Let's hope the backhoe shows up next week, maybe even tomorrow.   Monday is a national holiday, Dia de la Constitucion Mexicana 1917.  

Will the road be paved after that?  Let's wait and see.  After 12 years of fighting for this, I would rather be cautious in my claims.

No Time For Sightseeing - Mexico City

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It was a long day yesterday.  You know how I hate hotel beds. The air in Mexico City is very dry and it makes my skin dry and itchy.  Sunday night I tossed and turned with fears of something in my bed.  It's becoming a real phobia to sleep in hotel beds.   Although I'm in a very nice hotel and well-located, it still bugs me (no pun intended).

The meeting started at 9 a.m., we had a great break for lunch but not time to do anything else.  We stayed until six in the afternoon and then out for drinks and dinner.  No doubt it was fun but I really wanted to get together with my friend Darren who lives here in D.F.  I now know I will be back and probably with some frequency. 

Mexico City is a wonderful place as many of you know and it is very cosmopolitan.   It's nice to be in a place that offers so much in terms of tourism, food and theater.  I should be home before eight this evening.  I left my car at the airport. 

I'm not suffering and I'm with a great group of consultants. 

In Mexico City

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

I had a nice flight yesterday.  Getting to the airport in Monterrey has something new.  They completed the second level that takes you directly to the 35 peso autopista to the airport.  Three lanes wide, elevated, super smooth and best of all fast.  In less than an hour from Monterrey I was sitting in the lounge waiting for my flight. 

AeroMexico, like many other airlines, is experimenting with new boarding procedures.  This one I like but I'm not convinced yet.  They have five groups and five lines.   There are a couple of questions I want to ask when I fly home tomorrow to make sure I understand their procedure.   It was a 737-700 and the seats are shrinking.  Legroom was good but the width is about 17 inches.

I'm staying at the Holiday Inn Express right next to the World Trade Center.  The office I am going to for meetings is two blocks away.   

I will take some pictures today and post them.  It is a very nice area.   A friend and I had dinner last night at Sanborn's.   We went walking around the area.  Lots of people out and about, I couldn't have felt safer in a city with 25 million people.

Things Rvers Usually Don't See

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

This is true in much of Mexico but rvers don't go to big cities and metro areas leaving them with a false impression of Mexico.  The picture below paints the Mexico that is on the move and growing.  A huge middle class, a burgeoning economy and yes that includes the recent changes in oil prices.  One false statement is that Mexico lives on Pemex.  Not true, we only pull 30% out of the oil company.  The rest comes from tax payers like myself and big businesses which pay through the nose.  If you can't read it because of the size, go to http://9gag.com/gag/a9Moz26?ref=fb.s

Buying Certified Meat Products In Mexico

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An interesting conversation with a teacher the other day led to my investigation.  The teacher works part-time as a TIF (Tipo de Inspección Federal) beef inspector.  There are TIF inspections for poultry and pork as well.  She is a veterinarian with a specialty in protein analysis.  Three days a week she leaves in the late morning to her job as a TIF inspector at a local slaughterhouse (if that's what they are still called).   She does an inspection of beef, takes samples that are then analyzed and sent down to an office located in the same plant.  This office is staffed by federal employees who work for SAGARPA ( SECRETARÍA DE AGRICULTURA, GANADERÍA, DESARROLLO RURAL, PESCA Y ALIMENTACIÓN) for a second official inspection.  Yes, SAGARPA also regulates the fishing industry as well.  

All Mexico Walmarts, HEBs, Sorianas carry TIF inspected animal products.   The logo above can be found somewhere in the meat department.  Carnicerias also carry TIF products and one of them is Carnes San Juan here in the north of Mexico.   If this is something that concerns you, ask about the TIF inspection.

My teacher friend says that they check for types of growth hormones, antibiotics, and other growth related drugs as well as to certify that the beef in this case in not another animal product such as horse which is a highly respected product here in Mexico as well.  In our area, carne seca which is used in machacado or machaca, carries the TIF label on the package.  

I thought this was interesting because we here rvers and others living in Mexico talk about the lack of sanitation and inspection of Mexican products.  This only confirms the fact that we do have meat inspection and logically so as Mexico exports beef and other animal products to the U.S of A and China among many others. 

We enjoy eating Mexican beef as it is of good quality, excellent flavor and much much less than buying imported USDA Choice from the U.S.  It also supports the Mexican economy.

