San Carlos to Los Mochis -Smart Gas Truck Stop

 We left San Carlos then stopped at first gas station on old 15 to fuel up. We left there at 10:00 and pulled into Smart Gas in Los Mochis about 15 to 4. We filled up with fuel before pulling into Pension to park for the night. We park right up in front of the fence. Around 240 miles. All toll booths are open and collecting tolls. About 540 pesos for RV and car.

Back on 15D the road was pretty good concrete.

Passed lots of fires burning along side of the road. 

Coming up to Estacion Oroz around KM67. Slow way down there are four nasty topes there. Usually vendors or “donation takers” are standing along the edges of highway or in the middle of highway. 

The topes kind of blend in with the road. Careful. 

 Then you come to Vicam. Lots and lots of topes, vendors and “donation takers.” Some of them have TOPE signs right next to them. When you see the sign it is sometimes to late to slow down. 

Lots of stuff for sale along the highway, mostly on the northbound side.

Leaving Vicam I guess they were slowing the truckers way down, long line of northbound trucks waiting to go through town. No roadblocks on southbound side.

More decent highway – enjoy it it goes away.

Approaching the Obregon bypass just beyond the big Indian. Plenty of signs.

The ramp goes off to the right – a big curve to get on the bypass.

Bypass is good road. If you get behind a truck be patient most will work with you to be able to pass them. Pay attention when it is time to get off bypass. Make sure go straight, you don’t want to end up in Obregon!

Heading to Navojoa the road is mostly good. Watch out for cattle and goats grazing along the road.  No idea why the topes or people standing in road. No one even looked at us. 

Also some construction along this area. Very short detours. 

Navojoa – 

Watch the topes as you near town. We drove right straight through the town. All but two of the traffic lights were red. Only two were green when we got to them. It is kind of a joke, no matter how fast or slow you go or how much or little the traffic you cannot get through town without most of the signals being red. 

There are two  sets of two topes around KM 96 -94. They are hard to see and nasty.  Last year we hit the first one hard. This year we were watching for them. Good road until about ½ mile from Sinaloa state line. Suddenly good road turns to dirt with some asphalt on it. 

Agriculture check point – just waved us through. 

Last year right next to check point there is a little shack/building and we were stopped and had to show papers for the car. This year no one there, just drove through. Never know. 

The roads in Sinaloa can be kind of okay, not so good and horrible. Very little okay. Again, more fires. 

Parked in Smart Gas just south of Los Mochis. And that was that day, Tuesday. 

We had a very good dinner in the Elba cafe in the front. Uneventful evening. Could pick up their WiFi a little bit for a short time. 

Next blog will be from Los Mochis to Mazatlan - where we are now. Just got Internet today, Will continue to try catching up. 

Los Mochis truck stop last night - Mazatlan tonight

 We did a 245 mile day yesterday. Left San Carlos after getting fueled us at 11:00 and got to Los Mochis at 4:00. Stopped at truck stop Smartgas.  Ate dinner in restaurant there. Went to bed at 9. 

That's it for today. We should be in Las Jaibas around 3 or 4 o'clock today. Can't wait to get parked and stay parked. 

Changes in San Carlos

Doing okay with writing, but behind in posting. Yesterday, Sunday, was a quiet day. I spent most of it watching the NASCAR race. At least I won't care if I miss the final race as my favorite driver didn't make it to the final four. Missed by one point, even though he finished 2nd in the race.

I did walk across the street to the beach. Sure surprised by what I found.  None of this was here when we were here last. It was just an empty beach. Wow!

Shade, a lifeguard stand and a new walkway down to the beach. I had my camera on the wrong setting so some of the pictures are a strange color. The new walkway is where the railings are. 

There are a couple small buildings. Looks like one might be aa snack stand the other is bathrooms. 

The new walkway.

Just looking back at the fog bank out on the water.

Come evening we decided to get pizza for dinner. While waiting for it we walked back across the beach. I thought it might be a kind of nice sunset as earlier in the day there had been lots of clouds. But nope they were gone.  Several people were out enjoying the new facilities. Sun not quite down yet. 

Looking down the beach. 

Almost down. 

This is as good as it got. 

Back across the street to pick up the pizza. These musicians were going to go up the stairs to the restaurant. The man with the biggest instrument is the one using the cane. None of the other guys helped him up the stairs. 

Decided this morning to stay another day. Just going to be lazier today. Did go out to breakfast though  at Chihuahuas. We were the only ones there. 

My breakfast was good, French toast and bacon, Bill said his was interesting. He had an omelet.

Been out to eat a couple of more times, but no pictures.

Posting this early as we will be on the road today - heading to Los Mochis where we will be spending the night in a truck stop. If my telcel mifi doesn't work won't be hearing from us for a few days. Will continue to take pictures and catch up when we can. Found out our Internet cable in Mazatlan has been cut down by one of the new businesses by the cammpground. So it might be a while before I can post blog.