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March 1, 2008
The jeep was getting kind of dusty inside and out so I took it down to the auto bano this morning. Unfortunately I didn't
take the camera. When talking to one of the workers and telling him we'd be back next November, he asked me if I could buy
him a Bible while up in the states and bring it back down when we came. He offered to pay for it today but I told him I'd
be happy to bring one back.
The beach is still kicking up dirty waves so the pups had to stay home and watch me start putting things away for the
trip home.
The one disappointing thing we found was a mouse or something had gotten into the dog food bag that was in the basement
of the motorhome and another (maybe the same one) had gotten into one of the bags of coffee beans we had in the closet.
In one of my junk boxes, I had two mouse traps so I set them in the basement with some peanut butter as bait. We'll see
if we caught anything in the morning.
We had our last meal of the season(Cynthia's Tortilla Soup) at the park's palapa. There's not many of us left here at
the park and after Tuesday all the long-term people will be gone.
March 2, 2008
Woke up this morning with the beginning symptoms of an inner ear infection which causes vertigo or dizziness. I asked
Sandy if the local medical clinic was open and he believed it was and offered to drive me. The clinic was open but the nurse
said the doctor wasn't working today but that didn't stop Sandy who knew where the doctor lived in town and drove to his home.
After talking with him for a few minutes, the doctor agreed to meet us at the clinic in a few minutes.
After explaining my symptoms and recent case of upper respiratory infection the doctor prescribed some antibiotics and
something for the dizziness.
I was curious when the exam was over and neither the doctor or nurse said anything about payment. I asked Sandy about
this and he said there was no fee but I could give a donation to the clinic if I wanted to and which I did.
From there we went to town to the local pharmicia and bought the medicine which came to a little over 400 pesos.
So the rest of the day was spent taking it easy although we did go out to a local restaurant that was having tamales.
Most of the packing is done and all I have to do tomorrow is wash the windshield of the motorhome and put down the solar
panels.
March 3, 2008
The antibiotics seem to be working and I'm actually feeling pretty good today.
Finished off with the packing and taking the solar panels down and even was able to give the windshield a good wash so
tomorrow morning all that has to be done is unhook the water, electric and sewer lines. That and bring down the datastorm
satellite dish which just involves clicking the correct icon on the computer screen.
The pups knew something was going on today because they stuck close and whenever I sat down, they wanted to be in my lap.
But they're good travelers and sleep most of the time when on the road in the motorhome.
We went into town for tacos tonight and told the nice lady who runs the outdoor cafe that we're leaving tomorrow and would
see her next November.
March 4, 2008
After saying goodbye to Sandy and Cynthia we left Rancho B park at 9:00am heading for Guadalajara. Although we were on
the toll road from Colima north, it was still a little rough in places. Potholes were common but we also saw several road
repair crews out working.
The trip to Guadalajara was uneventful until we got into the city and had a little trouble finding the turn off the highway
into the San Jose Del Tajo RV park. We turned at the wrong entrance and ended up on a dead-end lane where we had to un-hitch
the cars and jockey the motorhomes back and forth in order to turn around.
We finally made it to the park which is old but has nice big trees and grass. A pleasant treat after being in red dirt
for over three months.
The park is a combination of rv sites and private lots where people have built homes. A nice gentleman who owns a home
here helped us park and then recommended a great pizza place that delivers and was having a 2 for 1 sale. Naturally we had
pizza for supper.
March 5, 2008
Diane, Ken and Mary-Beth went shopping in Tlaquepaque today while I stayed at the rv park looking after the four pups.
They returned about 4:00pm with the goodies they couldn't do without. Diane and Mary-Beth are planning another day's shopping
tomorrow at Tonala another city on the outskirts of Guadalajara that has a market day on Thursdays. Tonala is the pewter capital
of Mexico and has some great bargains.
We were getting kind of low on groceries so after they returned we drove over to a close-by Sams and Walmart to stock
up.
March 6, 2008
Diane and Mary-Beth took off to Tonala this morning to do some more shopping. Unfortunately Mary-Beth forgot her wallet
but fortunately Diane had some extra cash so the day wasn't a disaster for them.
Ken needed to get one of the tires on the motorhome looked at as it was low on air. They also needed to fill up with propane
so he and I just stayed put except for taking the dogs for a walk.
In the afternoon some fellows asked if we would like our motorhomes washed for 250 pesos. As both the motorhomes could
use a wash we agreed and the two guys came back late in the afternoon near sunset and did a good job. They even washed our
jeep without being asked.
March 7, 2008
Not much happening today. Ken and Mary-Beth took a little trip to Ajijic a little town on Lake Chapala that has a lot
of Canadian and Americans living there.
The afternoon was spent getting ready for our departure tomorrow morning.
