El Golfo, Mexico - 2008

I mention 2008 because it is a new update on our previous stays here at our CRA park. I hope to add more as we stay here. I will just add on to this blog. This is our 6th venture to this park. We like it here as we have made many friends and we all seem to gravitate towards this park. Some spend most of the winter here, others like ourselves visit for different time periods(2 weeks to 30 days). We expect to be here till mid March. We spent the last two weeks in November and the first two weeks in December 2007 here. So we are back again and we arrived here February 21st, just 3 days after our Mexican Cruise. We hopefully are here to relax and rejuvenate ourselves. So far we have had a busy time. We have attended several karaoke singing venues held in our clubhouse. Bones and Rose are the DJ/hosts and they do a very good job of this. A few days ago Dave & I took off in his little 4 wheel Asuna(Tracker) and travelled down the new road towards Puerto Penasco. Once on the road we travelled until the end. The sign when you turn off the highway at El Golfo indicates that Puerto Penasco is 134 km away. It may be but you are not going to travel all the way via blacktop. About 36 km down the blacktop it abruptly ends. Some day it may be finished. So from here we turn back, find a trail that we think will lead us to the beach, and away we go. After several turns and stopping to look possibly where we should or should not go we find a route that takes us there. View pictures under the Links column Webshots - Our photos under the title El Golfo MX - 2008 album.

Our next venture is dinner at Oscars. Don one of our friends asks if we would be interested in going to dinner at Oscars? We accept the invitation as most Mexican food we like, plus the adventure of new options. There are 13 of us all together. From the outside you would question whether you wanted to go there, but once inside the dining room is very clean. He has one long table that will seat us all and he is dressed in a starched white chefs hat and clean white clothes and apron. He serves one and all the same menu. This evening we have beans, salad, chili relleno, 2 chicken enchiladas,and mexican rice. For dessert he serves us all orange jello. All in all a very tasty meal. Pics can be viewed under the Links colum Webshots -Our photos under the El Golfo MX - 2008 Dinner at Oscars album.

Yesterday, Feb. 27th we went on a poker run put on by our local activities club. All monies that are collected from this event is given back in the way of prize money. We left the camp about 11 am. The course that was set out covered approximately 38 miles with 7 stops. The first card you drew was obtained when you entered the run and you were given a course route. My first card drawn was an 8 of spades. We can only build on this I thought!! Dave (drew a Queen of hearts) & I got away as he was the driver and I guess I was either the passenger or his navigator. Our wives decided they would best spend their time back here around the pool. The temperature couldn't have been better for this, blue skies, a moderate breeze and very warm. Beautiful. Our second stop was about 10 miles down the beach. I drew a 7 of spades, things are looking up. From here we travel over hill and dale and after a couple of attempts up a very steep hill where we are in loose sand we make it after engaging 4 wheel drive & first gear. Our third stop I draw a Queen of Diamonds. So much for that straight flush I thought. On we travel. This time the hill & loose sand prevented us from climbing that steep hill. So we back down and find an alternate route. We travelled down a wash that appeared hard, and no one had travelled there before. So after skirting the hill! we find a route that will get us back on course. The fourth stop is also a rest stop along with refreshments. Time to wash some of that dust out of your parched throat. So after this stop and another card that didn't fit in my hand well, we proceed. Shortly after this we get to the 5th card stop. No help there from this card pull either. Our sixth stop is at the top of the hill where the light house is located. Our choice in how you get there we take the easier route and get to the lighthouse for our sixth card pull. So after this card pull all I need to pull is a 10. This would give me a straight. Possibilities I think, but that 7th stop has to be good to me and I need to be lucky. So the end is near once we arrive at our final stop. A bar located next to the park resort. I pull an 8, thus I end up with a pair of 8's. Not good enough for any prize money, but a lot of fun. Dave ended up much better than I, having 3 Jack's. He is in the money. All in all there were 27 people who won money and the top winner had 4 Aces. There were 104 paying entrants who each donated $5.00 to enter. Photos can be view under the Links column Webshots -Our photos click on the album El Golfo MX - 2008 Poker Run. A good turn out by all people in the park and super volunteers who made the poker run go off with out a hitch. Fabulous!!!!

