First day back in the US

A quiet day here in Amado, AZ. Watched part of a soccer game Real Madrid played. 
When we pulled in to the De Anza RV Park  excuse me - Resort. La de la! We were told we could park in a nice big pull through for last night only. Then today we had to move to a not so big back in space. The pull through was reserved from today on. 
We needed  to go to the grocery store so we asked the office how long we could stay in the space without moving the Alfa. Also the 5th wheel in the space where we were going didn't look like it was getting ready to leave. The office manager told us we would have to move by 12:00. 
So we hurried into Green Valley to have breakfast at Denny's [three months ago I wrote about one of the employees at Denny's. The older woman named Addy.] She was working this morning and moving like a whirlwind. 
After  breakfast we went to Walmart - needed a few things. We got back to the RV by 11:45 - the 5th wheel was gone. So we packed up, unhooked and moved. We can stay in this space as long as we want. To the tune of $40 a day. We have good 50amps, strong water pressure. Which is good because our water pump gave up the last day we were in San Carlos.  And the TV works fine and the parks WiFi is good. They have a FULL page of rules and regulations. A lot of You Betters and even more Do Nots. 
After moving and getting set up again I watched some racing. Kyle #18 won the Xfinity race. The first time he has won in this series in Vegas. And he broke another record today. He has led 16,000 laps in that series. Today he led 199 of 200. Tomorrow though his car doesn't seem to  be very good. 
I think Bill is coming down with the cold I finally got over. Hope not. As we are thinking of leaving here Monday morning - there is some rainy weather coming this way by Tuesday .
I forgot to take our list with us when we went out this morning so will probably go to the stores again tomorrow. 

Back in U. S. of A.

Our journey for today. From San Carlos, MX to Amado, AZ.  288 miles. We left San Carlos at 7:00 and got to Amado around 2:30 - 7 1/2 hours. Not all of it spent driving.

 Before I start on the trip I wanted to share this with you. It is 1966 Dodge motorhome. It pulled into San Carlos yesterday. Mom, Dad and three kids. The bumper is a storage area. 

Last night we went out to dinner at this restaurant in San Carlos with our friends Joe and Carol. Very good meal. 

 Leaving this morning at 7:00. The sun hadn't been up very long. 

For the most part the road was good. Lots of construction going on. Lots of detours from one side of the highway to the other. Most of the transitions were really smooth. 

 But the two lanes are kind of narrow - no room for error. No shoulders either. 

 Back to the other side. 

 Many, many road paving machines. Some laying concrete some putting down asphalt. Lots of money being spent by the country on the highways. 

 The Palo Verdes were in bloom. Lots and lots of color along the highway. This is one part of the highway that still needs work. 

 By 8:30 we were starting to go through Hermosillo. It only took us till 9:00 to get to the to the other side of town. 

 The first toll booth of the day on the north side of Hermosillo. A total of three toll booths to the tune of 22 US dollars. 

 Hate driving through this smelly sticky stuff. Didn't last too long though. 

Just a look at the highway ahead. See the asphalt on the left lane. 

Getting closer to a military check point. Lots of trucks backed up and waiting. Glad we could go in a different lane. 

And here we are at the check point. Did we get stopped. Of course. Every year we do. And every year something different happens. We were waved over to the shelter on the right. See the 5th wheel there?

This time two young soldiers came in. They shined their flashlights into corners and opened cupboards and drawers. I don't think they knew what they were supposed to be looking for. I did hear them say that the coach was bonita - pretty. Why thank you. Then they spent quite a bit of time looking at all the souvenir hat pins we've collected. Finally their supervisor came in with some paperwork for Bill to fill out. And he hurried them out. We were only stopped for 10 minutes. Looking in front of us. Soldiers training.  

And the last Mexican check point. We actually didn't have to stop here. In fact we didn't even see anyone. But it is kind of a maze to go through. 

 Could they make this any narrower? Just about scraped the mirrors getting through. 

 Turning in our paperwork took a while. The Jeep was quick but this year we wanted to turn in the permit for the Alfa. It would expire before the end of the year. The problem was we only had the sticker that went on the window, not the paperwork. No idea what happened to it in the last ten years. So we had to go across the street so the clerk could look up the original paper work. No problem she printed out what we needed to take to the Aduana to get the final okay. Problem was - it was noon and the Aduana officer had gone to get something to eat. When he came back it only took a few minutes to get everything ready. Then we had to go back across the street get in the Alfa and make a U-turn across the highway and go back through the area where they take the paper work. We were there a little over an hour. But the actual paperwork only took a few minutes. Lunch took longer. 
And the last toll booth. 185 pesos - a little over 10 dollars. 

 Getting close to the US border. 