One thing that I've noticed since leaving Rancho B park in La Placita is my DataStorm connection is much better. I haven't
lost the connection once since being here where it would drop off line about every half hour for a few minutes when we were
on the coast.
March 8, 2008
Posting is a little late due to a "day from hell" for Ken and Mary-Beth on Saturday.
We left Del Tajo park about 8:30am and was able to get through the Guadalajara traffic with little problem. Everything
started to go down hill after we stopped at a rest area just outside Guadalajara where Diane noticed the rear tire on Ken's
tow car was very soft. As I was parked right behind them, I was able to get out the air hose that connects to my air compressor
and put air in the tire.
Everything was going great for the next hour or so, the motorhomes were running good and the 4 lane road was wide with
little traffic.
We somehow got on to a small very narrow road heading towards Aguascalientes that required some "white knuckle"
driving as the space between the motorhomes and the big trucks coming the other way seemed non-existant.
We needed to fuel up and pulled into a Pemex however the lanes going to the fuel pumps were narrow and Ken didn't go in
straight resulting in his scrapping the side of his motorhome quite badly on a cement wall.
That should have been enough bad luck for one day but just when we got into the city of Aquascalientes there was a large
bang that came from the right rear of Ken and Mary-Beth's motorhome. Everyone thought it was a blow-out and fortunately Ken
was able to pull off the main road onto a lateral side street. Still thinking it was a tire, Ken took off in a taxi looking
for a tire repair service. Shortly after, he returned saying that his tire size was not available in Mexico and wasn't sure
what to do at that point.
His motorhome seemed to be quite a bit lower on the right/rear which shouldn't be if only one of his duel tires was flat
so I tested the air pressure on both tires which showed them to be where they should, about 110psi.
That meant something else was wrong and the only other possibility was a blown air bag that works with the motorhome's
suspension.
Ken didn't want to drive the motorhome in that condition but fortunately there was a nice motel about a block away from
us on the same lateral side street we were on. We were able to drive the short distance to the motel and decided to stay there
for the night although the pups needed to stay in the motorhomes which we were able to park directly in front of the motel.
March 9, 2008
At breakfast we were all kicking around ideas ranging from getting the motorhome towed to Texas to trying to find a mechanic
locally who might be able to fix it.
Mary-Beth got on her computer and Skype trying to contact the motorhome manufacturer and their insurance to try and get
some direction and/or recommendations. She was left a message on her computer by the manufacturer stating do not drive the
motorhome with a deflated air bag.
At the same time, Ken and I were able to describe the problem to one of the hotel receptionists and she called a mechanic
to come and look at the motorhome. He crawled under the motorhome and confirmed that there was a big hole in the airbag.
He was able to describe the problem to the hotel receptionist who starting calling around town to see if a replacement
was available however because of it being Sunday, few places were open.
The mechanic said he could take the old airbag off and then tomorrow try to find one which Ken told him to do. At the
same time, Ken would contact the manufacturer and have them express ship and new airbag to the hotel.
All this means at least one more night and day in Aquascalientes. However the day is not over yet...
March 9, 2008 (continued)
At about 4:00pm the mechanic arrived to take off the blown airbag. This is something you wouldn't see north of the border
as this fellow with a hand full of tools crawled under the motorhome that was parked on a relatively busy street.
After working at getting if off for a while he stuck his head out from under the motorhome and beckoned me to come and
see what he found. When I crawled under the motorhome he pointed to a piece of the frame that had broken in two. This probably
the result of hitting the tope (speed bump) several months ago on our trip down from Tucson.
The mechanic finished taking the blown airbag off but said that putting a new one one with the broken frame would not
work. He said there was a welding shop several blocks away but was not open on Sunday but he would come back in the morning
to take us and the motorhome there.
In the mean time he shimmed up the motorhome's suspension with several blocks of wood so that we could drive the motorhome
the short distance to the welder.
So tomorrow we have more mechanical things to work on plus have the mechanic look for a replacement airbag.
| Another picture of mechanic removing blown airbag |
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| Mechanic looking at blown airbag |
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March 10, 2008
Our mechanic Alfredo was here at 8:30 to help us get the motorhome over to the welding shop, about half a mile from the
hotel.
We left the motorhome there to get the welding done and were told they were also able to order a new airbag.
The four of us spent the mid-day hanging around the hotel except for taking the pups out for potty breaks.
Diane and Mary-Beth took the car to look for another restaurant as we were getting tired of the one at the hotel.
At 4:00pm Ken and I drove over to the welding shop and saw that they had the new air bag and were told that everything
should be finished by 5:30 or 6:00. Our mechanic Alfredo phoned and he will be here at the hotel at 5:30 so he can go with
us to the welder and check everything out.
| Ken and Mary-Beth's motorhome at welding shop |
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March 11, 2008
Despite the traffic congestion around the hotel we were able to leave Acquascalientes about 8:30am
There was lots of traffic and we didn't even get out of the city when another disaster stuck. We were in the center of
a three lane road when a big tanker truck came up the inside lane and clipped the right hand mirror on Ken and Mary-Beth's
motorhome breaking if off and leaving it held only by the electrical wires going to it.
