Since I am so far behind and really all we did was travel I'll put the next three days into one pos
12 November 2016 Lardeo to Matehuala
We left the Info Center at 8:00 AM, much later than planned, as usual! There are two options for the route; north a bit and take the toll road, or continue south on the I-35 then west to meet the toll road at the Columbia Bridge crossing. Since the tolls are take automatically either by a license plate reader or Toll Pass reader we opted to take the free road.
NOTE: Garmin does not recognise this crossing and shouted at us the entire way until we had actually crossed the bridge. This is the reason that we keep the voice option turned off!
The directions are somewhat different than from last year though fairly well signed. Watch for signs for Solidarity Bridge or Colombia Bridge. The full name of the bridge is Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge. Eventually you need to be on Mines Road, numbered FM 1472, then after what seems like a very long way it intersects with 255, (the toll road) where you must turn LEFT. The sign here this year was not very obvious and was quite close to the turn.
We arrived at the Columbia toll Bridge at 8:35 and were at the border on the other side a few moments later.
How to navigate the crossing (At least this year):
They keep changing the setup here: This year they wanted big rigs to park by the fence on the far LEFT before going through the lights and walk across to get paper work done.
Then proceed through which ever gate has the green light--or as directed--the rig will probably have to go through the X-Ray machine after the paperwork has been completed.
Everyone and pets( or every live animal) except the driver MUST exit the rig while the driver takes the rig to the X-Ray. The driver exits the machine and hides behind a very thick concrete wall with the attendant while the X-Ray apparatus moves over the rig. When done, the rig has to make a U-Turn and go back towards the north bound lanes. DON'T go through! Park alongside the grass and wait until the X-Rays are checked and you are cleared by an agent to proceed. This involves another U-Turn and you're on your way.
We were finished with Immigration Customs and the vehicle permit and cleared the X-Ray at 10:05
The exit from the customs winds around quite a bit before meeting highway 2. Here you turn left.
The highway started out in good shape--last year it was terrible--but soon deteriorated. The police are very vigilant along here but there was no way we could maintain the 80 Km/H speed limit for most of it.
At about 11:00 on the main highway south we stopped at a Pemex/OXXO for phone cards. The machine for adding time directly to the phones was not working but we were able to buy one 100 peso card (they only had one!) and a 200 peso card that we could add to the phones ourselves by entering the number. Art did his right then but Gillian decided to wait as she had to find the SIM card adapter.
Then 15 minutes or so down the road another Customs check but we were waved through once they saw the import decals on the vehicles.
Heavy fog around Monterrey and heaver still as we climbed the mountains. Fortunately it was not as bad as it had been the first time we took this route some years ago.
Approaching Matehuala we went straight ahead to the city NOT taking the bypass around it as the GPS was insisting. We knew that our way would work as we wanted fuel. A few kilometers along we stopped at the Pemex at 5:35 and by 6:08 were parked and level at
Las Palmas Midway Inn
We didn't bother to connect to power, water or sewer, power here if often iffy at best, batteries were fully charged and tanks were appropriately full or empty. Relatively expensive here for unreliable services, AND they charge in US dollars and convert to pesos! Put it on VISA at 364.14 pesos, which came through on our VISA statement as a charge to Motel 6 of $24.55
If you are heading for Las Palmas from the north as we were you can see the sign on the left but it is not near the road but on a high tower near the rear of the park. Look at the map available in the link above and if you look closely you will see a break in the divided highway where you can turn left. Not a 90 degree turn, a much broader angle: you need to cross the north bound traffic at a diagonal and (in a big rig) make a U Turn at the entrance so that you end up parallel to (but not in) the north bound lanes. On the map you can see a dark lane angling towards the north corner of the property. This is the gate they will open for you if you cannot fit under the arch at the front of the hotel which is quite low--check it out first even if driving a van.
If you don't need fuel and would rather pay the toll than deal with the traffic you can take the 57D Toll road and take the first exit right into the city. When you reach the 57, DON'T go under the highway but turn north on the lateral. Just as the lateral ends and merges with the main through you will see the Las Palmas Inn on your right.
