We left Playa Norte RV park in Los Barriles on November 16th after failing to negotiate a decent monthly rate. We are now 16 miles south of Los Barriles at La Trinidad RV Ranch near the town of La Ribera.
It has a wonderful "Palapa Bar/restaurant" and an inground unheated pool. We have full hookups and a great site. All this for $370 per month !!
Thanksgiving was celebrated in style with 4 different turkeys (smoked,oven cooked,spit roasted and deep fried) plus all the fixins and a super selection of deserts including Pumkin Pie. Mike Odell ,the charismatic owner,served 60 plus dinners that night......at $5 a pop !!!!!! His way of saying ThankYou to all his local friends and family.
Our neighbours Ken and Paula have a Casita and a palapa in La Ribera.They keep their 1999 Beaver Monterey under the palapa which is presently being re roofed. We have exchanged much info and advise as our two Motorhomes were built at the same factory.
Teddy is having a fine time barking at the "locals".......and a small army of dogs who live on site !!
The Cathedral Bluffs Yacht Club,Scarborough,Ontario,Canada.
My home from 1979 to 2005.
Pelican 1 hauled out at Bluffers Park Marina 2003
There have been some changes since then !!
Haulout 2003
My good friend Joe.....Captain of La Reine Brenda.
Daysailing on Lake Ontario 2003
My daughter and her fiancee . The last sail in freshwater!
Two Pelicans aka Pelican 1 refitting at Beaufort NC
The new inner forestay fitting is visible below my foot
Launch Day December 8th at Bock Marine
The completely repainted and rewired rig plus new windgenerator.
In the slings at Bock Marine
Jeremy having a "moment" !
Two Pelicans
First time in saltwater....wondering if she will be on her lines after all the extra gear we added!!!
Alongside at Bock Marine Dec 2006
A little bow heavy still !!
The Skipper
On a break during refit at Bock Marine. NC
Peter (yachtmaster) from the UK.
My sole remaining intrepid crew !
My other Crew!!
Derek, who jumped ship for the lovely Karen ! Who can blame him eh?
A toast after a successful launching.
Manadatory equipment: beer,kneepads and a Piggly Wiggly sweatshirt !!
Resting at Masonboro Inlet en route to Charleston. SC
The new Lofrans windlass and bowsprit.
at anchor in Charleston.SC
Water on the lens? A very enjoyable stop.
Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands.
Landfall in The Bahamas where we cleared in with Customs. Jan 2007.
Nassau.
Labour Day Parade
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Saturday November 12th 2011
We got back to Indianapolis IN with the Jeep on October 16th. After setting up the Jeep for towing and stocking up the coach,we had dinner ,on the 19th with an old friend,Cliff Cooper,a retired paramedic from Indianapolis,and his lovely wife Tonda . Cliff crewed for me from Morgans Bluff,Andros,Bahamas to Vero Beach in 2007. We have stayed in touch ever since.
Leaving Indianapolis on the 21st October we realised there was not enough time to drive to Seattle and down the west coast to CA before winter set in so we decided to head towards Texas. On the way we planned to meet other RVers and drive from Laredo TX to Puerto Vallarta. Mexico. That plan was aborted because without 12 payments on the Jeep loan under our belt,Suntrust Bank would not issue a letter of permission required by the Mexican authorities to issue a temporary Import Permit for the Jeep.
So......Plan B.......join http://www.bajawinters.com/ on November 3rd 2011 and do the Snowbird Caravan to Los Barriles,BSC. coming back to San Diego in March 2012.
We arrived at the Playa Norte RV Park in Los Barriles on Wed.Nov 9th. We are set up on the beach. It feels good to here. We have one week here(included in the Caravan fee) and then will head south 75 miles to the Villa Serena RV Park and Hotel in Cabo San Lucas next Wednesday 16th Nov.
