After crossing the Texas border into New Mexico, we stopped at the first Rest Area to pick up our usual supply of free maps and brochures. As we exited the motorhome, we could hear someone pounding on the window of a motorhome a couple of spots away. It was Len and Rose Schultz from Norway, MI. We were flabbergasted because the last we heard, they weren't travelling this winter.
After hugs and greetings, we talked for about a half hour before we found out that they were headed to the same campground in Huachuca City, Arizona. Their reservations overlapped ours for 6 days. So needless to say we spent quite a bit of time together during the 6 days.
A couple of days of sightseeing with them almost killed us. They both climb mountains like Bighorn Sheep, while Sharon and I barely made it.
We met Len and Rose for the C2C Rally a couple weeks later along with Anne and Wally Petersen, from Powers.
WORDS OF WISDOM
DON'T TURN YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD IN ARIZONA, IN THE SPRINGTIME, BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU TOO EARLY FOR DINNER APPOINTMENTS.
SO WHAT'S DIFFERENT?
Last year we spent the winter basically in Florida. This year we call Arizona home, even though we have been in Texas, New Mexico and even a short stint in California. Let's compare the two:
WEATHER: The weather in Central/South Florida is warmer than here, but with El Nino playing havoc this year who knows. The nights are definitely colder here, El Nino or not.
FLEA MARKETS, SHOPPING: Arizona can't hold a candle to Florida for Flea Markets, but here you also have Mexico to shop. Good deals abound all the time. And it's fun when you negotiate a good deal.
SCENERY: Arizona wins hands down unless you're enamored with palm trees. But then Arizona has Saguaro cactus "forests".
CAMPGROUNDS: Florida has some very beautiful campgrounds with grassy sites. You'll look a long time to find grassy sites in Arizona, they are all gravel because of the lousy dirt here. It's like concrete when it gets wet. and dries, And when its wet , it's slipperier than a greased eel.
THE DALES COME WEST
As planned, Bob and Jayce Dale have arrived in Arizona for the winter, and we are presently spending time together at the Valley of the Sun RV Park in Marana.
Bob had intended to stay in the frozen north until after the ski tournament was over, and he succeeded. If it gets really cold next year, I think Jayce will have something to say about that.
They will remain out here for awhile after we leave, because they have a wedding to attend in the middle of April.
SHOPPING IN MEXICOBy Sharon
Our first trip into Mexico was with Dee and Omer, Good Samers from Iron Mountain. We were camped at Winter Haven in Brownsville, Texas at the time. They took us to Progresso, and a couple days later, to Matamoros. Everyone parks their car on the US side and then either walks or takes a bus over the border.
At first we were a little shy to bargain with them, and not too comfortable with the "pushiness", but soon started to bargain and push back.
While we were in Mission, Texas having work done on the generator at Camping World, Bill and I decided to try shopping in Reynosa by ourselves. By now we knew the ropes. We had to walk a few blocks past the bridge to get downtown, but the city's street were torn up and made it very hard to shop there. So there were no purchases that day.
A week later we were in Del Rio, Texas and the border town was Acuna. You can take the bus across the bridge, for 50¢, which comes every half hour, or whenever it damn well pleases. We waited for the bus one day for 30 minutes before we decided to walk across, and on the 20 minute walk we never did see a bus going either way.
While in Acuna we ran across a young shopkeeper who said his prices were better than Wal-Mart, and proved it by selling Bill a $45 leather vest for $22. He didn't want a gray vest, but as he kept walking away the price kept going down. And for that price, he still had money to find exactly what he wanted.
Our next bargain hunting took us to Nogales. We went there twice in about a month. Once from Huachuca City, and once from Tucson. It was the friendliest and most enjoyable place to shop. I really got into it there. One guy told me, "Don't be so Jewish." and another said, "Quit the sh__'" when I wouldn't come up to his price. Bill did his share of bargaining and got some more western wear.
In all the towns we shopped in, we learned not to buy close to the border, cause it's usually more expensive.
We ate at large and small restaurants, and the food and drinks were delicious. When they serve you a beer, it's with wedges of Mexican limes which are squeezed into the beer. VERY GOOD! The method doesn't seem to work with American limes. The better restaurants and bars all serve bottled water also.
HEED THE ADVICE BELOW
KARAOKE REPORT
By Bill
Since we left in late December, we have had no problem finding places for the "kid" to croon his tunes. We've pretty much had places from the Texas Gulf Coast, to the Arizona Desert.. My greatest challenge was to sing "La Bamba" 5 miles from the Mexican Border, in a bar filled with Mexicans. When I told them, "It's cut the gringo some slack time", they laughed. All in all, most of the places have been a lot of fun. We have found a couple of places that have been rather rough. But I guess as .long as you mind your own business you should be okay. We didn't encounter any trouble, so I guess the theory holds true. I can name that tune in...............
