Bypassed Matehuala

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

I took off from the house yesterday morning at 7 a.m.  stopping to air up the tires and go by the ATM.   I use debit cards all the time but when you’re on the road it’s always good to have enough for at least one tank of gas in case there is no connection or they don’t accept cards.  Rarely does it happen but better to be on the safe side.

Off I went heading south towards Linares enjoying the scenery knowing the best of it was yet to come.  Turning right I headed up over the mountains.  I knew once I saw them I was really on the road and ready for adventure.  It was a very uneventful trip to say the least.   Very little traffic, I think I counted about 25 vehicles all the way from Linares to Hwy 57 and the Entronque San Roberto.   I changed the GPS to English and had a blast listening to my friend pronounce all the cities.  I don’t think a gringo would pronounce them like that.

Coming down off the mountains to San Roberto and Hwy 57

On to the 57 now and heading south.   I can’t believe it is such a crappy highway considering it is the direct route for trailer shipments to and from the U.S. heading to southern Mexico and Mexico City.  It appears the concrete days are over and they are repaving the south to north and quite a bit of it.   Crossing the border from San Luis Potosi to Guanajuato it is obvious that no work will be done on the 57 until the governor of the state is a PRI party member. 

Some new blacktop on the southbound.

Getting close to Matehuala, which was my first stop, I decided it was way to early and I made the quick decision to head straight to Guadalcazar.   Good thing I did.   Upon arrival to the small town there were a couple of policemen on the road.   I stopped and asked if it were a problem for me to spend the night.   They said welcome to the Festival of San Pedro.  There was a big event last night complete with rodeo.   I parked and headed for the festivities.  Turns out it was away from the main plazas so I couldn’t hear a thing when I went to bed.  The whole town came out for the event.  It was a little too crazy for me with everyone drinking, the horses and cattle and I don’t like animal cruelty not to say that for them it isn’t but for me it was too much.  Came home, had a drink and some dinner before reading my book and heading off to bed.

The road that leads to Guadalcazar, en excellent boondocking spot.

Rodeo time.

I set the alarm for seven but that wasn’t necessary.   The fireworks at six woke me up although I had already been up since about 5:15 and dozing.   Had a couple cups of joe and went for a walk before heading out.   Beautiful morning and the weather is so cool.  I slept with socks on and two blankets.   Little Bit was cold too, he was snuggled up next to me.  His eye is much better and he keeps it open all day now but at half mast sometimes.

Making a long story short, I arrived to San Miguel de Allende and to the botanical gardens.  Parked in the same spot the receptionist was happy to see me.   She had been told to expect me.  I saw Mario the director and we chatted for a bit.  So here I am and ready to hit the gym in the morning and check in with the organization where I will be volunteering.

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

I took off from the house yesterday morning at 7 a.m.  stopping to air up the tires and go by the ATM.   I use debit cards all the time but when you’re on the road it’s always good to have enough for at least one tank of gas in case there is no connection or they don’t accept cards.  Rarely does it happen but better to be on the safe side.

Off I went heading south towards Linares enjoying the scenery knowing the best of it was yet to come.  Turning right I headed up over the mountains.  I knew once I saw them I was really on the road and ready for adventure.  It was a very uneventful trip to say the least.   Very little traffic, I think I counted about 25 vehicles all the way from Linares to Hwy 57 and the Entronque San Roberto.   I changed the GPS to English and had a blast listening to my friend pronounce all the cities.  I don’t think a gringo would pronounce them like that.

Looks like this guy was herding by himself unless the "chivero" was nearby snoozing.  He heard me coming and herded everyone off the road.  He even has an apprentice who I guess he is teaching.

Heading down the mountains toward San Roberto and Hwy 57.  What a great drive that was.

On to the 57 now and heading south.   I can’t believe it is such a crappy highway considering it is the direct route for trailer shipments to and from the U.S. heading to southern Mexico and Mexico City.  It appears the concrete days are over and they are repaving the south to north and quite a bit of it.   Crossing the border from San Luis Potosi to Guanajuato it is obvious that no work will be done on the 57 until the governor of the state is a PRI party member. 

Getting close to Matehuala, which was my first stop, I decided it was way to early and I made the quick decision to head straight to Guadalcazar.   Good thing I did.   Upon arrival to the small town there were a couple of policemen on the road.   I stopped and asked if it were a problem for me to spend the night.   They said welcome to the Festival of San Pedro.  There was a big event last night complete with rodeo.   I parked and headed for the festivities.  Turns out it was away from the main plazas so I couldn’t hear a thing when I went to bed.  The whole town came out for the event.  It was a little too crazy for me with everyone drinking, the horses and cattle and I don’t like animal cruelty not to say that for them it isn’t but for me it was too much.  Came home, had a drink and some dinner before reading my book and heading off to bed.