Here Comes The Cold . . . Again!

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Not the most exciting week of my  life but a good one.   Lots of maintenance going on around the house.   A plumber came with his crew and changed out all the traps under all the bathroom sinks.  They were old and full of crud and in the spare bedroom it smelled a little funky.   The sealed everything, reseated the toilet so it wouldn't wiggle while you were there.  The spare bathroom was a challenge for the last year.  I had changed just about everything and it would continue to run anyway.  Fixed.

After we installed the security cameras we were left with an extension cord running from the studio to the kitchen.   The internet, phone line, DVR and cables were all there.  We now have an outlet and my next job is to get rid of the small table that holds all this junk.  I am thinking about a small mounted wall cabinet to hide all the electronics.  Next project is to tackle the roof.  That takes removing tiles, fixing cracks and sealing before putting the tiles back up.

The cold front hit last night.  I got home yesterday at 5 p.m. from a meeting in Monterrey.   It started to chipi chipi (drizzle) and get yucky again.  This morning it is 4C here on the ranch.   

Sunday I am heading to Mexico City for two days of meetings and hopefully walk away with weekend work for a few months traveling around Mexico.  Let's see what happens.

Camping Close To Home

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

We were invited to a birthday party for our friend Lorena in Bustamante.  It is 135 kms north from our house to hers.   Lorena and her husband own and run the hotel there.   They put on quite a party last night.  We rented a room and spent the night.  Good thing, we left at midnight and the party continued.  

Bustamante is located on Hwy 1 between Monterrey and Nuevo Laredo.  This highway belongs to our great state of Nuevo Leon.  It's a two lane highway with no shoulder but in pretty good condition.  There are lots of towns between the two cities and they are all worth a visit along with some great boondocking.

We had done a tour of the state back in 2008 and visited all of these small towns.  It was great.  Things here are much different now and that good feeling has returned.   On our way home from Bustamante today I started working on a plan.  Instead of driving back and forth every weekend to visit again, we could just leave the trailer there and pick it up on a Friday and take off for a few days, drop it off again and head home.  All of these small towns have so much to offer.  If you cross at the Colombia bridge you just head south on Hwy 1.   Easy drive, very light traffic and you can pull out just about anywhere.

Well, the party was a gas and we there were about 50 people there.   We had drinks, then a nice buffet style dinner and then music, dancing and some party games.  We divided into teams and had a blast.  Something different that doesn't happen much anymore at parties.  

Up early, out for breakfast and then a drive up to the gates of the Grutas de Bustamante.  It was early and we needed to be home so we didn't take the tram up to the entrance or take the tour.  But it is a place we will visit again next time we come back.  Great parking area and palapas!   The Canon de Bustamante State Park is nearby and has natural springs as well as camping with palapas, restrooms and electric.

The Left For Better Weather - And A Week's Worth of News

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

And off they went for warmer climes.

It's been a long week and I am beat.  It was nice to have company and we always welcome visitors to Mexico.  The door is always open and we hope people aren't shy about stopping by.  Marina and David have been here before and we hope that they can stop by on their way out if it is on their route.   We'll miss them and our conversations, meals and happy hours.

The week went by quickly but there just seem to be so many minor obstacles in the way.  School is one of them and I have to remember that it is a part-time semi-volunteer position and need to stand back sometimes and let people do what they normally do.  I can't manage the whole operation and that isn't what I want to do anyway.  I can't help but not get involved when it comes to children and their lives especially when there is no guidance coming from home.  So much need at all levels.

The weather had a big impact on me this week and last as well.  It has been so cold and wet.  I'm tired of the mud on the road and the temps hovering around 3C every night if not lower out here on the ranch.  There seems to be some respite this weekend.  Tomorrow the temps will climb to 23C during the day but with chilly nights around 7C.   Still too cold.  Oh well, the day will come when we can truly travel with the weather.  The right weather that is.

Tomorrow we will take a 125 km trip to Bustamante, Nuevo Leon.  They have a cave system there with a modern cable car to take you to the visitor's center and a guided tour.  We are headed that way to stay at our friend's hotel.  It is her birthday and a group of about 50 people are headed out there to spend the night and have a grand celebration.  It is always a good time and their restaurant serves the best regional foods.  We were going to take the trailer but our road is still way too muddy.  Bummer.

