If you follow this blog you have been to this town twice before. Once on the way south in 2009 and again last November 2010, once again on our way south to Mazatlan. I think it’s safe to say that this is Marilyn’s favorite spot in Mexico for a bunch of reasons including pavement and concrete and amazing scenery.

We got in here yesterday shortly after noon. Brent & Donna, Ken & Patty, and Jessie and Gary  showed up about 4 pm, on their way from Stone Island back to the USA. If you were in Stone Island in 2009/2010 you will remember Wayne and Marilyn from Nevada, they  have been here at Totonaka all winter.

Brent & company were on the road at 7 this morning. Tomorrow morning it will be our turn. We plan to cross into the US at Lukeville, Arizona on our way to Yuma for a few days.

Of course before you can leave San Carlos you have to vist the Soggy Peso Bar, probably, in my opinion, one of the best beach bars in Mexico (I’ve visited a lot of them)

As you can see it was windy and not very busy. what you can’t see is that the the wind was really, really cold. Today we stayed long enough for Bob to buy a T-Shirt  and then it was adios and back to town, in the sun but out of the wind for a cool one.

 Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

They say every day we learn something and today I learned I’m not very good at saying Goodbye; especially when I’m saying Adios to the special people we have become great friends with at Tres Amigos RV Park. Let’s face it, this year especially, the RV park is a dust bowl. However, it does have 8 or 10 miles of gorgeous deserted beach and most importantly an absolutley amazing group of fun loving, good natured friendly folk. We will truly miss them all.

But reality calls, so this morning at about 8 AM Bob & Marjorie and  Marilyn and I said our Goodbyes, hooked up our toads and headed north.

Tonight we find ourselves at Los Mochis Copper Canyon RV Park. with 3 other RV’s  all headed north and I believe all headed for Totonaka for a couple of days Monday.

On most trips down here we are blown away be the hundreds of kilometers of beautiful agricultural fields. This year, after the coldest winter in 50 or 60 years, it’s 100′s of kilometers of fields of dead crops. Except for the odd small area,  it’s nothing but brown, frozen out crops.

The only other thing different about this trip were the hundreds of Army vehicles, with every man packing large machine guns at the ready. You have to appreciate the fact that they are doing their best for us, I am just a bit troubled by how many of them it takes to get the job done. We wonder if the cartels are more of a problem than we thought.

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Over the last couple of years the Vanstones have  fallen in love with Mazatlan and after our day today we think the feelings are mutual, Mazatlan loves the Vanstones too.

Like every other Saturday in 2011,  we began our day walking up to the top of El Faro. Part way up we passed this religious group who (sometimes my Spanish isn’t too good) I’m sure were praying for our safe travels back to Ontario. I sincerely thanked them for their thoughts as we, for the last time this trip, continued to the summit.

After a great breakfast in our favorite part of town, we headed back to the Isla where we were greeted by this group called Banda Verde. They were on the beach on the Isla to say Adios and while they were there they were filming a commercial.

On to the motorhome to finish packing (it takes days to pack up after you’ve been sitting for 3 months), and before we knew it, here it is Happy Hour.

There are us and 4 other rigs leaving tomorrow morning, so there had to be 40 people there to wish us adios and safe travels (are we seeing a pattern here?).

You’re going to have to trust me on this one because I could not catch them in a photo, but while we were enjoying this amazing happy hour a large pod of Dolphins swam by and did a few special jumps for us.

As the sun dropped into the Pacific even El Faro winked us a fond hasta luego. (See the lighthouse light on the top of the hill?).

And so, before moving north  tomorrow morning,  we spend our last night in Tres Amigo’s RV Park . It’s been an amazing winter, we have had a great time. Beginning about now, we will miss you all.

Adios Amigas y Amigos, Hasta Luego to you all.

My thanks for Banda Verde for taking us out of here.

Some people get all the luck! What a gorgeous setting for an art show!

Marilyn had requests to do a show here on the Isla before we leave Mazatlan and Robin & Peggy graciously offered their patio. Bob & Marjorie dove in and helped with the set up, we added some vino, some queso (cheese) and crackers and we were in business. For the next few hours Marilyn talked “artist’s talk” with all who came by and absolutely loved every minute of it.

All this is to prepare for a couple of shows when we get back to Southern Ontario.