13 November Matehuala to Queretaro
9:30 on the road through town it seems to take forever to get out of the city. Low speed limits for quite a distance though many locals seem to ignore it. Might be worthwhile to take the toll road next time but then again, it might not!
11:50 one small toll 115 peso ($7.75 Canadian)
Lots of new construction into Queretaro. The highway is being mostly elevated with wide laterals on each side, several cross streets providing Retornos. Or at least they will when finished. Some are blocked off. For most of it we are on the laterals, the through lanes not yet finished. Looks good for next year though.
We soon spotted the Pemex and the Hotel Juriquilla Inn on the left side of the road so knew to be watching carefully for our exit. Again changes from previous years but we knew we had to cross the highway and head back north a little. We spotted the exit and were soon over the highway and making the 270 degree turn over the highway and another one to head us back northbound on the highway and then we were there. 2:30 PM
This exit is a little hard to spot; Keep to the right lane as you pass the Pemex/Hotel Juriquilla Inn on the other side of the highway and take the exit the instant that you go under the over pass. As said above, a 270 degree turn takes you over the highway then an immediate 270 degree from the exit puts you north bound again and the hotel and pemex are on the right.
While Gillian went into the office to check in Art began disconnecting the Jeep. We would top up with fuel here to avoid any delays in the morning. We had a long day ahead of us tomorrow.
Art fueled the motorhome while Gillian moved the Jeep then she took the dogs out and scouted our parking place. The mute lad that opened the gate was quite excited when we recognised him. And very excited when we reminded him of our getting stuck in the very wet grass some years ago. He and another young man spent three hours digging us out!
The spot they gave us this time, he assured us was very firm. Art took a look and was not so sure. However, we reversed around a pile of rocks and were soon in place parallel to the wall. Tires sinking somewhat into the sod. Art found a flattish rock about 8 inches across and 4 to 5 inches thick which he placed on the grass under the right rear jack where the grass seemed softest. Then a couple of squares of plywood which we carry with us on top of this, and also under each of the other three jacks. Then he put the jacks down. They sank in a little but not too much. Hopefully we will be able to drive out in the morning!
Parked, level, slides out and Satellite dish locked on at 3:15
Again, not worth hooking up and at 200 pesos quite reasonable. (Less than $14.00
14 November Queretaro to Zihuatanejo
8:30 on the road. North for a few kilometers, retorno, back through town to the 45D toward Celaya and Silao. There was one retorno that we could have taken but missed it. There is a lot of construction here, there should be a retorno or two under the new highway being built.
Once southbound into the city watch for the signs for Celaya and Silao Cuota. It is well into the city and a right exit about where the laterals end. WATCH CAREFULLY FOR THE SIGNS. The last on is not all that obvious until the last minute. It is not necessary to keep to the laterals.
9:15 First of many tolls today on the Quota out of the city. This would be an expensive Toll day.
There are several tolls quite close together and not cheap! One of the tolls you take a ticket and pay at the end.
Crossing Lago Qutizeo we sometime spot cows up grazing, to their knees in water! Not so this year.
One across the lake we began keeping our eyes out for any signs to the new toll road that would avoid Morelia and the periferico traffic. We knew that we would have to turn north towards Guadalajara but were not sure what the signs would actually read. If memory serves me right Patzcuaro was listed! Once north bound watch for signs for the Patzcuaro, Uruapan, or Lazaro Cardenas. I believe it was actually marked 37D somewhere!
For first timers on this route: There is quite a bit of up and down and we were almost past Patzcuaro before we realised it! Once we hit the big downgrades between Patzcuaro and Uruapan we knew exactly where we were.
When these are more or less done you have to watch carefully because to continue to Zihuatanejo and the coast rather than Uruapan you will actually have to EXIT on the the right. This exit will merge with traffic coming from Uruapan. Should you miss the exit don't worry too much, you'll just have to find a place to turn around as the Cuota ends and becomes the main road into the city.
Still more tolls to come! And hot hot hot. Infernillo is not named that in jest! Still a picturesque drive for the most part.
