We enjoyed our three days at Camp Verde and did not want to leave so soon. But we had to go today in order to squeeze into The Grand Canyon RV park (Trailer Village). Next time around we will definitely stay longer in Camp Verde. Did not have a reason to believe that the Grand Canyon would be so busy this time of year - it's cold! We planned on just driving on up here and having no problem camping. Someone at Camp Verde told us we had better call ahead to reserve a space. Good thing we did! We wanted a five day stay and could only reserve a three day.

We arrived with snow and freezing rain spitting here and there, but no real significant amounts and no accumulation (as of 8:30pm). The forecast gets a lot better as the next couple of days pass. If we can book another night or two we might do so for the blue sky photo ops that are to come. There are a lot of people here! And it is spring break season! In addition, as we have seen in all visits to our National Parks, many groups of foreigners seem to always be touring at all times of the year. I simply can not understand how so many people would be here at this time. Being here in the "prime time" would have to be a "zoo".

The trails that go down below the rim are still icy and we are not equipped to venture into that territory so we will be limited to all the rim trails, bars, and restaurants. Oh Darn!

An assortment of pictures I downloaded off the camera today are below going back to San Carlos. As I said, the weather today was terrible here at the canyon, but some of the pictures turned out pretty good. Some sun tomorrow should provide great views! We had just a sliver of sunshine as we got to the park but could not pull over to park and take pictures. The view was amazing!


Jim and the girls taking a look at a view point in walking distance from our San Carlos RV park.

A new home almost completed being built on a hill top overlooking the Gulf in San Carlos. We could see it all lit up at night from the RV park and we walked up past it on our way to the view point above. Major bucks!!!!!!!

Heading to the border on our way home

The line-up. It took one hour in line before we got to the border.

One quick picture from our hike up Madera Canyon just north of our Amado RV park. It was a good exercise for the four of us.

All the following are pictures from our short visit to the rim today. It was cloudy, and rain/snow falling to the North, but the pictures are still worthy to share. We will not be able to put any pictures on the blog or verbalize what we see that will do the experience justice!

It's Tuesday morning and 38 outside. There is frost on the car windows!!!! We are in Camp Verde, AZ north of Phoenix at an RV resort just off I-17. Beautiful place! Had no idea before arriving what we were getting into. We delayed going straight to the Grand Canyon because of high wind warnings yesterday. Wanted to stay at a regional park near Carefree just North of Phoenix but they were full. Glad they were because this place is "primo". It's called Beating Drums RV Park. It's only a few years old, spotless, landscaped, all cement pads & patios, great views of the surrounding mountains, exercise room, and lots more. Gotta love Arizona! We intend to stay here a second night tonight then head to the Grand Canyon in the morning.

We are near Prescott and called Bill Mueller. We wanted to drive over to see him, but he is not doing well enough to want us to visit. He just had another stent put in two weeks ago and did not seem to want company. We talked for a few minutes, but he sounded weak and a little confused. He said he is just an "old man" now and spends most of his time and energy seeing doctors. He has two to visit with today so I guess he just didn't have the strength for us as well.

Sunday we drove the dogs to Madera Canyon just north of the RV park in Amado. It's a well visited Coronado National Forest Park with maintained hiking trails up into the canyon. And, obviously, dogs allowed. Stopped at a big grocery in Green Valley on the way back and worked up a huge bill restocking the RV with USA foods.

Yesterday was a driving day and we arrived around 3:00pm. Early enough to get set up and walk the dogs around for a visit of the facilities. AND, time to drive across the highway to an Indian Casino for a couple hours of gambling before dinner.

Today we are going to do a siteseeing drive after visiting the fitness center for a much needed workout.


Still working our way home, however. See you soon.

Now it's Saturday.
We made it across the border.
Back at Amado 25 miles south of Tucson in an RV park.
Same park we stayed at night before "the crossing" going South.
GOD BLESS THE USA!

Heading north to the Grand Canyon on Monday for a look-see even though the temps will be cold. Probably will not go there directly, but meander in a northerly direction stopping along the way at several State Parks. After the Grand Canyon the plan is to head up through southern Colorado to see Mesa Verde Nat'l Park and Great Sand Dunes Nat'l Park. After that - heading home on I-70. We are sick of driving through Texas so we will take the colder northeren temperatures and return through the middle of the country.

The cell phones are back in use - call now!

New video now on the blog of a great drive off-road to the beach in Mazatlan that I could not upload for a week. But knowing most will not go look at the videos section of the blog here is the link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhkiNxHilxk

Good Night,

Jim, Ellen, and Pups

Good morning,

It's 65 at 6:00 am here in San Carlos. That's nice and cool. I can smell the ocean but cannot hear it. And dew has not covered everything in a layer of moisture. We have not had to clean the RV or CR-V for two days (this will make three) because it is so clean here and away from the sand and humidity of oceanfront camping. We were going to leave this morning and cross back into the US but have decided to stay one and maybe two more nights.

This RV park is nearly empty. The one in town(Totonaka) that we stayed for two nights after crossing in January is full. Totonaka is a dump compared to this one, the ocean cannot be seen there, it's near a sewer line that dumps into the water so it stinks, and it's noisy being right in the center of town and just off the highway.

Point is, we did not think too highly of San Carlos after our first visit. Now that we are back and in a new spot we kind of like it here.

See you all soon

Yesterday, Wednesday, we did nothing but clean, clean, and clean. Soooo nice to be out of the sand, dust, etc. Here are some pictures kind of wrapping up our Mexico adventure.