When you look at the works she is displaying here you see scenes from Canada, the south west USA and Mexico. 

All the pictures I took have sand and ocean, but this one has horses. See them?

Would you care for one of her cards?

Stay tuned to me or Marilyn for dates and locations in Canada.

What you see here is a perfect example of Mexican advertising. There was  a baseball game yesterday afternoon between the Isla team and The Tres Amigos Gonads (Go North American Drunken Seniors). It was kind of like a group of older teenagers playing their grandfathers. Or put another way, kids who still get baby bonus in the same game as guys who now get  their  Pension  check every month.

But before a big game like that you need preparation and organization, and that’s where us old guys shine. No one wanted to be the catcher, until Randy agreed to do it provided he had a cup. Bob said No problemo Senor and set about finding the proper sized Coconut. Then he got out his saw.

Later, sure that Randy would be happy with his “protector” Bob  proudly showed off his craftmanship.

At three oclock promptly both teams agreed on the rules (maximum 5 points by either team in one inning was the most notable rule)  and the game began.

Right from the opening pitch the Gonads had the biggest and loudest cheering section. While doing the wave our girls kept screaming  ”Please don’t hurt our men”

I’m proud to say the Gonads also scored the first point. I’m sad to say that at the end of one inning it was 5 to 1 for the Mexicans. After two it was about 10-3. After that they quit counting. Good thing, cuz it wasn’t pretty. But it was a lot of fun! The locals finally put out their little kids and our guys figured out pretty quickly that that meant it was Pacifico Time.

I need to mention that the locals have invited the Gonads back for a grudge match next week. Our guys are to play an Isla  team at 3:30 Monday. They’d start earlier but the kids don’t get out of Elementary school til then.

Here’s some more photos taken at the game from an album called  Gonads Baseball.

Relax, I’m not saying it’s the last Tuesday ever, as in end of the world, just our last Tuesday on Stone Island. This Sunday we and four other couples head north.

Tuesday mornings at 8am we always meet for our walk up El Faro. We walk down the beach to the shipping channel and catch the water taxi. Then we walk another mile or so, and then up the mountain. Quite a large group this morning!

Aren’t we a fine, healthy looking group of young adults?

Marilyn’s sister Donna and her hubby David are visiting Mazatlan this week so after the walk we say Adios to our Stone Island friends and Hola to D & D. With them we begin a walking tour of El Centro (yes, more walking!)

Along the way we see this old bus. Is this one somebodies baby or what? Do you know the way to Ixpalino?

What’s your favorite color Bannana? I guess with the black ones you don’t need to ask if they’re ripe; you can just kind of assume it.

Later in the day, after a few more hours of walking, back at Tres Amigos we get our daily visit from the dessert truck. Strangely enough, Donna had never seen or even heard of a dessert truck. How is it possible that a university educated lady has never heard of a dessert truck? This woman is a teacher for christ’s sake. What chance do our grandchildren have? Is it possible that it’s only here on Stone Island we have some one coming through selling pastries every afternoon at about 5?

Next you’re going to tell me that you don’t have a dessert truck at your door either, right? Then you’re going to tell me that you don’t have Flan ladies coming to you door most nights and I’m going to ask you what century you’re actually living in.

Donna tells us that at their home in Sacramento they don’t only not have Flan ladies, or Dessert trucks, they have no Veggie trucks, no Plant trucks, no Watermelon trucks, nor Seafood or even Fish trucks. They have to go to stores to purchase each these items.  I think if you had to do all that shopping yourself it would seriously cut in to Happy Hour. They do however have Water trucks but they don’t have Candy ladies or even Tamale ladies.

 Some of her neighbors even do their own Laundry  And they call Mexico a Third World Country

So as the day draws to a close we take David & Donna to the water taxi so that they can catch a Pulmonia and make their way back to their All Inclusive Resort where things are not only delivered to your door, but many of them are actually delivered right to your plate.

I’d love to stay and chat, but I’ve gotta go. The Propane truck is here.

I think this part could be particularily helpful if you ever run into a Mexican Transito (traffic cop) looking to make a few extra dollars. I plan to print out a few cards with the following words on them and carry them in both the coach and our toad. You may want to do the same.