Mar 1, 2008. We assemble several ATV's and 4 wheel drive units for another trip out into the Sonoran desert. This time our intended trip was to the monument. This monument was erected I am told to honor 4 engineeers that died while the train tracks were being laid. Apparently, a sand storm erupted and the engineers were virtually surrounded by mountains of sand. No one could reach them for days. They ran out of food and water and starved to death. This monument was erected in there honor and is a structure approximately 96 feet tall and is 3 sided. At the base of this monument there is embeded in the concrete a surveyors medallion. The trip started out at camp and we travelled thru town and ended going in an easterly direction. About an hour later we cross the tracks and at this point there are Federal army personell here. They are posted here for 30 days at a time and they are here to watch over any illegal traffic that may try to sneak by. They are friendly and wave as we go by. We travelled about 16 miles till we made our first stop. Here we had a refreshment that you provided yourself. Also at this stop is several small buildings that at one time housed the workers that were building the rail line. At first all the tyes that were under the tracks laid were wood, but in the late 1990's they were removed and replaced with concrete tyes. The buildings that are left appear to be in fairly good shape, and wouldn't take much effort to make them hospitable. But who wants to live away out there, far away from civilization and any stores? It takes us about an an hour and a half to travel this far from camp. We aren't exactly on highways or even smooth roadways. They are just dirt trails in the desert, several new ones as we make our own. After about a 20 minute break we get back onto our units and move further east. After another half hour has past, we are at the monument. Here we stop and besides having a drink to wash away the dust, we also eat our lunch. Each person is responsible to provide there own refreshments and eats along the trip. We have travelled about 22 miles to this point. It is near noon and we spend about a half hour here. After taking photos and chatting we take a vote to see how many would like to travel the same route home or to take a different route. 12 of the 14 units vote to try new territory. So this time we travel in a north-westerly direction. This travel route is much slower as the trail is very rough. Far rougher in a 4 wheel drive unit than a ATV/Quad unit. We bounce around pretty good and not very fast. We stop about 30 minutes later just to work the kinks out of our bodies and to stretch, along with chatting about the trip so far and what to expect up the trail further. Eventually we get to the same trail that we took on the poker run. From here we are about a hour to camp. Some of the pictures may look the same as on the poker run, just different people in them. We come out to the beach about 4 miles from camp. There was an active shrimp farm at one time here. About the year 1999 it closed operation, why is anyones guess. Since we saw it last year the roofs from many of the buildings have been dismanteled. We arrive back at camp about 2:30 in the afternoon. We have travelled a total of about 42 mles since our departure. A very good day for sightseeing and travel once again into the Sonoran desert. View pictures of this adventure under the Links column. Click on Webshots - Our photos and click on El Golfo MX - 2008 Monument Run.

Los Algodones, Mexico - added April 8th

We spent from the 21st of February to March 14th in El Golfo, MX. During this time we had friends arrive from Sarnia, ON. Bruce & Carol drove there 5th wheel & truck combo from Sarnia. They arrived and we were able to have them stay 10 days at the park there. We took them to Los Algodones. This is a border town and there is lots of traffic as people travel across from the United States to have glasses replaced, teeth & dental work, prescriptions filled. All of these things are relatively inexpensive. Many Canadians also travel there for the very same reason. I had teeth work done there. Although I could have it done at home & insurance would pay 75% of the cost, it still was way cheaper to have it done there. I am very pleased with the work done!! Pictures can be seen on our Webshots - our Photos under the heading Los Algodones, Mexico

Manzanillo

Our last port of call was Manzanillo. We docked in the commercial port as they did not have any dock large enough in the main harbor. While there we watched a dredge boat work the channel into the area where we were docked. Across from us the navy was doing maneuvers and several divers were doing scuba exercises. Once off the ship we took a bus into town. We were told that the big blue fish was the downtown. Across the street from the blue fish was city hall. From there we walked to the market. We saw fresh meat being transported by wheelbarrow to the local meat shop. The rest of the fresh meat was kept in the rear of a pickup without any visible refridgeration or ice. We toured around the shops and I stood in one intersection & took a picture up each road that took off from there. We reboarded the ship and at 5:30 pm we were being escorted out of the harbor with tugs as the channel was very narrow. Also a navy boat followed and watched us depart. We are now on our way back to San Diego and will dock at 8 am two days later. Once we dock we are reunited with our luggage and we call Avis. They send a van over and return us to the office of Avis. We get our car to return back to where our motorhomes are in Wellton, AZ. the trip is over, but many memories have been made and we would like to do this again soon. Pics are in Webshots - Our photos and click on Manzanillo link

