ZamoraBlog » Jerry & Sofie

Birthday

jerry & Sofie — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 14:09:38 +0000

Thanks to everyone who called or attempted to call during my party. It was great to hear from all of you. The party was great, Sofie did a great job at keeping it a surprise. I knew since Monday something was going on but I didn’t know what. Thanks Again

Jerry

Mexico Maps

jerry & Sofie — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:46:35 +0000

Just a note to anyone who is using the Mexico Maps Atlas on their Garmin. Version 2 is now out I received notice the other day and have downloaded it and had a look. ……….. It looks a lot better than the first one , so if you can you might want to update your programs. It’s not doing me much good here in Canada but I’ll be ready for the next trip.

Jerry & Sofie
http://www.bicimapas.com.mx/MapasGPS/DNLD/MexicoGPSAtlasV2.exe

Well I Guess It’s Over

jerry & Sofie — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 02:43:34 +0000

Hello All, We’re back in Peterborough (Ontario, Canada) and this grand adventure is over. Thank you Frank and Rita for inviting us and allowing us to celebrate your daughters wedding, it’s something we will never forget. To all the friends we traveled with and those we met along the way THANK YOU !! If we had spent time hand picking the people we would like to travel with we couldn’t have come up with a better group. We miss you all. If anyone is passing by Peterborough on their way home feel free to count on our house as a rest stop and a place for a meal and some liquid refreshments.

Sometimes after planning something for so long the actual event is a let down because it doesn’t live up to your expectations. This was not the case The Buses to Zamora trip exceeded our expectations and then some. This was due to the great people we met and traveled with. To all our friend old and new Safe Travel, Watch out for Topes and keep your wheels on the ground. Good bye for now we’ll continue to follow your adventures. Til next year and Buses to ——– ??????

Jerry & Sofie

and Duke

Just about home

jerry & Sofie — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 01:44:36 +0000

Not much new here drove through rain all day, We’re at a motel about 4 hours or so out of Windsor left Memphis this morning just ahead of a tornado. Great pictures Frank, wish we were still there instead of here. The van is running well except the front blower won’t work, it just keeps blowing the fuse., well not to far to go, on the highway there is plenty of airflow and fans can keep the windows clear at slower speeds. Safe travel to everyone.

Jerry & Sofie

Central Mexico to Laredo, Texas!

jerry & Sofie — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 04:55:53 +0000

Well, after hearing that the Sunday after New Years is normally the busiest border crossing day of the year here, we stuck with our original plan, to cross the border on Monday. We took a very leisurely ride on Sunday through the mountains in Central Mexico, it was a mountain range just south of Monterrey, mountain hwy 58 (hwy 31 or 60) that connects two good highways, hwy 57 and hwy 85. (One map called it Hwy31, Streets and Trips called called it Hwy60, it’s actually labeled Hwy58 when you’re on it!) However, if you have the time, it’s well worth the drive, it starts off with fields of Joshaw Cactus es on Hwy 57, then raises to majestic mountains on Hwy 58 (aka 31 or 60), then the other side, Hwy85 it’s full of Orange Trees, Palm trees again! See our pictures on our links, we’ve added some of all three views. Magnificent! Then taking Hwy85 north is an excellent idea, as you can drive clear around Monterry on it, excellent roads.
Hwy 85 also runs into Monterrey, if you stay on the East part Hwy 85, you can end up just south of Monterray in Santiago, if you have time, I highly recommend that too, it’s got a few kms of markets on each side of the road, full of oranges, marmalade, jams, pottery, and so much more, it’s one of the largest markets we’ve seen; it was packed with locals on Sunday afternoon. East part of Hwy85 also hugs a very large mountains National Park which contains a Waterfalls (we never did make it to the Waterfalls). We finally camped at Bahia Escondido Resort and Camp Ground, a large resort which includes a KOA camp site. We actually had the whole place to our selves, we were the only campers, heated facilities. Duke enjoyed being off lead for the first time since the Pacific coast too.
Today, we got back on the road, headed around back to the main Hwy85, and around Monterry on 40D, 100D, then back on 85D, North to Nuevo Laredo. We by passed Nuevo Laredo to the Columbia Crossing, as we wanted to avoid the traffic in Nuevo Laredo. The driving is straight, flat, visual just a lot of yellowed grass, tumble weed and smaller cactus, good roads, Toll Road Hwy 85D north, to a new express road Hwy 2 (not on any maps or Streets and Trips), across to the International Boarder Crossing called Columbia Crossing, very very well marked, all the way there.
The actual Border crossing at Columbia International Border Crossing was perfect, it took 40mins in total. Thank you to Ernst for telling us about the little booth, which looks like a Garden Shed with video cameras and lights..that’s where you return you’re vehicle sticker and papers, then you process to border crossing guards. The wait at the Garden Shed to return the vehicle permit was around 5 mins, the wait at the Border Crossing was around 30mins, when we got to our turn, the fellow was very friendly, very interested in the Wedding details, and the van, he took a quick look at our passports and in our trailer and sent us on our way. It was very simple…
We’re in Laredo. Camping here for the night, and ready to head north..( met another van from Ontario just heading south) the weather here was 91F degrees today! GOOD BYE WARM WEATHER!