Departing the KOA in San Diego CA we crossed the border at Tecate. After a nice wine tasting en route we arrived in Ensenada . Right downtown the coach overheated;warning buzzers and lights telling me to pull over. John Smith ,our intrepid caravan leader and the other RVer Les, helped us decide we should top up as necessary and make small hops (3 miles) untill we got to the Estero Beach RV park and Hotel. It took 3 hops,topping up the cooling water header tank with 4 gallons of water each stop.
Next morning we found the bust hose (dash and coach heater supply),bought more hose and coolant at Autozone in Ensendada and were back on the road by 1230pm . headed to San Quintin,Los Olivos RV Park. It was cooler ,rainy and foggy. We snuggled down for the night.
Next day,Nov 5th at 0800 we departed for Gurerro Negro,Hotel Malarrimo and RV park arriving at 3.30pm. After splurging $330 pesos on a great dinner and several glasses of Gato Negro we hit the sack at 10.30pm.
Because of a screw up with time zones Jane and I got up and readied ourselves fo departure an hour earlier than needed !! Leaving at 0730 we made it to Santispac Beach,Mulege at 1230pm !! We stayed 2 days here buying new exhaust hangers for the generator exhaust we broke entering a Pemex station with a steep incline that made the coach rear end drag on the road!!
Becky and John,our Caravan hosts made a wicked tequila cocktail for our "Pot Luck" dinner on the 2nd night after I had fixed the gennerator exhaust.
Spending the next night at Palapa 206 in Cuidad Constitution we arrived in Los Barriles on November 9th for a 7 day rest before heading down to Cabo San Lucas.
We have Sirius XM radio but no TV .Direct TV put up a new satellite effectively cutting off thousands of Snowbirds satellite reception. We have ordered a complete set up from the Canadian Satellite Co,Shaw Direct whose signal is still well recieved even this far south.
Next up date soon and pics to follow. J&J
Leaving Indianapolis on the 21st October we realised there was not enough time to drive to Seattle and down the west coast to CA before winter set in so we decided to head towards Texas. On the way we planned to meet other RVers and drive from Laredo TX to Puerto Vallarta. Mexico. That plan was aborted because without 12 payments on the Jeep loan under our belt,Suntrust Bank would not issue a letter of permission required by the Mexican authorities to issue a temporary Import Permit for the Jeep.
So......Plan B.......join http://www.bajawinters.com/ on November 3rd 2011 and do the Snowbird Caravan to Los Barriles,BSC. coming back to San Diego in March 2012.
We arrived at the Playa Norte RV Park in Los Barriles on Wed.Nov 9th. We are set up on the beach. It feels good to here. We have one week here(included in the Caravan fee) and then will head south 75 miles to the Villa Serena RV Park and Hotel in Cabo San Lucas next Wednesday 16th Nov.
Departing the KOA in San Diego CA we crossed the border at Tecate. After a nice wine tasting en route we arrived in Ensenada . Right downtown the coach overheated;warning buzzers and lights telling me to pull over. John Smith ,our intrepid caravan leader and the other RVer Les, helped us decide we should top up as necessary and make small hops (3 miles) untill we got to the Estero Beach RV park and Hotel. It took 3 hops,topping up the cooling water header tank with 4 gallons of water each stop.
Next morning we found the bust hose (dash and coach heater supply),bought more hose and coolant at Autozone in Ensendada and were back on the road by 1230pm . headed to San Quintin,Los Olivos RV Park. It was cooler ,rainy and foggy. We snuggled down for the night.
Next day,Nov 5th at 0800 we departed for Gurerro Negro,Hotel Malarrimo and RV park arriving at 3.30pm. After splurging $330 pesos on a great dinner and several glasses of Gato Negro we hit the sack at 10.30pm.
Because of a screw up with time zones Jane and I got up and readied ourselves fo departure an hour earlier than needed !! Leaving at 0730 we made it to Santispac Beach,Mulege at 1230pm !! We stayed 2 days here buying new exhaust hangers for the generator exhaust we broke entering a Pemex station with a steep incline that made the coach rear end drag on the road!!