As a side note.  I no longer post on Rv.Net in the Mexico section.   However, I do check in occasionally to see what the Mexico gurus have to say.  Today, someone posted about staying at Hacienda Contreras and the fact that they have great electric and "good" water.   Well, that didn't last long.  A guy who calls himself Rockhillmanor had to add his two cents by saying, 

"Mexico, clean water? Now that's an oxymoron! Don't think I'd be drinking any of it!".  

I swore I wouldn't post so I decided to send him a private message about how his statement is far from true.  He blocks all private messages.  Geez, I wonder why?  The guy is a jerk.  Somebody always has to kill the spirit.

Parque Estanzuela - Short Hike

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Last night David made pasta for dinner and we watched a corny movie on YouTube.   We made it through the movie and it wasn't half bad.  It was cold last night and we cranked up the heat.  

This morning Marina made some of her delicious banana-blueberry pancakes.   She picked up the blueberries yesterday, fresh and sweet at the HEB.  We piddled around the morning and excitement came when the sun began to peek out at us.  We had done some laundry so that worked out well and hung things up.

Dave was getting antsy and wanted to go for a hike.  At first I thought it would be too muddy but then it struck me.  We have a state park just as you get into town over to the west called Parque Estatal Estanzuela, a state park.   

Off we went.  It was quite a drive back to the entrance of the park and it was mostly cobblestone.  The park down below is surrounded by high-priced homes in gated communities.   Nice area.  

The entrance fee was 20 pesos per person.  They have framed photos of butterflies and birds that visit the park throughout the year.  

This evening, David and Marina invited us out for dinner.  They had enchiladas, Juan had puerco asado and I had some barbacoa tacos.  Delicious.  They are heading out tomorrow to Matehuala and possibly up to Real de Catorce.  They are going to find much better temps there than here according to the forecast.

Visitors - Leave Your Cold Weather North!

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

We had a cold night last night.  We put an electric blanket on the bed for Marina and David but tonight feels even colder.  I'm getting out the electric heater for their bedroom.  No sense in not being comfortable.  

Juan brought home some roses to celebrate Marina's retirement which took place in December.  Does she look like a happy retiree?  I think so!

Braving the cold we headed downtown to go to the art gallery.   The downtown area was practically abandoned because of the 2C weather.   We headed out for a hot breakfast and it was delicious.  The restaurant, La Puntada, is a well-known family gathering spot.  The place was packed and the food was the best.  Service was excellent and Marina and David put their Spanish skills to work.  

This photo was taken after we had gone to the art gallery.  As you can see we were cold and made the decision just to head back home.  It was 3 p.m. anyway when we got back to the house so that meant nap time.   Not a soul in sight.

The exhibitions at the gallery were wonderful.  One exhibition featured the photography of Tina Mendotti who had also been a silent movie actress.  She arrived in Mexico after the revolution and photographed Mexico on the socialist rise.   Excellent.  We also visited the cinema exhibit which showed the beginnings of film and animation.  Very well done with small booths you could sit in with surround sound for each movie.  All were shorts and covered many countries.  I've always been fascinated and spooked at the same time to realize that all the actors in movies made over 100 years  ago have long been gone.  I could have spent more time there but it was cold in the gallery as few people showed up and I guess didn't warrant the use of the heating system.  I will go back if the weather clears up and watch some more flicks. 

Now Marina and David are fixing dinner and we are having drinks here in the living room around the Christmas tree and we are warm and snug.   (Concrete houses don't do well in extreme weather conditions, so even though it's warm in here you still feel a slight chill).

Visitors Have Arrived!

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

David and Marina made it to the house around 3 p.m. this afternoon.  They had a good trip using the libre between Reynosa and Monterrey.  They took the back highway from Cadereyta to Allende and then north on the 85 to our house.  Nothing to report but rain and cold!

I will update the blog with pics later tonight or tomorrow.   Glad they made it, good people and great house guests.

Kids didn't show up to classes today.  We consolidated groups and made the best of it.  A wasted day as the education department says that it is the parents call to send their kids to school.  Most schools here in the metro area have heating and air conditioning in all the classrooms.

Yesterday, the Secretaria de Educacion for the state made a visit to our school, she lives in the small town and many of the kids and teachers are related in some way or are neighbors or government officials.

Argh! I Hate Commitments - And It Might Snow

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As we get older and travel more, we are not happy having so many commitments.  Although I have to say they seem to work out well but it just gets more intense.   Today I was in an event with the Secretary of Education and that looked promising.  We'll see.  But, we would have loved to have stayed in Mazatlan.  Why?  It is 1C and dropping here at the ranch.  It is raining and it might just snow or ice before morning.  Yuck!   Contessa and Colin, enjoy the sunsets!

