THE ROAD TO PATZCUARO

Well, really it's two roads - the 200 and 37D - but for us - today's road would be taking us north and up to Patzcuaro.

We left early Sunday morning to beat the traffic build up in Zihuatanejo. It's not a particularly large city (around 100,000) but since we haven't driven through it many times - and in fact haven't been driving for 2 1/2 months - we wanted a nice clean exit.

Sunday morning we were up before the sun. My thought was to be on the road by 7:00 am - but things always take a bit longer than planned - right?!

So - it was 8:00 am by the time we pulled through the El Manglar gates.

It looks a bit sad here now with three of us RVs leaving in the last week,  but it's been a great home for the last few months. 

Throughout the time that we have been at Playa La Ropa - the main road has been under construction. Everyone must take the detour which did cause some problems for the larger RVs. Glad in this case that we are small and made it through without a hitch.

The last stop light on the outskirts of Zihuatanejo.

The 200 north is nice along this route.

On the way down there was quite a few gravel spots. Nice to see that they have all been paved over the last few months. 

No pictures again until we are on the 37D - toll road - headed north.

Not much else to say - take a look at the route. To see it on the way down you can go here from 2012 or here from last November.

Nothing too special about this picture except that we were noting that the bus is very tall. One of the slowest bus drivers we have come across.

Sugar cane is our guess.

From Zihuatanejo to Patzcuaro we climb 7,000 ft! Although we love the beach - we truly love to be in pine country.

Here, we've just passed through our third casita - toll booth - on either side of the highway is a truck/rest stop.

Nice to be back in an agriculture zone. Not sure what these are though.

Growing right up on the hills - avocado I think.

The last 50 kms or so are pretty steep. Not a surprise since we came the other way in November … but a lot less fun. The van is very slow up such a steep climb. But lets remember here that we made it - with our last fuel pump we would have been parked on the side of the road by this time. Good that we can ride on the shoulder.

There are three ways into Patzcuaro. We take the first exit to get in the 'back way'.  

It's a good free (libre) road - just watch the sides - there are a few places with a nasty drop off.

We took this route two years ago. I still remember when we saw the Isla de Janitizo for the first time. 

Thankfully it is super easy to get to Villa Patzcuaro Hotel and RV Park - plus they have good signage.

It's like coming home….

Our usual spot.

The trip took us 4 hours - we arrived at Villa Patzcuaro Hotel and RV Park around noon. The steep ending slowed us down a bit but looking back it took us the same time from Patzcuaro to Zihuatanejo.

The 200 is a free road but the 37D has a toll - we passed through four casitas with a total cost of 220 pesos (around $18 CAN). 

After lunch and a bit of a rest we headed to El Centro. All the combi taking in Zihautanejo gave us the confidence to seek out the combi here - which we found at the Bodega store near us. We usually walk in but it takes about 20 minutes and then we still need to walk around the town. 

This morning we returned and spent the entire day there! 

All those pictures next post.

Our plan was to stay two nights but we are going to add a third. It's as hard to leave here as it was the beach.

Teresa

ADIOS AMIGOS!

It's been a week of good byes.

Derek's mom - Audrey on Wednesday, Bill and Jean on Thursday, Keith on Friday and now it's our turn - good bye to Zihuatanejo, Playa La Ropa, El Manglar RV Park and all of our friends here.

It's all really quite sad. 

But the party had to end sometime.

Oh sure, we could stay a little while longer and actually, as of a few days ago, we had talked ourselves into staying until Thursday. But we are paid up until tomorrow and really - it's time for us to go.

We have miles to make ……

Last night we took our last walk down the beach for dinner at Paty's.

The fellow from the other night with the masks returned. Since his new price was 100 pesos I finally agreed to one. We chose the orange and red - not bad - Derek was happy.

I finally decided to take a picture of the lights that we admire on our return trip.

Today we went for lunch at El Manglar….

no way were we leaving without one last taste of the calamari and fish sticks!

Cas with Julia who has become a good friend during our stay. Julia lives full time in her RV behind El Manglar.

Our very good friends from El Manglar - from left - 

Memo, Cas and I, Edmundo, Gustavo, Martin and Derek. 

We've spent the whole time laughing at the similarities between Derek and Beto. Finally a picture of them together.

Back at the van, Derek and Cassia enjoying our last popsicles from one of the fellows that sells them from his cart. I'm sure they'll be wondering tomorrow why we aren't responding to their horns!

Our spot - #1 at El Manglar for 2 1/2 months. After Jean and Bill left Thursday we moved over into their site with more afternoon shade. This also gave us a chance to start cleaning and fix our site up a bit. While lying under the van, Rufus had dug himself a few holes.

I was a little late with my photo - this was half way through our packing and clean up this afternoon. We have already taken our tent down.

Later this afternoon we headed back to the beach for the sunset and to take a picture of our friends who work the banana boat and parasail. From left to right - Luis, Obed, the new guy, Derek, Cas, Beto and Manuel. Super guys - we'll miss them a lot.

Our last sunset at Playa La Ropa. Sigh. We've gotten some good ones over the time.

Cas and I watching while Derek chats with the guys. I was able to get our friends - Barb and Dale -from the RV Park in the photo too.

From there we headed home for dinner and last minute packing. 

Therese and the boys came over tonight to say goodbye. Therese also gave me a thumb drive of the many photos she took of Cassia, Kaden and Keller.

I thought I would add these two since it reflects the fun these three have had together for just over a month.

Keller, Cassia, Kaden.

The three amigos.

To all of our friends here at Playa La Ropa - adios - although we really hope it is - nos veremos de nuevo!

To Therese, Kaden and Keller, Barb and Dale, Bill and Jean, Keith, Lulu and George, Sergio and Leonor, Julia, Rod, Paul, Freddy and Frosso, Wilfred and his wife, everyone at El Pirata, Paty's, Jungle Pizza, El Manglar, El Cafecito, the Animal Humane Society and the beach guys - 

and to all the friends we made at the beach and restaurants - 

Gracias! We've enjoyed our time together!

Because really - the weather and beach are great - but it's the friends here - our community these last few months - that made our winter so memorable.

Tomorrow will be the start of our trip home. 

First up - a return to Patzcuaro.

If you have been here for a bit you will know that Patzcuaro is another of our favourite places in Mexico. We'll spend a couple of nights there so that we can visit the market and el centro one last time.

And then it's this. Our route back to Texas.

After doing a fair amount of research, I finally settled on our taking a similar route to the border as in 2013. Around Guadalajara and on to Zacatecas, Saltillo, Monclova, and finally Piedres Negras into Eagle Pass. We could have shaved a few kilometres off by going a little more direct to Zacatecas via Morelia but in the end opted for the route we know and a little less convoluted. 

2,026 kms! Yikes!

So - that's the plan.

It will be strange at first to be back on the road but we are excited about our route home. We have some places in the USA that we haven't been to for a bit and look forward to stopping in.

We're also looking forward to some great Craft Beer! Whose with us on that one!?

See you in Patzcuaro!

Teresa