Becky and John,our Caravan hosts made a wicked tequila cocktail for our "Pot Luck" dinner on the 2nd night after I had fixed the gennerator exhaust.
Spending the next night at Palapa 206 in Cuidad Constitution we arrived in Los Barriles on November 9th for a 7 day rest before heading down to Cabo San Lucas.
We have Sirius XM radio but no TV .Direct TV put up a new satellite effectively cutting off thousands of Snowbirds satellite reception. We have ordered a complete set up from the Canadian Satellite Co,Shaw Direct whose signal is still well recieved even this far south.
Next up date soon and pics to follow. J&J
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Bye bye PT Cruiser....hello Jeep Wrangler !!!
September 24th. 2011.
After the PT Cruiser struggled around Mexico behind the Motorcoach we decided we would get a Jeep. Two days ago we found the right one and did the deal. It will take time to get it set up for towing,but we are hoping the Jeep will be much more versatile than the PT Cruiser. We will be heading back to Indianapolis IN in the Jeep on the 13th October,after the Green Card final interview, to continue our trip across the USA to Seattle. We are hoping to spend the winter in Puerto Vallarta. Mexico.
After the PT Cruiser struggled around Mexico behind the Motorcoach we decided we would get a Jeep. Two days ago we found the right one and did the deal. It will take time to get it set up for towing,but we are hoping the Jeep will be much more versatile than the PT Cruiser. We will be heading back to Indianapolis IN in the Jeep on the 13th October,after the Green Card final interview, to continue our trip across the USA to Seattle. We are hoping to spend the winter in Puerto Vallarta. Mexico.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Mr and Mrs Jeremy and Jane Parrett
We arrived at Guerro Negro at 1330 ,that is 1.30 pm !! After some interesting moments we were all safely parked (wedged) at The Malarrimo Hotel and RV Park, anticipating a day of 'whale watching' tomorrow.
Guerro negro is named after a US whaler that wrecked on the sandbars that protect the bay where grey whales come to breed every winter.
Dressed to the nines in our Niagara Mohawk foul weather gear we were bussed to the departure point,passing the largest industrial sea salt lagoons and shipping operation
in the world.
It was windy and rather cool but we soon forgot that when we started to see the whales quite close to our boat ( an open 28 ft Enduro with twin 100 hp Suzuki's on back). It was an exciting,wet and unforgetable experience ;next time we will go in early April when the 'babies' are grown and more curious. Their mother's allow very close contact with these curious humans,even to actually petting them !!
Guerro negro is named after a US whaler that wrecked on the sandbars that protect the bay where grey whales come to breed every winter.
Dressed to the nines in our Niagara Mohawk foul weather gear we were bussed to the departure point,passing the largest industrial sea salt lagoons and shipping operation
in the world.
It was windy and rather cool but we soon forgot that when we started to see the whales quite close to our boat ( an open 28 ft Enduro with twin 100 hp Suzuki's on back). It was an exciting,wet and unforgetable experience ;next time we will go in early April when the 'babies' are grown and more curious. Their mother's allow very close contact with these curious humans,even to actually petting them !!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Cabo San Lucas. Baja California Sur. February 7th 2011
We crossed Baja Sur from Guerro Negro to Mulege stopping for 2 nights at San Ignacio as the winds were up to 60 knots. San Ignacio has a much photographed Mission Church. There are pics in http://www.bajawinters.com/.
We then headed south with an overnight stop at Cuidad Constitution before arriving at Tecolote Beach,near La Paz for a 2 night stay. Parked right on the beach between sand dunes with our own 'palapa' ........pretty cool.
That night we watched the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl in a bar on the beach ,while scoffing Sol's and shrimp tacos........
This morning we started at 9.00am and arrived in Cabo after lunch for a 4 night stay.