The Mexican Interior Journey – on Route to the Border!!

jerry & Sofie — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 02:21:55 +0000

Oncoming traffic, cactus and villages! Well, we started our day by leaving Villa Corona very early, after the Pacific Coast, the hot springs just weren’t as appealing anymore! Well, we heading toward Guadalajara, starting by getting on a highway of oncoming traffic (AHAHAHA).. “Honey, all of the signs have writing on the other side!” As we turned a corner, traffic was coming right toward us.. Well, my man Jerry stayed calm and started honking and flashing his lights at the oncoming traffic, he started weaving in and out of on coming traffic… he then saw a gap in the oncoming traffic and pulled a u turn! OH MY GOD!! The funniest thing was that a local had followed us onto the oncoming traffic… There were no signs or arrows. We were ok.. I was scared out of my mind, to say the least! Anyhow, we made it across Guadalajara, without further issues. We took 80 across and up toward San Luis Poto, then connected with 57. All very very good highways. We recommend them. On 57 you’ll find all sorts of locals selling Pottery, we didn’t stop, but it looked interesting.
We are now about 4 hours from the Border, however, we want to go and visit a large Water Fall outside of Monterrey tomorrow, so, we’ll cross the Border on Monday, as scheduled. We’re staying at a hotel/rv/restaurant called Las Palmas in Mathehuala, on Hwy 57, it’s clean, a pool, hot showers, close to many stores. (across the street from Wal-mart) It’s higher end then we’re use to $22/night, that’s 22 days on the Pacific Coast!! However, we were very tired and the sun had set, so, it was a blessing to find it!
The land in the Interior is very very different then the coast, beautiful, but different. The Coast is lush with tall beautiful palm trees majestic rich green mountains, where as the interior is dry with so many different types of cactus! Two different worlds in one beautiful country!
Hugs to all!
Sofie & Jerry

Away from the Beach & on the Road!

jerry & Sofie — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:49:15 +0000

Well, we left the Pacific coast, and our good friends, this morning. Tears all around!

The road, which when looking at a map, should take two hours, takes you actually 5 hours. Top speeds of 30k/h at points. This top speed due to over loaded trucks leading the way on very winding beautiful mountain roads. It’s worth taking 80 north/east from the coast, if you are not in a hurry, as it’s majestic beauty makes up for the never ending curves and lack of speed. It’s lush on one side of each Mountain, and then full of cactus’s on the other side!

So, we’re at Villa Corona now, we arrived today at 2:30pm, no problems (knock on wood!). We’ll wake up and leave fairly early tomorrow, and head north, we’ll drive for about 8 hours tomorrow.. we believe we’ll be crossing the Border on Monday.

Talk to you soon!
Sofie

Last Day On the Beach

jerry & Sofie — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:24:19 +0000

Well, the end is near! We don’t really want to admit this, but, we’re all packed and ready for an early start tomorrow! We’ll head first to Villa Corona, enjoy their washer and dryers, and hotsprings (one last time). Then start toward the US/Mexican Border, should hit that on Monday(ish), then up and up and up toward Michigan to see Sofie’s family, then East to home! We should hit the Peterborough area around the 13th(ish).

We went into the Town of Melachi to shop yesterday, while away, Ben & Sylvie moved their van to get away from the falling Coconuts.. and they’re still moving south.. we look forward to hearing from them as their Journey continues. Richard & Terry left yesterday, to Melachi, to get their Van looked at by a mechanic, then they will continue south. Jean left this morning, he’s continuing south.. ONLY HANs, JERRY & I are going NORTH!! It’s not fair!!!

We’re enjoying our last day on the beach, playing in the Beach, walks through the town, we’re about to go for a swim, then out for dinner in th village here. Then a campfire with good friends (who have now become family, and we’re going to miss!).

We’ll keep you posted to our progress home (we have heard from Han’s, he has made it safe to his home)!

Hugs
Sofie & Jerry

The Last Day of 2007

jerry & Sofie — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:15:57 +0000

Happy New Year to everyone who is following all our travels. We hope you all have a happy new year and maybe are starting to make plans for a trip of your own. If you decide to do a trip like this, my advice is ,just do it ! don’t listen to all the people who will try and talk you out make up your mind and go. Maybe we’ll meet you on the road next year

Jerry & Sofie

Update on La Manizilla

jerry & Sofie — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:40:06 +0000

We had a great Christmas on the beach and Santa Claus managed to find us all on Christmas morning. You can check out our photo site for pictures of the day and a group photo taken after dinner. The beachs are full now and there are tents set up everywhere. We were amazingly lucky to find the spot we have. Sofie and Linda took the bus into a nearby town to shop then took a cab back. We’ve been really lucky no one has got really sick, Sofie was a little sick yesterday, didn’t alast long, usually a day of discomfort and thats it. We’re bothered more by the sand fleas than anything else, we’ve learned to put on long pants before sunset and to keep some bug spray on, we’ve been able to get some sleep the last few nights , without scratching all night. I’m going to upload some photos and head back to camp.

We’re enjoying the Ocean, the people, our friends and the food!

Happy new Year to all

Jerry & Sofie