February still isn't it?

     Yes it is.  This is the last day of February and it is my good friend's birthday today.  She knows who she is.  Happy Birthday from Mave and Mike and Weaver.

     We are on the road again.  We left Lo de Marcos on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 8 am.  We travelled all day driving through to the Celestino RV park in Celestino Gasca.  Celestino is about 70 miles north of Mazatlan and on the Pacific Ocean.  The park was quite filled with greenery between each rv site.  Our site had a tree of hibiscus flowers and bougeanvilla.  The hibiscus flowers themselves were the size of my hand.  Here is an example:

There are four parks there and we ran into Dave and Sara who were staying in the Savage RV Park for a week.  They were on their way to Las Vegas. 
   Early Friday morning we were again on the move.  This time we drove through hundreds of kms of farmland to the Mexican town of Los Mochis.  The trailer park there is very dilapitated but the electricity worked and the toilets worked so I didn't complain.




 The RV park wasn't very busy as you can see by this picture.  I must admit there was a vehicle and trailer to right of this picture and later two more rigs pulled into the park.  Oh yes, it is on the road to town so it was quite noisy in the daytime but I never heard a thing after I went to sleep.  From Los Mochis one can take a train into the Copper Canyon.  Our neighbouring campers had done so and knocked on our door that evening to introduce themselves.  Grant and Sharon from Port Alberni had just got back and told us a little bit about their trip.  She showed me the beautiful baskets she bought that were made by the Mexican natives up there.  I think next year we will put that trip on our itinerary.

     Have I mentioned that Weaver the wonder dog is happy as a clam on our return trip so far?  Yes, he's quite content to sit beside his dad.  He parks his front paws on the arm rest and his hind feet are on the couch.  When he's ready to make his move he hops up on the arm rest and sits there as pleased as all get out.  He would stay there for miles and miles, then get a little restless and come and visit me for a hug, then back he'd go to his 'seat'. 

      Again, on Saturday morning we were on our way north.  Saturday's goal was to reach San Carlos and reach it we did without any problem.  First people we saw were Dick and Ann from Nelson, BC.  They had stayed at Savage in Lo de Marcos and were taking a break here before heading back home.  We took a long walk to the Oxxo so hubby could get some more pesos.  We found a restaurant right beside the Totonaka RV park and went out for supper because Mike was too tired to cook.  I had crab in butter and Mike had a marvellous concoction of fish stuffed with seafood.  I think it was the best seafood dish I've had in Mexico, and I've had quite a bit of seafood.  We had planned to stay only one night but Mike wanted to rest one more day so we stayed here today and I did laundry and Mike and I watched the Big Game on TV and it was in English.  Way to go Canada!!!!!  Tomorrow we will drive to Santa Ana which is not too far from Nogales, but will give us a chance to rest before driving over the border and on to Tucson. 

     Later dudes and dudettes,
Mave, Mike and Weaver

February 20 and all is good

Hola amigos,
     The sun is out today, hopefully for all day.  We are back from Yelapa where we visited with retired colleagues Ray and Donna.  After spending four nights there we headed back to Puerto Vallarta by way of boat to Boca.  We got off there and walked up the village to the highway where we caught the local bus to the old town.  We walked around a bit but carrying two backpacks got rather tiring so we found a bus stop and headed out to the Fluvial area to visit with Mike's cousin Mike and his wife Debbie.  We got off the bus at Costco and walked from there to their home.  We stayed there two nights and on Thursday Mike drove us to the bus depot where we boarded yet another bus (Pacifico) for Lo de Marcos.  It was raining very heavily by the time we got to Lo de Marcos and we quickly headed to the Oxxo (like a 7-11 store) where I needed the bathroom and we tried to wait out the rain.  That was unsuccessful so we dashed across the street where there was a building that had a large overhang.  Mike was not having success flagging a taxi and we were just about to give up and start walking when our good neighbours, Vic and Bev came around the corner and stopped when they saw us.  Thank you good folks!
     The kids were successful in finding their home on wheels.  We have only had two blogs from them since they left here.  Hope they have made it back home by now so they can license the Gypsy.
      Some of you readers will know Ray and Donna from the School District.  We had a great time with them and their home is really like a big cottage with the big screened porch that they use for eating and sleeping.  Yelapa is hard to describe so I suggest you google Yelapa info.  I'm attaching some photos for you all to see if you've never been there.
     Tony and Kathy were supposed to come but unfortunately Kathy's Dad passed away the evening before Tony was to fly in.  Mike and I send our condolences on your loss.
     Water taxis run often along the Banderas Bay coast so if you want to visit Yelapa go to Los Muertos Pier at the south end of the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta (P.V.) and catch one there.

