#64 Coveys Great Adventure – Jan 2020 – Rocky Point MX, Benson AZ

January 2020 – Rocky Point Mexico, Benson AZ

View through the windshield looking south at RP, aka doggie heaven

Yes, life is hard in RP

We looked forward to visiting Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco, aka RP) for two reasons. We wanted a change from our usual pattern of Hemet-Yuma-Benson that we have done for five years. We also wanted to check out getting the coach painted. Ripley is showing his age in many ways, but especially his appearance. The exterior clear coat finish is peeling off in large sections and will only get worse the longer we wait to get it fixed. Painting a 43’ coach in the US costs $25-35,000. The cost to paint it in Mexico ranges from $8-13,000. One of the painters that has built a reputation for decent work is in RP.  We wanted to meet him and see what was involved.

The short answer is that we rented a house in RP for the month of March while Ripley gets a complete makeover. Having to be out of the coach for a month was hard to get my head around, but we have decided to make it an adventure. Staying in RP rather than Tucson or Yuma is going to be “interesting”.

Decisions, decisions...

Given the drug related crime and violence that has plagued Mexico for several years, we were a little apprehensive, but everyone in the RV community that we talked to with recent experience encouraged us to go. We are glad we did. We thoroughly enjoyed RP. Yes, the town is a tourist trap. Yes, much of it looks a little scary, Yes, most of the population speaks limited, if any, English. Despite, or may because of those factors, we had a good time.

Playa Bonita RV Resort turned out to be an interesting mix of funky and functional. Vendors will bring excellent fresh seafood right to your door every morning. The whole park is unobtrusively patrolled around the clock. We didn’t hear any stories about petty crime, much less anything worse from the long term residents. You can get anything done to your rig from a wash and wax to full paint right at your site overlooking the Sea of Cortez at a fraction of US prices. All for about $35 a day!

Some tourist traps are ok

Everyone, staff and guests were friendly, laid back and ready to answer any questions. The food we ate was great, easy to find and reasonably priced. The people work very hard, often for little apparent return, but were always pleasant and cheerful. We are looking forward to going again next year. Anyone interested in joining us, drop me a note.

One word of advice: drive carefully. Many roads are in poor shape or not paved at all, street lighting is almost non-existent and speed bumps are poorly marked, at best. You DO NOT want to hit one of those at 30 mph! Remember that the residents know local rules, like that taxis always have the right of way at intersections and several other unwritten, but widely known customs. We don’t know that stuff, so be cautious at all times, especially at night.

Through the windshield looking north

Two weeks at Rocky Point passed very quickly. The weather was clear and not too warm. Morning walks on the beach required heavy jackets and warm hats, but it usually climbed into the low-70’s by late afternoon. Needless to say, the dogs loved the beach. Most of the time they were able to run around off leash. The beach patrol busted us a few times, but just yelled at us instead of writing a ticket.

The Mexican police have a well-earned reputation for soliciting bribes, and they got me for $40 on our return trip through Sonoyta.  Be sure that you actually stop at every stop sign, even bogus ones just welded to an old wheel so it can be rolled into the middle of the road where an unfortunate looking individual tries to shove a collection box through your window while looking as piteous as possible. Oh yes, and the speed limits are in kilometers per hour, a lot slower than miles per hour. It could have been worse, they wanted 2,000 pesos, roughly $120. Kayeanne saved the day by playing on their sympathies for the old folks who spent all their money in RP and were just trying to get home alive. “Fines” are paid to the cop, on the spot, in cash. Keep a small roll available to show them how broke you are. Call it a visitor’s tax, I guess.

Tucson HS steel drum band playing to a packed house:
outstanding kids, music and show

We backtracked to Yuma for a few days to visit our dentists in Los Algodones, and then headed to our lot at the SKP Saguaro Co-op in Benson. The Co-op is about as close to a home base as we have, and we always look forward to renewing the friendships that we have developed over the years. It is also the most hectic time of the season, with something, often more than one,  going on every day. Kayeanne signed on to the Clubhouse and Bingo committees, and the bead and polymer clay groups. I pulled a muscle in my arm in Mexico that has limited what I can do, so I am not actively volunteering this month, hopefully I’ll be back up to speed soon.

Just after we arrived, friends we made hosting at Cape Blanco Lighthouse last year pulled in. Ray and Leslie are going to stay at the Co-op for two or three months, and we are looking forward to spending lots of time together while showing them around and exploring new places, too.

Notable wines this month include Trader Joe’s Petite Syrah - Russian River Valley Reserve 2018 (!), Penamonte Toro - 5 Meses en Barrica 2016, and Deville Cellars Chaleur Blanc 2015.

Books I enjoyed included John Sanford's latest Lucas Davenport novel, Neon Prey.

As we go to press, last Thursday our plan was to go to RP next week to get the coach painted. I discovered that my "pulled muscle" is actually a torn tendon that needs to be re-attached next week. We now plan to stay here until early April. New paint has been postponed until next year, because we have plans for people to see and places to go for the rest of this year. Plans are certainly fungible.

More soon,

Bob

PS: From Liesa: "The only thing Flat-Earthers fear is sphere itself"