 We drove right up to the BUS lane. A couple of minutes later a border guard came over took our passports and took down the chain so we could pass through. In less than five minutes another guard came inside to check for plants and food. Within 15 minutes we were done and on our way. Fastest we've ever gotten through. 

On the way to the interstate we were held up because of a truck accident. Took about 10 minutes to get through the intersection. Then we stopped for diesel in Rio Rico at the Pilot. $2.09 a gallon. 
Then up the road to the RV park where for the first time ever we had made a reservation. We wanted a particular site at it has good 50 amp service, no trees and is a pull through. Oh they made a mistake it wouldn't be empty until tomorrow. They specifically told me when I called them the site would be empty today so we stayed one day longer in San Carlos. AARRGG! 
So we ended up in the RV park right next door. We'll be staying here at least until Monday.Then went out to a late lunch at the Cow Palace. 
Got to watch NASCAR qualifying - wish I hadn't. Kyle's car is a piece of crap. He will be starting 24th!
And that's it for today.  

Last couple days in San Carlos

Let’s see – Tuesday we did…nothing. Any way nothing to write much about. I only took two pictures all day!

We extended our stay here in Totonaka RV for one more day as we could not get the RV site we wanted in Arizona until Friday. So by Friday afternoon we will be in Amado, AZ for a few days, and wouldn’t you know weather forecast for Amado is rain for next Tuesday – the day we would probably be leaving.

We went out for an early lunch at La Palapa on the beach again. So peaceful there. And good food. Will miss the beach side restaurants when we get back to Vegas.

After leaving there we visited an art gallery here in San Carlos, some nice but REALLY expensive stuff there. Also looked around in a big souvenir shop. 

Same, same stuff as everywhere.

Came back to Alfa and arranged to get it washed 
Wednesday. Poor thing is covered with sand, dirt and bugs.

Then it was nap time.

Later we went out to dinner with friends, Joe and Carol, at the Italian restaurant right next door. Good meal, good company. 

Yesterday turned out to be one of the hottest days yet - around 89/90. And no breeze to speak of. 
Yesterday was another do nothing day. While the RV was getting washed we just drove around town a little. Went up to the mirador to look over the sea. 

Never tire of the view, water, desert and mountains. 
Then came back and vegged out. 
Our friends we went to see in Aticama came here for the night. They are on their way home to Idaho. After they got parked we went out to dinner at La Palapa again. Much to our surprise it was packed. There was some kind of charity event going on  there. So full of gringos. There was an entertainer. He was pretty good. Liked Jimmy Buffet and John Denver songs. Had a good meal and visit.

Came home and went to bed early. 
Today we'll be getting stuff ready to hit the road early tomorrow and cross the border. From here to the AZ campground is 290 miles so it will be a long driving day for Bill. There are several Mexican check points to go through, plus turning in our Mexican paperwork and then of course the U.S. border crossing. 

How Willie got his name

I think this is going to be a lazy day. Just arranged to stay one more day so we won't be leaving here until Friday. Couldn't get a 50 amp space in the RV park in Arizona until Friday. 
So any way here is the Alfa and a CLEAN Willie parked here in Totonaka RV Park in San Carlos. Weather is delightful, but will be turning much cooler next week. Tomorrow the Alfa will get a bath.
This park is starting to clear out. Lots of empty spaces here now. Everybody is heading home.

Willie got his name because of the wheel cover. It reminded me of Willie Nelson - just needs the braids.

We went out to breakfast yesterday morning at Rosas Cantina here in San Carlos.

Inside Rosas. You go up to the counter to order your food and they call you when it is ready. Not our favorite kind of dining experience. 

Then we drove into Guaymas again. Another picture of the fountain by the Malecon. Before there has been music playing - yesterday there wasn't. 

The Malecon and Guaymas panorama I love the seagulls all sitting on top of the light posts. Every post had a seagull on top. 

Just up the road was a Carnaval. They were getting ready to pack it all up and hit the road. Lots and lots of rides.

Little cars with a policeman in the center, a good sized roller coaster.

The tickets were 30 pesos per ride or 100 pesos for all the rides. That is a real bargain. As I said lots and lots of rides of all kinds. For big and little kids. 

Back in San Carlos the bougainvillea in bloom along the road to the restaurant. 

Just a clip of driving around here. Actually there wasn't as much traffic as usual. 

Last night we went out for dinner on the beach. Watched the sunset as we ate. About 80 degrees out. 

Rough life but someone has to do it. 
AARGG - just checked the weather for Vegas - it has been in the high 70s and low 80s there for a while. By the time we get home the weather will be experiencing a drastic change. Mid to low 60s expected with lows at night in the 40s. Poor Bill will freeze.