Mexico - Part II

So, I haven't been posting...I've been driving...driving a lot. Since I left Palm Desert 4 days ago, Vandrew's logged 3000kms. It seems like I've only been driving, crossing an international border, filling up with gas, or sleeping. Oh, I did get to watch a hockey game in there too.

When I was in Arizona, I just parked in a reasonably nice neighbourhood in the Phoenix area and went to sleep...just like I'd do in Calgary.  Once I crossed the border however, I was suddenly aware that once the sun went down, the badguys came out, so I had to be more selective about where I chose to park for the night.  In my reading of the online, it was mentioned a few times that staying at the Pemex truck stops was reasonably safe and secure...and also free.  I like free, especially with all the money I was spending on fuel, so the first two nights in Mexico I stayed at Pemex. After 4 days in 30 degree plus weather, it was well past time for a shower. I pushed through to Guadalajara, with the idea of parking at a hostel, using their shower and maybe meet up with some travelers. When I started phoning around, however, I found that all the hostels in the Lonely Planet guide that I had didn't have anywhere for me to park or were closed down. Plan B was to get a hotel...hotels.com had one available just down the street from where I was, for $34/night! It was clean and cool, and it had a nice shower that got me all cleaned up. I didn't even sleep in Vandrew...the AC was too good.

This morning I had another shower (just because I could) and left with the sole goal get my laundry done. This turned out to be quite challenging in Guataljuahara, especially driving a 10' tall maxivan. I looked on Google...the first place only did dry cleaning. The second place wasn't there. The third place couldn't find parking within 10 blocks. The fourth place also no parking. The fifth place was having an overpass built on top of it...finally, the sixth spot I went to was open and I could park illegally a block away to drop off my clothes. Then I tried to park in a shopping mall parking lot, but when I turned up the small ramp to get in, there was a height restriction of 2.5 meters...for an above ground lot! It took me 20 minutes to back down the ramp onto the busy road.  What an adventure!

Also today, I got pulled over by the police for speeding. I'm pretty sure I wasn't speeding, but he did say that I could pay him the 1000 pesos for the ticket. When I did, he was visibly happy and shook my hand. I feel like I should have bartered with him, but it was my first bribe. Live and learn.

Also today, while I was searching for a laundromat, I stopped at a stop light and what can only be described as a wave of water came from the back of Vandrew and splashed up to my ankles. My water tank has leaked, and I lost about 50 litres of potable water. I think the only other thing that suffered was a charging cable that got wet and is now unusable.  Could have been worse.

Off to Mexico city tomorrow, so I should be able to upload some ball camera shots from there. Sorry about all the words.