Tomorrow we take a side trip to Todos Santos to visit the original "Hotel California".....
.Wednesday sees us on a Dinner Cruise..........
Friday sees us heading north to Los Barriles where we will stay until March 5th before rejoining http://www.bajawinters.com/ for the trip back to San Diego. The Playa Norte RV Resort will be our home .
The Big Green Bus is performing extremely well in a very hostile environment.
More to follow when we get settled in Los Barriles.
We then headed south with an overnight stop at Cuidad Constitution before arriving at Tecolote Beach,near La Paz for a 2 night stay. Parked right on the beach between sand dunes with our own 'palapa' ........pretty cool.
That night we watched the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl in a bar on the beach ,while scoffing Sol's and shrimp tacos........
This morning we started at 9.00am and arrived in Cabo after lunch for a 4 night stay.
Tomorrow we take a side trip to Todos Santos to visit the original "Hotel California".....
.Wednesday sees us on a Dinner Cruise..........
Friday sees us heading north to Los Barriles where we will stay until March 5th before rejoining http://www.bajawinters.com/ for the trip back to San Diego. The Playa Norte RV Resort will be our home .
The Big Green Bus is performing extremely well in a very hostile environment.
More to follow when we get settled in Los Barriles.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
2010-2011 TransUS /Baja California/ Baja Sur
In December we took off west to Tampa (Lazydays) for a major service and then headed north and west out of Florida across the Panhandle towards New Orleans. We parked the RV in Robert and drove in to see the sights. To put it mildly....'we were not impressed'......dirty,and not much to see.........the French Quarter was a couple of blocks;very much in need of some tlc!! On we went to New Braunfels for Christmas. Its 40 miles north of San Antonio. We saw the Alamo;bought a Davey Crocket hat for my brother;walked the Riverwalk in 40 degrees;had lunch at an Irish Pub , and then drove back to the coach.
Then we continued west to Las Cruces.NM for New Years. It snowed !!! On New Years Day we managed to lock ourselves out of the coach in a rest stop near Willcox AZ. it was 45 deg,4.00 pm and our cell phones,keys and wallets were in the coach !! The door had popped open at 70 mph and I thought I could fix it with WD40. Bad move.....lubricating the friction pads allowed the latch to set when I shut the door rather forcefully !!!
There are now spare door keys in a magnetic box attached somewhere outside !!!
A very nice trucker called a locksmith who arrived 1 hour later,on New years Day, to let us back into the Big Green Bus !!
With stops in Tuscon, Yama and La Mesa we arrived in San Diego on the 11th of December,in time to fly back to Fort Pierce.FL for Jane's Mum's 90th.
Back in San Diego 4 days later we set about getting ready for our Baja Adventure. New front tires ; transmission oil and filters;hydraulic fluid and filter;roof paint;supplies and food etc.
We were ready to leave with http://www.bajawinters.com/ on the 27th January in company with 13 other rigs (RV's and fifth wheelers.)
Day one saw us across the border at Tecate and running down to Estero Beach RV Resort and Hotel for our first night . It was a long day with some really challenging twists and turns,grades and amazing scenery before rounding the headland and being awed by the view descending into Ensenada.
Day 2 took us to San Quentin ,El Pabellon RV resort where we had a great potluck dinner around a blazing campfire right on the beach!!
Day 3 takes us up into the mountains to Catavina,Santa Inez Ranch where we again circled the wagons and after a bunkhouse dinner , spent the evening singing and joking around another campfire!
Day 4 Leaving the Ranch we passed through an agricultural inspection (Nematodes)and then a military checkpoint as we entered Baja Sur.
We arrived in Guerro Negro after 2.00pm , named after a US whaler that ran aground on the treacherous sandbars. Tomorrow we are going Whale Watching. You actually get to 'pat' the whales as they bring the newborn for us to see!!