Marina and David called tonight, they are in Harlingen and will head down tomorrow.  The weather is the same there so they might as well get going.   The house is warm.  I told David we have a new bottle of tequila and we need to celebrate Marina's recent retirement as a librarian in Ontario.

We are looking forward to their visit.   They hosted us over the summer and we left our trailer at their ranch while we were in Nova Scotia.   David said he talked to his son Darren earlier in the day and it was -35C.   I guess we are blessed.  

Anyway, I miss the beach.  Enough said.

More Great Pics - More Rvers On The Way

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

I'm recovering from the two-day drive.  I went to the gym in the morning even though it was 3C outside.  The bedroom was nice and warm from the high wall heat pump.  The house was cold as there was no LP for the heater.  We took care of that today and now the house is nice and warm.  Good thing, we have guest coming.  Yep, Marina and David from Perth, Ontario are on their way south.  I'm not sure of their final destination but the good thing is that they are stopping in.  I need to get some firewood for the fireplace.  We have had some good conversations in the living room in front of the fire.

I spent the rest of the early afternoon in bed.  I woke up grouchy, I know, not normal for me!  I took a nap around 11 a.m. and slept until 2 p.m.  I think I'm getting sick.  Turns out, a long lasting flu is heading south and it may have hit here.  Let's hope not.

I still can't get our trip home out of my mind.  The Espinazo del Diablo was truly incredible.  Next time we go to Mazatlan, we will make a week out of the west.  So many boondocking opportunities in the mountains of Sinaloa and Durango.  Take a look.

Espinazo del Diablo - Warning!

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We're home now.  Quiet drive, no checkpoints and I pulled the rv in the driveway on the first try.  Had a great evening in Leon Guzman.  The temps dropped to 7C and again Mr. Heater did a good job of keeping us nice and warm.  We watched another good movie, We Own The Night with Joaquin Phoenix.   Juan made a great dinner of pasta and broccoli.

I said I would post about the Espinazo del Diablo.  No reason not to take it and I am not sure why people have always complained about it.  Buses, semis, and our 24 foot travel trailer did just fine.  There is no peligro (danger), no exaggerated hairpin curves.  It is a windy road and goes up and down but beats the boringly rough toll road from Durango to Mazatlan.  Pictures say a thousand words so I won't say any more.

.

He Yelled "TOPE" - Too Late

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

During the fourteen years I have driven a trailer, it has always crossed my mind what would happen if the trailer became unhitched from the SUV.  Well today we found out.   As we came into the city of Durango (in Mexico), we ran into a detour.   I somehow got confused and we ended up on a major boulevard.  No problem with that as it was Sunday and around 9:30 in the morning.  There was very little traffic and as we were approaching another major intersection I heard, “TOPE” (speed bump).  It was way too late.  The street was recently paved and the tope appeared black as the asphalt and very unnoticeable with the shade of the houses.  

As I hit the brakes and we flew over the tope, the trailer lifted up, came off the ball, and came down with a bang, bouncing and hitting the ground twice before sliding into the back of the SUV.  I literally saw the trailer lift up and I was sure it was coming through the back window.  We skidded to a screeching stop and jumped out.  Panic was the first word and it took about five minutes to assess the damage. 

As most of you know, the bathroom and kitchen are in the front of the trailer.  That means the sewage valves and the water tanks are too.  We are very hitch heavy.   My first concern was the damage to the trailer.  No visible signs of any kind.  I guess the trailer sits high enough and the hitch is long enough that nothing underneath was damaged.  The SUV had a small two inch indentation from where the hitch slammed into it.  Pictures later on that. 

Panic passed, my major concern was that the rats (transito) would come out of the wood work.  Having Mexican plates and being a Sunday I thought we were screwed.  The trailer hitch dug into the pavement for about 15 feet not including the two initial hits.  That’s a big winner for the city as they would consider that damage and would have to be paid via insurance or in person. 

We both hunkered down and went to work.  The hitch crank handle had been bent hitting the hitch ball and wouldn't budge.  We used a hammer at first and no luck.  BTW, the weight distribution bars had both popped off and were hanging from the hitch.  We got those off and Juan used one to give one big heave ho and got the crank working.  Limited use but it helped get us started.  Then we got out the wood and the jack from the SUV and started raising it up from the side.  I had to move the SUV because one of the tow chains was stretched to the max and we couldn’t get it off.

