Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Where are Kevin and Ruth now? Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Where are Kevin and Ruth going next? Kuwait City, Kuwait on March 31st.

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Getting ready for Mexico

Well, this is an enthusiastic group! Seven of our eight rigs are here. Just waiting for Garth and his Trek motorhome. I know he was having some brake work done before arriving here. And again, he doesn't have to be here until Friday afternoon.

But everyone else is here early, and very excited about our trip. So are we!

This year, I bought a Telcel Mexico SIM Card from Amazon ahead of time. Telcel has a lot of different packages available, but the best value includes 5 GB of internet data as well as unlimited calling in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. And until January 9th, they have a double data deal... so we get 10 GB of data for each 500 peso ($33 CAD, $25 USD) recharge.

It's a little more expensive than waiting and buying it when you get there, but this way we are connected as soon as we cross the border. And actually, even before we cross the border. It is active and working right now because the entire package works seamlessly in Canada and the U.S.

To order from U.S... Telcel Mexico SIM card

To order from Canada... Telcel Mexico SIM card 

I got Sherman's GMRS radio installed again yesterday. And today, I will help the others get their communication gear hooked up and make sure everything is working properly.

Sherman, in his spot at Mission West RV Resort.

Oh. And we spent some more money! But you get to benefit from that expenditure too!

We bought a new camera. Our Nikon P520 with 42x optical zoom has been with us over 5 years now and has taken many beautiful photos to share with you. But it's been having some problems and they are getting worse. Lately, when I turn it on it sometimes freezes and I have to remove the battery and the memory card and reinsert them and turn it on again.

I love the camera though, and wanted the upgraded version... the Nikon P900 with 83x optical zoom!

And I've been waiting for it to drop in price, which it just won't do! So we bit the bullet and bought it at regular price. I hate buying something at full price! But, if the other camera dies in Mexico it would not be good. So we just did it.

Scheduled to arrive here tomorrow.


The swimming pool.

Went for a walk around the park. The outer perimeter road of the park is 3/4 of a mile so we managed to do a couple of miles at a decent pace to get the blood flowing.

I stuck my hand in the swimming pool and it's like bath water! That's my kind of pool. I may just go for a swim!

Had a good happy hour with the group getting to know everyone. So much easier when there are only 14 of us instead of 24 like last year! I'll take some photos of the people and their rigs and post them tomorrow so you can also know the people we are traveling with!

Busy day today... gotta go get some stuff done!

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Sunjoy Zero Gravity Chairs are on sale... especially good deal on the oversize version...


And in Canada...






32 comments:

  1. I am so looking forward to this round for you guys in Mexico. I hope your fellow caravaners know how lucky they are to have your for tour guides. Safe travels and have fun!!

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    1. We are looking forward to our trip into Mexico this year as well and yes, I think our fellow travelers are very appreciative to have us as their leaders. We seem to all be quite like minded about how we like to take things easy and enjoy less driving and more relax time. :-)

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  2. Exciting for your first group completely on your own - I am sure it will be a great success!

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    1. Yep, it is definitely exciting and we are confident that we are all going to have a great time in Mexico this winter.

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  3. Wish we were there as you are going to have an amazing experience.. bon voyage

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    1. We wish you and Betty were coming along as well Bob.

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  4. We are following your every move and hope you decide to this again next year. Unless things change, we are planning on meeting you in 12 months there in Texas!

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    1. Good to hear! We would love to meet you. :-)

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  5. We are getting excited also, to follow you on this next trip. Thanks for including us in your blog!

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    1. Thank you for reading along and following us on our adventures. :-) We are really looking forward to showing you some new places and some that we haven't been to for a while, it's going to be a fun winter. :-)

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  6. Yep, ditto Steven Williams. We hope to enjoy this with you next year! I will also watch your itinerary closely. We will be in Mexico (Guanajuato area for 2-ish weeks then coast of Oaxaca after that) for 3 weeks, mid February to early March and wonder where you all will be. If near us, we would love to stop by to meet you all! Safe travels!

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    1. Thanks again Mono! The itinerary that we follow may not be the same if we do it again next year but I am sure that a number of the places will remain on the list. As we said before, we need to get through this winter first before we make a decision about doing it again. It is nice to see that we have more people eager to join us with us though.

      We won't see you in Guanajuato and I think we will have just missed you in Oaxaca as well. Keep following along and if you see us nearby let us know, we would love to meet up.

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  7. We have been in Tulum, Mexico for a month and have been using a Telcel SIM card. Fabulous value.

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    1. We have always used the Telcel SIM card anytime we have been in Mexico. It has always worked well, has great coverage and the prices are amazing, especially if you are to compare it to Canadian prices.

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  8. Just finishing ordering a Telcel sim card from Amazon asper your suggestion. So much easier. Thanks for the tip.

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  9. I wonder if leading the group on your own rather than for a company will lower expectations on the part of the participants, making for a more relaxing trip? Seems to me that the need to “get one’s money’s worth” could be substantially reduced on the part of the participants, since it sounds as though you are not an employee, but rather you are leading a group of like minded people. I look forward to following the trip!

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    1. That is what we are trying to achieve, a nice relaxed trip where people have time to do what they want when they want and not always be driving or on a tour. It is true that when all the tours are included you what to do them because you paid for them. In our group last year there were only a few participants that did every single tour and some that did much less yet they paid for them. For this trip people will have time to wander around the towns/cities at their own pace and occasionally we will hire a tour guide when we think the group needs one and only the people doing the tour will pay. We think everyone in the group is going to have a fun, relaxing trip. :-)

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  10. The whole idea of inviting just a small group of loyal readers was absolutely brilliant. It'll be just like a family outing. I cannot wait to follow along vicariously and perhaps join you in person one of these years!

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    1. Well we like to think that it is a brilliant idea! ;-) At least these people have a good idea of what they are in for because they know how we travel and more or less know what to expect from this trip with us. As Kevin stated to them, you will be traveling in true Kevin and Ruth style so don't expect anything ritzy!

      We would love to have you join us, if we were to do this trip again. :-)

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  11. If you're looking for a Camera you might want to try a pawnshop there is actually one right in the town that you're in now you never know what they have in stock and if you don't See, ask,, if they have what you want dicker with tham ,,

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    1. Nope, when it comes to cameras, Kevin does not want a used one!

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  12. I am looking forward to following your caravan virtually! We are in the Yucatan and loving it. Telcel is indeed an amazing value...paying 200 pesos/month here (around $10 US) for voice/SMS/data. So much better than even the most basic plan in the US. Gotta love Mexico!

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    1. We can't wait to start this trip, I am sure we will have lots of reading for you, this winter. :-)

      Yep, Telcel is great value for the money.

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  13. Ice that the gs are coming together for you and soon back on the road and in Mexico again.

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    1. Things are coming along nicely. We are looking forward to our winter. :-)

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  14. Looking forward to the trip and some awesome pictures from the new camera! So excited booked a flight for January. Practising my Spanish today at the car wash!

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    1. You and us both! :-) Kevin has been so busy, he hasn't even had a chance to try out his new camera!

      We are so happy for you Scott, you will have a great time. Where are you headed?

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    2. I also found a flight deal ! Kelowna to Cancun return for $415 ! So I think we're going to Playa del Carmen first night , then the ferry to Cozumel for a couple nights and then take the bus to Puerto Morelos for 3 or 4 nights then home. Only a week as I have to work! Cheers !

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    3. Nicely done! Sounds like a good plan and some nice places to visit. We have not been to Puerto Morelos but we have heard good things about it. Have fun. :-)

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