The Ship - Carnival Spirit - Inside

I will take a short break from our outside tour and turn inward. Once onboard there is a daily flyer that is placed in your stateroom to inform you of the next days activities. I will post pics on Webshots - Our photos to show pics under The Ship - Carnival Spirit - Inside of our dinner table partners Dennis & Rita and Bob & Cathy. Our waiters at dinner time - Leroy & Slick, our bar waiter - Spike. Unfortunately I didn't take pics of Cisco & Poncho Villa. But in their defense I do have pics of the animals they created out of towels and left in our stateroom each night. Also I only have one pic of the dining room we had our evening meal in along with one pic taken from our table out the window to the rear of the ship. And one deck up from our stateroom on the 8th deck us was the Lido deck. Beside a restaurant and a 24 hour pizza restaurant, once outside there was lounge chairs, a pool and whirlpool and bar.

Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa

View of Bay in Jihuatanejo

Iquana

We leave Acapulco and overnight we travel to Jihuatanejo. We are stopped and parked? in the middle of the bay as there isn't any dock large enough to tie up. From here we are tendered to the dock. They use some of the lifeboats to haul you to town. One doesn't have to wait long and there is also one ready to return you back to the ship. We decide to get a taxi & tour. This we find out to be a good idea and our driver speaks english enough so we understand and we speak enough Spanish to communicate to him where we would like to go. He tours us all over the town and out to Ixtapa. He takes us to the highest peak so we can get a good view of where we are & of the ship parked in the bay. He takes us to a RV park as I am interested in the park and where it is. We stop & get a brochure at the park. Then he takes us to an area where we can shop. He told us not to shop in Ixtapa itself as prices are inflated... tourists...... and directs us to a more reasonable area in Jihuatanejo. We are about 3 hours touring the whole area and we like Jihuatanejo the best of all the places we visit. We are tendered back to the ship and the ship departs the bay for Manzanillo about 5:30m. Apparently not all make it back to ship we hear, so they have to find there own way to Manzanillo. Click on Webshots - Our photos & click on the Jihuatanejo/Ixtapa link.

Tender to dock

Acapulco

Sunset in Acapulco

We sailed from San Diego for two and a half days arriving there at noon on Wednesday . After docking we disembarked for a tour of Acapulco. We did a self tour of the city. We visited the market and of course toureed many shops which all carried the same wares. We also went to a jewelry store that had been recommended and sanctioned by Carnival Cruise Line. It was a very big shop and carried many types of jewelry from Mexican Fire Opals to Diamonds, Garnets, Ruby's and Silver & Gold. When you entered you were given a marguarita, or soft drink. If you bought something you were given a grande marguarita!! Powerful too!! After visiting there we proceeded on through the city. We returned to the ship mid afternoon. After having our dinner at which time we met Dennis & Rita. They had been assigned to the same table we had and we had many laughs together. They joined our group when we first had a table assigned back in San Diego. One of our waiters had challenged Dennis to a contest that Dennis said Leroy would lose at. Leroy told him he would get him & he would be the payer. Sure enough the very next evening at dinner Dennis had to pay up. But I digress. After dinner we again met on the dock as we had a tour lined up to go see the evening performance of cliff divers. So we get on the bus and away we go. We do a small tour of the city then on to where the cliff divers were to be. But, of course before this performance, you are toured through another jewelry store in the hopes you would drop more cash. We passed through here after viewing some of the wares, but didn't buy. We next went over to where these cliff divers were performing from. We watched them all get into the water of the channel? and swim across to the cliff and climbed up. There were 12 cliff divers and they each took a position on the cliff as they climbed up. The top position was about 1200 feet above the water. As darkness approached lights were turned on and spotlighted each diver as they jumped or dove into the water below. The last diver in turned out all the lights and with two lighted torches dove into the reef below. Spectacular & brave. After this we were treated to Mexican dancing and music for about another 45 minutes. After the performance was over, and we were walking up the stairs, we were met by all the cliff divers with the hand out. We were told that since we paid for this in our tickets that we didn't have to contribute again unless we wanted to. So back to the bus & we were taken back to the ship. At around 1am the next morning the ship was once again untethered from the dock and we departed for Zihuatanejo. Click on Webshots - Our photos and click on Acapulco photos.