I might add...the driving is very intense!! The roads are one lane each way and much narrower than US roads ....so......when an 18 wheeler approaches at 70 mph........we now pull over as far as we can and stop. One coach has already had a mirror encounter !!
The roads may have no shoulder;just a drop off varying from a few inches to a foot or more unless there is a gully and then it might be 100's of feet.!!!
Aside from these issues we are in mountainous country where sweeping curves may have a huge dropoff with no barrier just to add to the excitement !! Jane is on the edge of her seat keeping me informed of where we are in relation to the abyss !!
Learning to operate the CB radio has been fun for her. We use it to pass info between RV's and to allow us to let vehicles pass us safely . The 'wagon master' leads us in a big pickup and constantly relays info to us on road conditions,drop offs and oncoming traffic. Our 'tailgunner' keeps us informed of vehicles coming from behind. As each one comes up we use left indicators to let them know it is clear to pass each vehicle in succession.
If I dont get eaten by a whale tomorow there will be more posted soon !!!
Then we continued west to Las Cruces.NM for New Years. It snowed !!! On New Years Day we managed to lock ourselves out of the coach in a rest stop near Willcox AZ. it was 45 deg,4.00 pm and our cell phones,keys and wallets were in the coach !! The door had popped open at 70 mph and I thought I could fix it with WD40. Bad move.....lubricating the friction pads allowed the latch to set when I shut the door rather forcefully !!!
There are now spare door keys in a magnetic box attached somewhere outside !!!
A very nice trucker called a locksmith who arrived 1 hour later,on New years Day, to let us back into the Big Green Bus !!
With stops in Tuscon, Yama and La Mesa we arrived in San Diego on the 11th of December,in time to fly back to Fort Pierce.FL for Jane's Mum's 90th.
Back in San Diego 4 days later we set about getting ready for our Baja Adventure. New front tires ; transmission oil and filters;hydraulic fluid and filter;roof paint;supplies and food etc.
We were ready to leave with http://www.bajawinters.com/ on the 27th January in company with 13 other rigs (RV's and fifth wheelers.)
Day one saw us across the border at Tecate and running down to Estero Beach RV Resort and Hotel for our first night . It was a long day with some really challenging twists and turns,grades and amazing scenery before rounding the headland and being awed by the view descending into Ensenada.
Day 2 took us to San Quentin ,El Pabellon RV resort where we had a great potluck dinner around a blazing campfire right on the beach!!
Day 3 takes us up into the mountains to Catavina,Santa Inez Ranch where we again circled the wagons and after a bunkhouse dinner , spent the evening singing and joking around another campfire!
Day 4 Leaving the Ranch we passed through an agricultural inspection (Nematodes)and then a military checkpoint as we entered Baja Sur.
We arrived in Guerro Negro after 2.00pm , named after a US whaler that ran aground on the treacherous sandbars. Tomorrow we are going Whale Watching. You actually get to 'pat' the whales as they bring the newborn for us to see!!
I might add...the driving is very intense!! The roads are one lane each way and much narrower than US roads ....so......when an 18 wheeler approaches at 70 mph........we now pull over as far as we can and stop. One coach has already had a mirror encounter !!
The roads may have no shoulder;just a drop off varying from a few inches to a foot or more unless there is a gully and then it might be 100's of feet.!!!
Aside from these issues we are in mountainous country where sweeping curves may have a huge dropoff with no barrier just to add to the excitement !! Jane is on the edge of her seat keeping me informed of where we are in relation to the abyss !!
Learning to operate the CB radio has been fun for her. We use it to pass info between RV's and to allow us to let vehicles pass us safely . The 'wagon master' leads us in a big pickup and constantly relays info to us on road conditions,drop offs and oncoming traffic. Our 'tailgunner' keeps us informed of vehicles coming from behind. As each one comes up we use left indicators to let them know it is clear to pass each vehicle in succession.
If I dont get eaten by a whale tomorow there will be more posted soon !!!
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