Trailer raised, we backed up barely getting the ball under the hitch with Juan standing on it and bouncing a bit.  We got it hooked up and got back on the road.   We pulled over and did an inspection and it appeared all was good.   We stopped for gas, checked again and headed to Torreon.  We were very lucky with the trailer.  The only thing I need to check and possibly fix is the crank on the trailer hitch.  Whew, that was something but teamwork pulled it all off in about 20 minutes and we were on our way. 

As for yesterday, we took the oh so dangerous Espinazo del Diablo (Devil’s Backbone) from Mazatlan towards Durango.  We will always use this highway when we come back to the coast.  This is one of the most scenic drives we have ever been on.  The views are incredible, the highway one of the best paved of any toll or libre, and there was literally no traffic whatsoever.  We passed three semis and two buses.

We found a small park between El Salto and Durango yesterday afternoon and we paid fifty pesos to park on the basketball court.  You can’t get any more level than that.  But guess what, we woke up this morning and it was -9C.   Everything covered in heavy frost.  It took the car 40 minutes to warm up.  Thank you Mr. Heater for keeping us nice and warm.   We watched a fantastic movie last night, Source Code, had a wonderful dinner and drinks.  We are now parked back at the truck stop at Leon Guzman just on the East side of Torreon.  After our adventure this morning I wasn’t feeling up to going any further or searching for a new spot.  I am posting this from the convenience store across from the libre on the lousy Torreon – Durango autopista.  More pics to come this week of a great trip home.

He Yelled "TOPE" - Too Late

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

During the fourteen years I have driven a trailer, it has always crossed my mind what would happen if the trailer became unhitched from the SUV.  Well today we found out.   As we came into the city of Durango (in Mexico), we ran into a detour.   I somehow got confused and we ended up on a major boulevard.  No problem with that as it was Sunday and around 9:30 in the morning.  There was very little traffic and as we were approaching another major intersection I heard, “TOPE” (speed bump).  It was way too late.  The street was recently paved and the tope appeared black as the asphalt and very unnoticeable with the shade of the houses.  

As I hit the brakes and we flew over the tope, the trailer lifted up, came off the ball, and came down with a bang, bouncing and hitting the ground twice before sliding into the back of the SUV.  I literally saw the trailer lift up and I was sure it was coming through the back window.  We skidded to a screeching stop and jumped out.  Panic was the first word and it took about five minutes to assess the damage. 

As most of you know, the bathroom and kitchen are in the front of the trailer.  That means the sewage valves and the water tanks are too.  We are very hitch heavy.   My first concern was the damage to the trailer.  No visible signs of any kind.  I guess the trailer sits high enough and the hitch is long enough that nothing underneath was damaged.  The SUV had a small two inch indentation from where the hitch slammed into it.  Pictures later on that. 

Panic passed, my major concern was that the rats (transito) would come out of the wood work.  Having Mexican plates and being a Sunday I thought we were screwed.  The trailer hitch dug into the pavement for about 15 feet not including the two initial hits.  That’s a big winner for the city as they would consider that damage and would have to be paid via insurance or in person. 

We both hunkered down and went to work.  The hitch crank handle had been bent hitting the hitch ball and would budge.  We used a hammer at first and no luck.  BTW, the weight distribution bars had both popped off and were hanging from the hitch.  We got those off and Juan used one to give one big heave ho and got the crank working.  Limited use but it helped get us started.  Then we got out the wood and the jack from the SUV and started raising it up from the side.  I had to move the SUV because one of the tow chains was stretched to the max and we couldn’t get it off.

Trailer raised, we backed up barely getting the ball under the hitch with Juan standing on it and bouncing a bit.  We got it hooked up and got back on the road.   We pulled over and did an inspection and it appeared all was good.   We stopped for gas, checked again and headed to Torreon.  We were very lucky with the trailer.  The only thing I need to check and possibly fix is the crank on the trailer hitch.  Whew, that was something but teamwork pulled it all off in about 20 minutes and we were on our way. 

As for yesterday, we took the oh so dangerous Espinazo del Diablo (Devil’s Backbone) from Mazatlan towards Durango.  We will always use this highway when we come back to the coast.  This is one of the most scenic drives we have ever been on.  The views are incredible, the highway one of the best paved of any toll or libre, and there was literally no traffic whatsoever.  We passed three semis and two buses.

