ZamoraBlog » General

Up date from Richard & Terry

FrankandRita — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:25:11 +0000

Folks, I’m posting this email I received from Richard & Terry in hopes that someone may be able to help them. Their email is at the bottom of this message

Frank

Hi Frank & Rita. Ok Frank, guess what. I need your opinion. We are in Yuma and have discovered that we have no compression on #3 cylinder. It’s been suggested it could be exhaust valve problem, at worst at hole in the cylinder. We have been able to find a guy that is willingto investigate and if need be replace the cylinder. Worse scenerio was that we would need a new engine which seems a bit difficult, to get here and someone to install it. How good is Weld bond, rather than replace the piston, because if we can get home with that we might as well replace the engine there. (I’ve got a source at home). It sounds like you have fallen in love with La Manzanilla and that you are having a good trip. Could there be a market for VW mechanic in that area???? There again I can see you selling beads on the beach and loving it. Mike I’m sure is a very good source and a good guy. We have had had a great trip and feel somewhat lucky that this engine deal has happened in the states as no one wanted to touch the van in Mexico. Anyway the weather has turned hotter so we are happy about that. We were in San Carlos and it was quite chilly as was Mazatlan. Terry’s mom came and had a great time also. She enjoyed the cooler weather. Hope to hear from you soon. Richard and Terry Didn’t quite make out the Ernst story, was he in Mexico or the states. Too bad about getting robbed etc.

terrichthomson@hotmail.com

New message from Richard & Terry

FrankandRita — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 01:43:21 +0000

Hi everyone. Here is our notes for the blog which Frank will figure out how to put onto. We spent our few days in Maruata watching the turtles then moved on to Playa Azul. Not recommended. Dirty town, ucky camping behind the hotel. Beach OK for Rasta for a quick dip. Nothing more. Met an interesting Austrian couple headed for Central America, in a pretty incredible Land rover. We then winded and I mean winded our way to Zihuat. Two of the campgrounds are closed. We lucked out at one half a block from the beach for 160 pesos if you stay a week. We have been here 2 weeks and don’t know where the time has gone. We just realized that the La Manzanilla deal with Ernst must be up today. We are getting reading to head up to Patzcuero and the Monarch Butterfly sancutary. We have had very hot wonderful weather here, 30C and up every day, warm nights and a wonderful ocean to swim in. However, we hear that we will be a bit chilly when we go inland. We are going to avoid Guadalajara and the Perifico do da. Bypass Zamora and head towards Lake Chapala over the top and experience Villa Corona before heading to Colima where Richard wants to check out the body work/van painter guy. We have so far had no further trouble with the clutch/gear issue. touch wood. We will then head back down to the coast. PV around Feb. 20ish. Noted that Peter said Frankfurt hotel is no longer. Hope this is not so. Anyway, Frank and Rita if you will post this on the blog we are thankful. Wondering what your plans are? Are you going north or south???? Ernst how long will you be in PV? Did cory and Ted get away. Also Paul and Linda, what about your ski plans. Jean where are you, still in Melaque? We may see you back there soon. Ben and Sylvie, love your blog messages. sorry you didn’t like Soyulita. We will also be spending time in Teacapan, which we loved, but will be in the campground nearest the town. Johnathen, I guess you were right about the clutch. What are your plans and will we see you again down south, or whereever. thanks for the photos,
Guess that’s it for now, Terry and Richard. Oh and Rasta P.S. Sorry for all you people that are home and in the snow and not enjoying this!!!

Hans and Rita Update

Poolio — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 03:53:09 +0000

Hi guys, we made it to the USA Wednesday morning.

After a good night rest and breakfast we left towards SL Potosi.

Stopped on Mexico 80 to admire the beautiful pottery but decided I didn’t need any more. No problem going through the city got on 57 to Matehuala where we fueled up at a Pemex. There were a bunch of guys hanging around who started to wash the windshield right away. I gave them a tip and when we paid for the fuel which came to $330 he didn’t want to give us back the change for $400. No change he said. So Hans took $100 from him and I gave him 50 instead and it took a while before he gave us a handful of small change. Kind of scary so I suggest don’t stop for fuel in snake country.

