Leaving Zihuatanejo

Wednesday, March 7th, Departure Day.

We woke up around 7:30 which is just as well; we still had some things to take care of, not the least was to feed ourselves and the dogs. We also watched bit of the Global BC News out of Vancouver which tends to slow us down a bit. The dogs too needed a good walk before we set off.

Eventually we got everything stowed inside and the slides in and were ready to start moving. The engine fired up instantly, no long cranking or outpourings of black smoke. A good omen! Once the air pressure had built up enough to release the spring brakes and fill the air bag suspension Art rolled the rig out and backed it up the the Jeep which had previously been moved.

While Art attached safety cables, the air line and cylinder and piston which allows the motorhome air brakes to actuate the jeep brakes, the wiring harness for tail, signal and brake lights on the Jeep and of course the towbar itself Gillian packed the last box of stuff into one of the bins and picked up and stowed the leveling blocks that we need while the hydraulic levers are in operative.

Then it was hugs all round, a photo op (I'll post them when Julia e-mails them to me. Hint Hint Julia!) and we rolled out the gate at 10:30. Julia was not overly impressed with a certain gentleman who had told her we would be leaving at about 9:00 AM as she had been out late doing a photo shoot and up until 4:00 AM editing and posting them to the website. She had set her alarm so that she could wake up in time to say good-bye. Good thing we are friends.

We were surprised to see some major road construction and a few detours to the north of Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa. Years ago they had begun construction of a new section of highway including a large bridge over the river. The bridge had ended at a cliff face and construction stopped for many years. We referred to it as "The Bridge to Nowhere". We were particularly taken by this detour sign which pointed directly at a deep ditch with 50' high rock wall beyond it!


They have almost completed the section through Zihuatanejo itself and now it looks like they plan to complete the entire section to the north. Not before time. This is a section of the Mex 200, the only north-south road along the coast that runs from Tepic, which is north of Puerto Vallarta, all the way to the Guatemala border.



Along the way we made notes and took photos of the route to and through Lazaro Cardenas for a friend and fellow camper who will departing in another week. Apparently last time he drove this route he missed a turn and ended up down in the docks in Lazaro! Much easier this time, the roads have been changed a little and there is great signage--a rarity in Mexico. (See above detour sign!)





The run north was uneventful, in spite of the road construction which continued on for quite a distance. Someone must be serious this time. They are cutting off a lot of tight corners. There were a few bits that took a little attention and caution but as I say, more or less uneventful. As you can see in the photo, even the straight bits could use some improvement.

It was getting warm in the RV as the day progressed. The dash air isn't too effective with such a large volume to try to cool. We had our water bottles and a bit of breeze so we were quite comfortable.

At kilometer marker 103 we knew we were seconds away from the RV Park, located at KM 103.5 BUT as we rounded the corner there was a military check point just a few meters before the park entrance. This was our second military check today. They asked our names, where we lived, where we came from today and where we were going today. In answer to the last question Art was able to point down towards the RV Park just below us. The entrance was just a few meters away!


A very short time later, about 2:15, we were parked on the grass. We hadn't bothered to unhook and back into a space since we were not staying long and the 15 amp power wouldn't be enough for the air conditioner anyway so we just dry camped and ran the generator for a few hours to cool the rig down a bit.

We put the satellite dish up and watched a bit of TV during the evening, mostly the news, using the inverter and our well charged batteries.




This is a very pretty place, owned we think by the local community. It's full name is Zapote Tizupan Centro Ecoturistico. It is better known as Kilometer one o three and a half from its address. (Km 103.5 Carretera Playa Azul--Manzanillo, Michoacán)

Water for the pool and we assume everything else comes from a dug brick lined well.


March 8 to Cadillac Ranch, Barra de Navidad

Thursday morning we were on the road again at 8:45, another fairly easy drive. It would be possible to make Puerto Vallarta but it would be a very long, hot day with the worst of the road at the end. No point in pushing it. The driving days after PV would be long ones.



We stopped for lunch at the toll booth on the Manzanillo cuota (toll highway) at 12:15 and again at 1:30 for fuel in Manzanillo. Somewhere along this stretch the official photographer and navigator took this picture of one of the many waterways.





We turned off the highway towards Barra de Navidad, the campground entrance just a kilometer up the road. We thought. We had been here before a few years ago and remembered that the entrance was down a very narrow rough track. We recognised it immediately and turned down it proceeding very slowly as it was worse than we remembered.

When we got to the point where we would turn right into the park we noticed a wire fence closing off what was now an obviously disused lane. The track we were on stopped a hundred meters further on, ending in a thankfully mowed and flat area big enough to turn around in. We stopped and got out to disconnect the jeep.

Art opened the jeep's drivers door to set the parking brake and the alarm went off! This shouldn't have been possible as the jeeps battery has an automatic disconnect switch that opens when there is power down the electrical connection from the motorhome! A mad scramble for the jeep key with the alarm attached and we were able to quiet it.

We got unhooked and turned around and made it back up the track to the road. We carried on a few hundred meters further along the road we came across a new sign to the Cadillac Ranch RV Park. We met Don, the owner, on his way out on his bike to come and get us!

The new entrance wasn't a lot better but at least it was open. Don said that he had rented the original road from the neighbouring property owner who kept increasing the rent to the point that it became impossible. The new entrance is directly opposite the large blue Corona sign.

We were in our space by 2:45.

Art decided to dump the holding tanks and refill the freshwater tank first then moved the rig over a few feet to a more level part of our site. This way he was able to use the short sewer hose and not have to fight with the longer ones. This led to another RV Moment: Art hadn't been careful enough when connecting the hose. As he opened the black tank valve Gillian shouted that it was spilling. He thought she meant at the connection and looked at that but what she meant was that the drain was backing up behind him where he was kneeling on the ground.

He closed the valve then slowly opened it again then suddenly the hose came off the drain! Shades of Robin Williams in "RV"! He still had one hand on the gate valve and was able to close it quickly and with the other hand pushed the hose back onto the drain and secure it tightly. Nothing on his clothes. Some copious use of water and a little bleach and we were good!

The rest of the tank dumping went fine, keeping the valves partially closed to keep the flow rate down.

There was a shy young German Shepherd puppy who was quite interested in Trekker and vice versa and they eventually got along just fine. Gillian tried out the pool while Art, after a change of clothes, lay down on the couch for a nap!


With all the excitement of our arrival we completely forgot to check what allowed the Jeep alarm to function.


Friday morning we proceeded to hook up the Jeep only to find there were no tail lights, brake lights or signal lights. Oh Right!--there was a problem yesterday. Art really didn't feel like tackling it at the moment and the motorhome lights are clearly visible over and around the Jeep so he decided to set off anyway. So at 8:45 we hit the road for PV.

Most of the road was fairly easy driving bit as we get closer to the city the highway becomes very hilly and twisty and narrow and full of pot holes. On the outskirts of Puerto Vallarta we ran into some much needed road reconstruction; they were pouring a very thick layer of concrete over the asphalt., Much of the road was single lane with alternating one way traffic with sharp drop offs on each side. Not hard driving but needed to pay attention.

What with the construction delays and the heavy traffic in town north of the tunnels it took about an hour from Mismaloya to the Puerto Vallarta RV Park on Calle Francia. We arrived at 12:55.


March 9 10 11 Puerto Vallarta coming in the next post.