Cruise on the Carnival Spirit

Carnival Spirit

Day 1
We left Wellton, AZ at approximately 8am in a rented Ford vehicle on the morning of the 10th of February. There were four of us for this vacation. Bob, Cathy, Marge & myself. We had met Bob and Cathy years earlier when we first started our retirement and we have remained friends. Bob & Cathy had both retired from GM and so he wasn't terribly thrilled that we were not in a GM produced car. We kidded him that he would have to duck down so no one could see him & he be ashamed. We arrived in San Diego around noon and we weren't going to be boarding till after 1:30pm. We parked near the pier where our ship was docked and when we inquired as to the boarding procedure we were told we would be allowed to board just shortly after 12 noon. Great, we thought. So we unloaded our baggage from the car and procedeeded to register for our trip. This we found to be an easy procedure. Total time for check in was about 5 minutes. As every piece of info they require is on the computer that you has given when you registered for the trip. They issued you a Sail & Sign card that had your name on it, the dinner seating and table number along with your room number. This card unlocked your room door and any purchases you made while on board were charged to it, including all beverages. So once you were settled in your room you only needed the Sail & Sign card in your pocket and could leave the rest of your valuables in the safe, locked in your room. Prior to boarding Bob & I returned the car to the rental agency, AVIS. After the fuel filling and return of the car they had a driver return us to the pier where our ship was docked. We had just returned & our wives informed us that boarding had started & our number had been called so we could now board. We board (front of the ship on deck 1), but they scan you just like they do at the airport. I of course set off the bells & whistles as I have bionic parts in my hips. Once thru this procedure you find your way to an elevator that takes you up to your floor. Our room was on the 8th deck or the Panorama Deck as it was called. We find our rooms, with Bob & Cathy just 4 door down from us. We are near the rear of the ship and we have a balcony as do Bob & Cathy. We deposit our carry on luggage and we will get the rest of our luggage delivered to our rooms in the next few hours. They tell us that we can proceed to the 9th deck as there is a restuarant and bar up there. We study the room locations and what is on each deck via a card that is located in eack of the rooms. The dining room located at the rear of the ship, along with bars, casino(mid ship) and theatre(front of the ship), etc are located on the 2nd deck. The 3rd deck has more of the dining room, shops(mid ship), and theatre mezzanine/balcony. After all persons are on board, the ship is now ready to sail we are all called to the "muster" station that they have shown you where it is from the card located on the back of your room door. You report to this muster station with your life preserver that was stored in the closet. Once there they show you how to put it on, secure it and then tell you that in case of a disaster at sea we are to report to this area & will load on one of the lifeboats that are stored in that area. Of course, women & children first & in the case of families dad gets to tag along. Each one of the life rafts holds 140 people and 10 crew with sufficient rations on board for I believe two days.
We have set sail from the Port of San Diego at 4pm. After this we return to our rooms and clean up ready for supper. We are allowed to attend to the dining room in the clothes we presently have on, as not all the baggage has been delivered to the room. This could take several hours before your baggage arrives. So tonight the dining room is informal. Tomorrow evening you are required to wear dress slacks and a sport type shirt with shoes. No shorts or tank tops allowed here. When you are first seated your waiter arrives and puts the serviette on your lap. The second waiter arrives and lets you select from a basket he holds, of bread, be it rye slice, wheat bun, white bun, sourdough slice and a couple of other types. Then along comes the bar waiter who takes your drink order. I order a glass of red house wine, Marge doesn't drink and Bob & Cathy also order a glass each of the red house wine. We have our first meal onboard and if this is any indication of what's in our future it is wonderful. You select your starter (salad, soup, fruit), then select your appetizer (could be soup, salad, fruit or mussels, mushroom caps etc.) and your main entrée, this could be New York Steak, Oysters Rockefeller, Shrimp Scampi, Filly Migon or other choices. After dinner they bring you another menu that is all deserts. Another hard decision to make as all look delicious. After you finish here you retire to your stateroom or wander about the ship to familiarize yourself with the layout & where all the amenities are.
I should at this point tell you that Bob nicknamed all our waiters and stateroom personnell as there given names were tongue twisters. So our dining room staff were Slick and Leroy,(Slick from Romania had his head shaved & Leroy was from Jamaica and black) Our bar waiter was named Spike (he had his hair spiked & was from Indonesia..name was Wayan). Our stateroom people were from Indonesia also & were nicknamed Cisco & Poncho Via. The personell on board were just fantastic and had a good sense of humor. Click on Webshots - our photos and click on Cruise on the Carnival Spirit link

Leroy and Slick

Spike with Slick in the background