AVISO A USTED OFICIAL DE POLICIA
Entiendo que Usted ha pedido que me detenga debido a que posiblemente he cometido una violación de tránsito. Obedeceré sus instrucciones de acuerdo a la ley, le entregaré mi licencia para conducir y el registro de mi vehículo. Sin admitir culpa en esta situación, voluntariamente lo seguiré hacia la Comandancia de Policía en donde Usted o alguien podrá informarme acerca de los procedimientos legales a que haya lugar y si me es requerido, pagaré la multa que corresponda. Entiendo que en este caso, se me extenderá un recibo por el concepto de la multa.
(English translation)
NOTICE TO MEXICAN POLICE OFFICERS
I understand that you have stopped me for allegedly committing a traffic violation. I will obey your legal instructions by providing you with my Drivers License and vehicle registration. Without admitting guilt in this situation, I will voluntarily follow you to your local police station, where you can properly inform me of the legal procedures, and if asked, I will pay the required fine. I understand that you will issue me a receipt for these actions.

Por favor, tome nota de que:
Tengo conocimiento de que existe la Sindicatura del Ayuntamiento y que si Usted me ha pedido que le pague directamente la multa de la infracción de tránsito, le pediré que me diga su nombre y número de oficial. Es mi derecho reportar esto al a oficina del Ayuntamiento, donde una investigación oficial podría ser iniciada.
(English translation)
Please note:
I am also aware of the SINDICATURA process, and if you have asked me to pay you directly for a traffic violation fine, I will ask that you give me your name and badge number. It is my right to report this to the Mayor’s Office, where an official investigation may be undertaken.

The Transitos who work hard to pick up a few extra bucks like this are very professional in their stories. Most experienced Rvers who regularily travel Mexico are equally professional in their ability to say “NO” and leave with their wallets intact. To me, this just seems like an easier and quicker way to get to that conclusion.

We have had this shovel since the early 1980′s. Back then it was our best tool for chipping the ice off our driveway during the winter,and in the summer it was handy in the garden. It dug fence post holes and worked on laying our patio. When we made the move from Alberta to BC, this guy made the journey with us. When we went full timing in 2001 this one made the cut and came to Mexico in our motorhome.

To Grimsby and a sticks and bricks home, still the same old shovel. When we sold our townhouse and moved back into a Casa Rodante it was “OK Shovel, let’s go.” For the last couple of years it’s home has been in the back of my truck. And then, after all those years we had trauma. When my truck came back with it’s new paint there was no shovel.

Talk about a family crisis!

Yesterday we were reunited. Our shovel returned to the Isla and it’s rightful place in the back of the truck. If only it could talk it would tell you about all the work it’s done and the places it’s been. It’s gardened in Edmonton Alberta, Chilliwack and Langley BC, Grimsby Ontario. It dug the motorhome out of the mud in Cerro Azul and out of the sand in the Baja, the Yucatan and the beaches of Mazatlan. It’s helped us and helped us help lot’s of others out of jams all over Americano Norte. Here on Stone Island it’s even helped dig the hole for the Pig Roast a couple of times.

Yes, I gave it a litle hug

I think I’ll call this picture Dry As A Bone. I was thinking yesterday that other than a few days of morning in the fog, the last time we saw precipitation was late last October when we were in Edmonton visiting Mike, Tracy and the kids. Remeber the pictures of snow?

Since then not one flake of snow nor drop of rain. According to my favorite fingers that makes it 4 months and counting.

Here”s another dry number for you. On Valentines day, Marilyn and I decided that our Valentine’s day gift to each other we would be a dry day. That’s not news, we do that on occasion. the news is that now, 8 days later we are still enjoying dry days. Since February 13, we have not had a drop of alcohol. None, Nada, Cerro! We just decided that with our upcoming run and my  surgery it only made sense to park it down” for a few days with the booze. We really don’t know where we’re going to go with this, but we are sure we are feeling better and it’s gotta to be helping the calory intake, no to mention the budget.

Don’t fret though, when I went to rescue my shovel yesterday I stopped at a beer store and bought a few “just in case you come over for a cool one” They’re in the beer fridge ready for you.

We were out for a walk on the beach with the dogs yesterday, watching the Pelicans out fishing. (don’t they look better with their feathers on?).

That picture pretty much sums up our life these days: We are truly “free as a bird.” And these days you can add to that “Dry as a bone.”