Made it to Valle de Juarez

Last we checked in, we were parked up just west of the big city of Morelia at the sandstone rock formations called Los Piloncillos. We slept well there again... total peace and quiet!

But it was chilly the next morning, so we got up and drove right away. We were taking another back road... and it was in BAD shape!

It took us about an hour to do 11 kms (7 miles)!

The road was a little bouncy, even at very slow speed!

There was a big low fog above the small lake that we drove by.

Mist coming off the water.

Looking back towards the rising sun.

This section was in better shape.

We went through this little village.

Guaranteed that was the first RV that ever went through there.

I'm sure the residents we waved to thought we must be lost!

We made it off the bad road, and stopped for an hour to have breakfast and a hot drink.

This road was in better shape.

Nice gate.

We stopped for lunch at a city park just outside Zamora.

They were doing lots of renovations, with new bbq's and picnic shelters.

Then we took old highway 15 to Jiquilpan.

Looking back at Jiquilpan.

We arrived at Valle de Juarez at just after 4:00pm... it was a long driving day! We enjoy doing the back roads much more than the toll highways, but they can definitely be slow going.

We pulled in to the Victoria RV Park and were surprised to find six or so vehicles in the parking. Normally there's nobody here and we just get ourselves set up and go into town to tell the owner we're here.. Anyhow, the owner Chema came out to greet us and said we were just in time... for the New Years Eve party happening that evening!

Igor, parked at GPS 19.941064, -102.95849

They fed us chicken tinga tacos.

And they fed us again later. And again!

New Years Eve party.

The town of Valle de Juarez has a lot of people with relatives in the U.S., mostly in the Chicago area. And of course the relatives all come back home to Mexico for Christmas so I think half the people at the party were Americans who spoke perfect English.

And friends Barb and Sal were there too... haven't seen them in almost six years. They are the couple who used to own the campground down the road from here where our dog Whiskey is buried.

Sal, Kevin, Ruth, and Barb.

We didn't make it to midnight. I think Ruth would have stayed, but I was exhausted. We were in bed before 11pm, but I did wake up when fireworks went off at midnight.

The next day, January 1st, we walked into town.

The malecon at Valle de Juarez.

Santa had arrived in an old VW.

We stopped and had a cup of ice cream.

Back at Igor, we just relaxed for the rest of the day.

This odd praying mantis like thing was on Igor's tire.

Today we've been invited to a neighbors for carnitas with Barb and Sal.

This will be one of our shorter visits here... we're moving on either tomorrow or Sunday to the Chimulco Water Park at Villa Corona... then on to Etzatlan for next week.

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