Apr 09, 2013
Mazatlan ( Stone Island ) to Los Mochis
No internet yesterday so here is Day 1 and I will post Day 2 a bit later.
I have decided that 10 to 12 hour driving days are no longer my friend so hence the new 300 mile per day rule.
According to my research this route was to be about 300 miles and take 6 hours. In actuality it took 7 hours to drive 278 miles.
We have never been to the RV Park in Los Mochis but had heard it was fairly barren so we chose to spend more time on the Isla Monday morning before hitting the road. We had breakfast overlooking the beach and Colin took the girls for a very long walk while I did some final to do’s in the RV. Just before leaving I had a very strong thought to call my parents. It turns out that my Dad was taken to Emergency at 5AM morning and so far there was no news or details. Just so you don’t worry, he did get home later that day but they still have no idea what had happened.
We left our Isla home about 11:25AM, a very late start but what else would we do at the other end? It was sad giving our the final hugs. Even the local policia gave us a smile and an adios wave.
- There is a new baby on the Isla. This foal was sitting next to its Mom tied up near the side of Amaitlan. So very very cute.
“The Road” out was just as good as coming in and we made it to Estrella in the same amount of time, 50 minutes. A little more washboard like but no overgrowth. I just know that it is going to get better each year. Our girls have not left our sides nor the RV for a few days now, they knew something was going on with all the packing up. They fell into a deep sleep as soon as the wheels started turning.
Our first planned stop was the rest area just before the turn off to the Celestino RV Parks.
Well it is now a new agriculture check point ( Fito ). The inspector was happy to take our word for what we did or did not have. Usually they come in no matter what. We still were able to pull over for a few moments. Colin walked the girls while I made lunch. Have you ever added cilantro to egg salad? YUM!
The new toll booth just south if Culiacan is almost completed. Very impressive.
Sadly about 50 KM North of Culiacan there was a sign asking vehicles to slow down due to the spreading of grava suelta ( loose gravel ). One little white car ignored the advice and we now have 2 windshield cracks!! Hopefully we will be able to get them fixed in the USA before they start to spread across the windshield.
We had a second Fito inspection just north ( km 125 ) of the Guamuchil toll booth. He did come in and said that bananas and oranges were alright. I guess we can’t travel with too much fruit anymore, too bad. All went well until we were just 21 km shy of Los Mochis. Huge accident!
After a few miles we saw that they were diverting vehicles onto a ditch road. No way we could do that and we were allowed to stay with the semi trucks and snake past the actual accident site.
Two trucks with heavy loads of tomatoes had collided and the road was red and wet with squashed tomatoes. They were shovelling the tomatoes into the ditch between passing trucks.
Sadly the cab of the one truck was totally crushed. However I think that this incident was as a result of another accident just a mile up the road. As we passed I saw 3 very mangled vehicles to the side and the road surface was a sea of broken glass. Perhaps the tomato trucks collided because of the other accident. We will never know.
Having never been to the Los Mochis RV Park I was unsure of the exact directions. Combined with having just passed the accident and having to go to the bathroom, I misguided Colin. I had him turn into a street 1/2 block before the lateral we should have been on.
Within a mile we recognized my error and Colin turned the RV around ~ somehow! As you can see it was tight and across 4 lanes with oncoming traffic!
We did get to the RV Park and found out that they had no internet!!! It had been cut off two days ago because the owner never paid the bill!! I was ready to start up the engine and head to a Pemex. The only reason we came here was because they had WiFi. By now it was 6:25PM and hot and we had been on the road 7 hours ( how did I ever manage 11 hours ). Anyway they wanted 250 pesos. I can hear Kevin screaming from here. I tried to negotiate a lower fee based on the lack of internet but they held firm. After some discussion we decided to stay. Fortunately I still had some time on my Mexican cell phone and was able to call my family about my Dad.
The girls did a perfect twinned side sit and just looked out the screen door. They were so patient and finally we just let them out to run all over. They were so happy to be free and have new smells to check out.
There was a 5th wheel in the park who had arrived just moments before us. Bill and Wendy from Campbell River, B.C. They were the only other RV we saw all day. Once the girls had their run, I heated up some fish chowder and was in bed by 9 PM. It was a very tiring day for me.
I could end this with “who knows what tomorrow may bring ?”, but I do know and I will post it soon. After all I have a big day 3 coming up.
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So cute the way the girls are sitting. Chloe and Merlin twin just like that! It must be because they become so close after all the years together. Chloe is older than Merlin, I hope she doesn’t pass too much before him, he’ll die of loneliness.
Well, Since she decided no more long days driving 10 to 12 hours and instead wants to only go 300 miles – I have decided to take advantage of the lesser driving distance and will drive slower – 50 to 55 mph, take advantage of the views, have less stress on the motorhome and save a little more money re maintenance and fuel. Our morning departure times can be later too.
“Big C”
Relax and smell the roses! There is no rush. 300 miles per day seems perfectly reasonable. Kelowna will be there when you arrive.
Have a safe trip North! My Doxie freezing!
Snow and a frozen lake in Lac La Hache!
That still sounds like a long travel day but certainly better the what you did before.
We don’t like to rush any where everyplace we stop is a destination and and experience.
I agree – slow down and enjoy – I sure enjoy reading your blog as well as others – esp. enjoying the sites from Mexico, western USA, and Canada – since we live on the east coast and have been north and south and have enjoyed all of that. We’ve been west but it’s been awhile. Anyhow, just want to say thanks again for your postings. We enjoy them all!!!
hi Guys…just came across your blog while researching my drive tomorrow….7 hours huh??? Better leave Los Mochis early,
hasta la vista
Fernanda….. aka Ferne
Just take your time Ferne and be careful on the roads, drive slowly. Hope you know that we have a hurricane heading our way Friday night.