January 1 to 4 2011; To Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico

JAN 1, Saturday, sunny and warm (73*F, 22*C)
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! This is our last day in San Carlos as we depart for Mazatlan tomorrow! We all spent the day nurturing hang-over and packing. It was another cold day, mid to upper 60’s and the wind picked up in the afternoon. We had happy hour then walked over to a little Italian restaurant nearby but it was closed so we ended eating at another nearby restaurant, the “Los Arboritos”. We came home, had a small fire then called it quit early.


JAN 2, Sunday, to Los Mochis, Sonora, Mexico; cloudy and cool
Up at 7 am and on the road by 9! The Holder’s and Johnson’s came out to say their goodbye and for the girls to “flash” us. Going through Guaymas was uneventful and we stopped south of Empalme, on 15D, to pick up our permits for the vehicles and trailers which took an hour and a half. We continued on 15D (toll) and stopped in Navajoa for lunch. Our next stop was Los Mochis where I took on fuel and we spent the night in the Pemex lot with about 12 other rigs already there. We had happy hour then retreated to our rigs for dinner. I called my daughter and wished her a Happy Birthday!

N 25* 46.907’
W 108* 52.907’
Alt: 35 feet
We travelled 236 miles (382Km) in 8.5 hours @ an average 42 mph (stopped for 2hrs 40 minutes)


JAN. 3, Monday, to Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, sunny and warm
We were up again at 7 am and went to the Pemex restaurant for breakfast then were on the road by 9 am. We carried on driving and eventually transferred to 15 Libre. In Cualican, a big city, we took the wrong turn and ended up on the West side of town. Thanks to the generosity of a Mexican, he guided us with his car back to Hwy 15 libre. We gave him 50 pesos for his trouble. We continued south, stopped for lunch and fuel and finally arrived in Mazatlan and our campground, Las Jaibas, around 4 pm. We quickly set up, had happy hour, dinner and it was to bed early as everyone was tired from a long day.

N 23* 17.170
W 106* 28.169’
Alt: 36 feet

We drove 269 miles (432Km) in 6hours and 20 minutes @ an average of 41 MPH. That includes an hour and 54 min. stopped.


JAN 4, Tuesday, Mazatlan; hot and sunny, 80*F
We had a great sleep. This park is very quiet and not near the busy hustle of the “Gold Zone” of Mazatlan where all the shops and restaurants are. We finished setting up then Dave and I went to the bank to get money to pay for our site, 6000 pesos (approx $470 Cdn). We all went to “MEGA”, a grocery store and replenished our supplies. We also stopped at Soriana, another grocery store where we got fresher vegetables. We then drove through the “Gold Zone” to show Louise what it looks like then home where we put everything away then had Happy Hour!