MORE FROM PUERTO PENASCO

Hi everyone we are now in San Diego and this is the second installment on Puerto Penasco. It was definately a relaxing time. It is not a real busy tourist area although they would like to be. Part of he problem is getting there. You have to drive or drive. There is an airport but at the present time there are no scheduled flights.  The RV park we were at has probably 300 sites or more but my guess it is only 25% occupied.  There are also other parks that are not even open. But the people are upbeat and doing the best they can. We also visited some of the condos and a vacation home community all didn't seem to have very many occupants.  But for us it was super relaxing and we will return on our own again if the opportunity presents itself again. Of course we will be back in January with our Adventure Caravans group before heading to the Baja.

 

The next update will be of the Rose Parade sometime in January. 

 

  

JUST RELAXING

 

NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO STUFF IS FOR SALE

THIS BUILT UP OLD PICK-UP CHASSIS IS USED TO LAUNCH BOATS
DOWN A RAMP INTO THE SEA. IT SHOWS HOW INGENIUS THE MEXICAN
PEOPLE ARE. ITS A HECK OF A LOT CHEAPER WAY TO LAAUNCH A BOAT
WITHOUT SPENDING A LOT OIF MONEY ON INFRASTRUCTURE 

 

LAST CHANCE FOR JEWLERY

WE VISITED THE CONDO NEXT DOOR TO THE RV PARK THIS IS THEIR POOL OVERLOOKING THE OCEAN

ALTHOUGH MEXICANS DON'T CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN
THE KIDS COME TO THE RV PARK FOR
"TRICKY TRICKY HALLOWEEN

WE WERE CHICKEN

A CHEEP MEAL SHRIMP AND CLAMS

SHRIMP RIGHT OFF THESE BOATS

THE LAST SUNSET

HI FROM PUERTO PENASCO MEXICO

After the Balloon Fiesta was over we headed down to Mexico for some RandR before our next assignment.  On the way we passed the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert National Park and made a very interesting detour on our way.  The pictures say it all.

 

We then made our way  down to Puerto Penasco aka Rocky Point in Sonora, MX on the northern end of the Gulf of California aka Sea of Cortez.  One of the lesser known vacation areas in Mexico.  It is where Arizonians "go to the beach" since it is only about 200 miles from the Phoenix area.  As you can see, our RV site is a hop over a 3 foot wall to the beach.  There are lots of restaurants, it is cheap and you can shop from the comfort of your RV since the vendors walk along the walkway selling everything from silver jewelry to pottery and pedicures.  The people are friendly and practically everyone speaks English and the $ is the currency of choice but the ATM's only disburse pesos. Away from the beach the area is depressed. Up until several years ago the area was an up and coming tourist area but due to the American economy and the media hype on the drug cartels' violence we were told tourism was 80% off. This year tourism is returning and is up. These people rely on the tourism and it is a shame that they have suffered. We have had a nice relaxing time and have not at all felt threatened. Although there a quite a few abandoned condos and other projects things are improving. We talked to one realtor in the condo next to the RV park. This is an upscale condo with  only 13 units left for sale and there do not seem to be many resales in the condos but much property elseware for sale. Some signs of the comeback are the new Sam's Club and Bodaga Aurrera the Mexican Walmart subsidiary, a new 6 screen movie theater showing first run US movies with spanish subtitles, and rumors a cruise ship port is on the way. There is also a new coastal road that will reduce time for those traveling to southern California.

THE PAINTED DESERT

 

 

THE PETRIFIED FOREST

 

BUMP ON A PETRIFIED LOG

A CLOSEUP OF A PIECE OF PETRIFIED WOOD

SCATTERED PERTIFIED LOGS WHERE THEY DROPPED

 

ANOTHER PIECE OF PETRIFIED WOOD

A TREE THAT FEEL AND BECAME PETRIFIED IN PLACE

 

 

 PUERTO PENASCO MEXICO

 

OUR FIRST AND SECOND SUNSETS

NEW FRIENDS - JOHN, JANET, ELVA AND CASEY

RELAXING

 

 

 

RELAXING

SHOPPING IN OLD TOWN

FISHER BETTY WITH HER LARGE TRIGGER FISH
SOMEDAY I'LL LEARN HOW TO FISH AS SHE CAUGHT THE BIGGEST

 

THE MASS ASCENSION

The Mass Ascension is an awesome event. You cannot possibly immagine all that is going on unless you are on the field. This event is unlike any other Balloon event in the world. You are encouraged to become a crew member and participate in the launching of  a balloon. But even if you are not a crew member you are allowed to walk amongst the Balloons as they are preparing and being launched. This is not the case in many locations. This is an international event as balloons come from all over the world. The cost to the balloon owners is $0. The city pays all costs of bringing the balloonist to the event. Shipping from anywhere in the world, accomodations, Fuel costs etc. The City reaps in Millions of dollars from this hugh event.

Part of being a hugh event is the massive traffic jams everyday in the morning and evening. It has taken people hours to get to the balloon field. Our observation is that the best way to take in the event is by RV. You park in close proximity to the balloon field and have roving buses to take you to the field which takes about ten minutes. Also as you have seen from our last posts even if you don't go to the field the balloons come right over your RV as well and also land nearby.



FIRST STEP AS SEEN FOR LAUNCHING A HOT AIR BALLOON IS TO COLD INFLAT THE BALLOON  WITH A GASOLINE POWERED FAN



THIS BALLOON IS BEING COLD INFLATED

NOW HOT AIR INFLATING

TESTING THE BURNER

 

THE CROWD AND BALLOONS IN VARIOUS STAGES OF INFLATION

THE FIRST BALLOON LAUNCHED RAISING THE AMERICAN FLAG

THE FIRST GROUP UP

MORE BALLOONS UP AND MORE GETTING READY

MASS ORGANIZED CONFUSION

This really is not mass confusion. The field, which is hugh, is broken up into quadrants. Each quadrant has many many balloons and a safety/launch director (called a zebra because of the black and white "ref" shirt). Once the balloons are hot inflated the director points to and gives a thumbs up to the balloon that is to launch. Although the balloons are all bunched together, only one takes off at a time from each quadrant. This proceedure allows seperation of balloons in the quadrant and between quadrants.

THE COW IS HUGE IT DID NOT GET UP TODAY BUT WE DID SEE IT UP ANOTHER DAY



MORE BALLOONS ALMOST READY  TO LIFT OFF

DARTH VADER

GETTING ALITTLE CROWDED

AND MORE CROWDED



SORRY BACKSIDE OF SMOKY THE BEAR



NOAHS ARK

NOTE: THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE ALLOWED TO BE ON THE FIELD AROUND THE BALLOONS

ALL THE BALLOONS -  SIMPLY AWSOME (UP TO 700)



NOAHS ARK ALOFT

KISSING COUSINS

LION KING UP UP AND AWAY

READY



SET



FLY



THIS IS A VERY LARGE BALLOON

I'M A GONNA GET THOSE BALLOONS

GAS BALLOON UNDE POWER
THAT'S ALL FOLKS

WE ARE OFF TO MEXICO