Etzatlan to Mazatlan (March 21)

Up and early, that is our motto on travel days. Yes, we can actually do it if we put our minds to it. There is a slight amount of groaning (usually from me) but we get hopping.

We hated to leave Etatlan as we realy like the town but it is now time to start heading for home. Yes, we sort of miss home.....

Really beautiful day. Takes about 20 minutes to get back up to the MEX 15D which is the toll highway. 

Using up every space to plant agave, right by the road

This will do for morning road coffee

For the most part, this is what the toll roads

looked like on this drive...

Might be a bit twisty!

Or not!

I know some people like the free roads but the difference between transit from Etzatlan to Mazatlan is quite a lot. The toll highway will take you 5 -1/2 hrs but with a heavy toll cost of $1574 MXN PS ($116.54 Cdn). HOWEVER, the free road will take you 8-1/2 hrs to cover the same distance. But they will throw in a few hundred topes for your entertainment! No thanks. We believe we see lots of "real" Mexico and feel good on the toll roads. They aren't in perfect shape but they are fast (even if we aren't!). Even had the army keeping us safe and sound. We stopped at a Pemex for a bathroom break and the convoy (pictured below) caught up with us. There were probably about 75 soldiers, all milling around. Going to the OXXO for a snack, bathroom breaks (imagine!) all with their semi-automatice weapons at the ready. Not disconcerting for us. quite the opposite really. Feels good to know they are out there and they are always ready with a wave and smile for us travelers. Thanks all!

 

The drive was uneventful, which we like. We did have to go through a "Fruit check inspection" where they decide what you can and can't bring across a state line. This is a bit of a moving target as the parameters change frequently. Sometimes there is no one there to check you OR sometimes like this day, you lose both of the Honeycrisp apples (grown in the US), one mango (grown in Mexico), one lime (grown in Mexico, duh) and half a dozen eggs (no doubt laid in Mexico). Remember that EXPENSIVE store we shopped at the other day in San Miguel? Yes, all those things were bought there. Ha ha on us! Of course they were. Lovely polite personnel checking and very professional. One other time we crossed a state line the problem thing was potatoes. Almost had a fit about "papas". Pretty funny! 

 

Arrived back at Las Jaibas RV park on the north end of town about 3 PM, which included a few stops like bathroom and lunch.

It feels pretty good to be back. We didn't realize how much we missed Mazatlan until we had been gone for so long. Love it here.

The park may not look that nice in pictures. It is a city RV park and we are lucky that the owner, Phillipe, dosn't want to sell it for condos. His son helps run the park when he isn't here. Behind us used to be all forested area. It was much nicer for sure but otherwise it is the same vibe and we like it.

Frank the iguana popped out to say hello!

Someone must have known I was coming!

Shell and a pinch of sea glass - better than last time!

 

We will get out and about and see what's shaking for a few days before we leave. Our friends from Melaque, Jack and Janice are at a different park in Mazatlan so I am sure we will get to see them and we left some friends here, Paul & Patricia as well. Always nice to see friends from the road....

Peace out friends!

Thought for the Day: Start with day with a smile and end it with champagne. (Sounds like pretty solid advice if you ask me!)