We drove slowly to the next Pemex where we were able to make good use of a roll of DuctTape and were able to get the mirror
taped in place well enough for Ken to use.
The rest of the trip today was uneventful except for a lengthy detour on narrow roads taking us to Zacatecas.
Also shortly before we stopped for the night in a Pemex near Juan Aldama we were stopped at a military checkpoint. The
soldiers took their job seriously and went through every cupboard in the motorhome including the bathroom, shower and under
the bed. When finished with the motorhome, they checked the Jeep just as thoroughly.
We're all hoping nothing else goes wrong tomorrow.
Later in the early evening we found that there is a scrap metal buyer that sets up in the back Pemex parking lot. Just
before dusk a number of pick-ups drove up to the buyer's big truck. He had a scale set up and the guys in the pick-ups would
unload and weigh what they brought in. Then it was all thrown in the back of the big truck.
We noticed that all the pick-ups that were bringing the scrap had speakers on their roofs in order to solicit scrap from
people.
One more business for enterprising people.
| Graydon Duct Taping Ken's mirror |
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| Scrap Metal Buy and Sellers |
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| Scrap Metal Buy and Sellers |
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March 12, 2008
Finally a day with no problems. After Ken filled the back tire of his tow vehicle with air (he has a slow leak)we left
the Pemex lot a little after 8:30am.
The roads were mostly good but we took it slow and easy and will do so the rest of the way home.
We went from the state of Durango to the state of Chihuahua and once again we were stopped and searched at a military
check point. The soldier who looked through the motorhome was more curious than anything else and I gave him a coke when he
opened the fridge. One thing that was funny... we put a bag of garbage in the back of the Jeep until we could find a place
where we could dump it. When looking through the Jeep, the soldier squeezed the garbage bag until I opened it and explained
it was basura..(garbage)
We stopped at a Pemex for the night just outside of Ciudad Jimenez and will pass through the city of Chihuahua tomorrow.
We're still about 350 miles from the border and should cross sometime on Friday if everything goes ok.
March 13, 2008
Another uneventful day on the road. The road through Chihuahua was a little narrow in spots but we were able to get through
the city with no problem.
Chihuahua is famous for its pistachio nuts and Diane and Mary-Beth bought a couple of bags each from a young fellow who
was selling them along side the road. Later, when thinking about it, they thought that they were kind of expensive.
We still wanted to stop about 3:00pm and after doing about 250 miles. This we did at a Pemex about 120 miles or so from
the border. We also wanted to stay about this distance from the border for our last night in Mexico. We should cross the border
sometime before lunch tomorrow if everything goes ok. We plan to cross at Santa Teresa which is just a couple of miles west
of El Paso.
It's very windy here at the Pemex and we had to change our plans about BBQing our steaks outside tonight and will have
to cook them indoors.
We're trying to eat up all the beef in our freezers as the U.S Border people will not allow beef across the border.
| Getting through Chihuahua |
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March 13th continued
We might have to sit here at the Pemex until Saturday because of a high wind warning from El Paso south into Mexico. Shortly
after we arrived here, the wind started blowing and the forecast is winds with gusts up to 60mph through Friday. On the narrow
Mexican roads with big trucks passing you, no one wants to drive in those conditions.
March 15, 2008
Not much happened yesterday and we just sat in the Pemex lot watching the wind blow the sand and tumbleweeds. The wind
was so strong I decided not to put up the datastorm satellite dish for fear some damage would be done.
We decided to get up and leave early this morning before the wind started up again and we left the Pemex at 6:50am. The
road was reasonably good going north and the turnoff to Santa Teresa was well marked.
We were hoping to see one more Pemex before we got to the border so we could fill up with cheap fuel but there was none.
What there was however was one more military checkpoint and again the motorhome and the jeep were given a search.
We got to the border about noon and saw a long long lineup of cars, a lot of them towing other cars waiting along side
the road. We didn't know what they were waiting for but glad we didn't have to get into that line.
The turning in of our visas and car permit went smoothly on the Mexican side of the border and with very little questions
or inspection we were passed through the U.S. customs and immigration station. Although we had some steaks in the freezer
that we thought they would take, the only thing the customs officials wanted was a few old apples we had in the fridge.
We honked a goodbye to each other as Ken and Mary-Beth headed west to meet up with some other friends and then up to Tucson
to visit relatives. They plan on coming through Livingston in a couple of weeks on their way home and we'll see them again
then.
Diane and I got on highway 10 and headed east until late afternoon and stopped at a rest area for the night.
Our fresh water supply is getting low and our holding tanks need dumping so tomorrow night we plan on stopping at a campground.
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