We didn’t know if we were going to make this trip. The week before we left Frank spent two days in the hospital. I took him into emergency on the 18th of Feb. He was feeling like he was going to have another episode. Of course, they ran all kinds of tests while in the emergency room, and couldn’t find out what was causing his blood pressure to drop and the light headedness to persist. So they admitted him into Eisenhower and kept him for two days. While he was in the hospital he did experience another TIA, but they didn’t do a thing for him. On Saturday they sent him home and told him to keep doing what he has been doing, only cut his blood pressure meds in half and increase the aspirin to an adult dose.
He still has some residual effects of the TIA, but decided he could rest just as well on the beach in Mexico as well as in the RV in Indio. So a week after Dixie took him into emergency, we just up and left—didn’t even tell the Dr’s where we were going! Frank says “their no help anyway!”We spent a little time with the kids before we left for Mexico. Aubrey had to show us her robot box and do a ballet dance for us. Alex had just woke up from his nap, and stayed pretty much in the background.
We left Thursday, Feb 25, and headed to AZ. We were meeting up with the HR group in Why, AZ, which is about 300 miles from Indio. So we made it a two day trip. We stopped in Tonopah, AZ at a campground that used to be where the construction workers stayed while building the nuclear plant. It was nice and with our Escapee discount, it was only $23.00 a night for a pull through with full hook-ups.
The next day we drove on into Why and stayed at the Hickiwan RV park. It is right by a little casino. We were a day early, but had planned it that way. Dixie did most of the driving of the RV.
The second night we were at Hickiwan RV park everyone that was going down to Mexico had arrived. We all parked in the same area of the RV park and had our first meeting. It was cold and windy, but everyone showed up. Even the wild donkeys were at the outskirts of the RV’s putting in their two cents. Hearing them bray while we had our meeting made for some funny moments.
We left at 10:00 am in two caravans. We were in the first caravan of 12 RV’s Russ, the leader put us right behind his coach. I drove to the border, then Frank had to take over. We had purchased Mexican Insurance that followed his driver’s license. So while in Mexico, only he could drive. We had about 90 miles in Mexico to drive to get to our RV camp. By the time we arrived, Frank was tired, but he really did great getting the RV down the road and around the corners.
We were in space A-2 right on the beach. The weather when we arrived was gorgeous. We got set up and leveled and went in to the office to sign up for some body repair work. We were the first to get it done the next morning.
Jose’ and Carlos are a father and son team and they got right to work. We set our chairs out on the beach and just enjoyed the sun, sand and surf. Rough life!
The view down the beach front row, and out our front window. Calm seas, bright sun. My kind of weather.
We don’t really have to go into town to do any shopping. It is all brought to us right on the beach. Lucinda is here every year and has lots of special things for the Holiday Rambler caravan. This year I ended up selling her some of my extra beads. She makes bracelets from odd beads and sells them along with her other silver and stone jewelry. They also sell carved iron wood figures.
The restaurant at the Reef is closed during the week, so we were able to use it for our shrimp dinner. Look at the size of those shrimp. The volunteer guys cooked outside, and the ladies served. What a feast!
We even had a band there to serenade us with Mexican music. (Much too loud for us to have any kind of conversation.) We left early and headed back to the coach for a nice night of just lazing around.
Dixie went shopping with the neighbors one afternoon, while Frank just laid back and relaxed. He is not feeling quite so tired all the time. There are still some residual effects of the TIA. His right leg just doesn’t always go where he wants it to. But, speech has improved and his right hand is better. All this sun and relaxing is good for him.
Usually we had breakfast in our RV’s or over at the “tent,” served buffet style to those who wanted to get up and eat by 8:30 am. Frank and I were volunteers one morning. This was pancake breakfast morning. I made it up and was doing really well at following orders and handing out the pancakes and sausage. Of course, the mimosa helped me along. (I’m really not a morning person!) It was fun, a little chilly in the morning, but the sun was out and those that partook in pancakes and sausage said it was really good.
The Condo’s at Sonoran Sun, where the restaurant is located are really pretty and have a beautiful view as you can see below.
Friday afternoon (3:00 pm) was optional dinner at the Lighthouse restaurant. This is located on the highest point in Puerto Penasco. We had taken a nap that afternoon and ended up being late. But, we knew where to go, so we just showed up a half hour late and still were able to have dinner with everyone and take some beautiful pictures out the window.
Can you see the RV’s in the second picture? We are right across the bay from where the RV park is located. These two pictures are taken out the window as we were sitting at our table having dinner. Pretty cool!
The wind is blowing really hard and the surf is up. My little Taco Bell dogs are taking it all in. Nice and warm inside the RV!
The wind is blowing away the storm clouds. It rained on Saturday night and the wind is howled all day Sunday. Even Gidget, who has really enjoyed running free on the beach, didn’t want to go out in the weather. It is nice to see the waves crash against the reef, and feel the wind in your face, but I’m ready for it to quit. It was a good day to stay inside and do the laundry, and give Gidget a bath to get rid of all the sand.
We have to leave Monday and driving the RV in the wind is not any fun.
There were only six rigs headed out in this time slot, everyone else left earlier, (we were the last group of the 27 that came down to Mexico) and we left at 8:45 am, so even we were early. (Quite early for Frank and I) The wind quit, the sun came out and it was a beautiful day.
Above are part of the caravan leaving Mexico. We stretch out in order that people can pass us. We could figure out the Spanish sign by the pictures. The desert is very green because of the rain. Even in town we had to drive through big puddles of water on the road. So much for our nice clean RV!
It has been a wonderful week and we’ve really enjoyed the time we spent here and the beach front view. But, it will be nice to get back to the good ole USA.
