After leaving Mazatlan we went to a nice little campground in Celestino just fifty miles or so to the north. A swimming pool, fun play areas for the kids, and a completely abandoned beach full of driftwood for fires. Talking with the owner he told us that we were the 12th RV of the season for him. Last year he had 256, and the year before that, over 1,000. He admitted how hard it has been. They also have bungalows, which apparently do enough business to keep him running. But overall business for this poor guy is down 95% through no fault of his own, just a major drop off in North Americans willing to drive into the scary depths of hell that Mexico is.
From there we went north to a place that had been described so glowingly in our 2008 guidebook, that we never even considered checking up on it online. Oops. The place was a disaster. A disaster complete with half a dozen dogs and three tiny puppies.
Back on the road we went. This time settling in right on the beach of Huatabampito. We got the bus set up, and then I took the kids for a swim. Ten minutes later I limped out, carrying Lowe, and telling Ouest we needed to get out—I got stung by a stingray again. Blood poured out of my foot, though it was clear to me this ray wasn’t nearly as big as the last one. The stab wound hurt, but it didn’t disable me. I told the kids I stepped on some glass, and they took off to play on the beach while Ali heated some water. We’ve told the kids the story about me being stung by the stingray countless times before, but we don’t need them thinking this is something that happens all the time. The second the hot coffee temperature water hit the wound, the pain disappeared. It’s such an amazing thing to me. Literally, just a few drops of water and the pain went from an 8 to a 2. I soaked my foot in the water for a bit, and was good as new.
So, we’re on our way to the States for a few months. Lots of National Parks, lots of family, lots of friends, lots of cheap gas—lots of planning for the future.
22 Comments on “Puppies and Stingrays”
What a cliffhanger! Hope your wound continues to be relatively painless…
There is no way you’ll ever see me swim in the ocean. Even lakes give me the creeps! Awesome pictures as usual.
So the plan finally spills out! Sounds like a great call and an awesome Spring and Summer ahead. Maybe we’ll finally connect after all these years!! Yeehah!!
Still really curious about the “new continent!” That’s why I was surprised you were headed North!
I’m sure you’ve been told about shuffling your feet in stingray territory. Feel better soon!
That’s still on the agenda. Gotta keep you guessing, though. 🙂
I’ve been following you guys for years and I’ve loved traveling the world vicariously through your adventures. However, I am very excited that you’re heading back to the States because I am also about to take off on an tour of North America. My fiance and I are about to sell our house and move into our RV and take off on a year (or longer) tour of the US, Canada, and hopefully Baja, Mexico. Maybe we’ll be in the same place at the same time and can grab a beer! I’d love to get some first hand advice on traveling in Baja (I’ve never been). You guys were a huge influence in our decision to take off and travel, so thank you. I think it’s one of the best decisions we’ve made in a long time.
Cool. That’s great to hear Jenny. I hope our paths cross.
Please come Iowa on your way to Minnesota
Where is Iowa?
Science time! The poison of a stingray is protein based. When proteins encounter high heat, it causes the protein to denature, which means it’s basically falling apart. No more protein, no more pain, and there you go. Jellyfish stings and mosquito bites operate on the same idea, too.
Thank you, brother. So, just so I have this straight, what you are basically saying is… MAGIC.
Inspiring people to sell their homes, quit jobs, and live in cars since 2001ish
You know, we do what we can, fellow vanlifer.
I learned today how to treat a string from a ray, jellyfish and mosquito. Who Knew!
Amazingly with all the time we spend swimming off the back of the boat, neither of us have been stung by jellyfish. We pretty much always do the string ray shuffle when wading in water. Lucky, I guess. But, now we now how to fix it. Thanks!
Mark and Cindy
s/v Cream Puff
The stingray shuffle is not even remotely possible when swimming with kids like mine. We get in the water and it is full on madness.
Ouch! I had never heard that hot water helps ease the pain of stingray stings… how did you ever come about that helpful info?
Well, after being stung the first time I was searching for the hacksaw to cut my leg off while Ali was looking through some medical book that we had on the boat, and wouldn’t you know it, she found the hot water cure and kept me from making a big mistake with that saw.
You Rang!?
LOL
Miss ya
We’ll see you soon enough.
I think you are about 20% correct with respect to the decline in Mexico tourism you have noted. I would credit the other 80% to deteriorating economic conditions here in the U.S. You see it everywhere.
Got to try your stingray remedy on mosquito bites. It sounds enticing.
Wishing you continuing safe travels.
And don’t forget about Canadians. They used to fill the Mexican RV parks all winter, but with their falling dollar, it is too expensive for them to travel as they once did. So sad.
Actually, Terry, not so. From a Canadian perspective the CAD/MXP exchange rate is among the most favourable (to Canadians) that it has been for several years. The real culprit is Mexican enterprises charging in USD (or MXP tied to the USD), which means that, for non-Americans, it is as bad as travelling in the US. We now have our boat in Mexico and the determination of the marinas (primarily) to charge in USD makes it really painful! If they would charge in the currency of the land (MXP) there would be many more Canadians willing to come to Mexico.
Marinas do that all over Mexico, but RV parks only do that if they are within a days drive of the States. Everything south, with the exception of Sayulita, is in pesos. I do agree that for Canadian RVers, Mexico is where they ought to be right now. The folks from Quebec sure are. I often wonder what percentage of their population is actually in Quebec in the winter.