Tucson and beyond, flying north with the birds

We left Mexico behind on March 14, looking forward to getting home to family. We had an easy time thru US customs, searched the freezer for disallowed food & asked about any meds acquired, in particular Cipro. Strange question but apparently it is the only antibiotic effective against anthrax so they keep an eye out for any large quantities entering the US.

We settled in Tucson for a week to do all the touristy things as we had never been there. Of course we took the free camping option of a casino parking lot for all but one night, when we caught up on laundry & sanitized our water tank after dumping our Mexican water. Gas prices were pretty good - $2.219/gallon!

white pelicans over Laughlin

 We toured the Asarco copper mine & got to watch the huge trucks working in the massive pit. Next was the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, a full day exploring the nature trails, listening to talks on Gila monsters & rattlesnakes, complete with live animals up close, marveling at the nesting hummingbirds in the walk-in aviary, ducking as the raptor flight show had Harris hawks swooping over our heads & enjoying many animal & bird exhibits.

 

mother hummingbird feeding her baby

Gila Monster

rattlesnake

A highlight for us was the Biosphere 2, the site of a huge dome enclosed “world” complete with an ocean & coral reef, a rain forest, a desert & living quarters. This was used for a 2 year sealed live in experiment for 8 people in 1991-3 where they grew their own food & monitored the environment, studying the feasibility of creating dome homes in the future. It is now owned by the University of Arizona & is used for climate & environmental research. 

ocean, reef below

desert

Of course we did some rock-hounding in the area, at one point ended up on a dirt “goat trail” (not the first time) traveling for miles into the mountains, up to 8000 ft, temp. down to 10C, before we found our way out & back down to Tucson where the temp was 25C.

We couldn’t miss Tombstone since we were so close, took in a re-enactment of the Gunfight at the OK Corral, had beer & burgers at the old Crystal Palace Saloon & visited Boothill graveyard.

We had purchased a booklet giving us 2 for 1 entry into many attractions so we also visited the Pima Air & Space Museum. Lots of military aircraft, even a tiny moon rock on display.

We left Tucson & headed to Casa Grande where we swapped stories with Darwin & Olivia & were treated to their wonderful hospitality, a great visit. On to Phoenix area, a casino again in Mesa, close to the huge Mesa Market, 1500 shops of “stuff”. Spent 2 days there wandering in amazement at the size of it. We ran into 2 sets of folks that we met in La Penita, Mexico & we had previously run into 2 other sets of people from our Mexican travels at other spots in Tucson – small world. We tried our hand at casino bingo, a first for us. We needed lots of help from the cashier on what we needed, but figured most of it out & left poorer than when we arrived. We were surprised by the question of paper or electronic when we bought our cards – you can now use a “tablet like” device that can be loaded with dozens of bingo cards that a “machine” plays for you – you sit there & watch idly & the screen shows “Yell Bingo” if you win! Too technical for us, we played old fashioned paper cards.

We headed north east after our trusty GPS got us through Phoenix to a new rock-hounding area at Burro Creek. They have a beautiful rustic campground where we spent 3 nights, enjoying pie iron for breakfast cooked over the fire, watching migrating birds overhead & 5 Great Blue herons nesting on the cliff above the creek. The desert was in full color, lots of spring flowers & cactus in bloom. We came across our first wild rattlesnake – a Western Diamondback, about 30” long, slithering along on the road. We visited with some Americans who told us of another RVer (an American) who carries 19 firearms & 10,000 rounds of ammo in his RV - & people wonder why we prefer Mexico!

 

Great Blue heron on her nest

We are now in Laughlin, Nevada across the river from Bullhead City parked in another casino parking lot with at least 30 other RVers. It’s hot – 96-100F, hi 30’sC & feels even hotter parked on asphalt. We are enjoying walking along the river walk beside the Colorado River & popping into casinos to cool off. We have been visiting with Mary & Gary & last night we got to cruise the strip in their fancy red Mustang convertible! We took a ride on the Riverboat past all the casinos & up to Davis dam, can’t believe the number of people out on the river in March.  We will be leaving here in a day or two, to do a quick trip north, but we know it will get colder so we a reluctant to leave this heat. Hopefully winter is close to being over up there. Next blog post should be from home, sweet home.

 Still living the dream!

Leaving Mexico, Heading North

Our last 2 weeks in sunny Mexico have us gearing up for the long drive home. We are really missing the kids & grandkids & are looking forward to getting home.

Our last few days at La Penita RV were busy - the last Beer Can races where Robin unveiled the newest racer - Mr. Mo (Modelo beer), one of his carvings. He also left a reminder of us, another carving hung in a tree. We went out for dinner once again, can't beat the $2-$4 taxi rides. I took in a Cultural Concert in Guayabitos, put on for the tourists & locals. It started off late & slow, Mexican time, with groups of young kids dancing, followed by the highlight - the Circo Dragon. An amazing display of acrobatics, juggling, aerial acts - & cultural dancing, all in beautiful costumes.
We left La Penita RV March 1 after a 2 month stay, hoping to return one day.