We found a small park between El Salto and Durango yesterday afternoon and we paid fifty pesos to park on the basketball court.  You can’t get any more level than that.  But guess what, we woke up this morning and it was -9C.   Everything covered in heavy frost.  It took the car 40 minutes to warm up.  Thank you Mr. Heater for keeping us nice and warm.   We watched a fantastic movie last night, Source Code, had a wonderful dinner and drinks.  We are now parked back at the truck stop at Leon Guzman just on the East side of Torreon.  After our adventure this morning I wasn’t feeling up to going any further or searching for a new spot.  I am posting this from the convenience store across from the libre on the lousy Torreon – Durango autopista.  More pics to come this week of a great trip home.

Heading Home - El Espinazo del Diablo

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Heading home this morning.  We decided to try the Espinazo del Diablo (Devil's Backbone) which has been the traditional road from East to West until this last year when they finished the Baluarte Bridge that we took coming down to Mazatlan.  Should we decide we don't like it, there are several places where we can connect with the autopista.  Kevin and Ruth did a great piece on the road the other day.   

We've had a wonderful time with Contessa and Colin and we hope to come back soon.  We've met lots of great people here like our neighbor Dale, Sue and Jerry, Marjorie and Bob, Janet and Grant, Linda and Kevin, and so many more.   We finally got to meet Carol who celebrated her birthday last week along with her sister.   It's six a.m. so if I didn't mention anyone don't take it personally.   It was a big surprise to see Ruth and Kevin again and we may just meet up with them again.  

Our email is at the top of the blog and everyone is more than welcome to come and stay with us on their way in or out of Mexico.  This next week our friends from Perth, Ontario, Marina and David, will be stopping by for a few days before heading south.   

I couldn't imagine not rving in Mexico.   2015 looks like another good year with lots of adventure to come.  

The New Year - I Don't See It The Same Way

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

First off, we had a wonderful time last night in Mazatlan.  What I have come to realize though, is that the new year doesn't seem like closure of any kind to me.   I see it as another day, another party, but not a marker in time.  For me, waking up every morning is the best marker of my life.  I've always enjoyed mornings and even think about them when I go to bed at night.   I had no sadness last night, no tears, just my usual happiness and I hope everyone else has the same for the future.   It's fun being happy.  I've been blessed with fantastic life and have so much to be thankful for and most of it is genetic, at least so far.

Back to the party!  We took the panga to town last night around 7:30.   Once we arrived to the dock on the mainland we took a pulmonia to the Hotel Posada Freeman.  Up we went to the roof top lounge and had a look around the night sky and the oceanfront.   We ordered drinks and chatted for awhile before heading out on foot to the Plaza Machado.  We hadn't been there before but it is the tourist section of Mazatlan.  Very nice area and lots of tourists.   We didn't have reservations anywhere so we went from restaurant to restaurant looking for a place.   All the tables last night were reserved but with a set menu.   I'm not crazy about that and we happened to luck out.   We found the best restaurant of 2014, in my humble opinion.   

Rooftop Hotel Posada Freeman

We passed a doorway with a very beautiful hostess and the next thing I knew we were inside.  Not only a very posh and attractive restaurant, the service is fantastic.  We were told in the beginning that they didn't have and room but they went out of their way to find us a table.  It was in a perfect spot for conversation, a street view next to an open window, a mature crowd and the ambiance was truly perfect for our dinner.  It was truly a dining experience I will never forget and if we ever come back to Mazatlan we will head straight there.  

Bar Lounge at the El Presidio 

After dinner we headed back to the Plaza Machado and arrived right at countdown.  The band was playing, people were dancing and we ran into our friends Kevin and Linda from the isla.   It was a true party and the air was filled with excitement and fiesta!

We stayed for a bit after midnight and headed back to the panga and the island.   Colin sent up another lantern and we toasted to the night before heading to bed.   It took me about an hour to unwind before sleeping and we woke up at 7:30.  Time for a beach walk and some reflection about our stay here as we will be heading home on Saturday.  I think we will go ahead and take the Espinazo del Diablo to Durango.  I am waiting for Kevin and Ruth to post their blog to see how their climb to Durango went yesterday.

Have a great New Year and make the best of everyday.  Make peace with neighbors, friends and family as you never know what the future could bring.