I set the alarm for seven but that wasn’t necessary.   The fireworks at six woke me up although I had already been up since about 5:15 and dozing.   Had a couple cups of joe and went for a walk before heading out.   Beautiful morning and the weather is so cool.  I slept with socks on and two blankets.   Little Bit was cold too, he was snuggled up next to me.  His eye is much better and he keeps it open all day now but at half mast sometimes.

Making a long story short, I arrived to San Miguel de Allende and to the botanical gardens.  Parked in the same spot the receptionist was happy to see me.   She had been told to expect me.  I saw Mario the director and we chatted for a bit.  So here I am and ready to hit the gym in the morning and check in with the organization where I will be volunteering.

Got The Luz Verde (Green Light)

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Being my impatient self, I couldn't wait for the director of the botanial gardens in San Miguel to answer.   I called on Wednesday and he said he had just sent the answer about an hour before.   Of course I can spend a month at the gardens parked in front.   I told him if there was a special weekend event I could take off for a couple of days.   San Ramon rv park is close by and I will need to go at least twice to dump the tanks during the month.  

I think I found a better gym while I'm there.   They charge the same as the gym we have always gone to.   However, this one has showers.  That's a good thing.  I will save a lot on water use since there aren't any hookups.  I fill up before leaving home and that should last for two weeks if not more now that I have a shower place.  

Yesterday I worked on the batteries cleaning them up and watering them.   I keep them in pretty good shape.  They're going on six years now and still going strong.  The big panel helps too to keep them up and running.   Once there is a hint of daylight they start charging.

I think I will leave on Monday or Tuesday.  We are expecting some heavy rainstorms over the weekend.  Juan will fly down to Queretaro on the third weekend of July and we will take two weeks heading home via Zacatecas and Durango.  The one way on Volaris Airlines is $54 U.S.   The same as taking a bus overnight.  

Gearing Up For Summer Trip

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Almost forgot about Little Bit has had this eye problem for over a year and the last week he was so depressed and lethargic that I found one of only five veterinarian ophthalmologists in Mexico.  LB has a corneal ulcer which never healed and only got worse.  He must have been in severe pain and still is.   The doctor had to open his lens and scrape the ulcerated tissue and then sew him back up.   He was in bad shape for the first two days.  Now I am happy to report that he is opening his eye.  That said, he is still depressed because he has to wear what my niece calls a "humiliation collar".   But, if I take it off he will start rubbing his eye and it needs time to heal.

Well almost that is.   The plan is to leave next weekend.   I have some things pending though that need to be taken care of.  That requires making lists.  One thing that got done was tires for the travel trailer.   I looked all over Mexico for trailer tires to no avail.  I know that many people are using LT tires these days but I didn't want to take the risk.  

I ordered them on line from Discount tire and we drove up to Laredo.  I had to pick up a package at the Greyhound station.  I had ordered some slacks from Ebay and Costco which were sent to our house in San Antonio.   They put them on the NBO (next bus out, lingo in the Greyhound world).   Did some minor shopping at Walmart and headed back home.

The SUV had some suspension work done on it and an engine check.  All looks goods so now it is mostly packing, filling the LP tanks etc.  We took some great pictures of Cerro de la Silla (Saddleback Mountain) when we arrived to Monterrey.   Amazing to find clear skies considering we have made "the most polluted city" in Mexico.

I'm still waiting for a reply from the director of the Botanical Gardens in San Miguel de Allende.  I always like to ask permission before pulling up and parking.  He hasn't responded yet so maybe he doesn't like the idea of having an rv parked in front (last year I was parked outside the parking area so it really wasn't Botanical Garden land).  I'll give him a call tomorrow.  If he says no, I'm screwed.  I don't want to have to move around constantly for a month while I'm there.

I don't know if I mentioned it but I found a volunteer job.   I will be working with disadvantaged kids teaching them English.   Two hours a day at the most and it is flexible.   That plus my gym routine and all the things I like to do there will make for a fun time.   The weather in Monterrey has been 40C all week.  It is raining today but they say tomorrow it's back to the same ole same ole.   In San Miguel the high has been 24C and the low 12C.   Now you see why I am so anxious to get out of here.

After, as I said in the last post, a trip to Zacatecas and then to the mountains of Durango.  I'll be back home the second week of August for some trips for the University of Dayton.  

Pictures of Mexiquillo, Durango taken from the internet.

I am so looking forward to the trip and getting the rv out.