Eventually we arrived at the junction with the 200, and turned left to Zihuatanejo. One hour away.
Since it seems that someone may be using this blog to follow our route I'll give specific direction to El Manglar RV Park, including a small detour for fuel.
South on the 200 towards Zihuatanejo the highway is in pretty good shape. The upgrades have cut 20 to 30 minutes off what it used to take.
As you enter Zihuatanejo at the bottom of the downgrade after the Ixtapa cut off keep in the right lane. Do not take the lateral. After a bit the highway divides and goes around what is more or less a large roundabout though that is hard to see.
IF you want to stop for fuel,
stay in the left lane but DO NOT return
around the roundabout (though you could go around again) but go
straight to the traffic lights. At the light, keep in the left lane, you
will see a PEMEX station ahead and on the left. The left turn lane
here (at the light) has a green filter. Turn left on the green signal
and enter the Pemex from the cross street, right at the corner. This
PEMEX has only ONE Diesel pump, it is the one nearest that corner.
The
best way to get back on the 200, you will have to head north again for a
block, is NOT to use the side street but turn right onto or hopefully
ACROSS the lateral to the main highway lanes. Immediately after the
traffic lights you need the far left lane and keep going left around the
roundabout again. As you go around there will be a cross street--this
is the one you came in on--
keep left but use the RIGHT lane as you go around past that cross street.
Almost immediately you will see another two lanes entering from the right: THEY have the right of way. Here you carry around heading south you need to stay right (If you went for fuel, the first time around you were staying left) as you will need to immediately exit to the lateral. You have the right of way here entering the lateral but note that buses and taxis may want to argue the point!
From the lateral turn right at the next (very close) street, just past the bus station. This street will take you past the Comercial Mexicana department store on your left. (Good place to shop if you need to. Also there are 4 ATMs inside. IF you do, LeaveCM by the same entrance exit.) This street Ts into another street, turn right. Watch OUT for 2 topes in the next short block. Further down there in another that is almost impossible to see. Watch other traffic for hints!
Soon is another roundabout. You want the third exit. This puts you on the La Ropa Road which will take you up then down a hill or two. At the bottom of the hill a road leads off to the right at the Dolfin Statues. Keep going straight (the road bears slightly left). The road surface deteriorates badly here. Around the next curve another road goes left. Again, keep going straight. WATCH OUT: after you pass that road and round a slight curve, La Ropa road divides ahead of you. You will see at the last minute two lanes bear right and two lanes are straight ahead. KEEP RIGHT. These lanes soon merge into one and La Ropa road is back to one lane each way. Don't ask why this road is like that. Too long to go into here!
The straight section of road goes up hill ahead of you. DON'T go up the hill! Turn right. Depending on your height you may be able to take the one lane on the right. Note the ARCH at the end of it. If in doubt, don't go there! The height notice was painted over some years ago. I know we don't fit!
To avoid the arch you need to go down the wide street along side, just on the other side of a treed divider. This is a ONE WAY street: Put your hazard lights on, keep to the right and drive slowly. Once immediately past the arch turn right and cross the road the goes under the arch. If you were able to drive under the arch turn right once you exit the arch. Take the next left under low trees and the worst road surface you have seen in a while. In maybe one hundred feet turn a hard right to El Manglar.
4:25 Fuel at the Pemex on the highway (just south of the roundabout).
4:57 Arrived El Manglar
Sometimes it seemed to be taking forever but we're here at last and suddenly it all seems worth it.
Numbers to date: Distance travelled from home to here: 6,554 kilometers. (4,072.6 miles)
Fuel burned (From fill at Port Angeles) 1882.22 liters. (414 Imperial gallons, 497.23 US gallons)
Fuel/distance: 28.7 Litres per 100 Kilometers :O ! (9.84 mpg imperial, 8.19 mpg (US)
Total fuel cost: $1,694.00 Cdn 1.11 per litre.
About a week later Fred arrived, planning to stay a day or two while making his way further south. When Art noticed some serious damage to the fibreglass body on the left rear of his 1990 Winnebago Warrior he said "I know someone who can fix that."
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