Friday – October 17th we left Silver City for Tucson. We decided to stay at Beaudry Park for the entire time until we left for Mexico as that is where we were to meet up with the rest of the caravan called the La Penita Express. Our spot was right by the pool with orange and lime trees all around us. Lots of palm trees also. It was beautiful. We had planned to meet with a rep from Beaudry on Monday but he showed up Saturday morning and we went out with him then to look at new units and the RV park facilities. We had no intention of buying anything although we had discussed the possibility for the future as we had a better idea of what we would like. Anyways, to make a long story short, we purchased a 31.5 Keystone Cougar 2009 that has 3 slides, a desk for the computer and a complete private bathroom, with our Okanagan as a tradein. At that time the dollar was just starting to drop. By Monday when we made the money transfer it had dropped to 86 cents. Ouch! I still think we did OK but it made for a very stressful week trying to get everything moved over, getting ready to leave for Mexico, arranging insurances, etc. I sure wouldn’t do it that way again. During all this time of stress we also had great meetings & potlucks with our new group of friends who were in our caravan and got to spend most of a day with some old friends from Green Valley, Bud and Jean, who had stayed in out suite in Summerland 3 years ago. They took us to a lovely restaurant for lunch and then ferried us around to Costco and other stores to return and/or pick up items needed for our trip the next day. We are so lucky to have such great friends. We plan on spending more time in the area next spring so we can spend more time with them and see more sights. All in all our week in Tucson was very eventful and I really don’t want to get into all the details for awhile.
We left Monday (Oct. 27th) morning around 10 as we were going only as far as Santa Ana and our leaders thought that would make going through the border less stressful. We were quite worried as we only had a 90 day temporary license on the trailer as ICBC wouldn't insure us unless we took the trailer back to BC within 10 days of purchase and that wasn’t going to happen. Beaudry arranged for us to register it in New Mexico so we wouldn’t have to pay Arizona taxes but they could only give us a 90 day license and so close to the time it runs out, we have to contact them and they will send us another 90 days by Fedex so that we have 6 months to get back to Canada. We weren’t sure the border would accept that and sure enough it didn’t look like it would at first but then for some reason they decided that was OK and we breezed through. Unfortunately, some others had a lot of hassle because their Visa/Mastercard name didn’t match exactly to their passport and that’s the only way you can now pay for your tourist visa. The fellow that was with us had Joe on one item and Joseph on the other. The only way they could get through was by paying $500 cash in US funds for something like a bond. They get this money back on their way home but it was kind of a bummer. Eventually it got sorted out and we got going again. Two of our group of 6 units were also searched briefly at the border but no problems. We have 4 groups of 6 units each travelling 20 minutes apart. We all have walkie talkies to communicate topes (speed bumps) and big rigs passing and of course when there is a toll and how much the first unit paid. Just prior to getting to our RV site the rig in front of us had something hanging down at the back wheel and I called them to let them know but since we thought it was just a strap, we carried on for quite a few miles to the next gas station. It was then it was discovered they had broken a spring. Fortunately, they had brought two with them and their was a mechanic on site so they had help right away. Nothing like being prepared.
Since we were the first group to leave we were the first at the campsite in Santa Ana. It looked like it would hold about 10 rigs and there was one there already but we all managed to squeeze in with barely room to walk between. Talk about being close. The couple that owned the park, Edgar and Anna, were really nice and we all had a drink or two together and then some of us went on to a taco place a couple of doors down to eat. The guys had to run next door to get beer that they put in heavy duty black plastic bags and then loaded ice over top of. They brought it back to the restaurant while we waited for our food. The restaurant guy ran out of beef and had to go buy some more mid meal. We had tacos and a humungous thing called a Burro (kingsize burrito) It was great and lots of fun. Terry had a few too many beers and fortunately for me he made my first drink pretty strong so I quit drinking after that one so I was the only one who felt good the next morning.
We were up at 7 the next morning and on the road by 8. We were headed for Guaymas and a park called Playa de Cortes. It was 38 C and extremely humid. I was dripping as soon as I got out of the car. Fortunately, there was a breeze and believe it or not 30 amp service so we could use our AC. Also a pool and beach looking across to San Carlos. Very pretty. We quickly set up and had a bite and I headed to the pool. The water was very cold but I soon got used to it and had a couple of swims. I thought I’d better get my butt in gear and get something up on the blog as I’ve gotten quite behind and have heard from a few people wondering what’s going on. So here it is.
We left Monday (Oct. 27th) morning around 10 as we were going only as far as Santa Ana and our leaders thought that would make going through the border less stressful. We were quite worried as we only had a 90 day temporary license on the trailer as ICBC wouldn't insure us unless we took the trailer back to BC within 10 days of purchase and that wasn’t going to happen. Beaudry arranged for us to register it in New Mexico so we wouldn’t have to pay Arizona taxes but they could only give us a 90 day license and so close to the time it runs out, we have to contact them and they will send us another 90 days by Fedex so that we have 6 months to get back to Canada. We weren’t sure the border would accept that and sure enough it didn’t look like it would at first but then for some reason they decided that was OK and we breezed through. Unfortunately, some others had a lot of hassle because their Visa/Mastercard name didn’t match exactly to their passport and that’s the only way you can now pay for your tourist visa. The fellow that was with us had Joe on one item and Joseph on the other. The only way they could get through was by paying $500 cash in US funds for something like a bond. They get this money back on their way home but it was kind of a bummer. Eventually it got sorted out and we got going again. Two of our group of 6 units were also searched briefly at the border but no problems. We have 4 groups of 6 units each travelling 20 minutes apart. We all have walkie talkies to communicate topes (speed bumps) and big rigs passing and of course when there is a toll and how much the first unit paid. Just prior to getting to our RV site the rig in front of us had something hanging down at the back wheel and I called them to let them know but since we thought it was just a strap, we carried on for quite a few miles to the next gas station. It was then it was discovered they had broken a spring. Fortunately, they had brought two with them and their was a mechanic on site so they had help right away. Nothing like being prepared.
Since we were the first group to leave we were the first at the campsite in Santa Ana. It looked like it would hold about 10 rigs and there was one there already but we all managed to squeeze in with barely room to walk between. Talk about being close. The couple that owned the park, Edgar and Anna, were really nice and we all had a drink or two together and then some of us went on to a taco place a couple of doors down to eat. The guys had to run next door to get beer that they put in heavy duty black plastic bags and then loaded ice over top of. They brought it back to the restaurant while we waited for our food. The restaurant guy ran out of beef and had to go buy some more mid meal. We had tacos and a humungous thing called a Burro (kingsize burrito) It was great and lots of fun. Terry had a few too many beers and fortunately for me he made my first drink pretty strong so I quit drinking after that one so I was the only one who felt good the next morning.
We were up at 7 the next morning and on the road by 8. We were headed for Guaymas and a park called Playa de Cortes. It was 38 C and extremely humid. I was dripping as soon as I got out of the car. Fortunately, there was a breeze and believe it or not 30 amp service so we could use our AC. Also a pool and beach looking across to San Carlos. Very pretty. We quickly set up and had a bite and I headed to the pool. The water was very cold but I soon got used to it and had a couple of swims. I thought I’d better get my butt in gear and get something up on the blog as I’ve gotten quite behind and have heard from a few people wondering what’s going on. So here it is.
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