2024 November Puerto Penasco Mexico

 

That was allot of miles this year! Bucket list of RV to Alaska has been achieved. An additional detour from Oregon to Winkler, MB for RV factory repair was needed that added 3200 miles of unanticipated travel.

That repair was for a warranty item that the local RV shop did not feel they could do because of the frame repair I had done the previous year in Key West. At the factory they were so impressed with my frame repair they even wrote on the invoice what a great job it was. Now all is good and I do feel that the longevity of the coach is fully restored!

Here in Puerto Penasco, Mexico now to spend November with WIN's friends. It's my first time to winter in Mexico and so far I am enjoying it greatly. Daytime temps 75 and nighttime 50. Morning surise with my friend Rod, we have coffee and watch the sun come up, sometimes complaining that it is cold at 50!

If the wind is down I kayak along the Sea of Cortez over to the rocky point and the water is clear to see fish schooling. The little harbor has mostly shrimp boats and 1 Coast Guardia patrol boat. Only a few tourist boats such as Pirate Ship that may go out once or twice a week.

So many restaurants! it is obvious the tourist trade is the big industry here. I'm sure summer does not get too many tourists. Obviously Mexican food is the majority, many hamburger places, and even found one Chinese!

Kayak, walks on the beach in warm sun, walk or bicycle around the town, sit at each other's campsite and chat seem to take up most of the day. Each day the WIN's group has a meeting to talk about what we did that day and make plans for the next day or two. We have added a segment to share helpful tips and tricks and I shared perforated vinyl on the windows to reduce heat gain.

Many of us ask the campground owner Edgar about repairs and he sources people from the village to do the work, very, very good labor rates here! I'm going to have the back of the RV painted the same color as the rest of the coach (currently black, change to gold) then paint on the compass rose and cover with clearcoat. 

Then after a few days, wash and wax and add the perforated vinyl over the windows again (I removed it to go to Alaska) and have them put the perforated vinyl on all the black painted surfaces as well. I'm not sure if it will work putting it over the paint but we will see. If you are not aware of it, perforated vinyl blocks 90% of ultraviolet light from heating your home up. It works on the windows, but I also want to try it directly on the paint.

The WIN's come here each November, then travel the US Southwest until January to go to Quartzsite, AZ. I'm doing the same and when brother Bob and his ladies join me in late January we are going to Baja for February.

Some cool pictures of billboards on the highway getting here. This is not a political statement, simply some pretty cool pictures!

Rod and me

Breakfast at Lucky's restaurant the same as on the billboard 

Some other cool sights 

Focus was Minnie Mouse!

WIN's gathering 

Motorcycle Rally, wow it was loud all weekend! This is trick riders prior to the parade.

Went to an Oyster bar and I got stuck in the sand. I was following another car when a local came down the road and insisted that she stay in the middle of the road, pull off a little bit and pooh, stuck! The local lady seemed irritated that a gringo was in her way and took off. Glad I was not alone!

letting air out of the tires

Tow strap, the other car is a Honda CRV all wheel drive

2024 September, October Northwest US and to Winkler, MB

 After a long summer in Canada and Alaska, I return to the US and spend time with family in Oregon. 2 weeks of maintenance on the RV at my brothers was necessary following many dirt roads this summer. The ice fields and glaciers are famous for grinding boulders into dust and then it is just everywhere. This creates a cake of mud especially on the underside of the RV. Strong water and some elbow grease is the only cure. 

We also developed a angle plate to mount in the battery compartment with a transformer for the Starlink, USB outlets, 12v cigarette lighter. This allows multiple options such as - power for using a 12v pump to inflate the SUP, phone charging while sitting outside, 2 options for Starlink power, using the dish outside or another cable running inside to use dish in the skylight.

I tested the Starlink using this power source while driving down the road. I installed a remote power switch so as I am driving, I can power up the Starlink and within 10 minutes I am online. This is useful for when Tanya gets off work and I am in a no cell phone area we can chat as she drives home! I love it!

I also had the opportunity to go to the Oregon State Fair with my mother. Bob and his family came along and it was a good day to stroll around. Highlights is the horse venue where riders carrying flags of US, military services perform intricate maneuvers. Also present were wagons also doing maneuvers. Cool.

A quick trip to MD to see Tanya for 2 weeks then returning to Orgon before starting south for the winter.

A weekend camping on the coast with sister Mary in my RV, Bob and his ladies in his RV, we toured several of the Lewis and Clark Expedition locations. This is the end of the route for the Lewis and Clark Expedition at 18 months.

Sister Mary's new boyfriend :)

This piano also has multiple instruments, Flute, violin, pipes, bass and snare drums, castanets, triangle cymbals, mandolin, xylophone and piano. There are 10 different tunes!

Sister Mary

Map of the Lewis and Clark Trail

There was a recall on the RV and it was decided that it would be easier if I could go to the factory in Winkler, Manitoba to get it done. Having plenty of time to get there, I stopped by the Deschutes river and caught a few fish. Hmmm this is the life!

Another stop along the way at Owyhee river in far eastern Oregon I discovered a tailrace holding trout!

Another stop along the way and a long-awaited bucket list item is Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota! I somehow was remembering incorrectly that the North Unit was more popular than the South Unit which is right along Interstate 94. I saw more geological sights and wildlife in the South Unit than the North Unit. Although it was late in the year (mid October) the South Unit had allot more people in the campground than in the North Unit. 

The geology of this park is similar to the South Dakota Badlands, erosion has created colorful hills and valleys in an otherwise flat landscape. While wildlife is more abundant here than in South Dakota - horses, buffalo, elk, prairie dogs and also turkeys!

Another thing impressive on this drive along the northern part of the US and in the fall is the foliage colors primarily from Cottonwood trees. Bright yellow leaves following trees along streams. Not all over just along waterway's. Colorful against the brown hills. Really nice!

This is a picture of the foliage and friend John from the WIN's. I caught up with him on his last day of work at Yellowstone National Park as I passed through.

I am pleasantly surprised to actively see the oil drilling operations in North Dakota. I have read about it and now seeing so many pumping stations everywhere! very few drilling operations but substantial pumping operations. This is unlike what I saw this last spring in west Texas and New Mexico, there it was primarily drilling operations outnumbered the pumping operation. Wow, what a lot of energy in this work going on!

I am traveling 2 lane roads across North Dakota seeing small towns. There have been 2 museums I had attempted to see to discover they are only open on weekends. Hmmm, small town museums, I suppose this is probably normal.

Petrified tree aligned with a flagpole behind with an eagle on top.

Wildlife in Theodore Roosevelt Nation Park

A visitor to my campsite, this little fellow was not afraid of me, I had to stop my feet to chase him away. He returned 2 more times!

In North Dakota I also discovered rich oil fields 

Geographic Center of NORTH AMERICA!

Geographic Center of NORTH AMERICA!

Cruising through the breadbasket of America I have a deep appreciation of these stalwart peoples who live in such remote areas with looong winters and love their family life! Miles and miles of vast acreage filled with wheat, corn, soybeans, and other crops that make this the breadbasket of the world!

Pulloffs in Montana had some informative signposts.

Touring Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah. Snow in October!

Made it in time for my dentist appointment in Las Vegas. Whew, don't like this hard pushing driving. Obviously I can do it, just do not care for it. High winds most of the way, cold temperatures chasing me all the way down south!

Here is a picture of my trip map so far this year! Whew - allot of miles!