Traveling to Mexico Again in 2008
Driving Mexico 15D in our 40' Motorhome - State of Sinoloa
Just before we reached the town of Las Glorias the Army had a road block set up. Stopping all cars, making the driver open the trunks etc. Hummm…Yep we got stopped and boarded. A heavy set older soldier asked first if he could come in. He too went all the way to the bedroom checking everything out. Didn’t open anything though just looked. He thanked us and started to get out and Bill told him the 5th wheel behind us was his brother and family. We left and again they were waved through. Maybe from now on we’ll follow. Neither time did we feel threatened. And neither time did we have to show any paper work.
We got to the turn off for Mr. Moro and just as Bill started to turn we saw the construction ahead. OOPS. Good thing he stopped as there was no way we could get down that road. Turns out we had to go around the buildings onto the beach and drive down a temporary road on sand about five blocks before we could get back on the road. No Problem says The Driver. And it wasn’t.
Mr. Moro RV Park is at the end of the road. They have done a lot of improvements since we were here a couple of years ago. We had good electric and water. Sewers available. Supposed to be Wi-fi but I couldn’t pick it up but my Verizon Air Card worked there. Amazing - wonder what that will cost? Good restaurant, in fact after parking and setting up we all ate dinner there. Had delicious fish, salad and papas fritas (French fries).
We took a ride into Guasave to go to Wal*Mart and to check out the route out back to the toll road. Found both okay. And saw the levee we drove Alfie on the last time we were here - remember the missed turn. This time we took the road on the correct side of the canal instead of climbing the dirt levee and driving on it. I still remember the weird looks we got back then.
Only stayed at Mr Moro the two nights. Walked the beach and picked up a couple of different shells for my collection.
Drove out the way we came in over the detour on the beach then followed the correct instructions to get back on 15D the short way through Guasave. Next stop Celestino Gazca about 50 miles north of Mazatlan.
Back on toll road Mexico 15D on our way to Celestino Gazca, again a campground on the beach about 200 miles away as the road goes - about 150 as the crow flies.
Once we were on the toll road it was an easy drive until time to get off. The scenery was nice. Mostly fields full of corn and some maguey. Getting greener all the time. Saw some mimosea (sp?) trees in bloom, beautiful. The road was very good - should be as it was quite expensive US$44 for less than 200 miles. But we got what we paid for. Along this stretch there were even emergency phones in case of problems. It was more like a real freeway. No small towns, no cattle wandering along it. It bypasses Culiacan, one place we definitely didn’t want to go. It’s kind of know for the drug cartels that are there. Using the guide book we found our off ramp at Km 78 with no problem.
It’s just gravel as you leave the road but after a few feet it was paved again. Through the small town of Celestino Gazca, over the railroad tracks, down a little hill, turn left. Now there is just a little dirt road going off into the distant desert. There is a big dirt field there so we pulled over and unhooked the jeep. We did learn something from our last trip down here. UNHOOK - go check things out. Drove Willie down the road, through the arroyo, up the hill and lo and behold we found the first campground. It was packed elbow to elbow with motorhomes and the gate was locked. “Honk” we did - no one came. So on we went checking the guide - A new campground in the making, not open yet. Another new one, RV Park Punta San Miguel, and it is open and there are only two rigs there. Price is good and they say they have Wi-fi. There is one more campground further down but they charge separate for electricity and there are a lot of rigs in there. So we tell the manager at San Miguel we’ll be back. Poor Alfie - it’s a rough road into there. I drove Willie to relieve a little of the stress. Very nice campground though. Decent size spaces, good water pressure, 30amps electric, sewer and they do have Wi-fi. A ways from the beach though. The ladies and men’s restrooms are beautiful. All tiled, big showers etc. There are a couple palapas and chairs and tables overlooking the ocean. Very, very nice - but in the middle of no where. Verizon doesn’t work here, but I guess if you have the right satellite equipment you can get TV here. 200 Pesos a night including electricity and Wi-fi. Right now that’s about US$15. Not bad.
The beach is different, mostly small rocks right in front then sand a little further up the coast. Some really interesting big rocks out front too. And nice waves. The manager says they get a lot of surfers here in the spring. There are some fishing boats out on the horizon. Some of the cactus is already blooming here. Such pretty flowers.
For photos of Las Glorias and Celestino Gazca click here
We left Huatabampito around 9:30 in the morning. We being us and a 5th wheel with three Canadians we met here. Took almost five hours to go 171 miles To Las Glorias and Mr. Moro RV Park.