Had one military checkpoint and one agriculture one but no problem. Before Monterey we were 7128 feet high and were driving in the clouds visibility was poor and they had little lights flashing in the shoulder of the highway. There was also a car off the road so it was slow going. The temperature dropped considerable. In Monterrey we headed towards the Mex85 when al of a sudden the traffic stopped and we were stuck for 1 ½ hrs. There was an accident but also road and bridge construction so line up for kilometers and mostly trucks. When we finally got moving it was still drizzling so we didn’t feel like camping and kept going till about 150 KM before the border at El Rancho Express Inn. A busy place but nice.

Today we reached the border after yet another slow going for about 20 min. At the border they checked the Van and found eggs and a tomato which we were not allowed to bring into the US so she took the eggs but left the tomato!! We went on the US 57 towards Corpus Christi a very strait and boring road with one border control stop. This part of Texas is still very much like Mexico until you get to Alice. We stayed at Goose Island State Park in Rockport after a nice ride over several bridges. We are also right on the beach and took pictures of the sunset here and we were thinking of you guys down in la Manzanilla. I must say Texas cannot tip on the mexican scenery and weather.
From there we went to Galveston SP also nice but still cold. Today we made it to New Orleans where we stay at a hotel in the French quarter. Walked the famous Bourbon Street which is very lively and busy because it is Mardi Grass until early Feb. Heading for Florida after this. Glad to hear that the coconuts are gone!! Hans & Rita

Update from Hans and Rita

Poolio — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 01:01:44 +0000

Hi we made it to Lagos de Moreno last night. We took the Mex 80 towards Guadalajara what a very beautiful scenic route. It took us over 5 hours because it is so turny and twisty! Got stuck a few times behind trucks and buses. Did well in Guadalajara got on the Periff rico and then towards Nogalis Mexico to the Cuota. All this just under one hour. checked in the Casa Grande here very nice older hotel. The hot shower felt some good!!!! We are off this morning to search for a pharmacy to get something for the still excisting itch on Hans’ legs. Hope you enjoyed your jungle tour.
Adios. Hans & Rita

Associated Sites

Poolio — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 04:28:23 +0000

Be sure to view the associated sites as there is a lot of new content there.

Jonathan

Route to Zacatecas

Poolio — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 01:27:15 +0000

The following map shows the route that we took from the border to Zacatecas. I grabbed this from Ben’s trip page (thanks Ben).

Border Crossing to Zamora Overview

Poolio — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 04:36:08 +0000

Even for those of us on this trip who is crossing when and where is confusing. I thought a quick explanation of the pre Zamora travel groups might be interesting. Of course things always change but as of now we have 12 vans carrying 18 people into Mexico and on to Zamora. There are three different travel groups to Zamora.

Crossing on December 3rd at Laredo was 6 vans and 9 people (see how it went):

Ben and Sylvia

Frank and Rita

Hans and Nellie

Jason

Jean

Jonathan

Crossing on December 6th at Laredo are 5 vans and 7 people:

Cory

Ernst

Jerry

Peter

Paul and Linda

Ted

Crossing on December 5th at Nogales is 1 van with 2 people:

Richard and Terry

Zamora and Jacona Maps

Poolio — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 04:19:42 +0000

Thanks to Ben and Frank here are some maps of Zamora and Jacona. Click to enlarge.

Message from Richard & Terry

FrankandRita — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 06:28:30 +0000

Hi Frank and Rita. OK, thanks for the info on how to get on the blog but I did’nt understand a word you said. We are really novices at this computer businesss, as you might remember I was hung off your door window, sending an email to my mom on your computer with your fance antenna thingy. We have had a snowy, rainy, nice trip down the coast and are on the California, Arizona border. Will get to Nogales tomorrow and cross over on Tues. We feel we are missing out on the blog, meeting everyone, sounds like you are all just meeting each other also. Can you add this to the blog somehow, so people will get to kind of meet us also? We have removed the snow!!!! tires today, and have unwired the heat flaps, (air cooled engine) and taken off winter long johns. Toques and gloves. Hopefully we will hit the heat you are enjoying. Looking forward to meeting all, Adios for now, Richard and Terry the BC’ers

Registration Link

Poolio — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:32:12 +0000

Go to the following url to register then send the site admin a request that your account be granted appropriate priviledges.

http://poolio.net/zamorablog/wp-login.php?action=register