We headed north to Mazatlan, leaving the tropics & noticing the change in the scenery - definitely less green & lush & less flowers. Also not so hot or humid. This we appreciated! We stayed 3 nights, did some biking, ate at Fat Fish (huge helpings of ribs, very tasty), visited the Aquarium & were lucky to see a couple of chachalacas (very noisy strange birds). The Aquarium was fun - several shows; a diver with sharks & rays, sea lions happy to soak bunches of school kids, macaws performing tricks. We were able to walk around in the bird houses - a bit too close for comfort to some pretty big turkeys, several peacocks in full feather, and a goose guarding a nest of eggs that took a dislike to Robin being so close! You can't get close enough to stick a finger into a crocodile cage in Canada but Robin managed it here.

Another travel day on our way to a new destination - Huatabampito where we parked very close to the ocean on an endless beach. We saw big farm trucks loaded with loose tomatoes - not sure how they weren't all squished! Also saw many farmers grazing small groups of cattle in the ditches of the highway. The road had so many potholes we thought we were back in Edmonton! It was so cool that I actually needed a sweater in the evening. We visited an estuary thick with many species of birds, most notable were the white pelicans, first we have seen in Mexico.

We are now at our last stop in Mexico, back at Islandia RV in Kino Bay. It was nice to see everyone again as we spent 2 weeks here in the fall. Unfortunately it is " bobito" season - a nasty tiny fly that fortunately doesn't bite but flies into your nose, ears & hair in the hundreds! They actually like bug spray so nothing really works to deter them & they are out all day - gets you wishing for a strong wind! We have been out kayaking twice, stopped on a sand bar & dug for clams (happy to say that we have several bags in the freezer for chowder back home). We went out for a special treat - chili peppers stuffed with meat & cheese, wrapped in bacon & grilled over a fire. They are served in a tortilla & you add the condiments of your choice - delicious!!

We are now in the process of eating up what's in the fridge as we leave for Tucson on March 14. We have never been there & plan on some sight-seeing in the area. Then it's homeward bound. Still loving the journey!

Carnival La Penita, Quading, Pig Roast

We celebrated Valentines Day at the RV park in a grand way - the annual pig roast! This years theme was red & white - lots of fun costumes, we were boring in our red & white clothes . Everyone decorated their tables, unfortunately didn't think to take pictures. The meal centered around 2 pigs stuffed with fruit & roasted in pits in the ground - quite the process. Dancing followed, under the stars, to an excellent DJ.

Life continues as before, we walk 6 days a week, 8 km. over cobblestones & dirt roads, not quite as difficult as when we started. We have done a few road trips to neighboring towns & beaches, best find was the coffee producing area .No signs but we found the "guy" - back yard covered with coffee beans from the recent harvest, drying in the sun. In his tiny shop was the roaster & the grinder, we watched him grind our order & package it for us. The whole town belongs to a cooperative so there are many of these "shops".

We have most everything that we need brought right here to the park or it can be found in town, a short walk away. The bread truck comes thru 2 days a week, fresh whole wheat jalapeno cheese bread, warm from the oven! The old "honey guy" walks thru carrying a 5 gallon pail on his shoulder, full of bottles of mango honey, bee pollen & jack fruit. What's not so good is the fact that there are way too many good paces to eat here, we went out for rib dinners to 3 different places over a week & a half! We have weekly hamburger nights, we have volunteered twice to help cook & serve. Movie nights under the stars is also popular. The Cancer Walk was a big success, several hundred "gringos" walking in support of local mammography efforts, then a fun street party.

Carnival in a big deal here - a 2 hour parade, lots of fun floats, all ages dancing, the usual queens & princesses, even some pretty old women princesses. I was in awe of the crazy high heels that so many women wear, marching along the cobblestones & pot holes. We spent some time in the midway, games of chance, rickety old kids rides, food & of course the tequila booth! I threw some darts & won a box of cookies, lucky it wasn't for toilet paper, also there as prizes! After the parade several bands set up on the street corners to entertain until the wee hours.

I have no experience on a quad, I was too afraid to ride them when we owned 2, any little hill had me panicked. I was invited to go on the Ladies quad ride, so I decided to bite the bullet & give it a try.  10 machines, 20 women - most who don't usually get to drive so they made up for it with a lot of speed! I held on for dear life & hoped for the best. Great scenery, thru the jungle, down the beach, country roads, crisscrossing rivers & thru lots of mud. I even had mud in my ear! Came home tired after over 6 hours of riding, a bit sore from my "death grip" on the handles, but over all a great day, complete with lunch on the beach ( a 2 beer lunch, thought that might make the return trip easier).

We have a good spot right out in front of the RV for bird watching, keeps me busy sorting & deleting excess pictures. We have enough for a pretty good bird book if I ever get to it. Floating around the pool on a pool noodle has become the afternoon activity, before our daily happy hour. We are in the process of packing up ready to turn & head north. We leave here March 1 to begin the slow trip home. We don't plan to be out of Mexico till at least mid March then on to Tuscon for some exploring. We must admit that it will be good to get home, starting to really miss all of the family!