Leaving Huatabampo we turned right at the first stoplight and left town the way the guide book says to come in on. This is the road we took when we drove to Alamos and Bill said he wouldn’t take the motorhome out on it. Well - thoughts are made to be changed. It was only 17 miles but took a verrrry long time. Lots of topes (nasty little and big speed bumps.) Lots of potholes, no shoulders and slow traffic. But we saved about 30 miles. The agricultural inspection just as we entered Sinoloa was only for north bound traffic. One truck was stopped and the soldiers were making the driver unload the whole thing. There were boxes of avocados all over. However we did get stopped for an inspection just a couple of miles down the road. It was a pretty thorough inspection! The Policia Federal stopped us. They are pretty intimidating looking with their all black uniforms and BIG guns. When they waved us over we complied quickly. Again we were treated with respect. They asked where we were going, where we had come from and if they could come in and check things out. Of course Bill said okay. The man that came in did a pretty good walk through. He went clear back to the bedroom looked around then opened the bathroom door and checked inside. He didn’t open any cupboards but didn’t appear to miss much. As he was leaving he asked about the back up camera. Wondered if it was a TV. Bill explained it was a camera and that he needed it see when backing up as there was no window in the back. While he was inside another much younger man stepped up on the steps and started to come in, clearly he was curious. He was waved right back out. Bill told the policeman that the 5th wheel behind us was his brother - our friends - and was traveling with us. When he finished his tour he thanked us and left closing the door behind him. We took off and they waved “Bill’s brother” right through. Did not feel scared or hassled at all.
Leaving Huatabampo we turned right at the first stoplight and left town the way the guide book says to come in on. This is the road we took when we drove to Alamos and Bill said he wouldn’t take the motorhome out on it. Well - thoughts are made to be changed. It was only 17 miles but took a verrrry long time. Lots of topes (nasty little and big speed bumps.) Lots of potholes, no shoulders and slow traffic. But we saved about 30 miles. The agricultural inspection just as we entered Sinoloa was only for north bound traffic. One truck was stopped and the soldiers were making the driver unload the whole thing. There were boxes of avocados all over. However we did get stopped for an inspection just a couple of miles down the road. It was a pretty thorough inspection! The Policia Federal stopped us. They are pretty intimidating looking with their all black uniforms and BIG guns. When they waved us over we complied quickly. Again we were treated with respect. They asked where we were going, where we had come from and if they could come in and check things out. Of course Bill said okay. The man that came in did a pretty good walk through. He went clear back to the bedroom looked around then opened the bathroom door and checked inside. He didn’t open any cupboards but didn’t appear to miss much. As he was leaving he asked about the back up camera. Wondered if it was a TV. Bill explained it was a camera and that he needed it see when backing up as there was no window in the back. While he was inside another much younger man stepped up on the steps and started to come in, clearly he was curious. He was waved right back out. Bill told the policeman that the 5th wheel behind us was his brother - our friends - and was traveling with us. When he finished his tour he thanked us and left closing the door behind him. We took off and they waved “Bill’s brother” right through. Did not feel scared or hassled at all.
Didn’t spend the day here though, drove into Mazatlan to figure out where we can park there. That is a whole different story. The park right downtown where we stayed two years ago was completely filled. Like sardines in a can. Another one we found we would have to drive through those narrow streets to get to it. No Way! Then we back out north of town and found a couple more. One way out had openings and was right on the beach, but it is a long ways from town. The other is across from the beach but has access and has big spaces and closer to town. Probably will go there. And it’s easy to get to. We’ll be leaving later today to go there, it’s only 60 miles away so will be short trip once we get out of here and back onto the toll road.
Mexico 15D is a pretty good road. The countryside we passed through was mostly farming. Lots of corn and tomatoes.
This time, as opposed to last time we went to Las Glorias, we got off the toll road where we were supposed to and drove several miles of country two-lane road. When we were here two years ago I missed the turn and we ended up driving up on a dirt levee through Guasave to get to the campground. This time was quite a bit longer but not so nerve racking.
This time, as opposed to last time we went to Las Glorias, we got off the toll road where we were supposed to and drove several miles of country two-lane road. When we were here two years ago I missed the turn and we ended up driving up on a dirt levee through Guasave to get to the campground. This time was quite a bit longer but not so nerve racking.