Rene with his son and dog came by to say adios. Patty P gave his son the red teddy bear while she was visiting and he carries it around all day long. Rene is a hard working local man who speaks English and is a "jack-of-all-trades". The bald guy is a not-so-hard-working tourist bum called over to get in the picture


Our final Mazatlan sunset. I keep saying no more sunset pictures but I just can't help myself.

Marcos, the security guard at Tres Amigos, saying goodbye to Ellen. He speaks no English but he and Ellen communicated.

Mr Moro office, restaurant, and hotel

Our ocean front site at Mr Moro

No comment

Ellen surveying the scene

The beach at Mr Moro and all the way South into town for almost a mile was full of people from Los Mochis and Gusauve on Sunday when we arrived. It does not look too busy here but the closer to "town" the more crowded it got. The road in was so frustrating we never gave a thought to getting a picture of the crowds on, along, and around the streets of town we had to drive through.

The next morning, not a person in sight. I drove into town (forgot the camera) to look at what we went through and not a live body or car in sight. No street vendors, no restaurants, no nothing! But this beach scene without a soul in sight resembles what I saw in Las Glorias, the town that seems to exist on weekends only.

Our site

Arrival at El Mirador in San Carlos. Great place but not very busy.

View from our San Carlos site with the ocean in the distance

No sand, no dirt, no bugs, no humidity, no noise. Just a cool breeze and great view.

Ellen's new friend Dulce with her dog Cholla. She is traveling with her parents who are full time RV'ers at the present time while their new house in San Lucas at the tip of the Baha is being built. She was adopted and is Guatemalan by birth. She speaks great English, is very smart, and extremely "cocky".

Hey, we are back in San Carlos. Made the 300 mile drive yesterday and got in here about 5:30 pm. 8 hours to go 300 miles! But this is Mexico. Went through two military checkpoints, but there were no military anywhere to be found. Went through another agriculture inspection, but there were no inspectors. Did not get lost in or go through any construction barriers in Navajoa, made no wrong turns in Obregon, and did not take the wrong way into San Carlos (last time we got in here OK but took a wrong turn out).

We are in more of an RV resort outside of town up on a hill that overlooks the water than the dumpy RV park in town we stayed at here last month. And for the first time in 6 weeks there is no sand, no dirt, no dust, no horse shit. We have a concrete patio, crushed gravel for our space, a laundry room, a pool, real grass to look at, and a shrimp truck comes by every night. I can wash my RV and car and not have them trashed by sand, dust,dirt,S and salt water dew as soon as I finish. AND, my DirecTv works! Have not seen TV since we crossed the border. Now this makes for one happy camper!

Just may stay here awhile. San Carlos is a nice spot. We did not give it proper due when here the first time. We are only 230 miles from the border and it's all (almost all) 4-lane highway. We will go through a military inspection near the border, a border inspection on the MX side of the border, and a big inspection by US customs once we cross. But we have nothing to hide so no big deal. It just will take a lot of time the day we cross. Looking to cross on a Sunday due to lower traffic volume so will probably stay here five nights and leave early Sunday morning.

Good internet here but just too busy cleaning house and vehicles to put pictures on. It does take a lot of time. I'll do it tomorrow.

Today is Monday and we are at Mr. Moro Motel & RV park on the Sea of Cortez (Pacific Ocean as far as I'm concerned). Arrived yesterday afternoon around 2:00pm after a drive of about 300 miles. On the map you can see Guasave, MX. Mr. Moro is in a little ocean front city that goes by the name of Las Glorias. So we had to get off hwy 15 and drive an hour to get to the beach front park. Normally, not a big deal. But, we had to arrive here on a Sunday afternoon when what looked like the entire town of Guasave had driven to the beach with all the kids and motorized toys! The normal road to the park was all torn up and being rebuilt so I had nowhere to go but to the beach road. Cars and trucks lined all up and down both sides! One lane of road remained with everyone trying to go in both directions! I was stuck. Couldn't go forward. Couldn't back up. And I'm in this 30' motor home towing a car behind me!

Street vendors were yelling at me to not hit their canopies, the traffic behind me was honking horns to move. The traffic coming at me just wanted me out of their way.

Then God stepped in and sent a local resident to my window who told me to follow him. He walked ahead and told the oncomming traffic to just pull out of the way and stop for a minute. Let the gringo get by. One by one he cleared vehicles out of my way so I could inch forward until I was far enough down the beach road to be back in a two lane street. Didn't hit any buildings, cars, trees, people, or dogs. Tried to "thank god" with a $20 peso note but he refused!

Mr. Moro was then just a half mile down the beach. We got in and got a spot right on the ocean! I tell ya, these drives off the highway have a way of always being exciting, but boy the results are beautiful. It was extremely helpful, also, that Mr. Moro has a restaurant and bar. We showered and went to Sunday service - Tequila and garlic shrimp!

Today I drove back down the beach road in the car just to take another look at what I went through yesterday. Not a person in site! Everyone went home. Not one store open. Not one restaruant. Not one car parked anywhere. Next time I'll know not to arrive on a Sunday.

Internet connection in the restaurant here at the park, but not fast enough for pictures. Tomorrow we drive another 275 miles back to San Carlos, our first stop in MX on our way down. Should be able to get pictures on there. However, no pictures of the mess comming in yesterday - too stressed to even think about the camera, but sure would have been interesting to show you.

Went through an agricultural inspection stop on the highway yesterday. The agent came into the motorhome to look in the refridgerator. Confiscated one apple. Said it was a problem and left. I think he just wanted it to eat. I love this country! Tomorrow we go through a military checkpoint. That should be fun!

Later!