The boat is almost full of day trippers.  One good tip for going by boat-try to sit in the bow of the boat where the helmsman is steering.  The ride won't be so bumpy!

This is a postcard view of the beach at Yelapa.

This is a beautiful view of the bay from the front of the house.  The hammock is very comfortable.

There is no beach here, just big rocks that are used as drums for the water to beat on.  The pathway is crude but it's beautiful when you get to the water.

Casa Piedra, home to Ray and Donna for six months of the year.  Now to get to the house, follow the pictures from the house to town; oh, and watch out for the donkey droppings.

The path to town is used regularly by donkeys carrying supplies further up the hill to a very fancy spa, called Verana.  They also have a dock that is used by their guests so they don't have to walk up and down the hill.

"Come on Mike, keep up", says our host.

We're off the hill, but the dangerous part is starting.  Don't forget that the tides have been very high this winter all along the coast and Yelapa's coastal waters are no different.  This time I didn't get wet, but the first evening out I got drenched by a rogue wave.  I wasn't taking any more chances.  I was on alert.  Just checking that my glasses were on snugly.

We made it to Casa Isabelle without mishap on this trip.  We still have a ways to go to get to the town centre but at least the path is higher now and the only thing we have to avoid is the donkey droppings.  The walk is now easier and we'll find a restaurant to have dinner.  The restaurants are plenty and the food is good.  I never did see a donkey carrying anything up or down the route to Ray's place. 

Many hours were spent just sitting and watching the water traffic float or paddle by; the fishers cleaning their catch and the sea birds coming in for the spoils; on Sunday morning Donna first caught sight of a whale so the binoculars were brought out and the whales' progress was excitedly tracked.  Meanwhile, Lola the cat found the butterflies a very interesting subject.  Moses, the other cat in residence, preferred to sleep on the bed in the sun porch. 

It seems that I cannot download any more photos on this blog, so I'll sign off and continue tomorrow. 

Hasta manana muy amigos.

Still in Lo de Marcos

Good evening friends and family,
We are still in Lo de Marcos and I thought that I better let you know that we are healthy and fit and enjoying life here at the Savage RV Park.  We've made some friends here and that has been very rewarding for us.  Vic and Bev from next door became 1st time grandparents of a baby girl at the end of January.  Jan and Dale have their daughter and son in law visiting them from Ontario.  Carol and Walter from Vernon took us to LaPenita today to the market.  Thanks for the ride.  Last week we were in Puerto Vallarta visiting hubby's cousin.  We had a great time there.  We stayed longer than we thought.  Thanks kids for looking after Weaver for us.  I hope your experience didn't deter you from the idea of rving and that you've had a chance to find your dream home.
The weather continues to be mixed up.  Last week most of Mexico had rainy weather-almost unheard of for this time of year.  Our trip to Puerto Vallarta consisted of rain for about three days. Today we had a little shower but the weather cleared up for a while and now it is cloudy again. 
Tomorrow we are taking the plunge and going to Yelapa to visit retired colleagues of ours who live in Yelapa.  They went back to Salmon Arm in December but the weather was so miserable they decided to come back here early-in February instead of March. So... here we go.  Weaver is going to doggy day care courtesy of Beach dogs in Mexico, a kennel and dog grooming business here a few blocks from us.  I think he knows something is up because he's been awfully quiet today.  The sight of a suitcase being packed could also have given him the "heads up".  Vic and Bev (from Thornhill,ON) will keep an eye on the rig for us.  Thank you neighbours!!
I must get to bed.  We have to have the dog to the kennel around 8 am and that is going to come earlier than I'd like.
Till next time,
Mave n Mike