It all began on Valentines Day
Trip Start
Feb 14, 2009
1
5
Trip End
May 2009
Reynosa, Texas, Mexico
Sunday, February 15, 2009
After winterizing and then abandoning the Alpenlite 5th Wheel in frigid Bernallio, NM; with the Work & Play toy hauler hitched to "Big Green", we made the roughly 1,000 mile trip to south Texas. After two days of final prerparations we were ready to cross the border into Mexico It was a smooth entry having all the required documents in order and we were on the road in about a half hour.
Hwy 97 from Reynosa and 101 are great new roads. When you get to coastal route 180 things slow down significantly being ever mindful of the fampous Mexican tope (tow- pay) or speed bump which comes in all sizes and shapes and always requires us to come to a nearly complete halt to get over them. Usually they're well mark but don't count on it and if you miss a sign get ready to be launched!!! Village folks like to hang out at topes selling their goodies - usually fruit or juice - to passersby as they slow down.
The first night we camped behind a motel which has a large space for RV's though we were the only ones there. Circumnavigating Tampico is not complicated if you have good directions but long. The countryside from Tampico to Tuxpan is interesting with cone shaped hills planted with citrus orchards at every angle imaginable. Great little villages - often very poor but always colorful and with a church of some kind.
In two days we arrived on the Emerald Coast about the first developed beach area of any significance along the Gulf coast. Did a two night layover to enjoy a day of relaxing and beach walking after all the busyness of getting this trip off the ground.
Our first target destination was Oaxaca City enroute to visiting long time friends, Vicky and John Fuller who winter in Puerto Escondido on the Pacific coast.
Day three found us venturing onto previously untraveled byways with some challenging terrain and headed for our first big "adventure"!
Comments
Viva Mexico
Great to hear from you. Sounds like you are having fun and enjoying some great experiences.
We were thinking of you last weekend while we soaked in the Boulder Hot Springs after a 35mi bike ride. We saw thousands of snow geese flying north. It was the most amazing gathering of geese I've every witnessed.