The south end of the beach at Hua Hin, Thailand.
Where are Kevin and Ruth now? Hua Hin, Thailand.

Where are Kevin and Ruth going next? Maldives on March 23rd.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Mercedes, Texas (day 2)

Tuesday March 31…11:00pm

I spent most of the day researching my tires on the internet. The size for our motorhome is a 7.50R16, which is an oddball size that is very difficult to get. There is a comparable size in the newer metric standard, P235/85R16, but most sources mentioned that they are slightly wider and will possibly touch the sidewalls of each other on the rear. I finally found some trustworthy info that said it would be okay to use the slightly narrower P215/85R16 and the local Goodyear dealer confirmed that this is the way to go. So I have an appointment to bring it in tomorrow morning at 9:30am. Then on Thursday, I will get new springs and a wheel alignment on the front end.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Back in the USA!

Monday March 30…11:30pm

What a day!

We left Allende at about 8am, and headed towards the border at Reynosa. Leaving Allende, we had to go north towards a toll road that would take us away from the outskirts of Monterrey. As is usual in Mexico, there is a choice between the toll road or the free road in the same basic direction.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Allende, just outside of Monterrey

Sunday March 29…9:45pm

We left Matehuala at about 8:15am, and drove north on the Mex 57 highway. This is a four lane highway, through a desert area. For the most part, it was in good condition, and we averaged 80 kmh (50 mph). Lots of truck traffic, but because it was a Sunday morning it was pretty quiet otherwise.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Matehuala (Real de Catorce)

Saturday March 28…9:30pm

We had set the alarm for 6am, and got up at that time.

Had a quick breakfast and coffee, took Whiskey for a short stroll before leaving her in the motorhome for the day, and actually made it to the front office by 7am. There was a different person there, and we asked if he could call us a taxi. He got on the phone, and less than five minutes later, a taxi arrived. It cost 40 pesos ($3.60 CAN, $3.00 US) for the ride to the central bus terminal.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Matehuala

Friday March 27…10:00pm

We were up before 7am, and Ruth went to make sure Alejandra and her son Antonio were awake as well. They came to Sherman to have a coffee and juice with us before we left. Antonio was excited because we promised him a ride around the block in the motorhome. He has decided that his mother should sell the house and they should buy a camper!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Zacatecas (day 2)

Thursday March 26…9:00pm

Alejandra took us into Zacatecas on her way to work. She didn’t have to be in early this morning, so it was about 10am when we left her place. Then, she gave us a quick tour of the historical area before dropping us off at the entrance to the El Eden silver mine, which is very close to downtown.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Zacatecas

Wednesday March 25…11:30pm

We actually had a pretty good sleep parked at the Pemex gas station. We were expecting it to be a bit noisy because of the trucks that use their engine break on the hill going into town, but it wasn’t too bad at all.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Just north of Jalpa

Tuesday March 24…8:30pm

We were up early again, before 7:00am. They filled the various swimming pools with fresh water, as they do every day, and Ruth and I went for a swim. The mineral hot springs water that they fill the pools with is a constant temperature of 39C (98F). You’d think that’s too hot for swimming in Mexico, but it feels just right, and it sure is easy to get into the water.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Villa Corona (day 2) - Guadalajara

Monday March 23…8:00pm

At about 9:30am, we walked up to the main highway to catch the local bus to Guadalajara. It’s about 50 kms (30 miles) from the town of Villa Corona to the centre of Guadalajara. The bus showed up, and it was 28 pesos ($2.41 CAN, $2.00 US) each, one way.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Villa Corona

Sunday March 22…9:45pm
We got up at about 6:30am, but it was still about 8:00am before we drove out.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Valle de Juarez (day 3)

Saturday March 21…11:00pm

Another couple here, Ryan and Joanne, just bought an old Jeep because they are staying in Mexico for a while. They invited us to go for an open air tour of the nearby mountains to a place called El Tigre.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Valle de Juarez (day 2)

Friday March 20…10:30pm

We had a great sleep last night, using our comforter on the sheets for the first time in weeks. Temperature in the motorhome when we got up at 7am was 11C (53F). But by the time the sun started shining in a few minutes later it only took an hour or so to warm up.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Valle de Juarez

Thursday March 19…10:30pm

We were up at 6:00am, and we left the city of Colima at 7:15am.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Colima (day 2)

Wednesday March 18…8:45pm

Had a great nights sleep in the Sams Club parking lot. In fact, I woke up at one point during the night, and couldn’t believe how quiet it was outside.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Colima

Tuesday March 17…10:15pm

We were up before 7am, and I took Whiskey outside to do her thing. I’m standing overlooking the beach, and I see a couple of baby sea turtles making their way to the ocean.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Maruata (day 2)

Monday March 16…9:30pm

We went for an early walk along the beach this morning before it got too hot. There were a lot of sea turtle tracks going up to the sandy area of the beach.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Maruata

Sunday March 15…10:30pm

We were on the road at 8:45am, and only had another short distance to travel. But the road from here to Maruata is very twisty and windy.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Tizupan


Saturday March 14…10:30pm

We planned on a short 50 km (30 mile) drive to Caleta de Campos. And we made it there in about an hour.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Playa Azul

Friday March 13…9:45pm

We were up at 6:30am, and on the road at 8:45am. It seemed to take forever to get out of Zihuatanejo…the roads are bad, and we made one wrong turn that fortunately wasn’t a disaster because we got back on track pretty quickly.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Zihuatanejo (day 2)

Thursday March 12…

We decided to stay put for one more night. We have what seems to be a perfect free parking spot…shade in the morning, and then just enough sun to fully charge our batteries, and then shade for late afternoon.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Zihuatanejo

Wednesday March 11…9:45pm

We were up in time to watch the sunrise at about 6:45am.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Piedra de Tlacoyunque

Tuesday March 10…10:45pm

We got ready to go this morning, and left the Acapulco Trailer Park at around 9:20am.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Acapulco (day 2)

Sunday March 8…10:00pm

We left the trailer park at about 9:30am and wanted to catch a bus into Acapulco.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Acapulco

Saturday March 7…10:30pm

We were up before 7:00am, and on the road by 7:40am.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Playa Ventura (day 2)

Friday March 6…10:00pm

Walked with Whiskey on the beach this morning back towards town.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Playa Ventura

Thursday March 5…10:30pm

Sure enough, we were up at 6:30am, and we hit the road at 7:00am.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Playa Zicatela (day 2)

Wednesday March 4…10:30pm

We thought about leaving this morning. But by 10am, that thought had disappeared.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Playa Zicatela

Tuesday March 3…10:15pm

We got up and spent some time getting Sherman ready to move. Marie and Alfredo came by and said they wanted to take us to another beach today, but they had to go into town first.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Near Puerto Escondido (day 8)

Monday March 2…11:00pm

When we went over to the house this morning, the 20 chickens were already getting ready for dinner!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Near Puerto Escondido (day 7)

Sunday March 1…11:00pm

Marie and Alfredo made us Enchiladas for breakfast. The sauce they use is very different. It’s made with apples, bananas, garlic, jalapeno peppers and other stuff. Very spicy for breakfast!