Posted by jiminalta on February 28, 2008, 1:02 pm
207.216.246.242

the next instalment of the trip south Posted by jiminalta on 2/24/2008, 10:35 am 207.216.246.242 This new day we were greeted by a cool morning and clear skys as we peeked out of the hotel room . It was 5:30 and niether of us could sleep anouther minute. So with our excitment for the day we packed and tipped our hat to this wonderfull town in the western mountains of Colorado Natorita.Natorita is supported by as we found out many mines in the area as well as some timber . There are an incredible number of deer in the area as we found out , for extreme care was required when driving anywhere near this community. This of coarse brought a different industry , hunting and guiding Some of these folks we had met the night before. In any case away we went down the hyway watching for those 4 legged critters. We arrived at Cortez Colorado approx 7:10 and eat and drank copious amounts of good coffee.At this piont we are deffinetly in farming country agian . We leave Cortez fed and watered and head south on old 666 this beastly hyway leeds us into some of the most desolate countryside so far, well wyoming west was pretty desolate , its a tossup. anyway. Just prior to the border of New Mexico we leave old hyw 666 and head down 160 , this will take us to a place in the states where you can stand in 4 states at once . This is the only spot in the US that this happens. Colorado New Mexico Utah Arizona. Well perhaps we should have a beer to celebrate!!! . A word here to those who have not traveled this area . You are in some incredable beutiful countryside high platues rugged valleys sun shinning and a wonderfull day . This countryside is a trip in itself!!! We turn on old 191 and follow it down on to Ganado then on to Holbrook to fuel. Some of the roads traveled getting here from northern Arizona were called indian roads and in a couple cases a bit rugged but totally passable with a car. On down the road we go down 377 to Payton then onto old 87 into Fountian Hills following the road into Scotdale then onto Gold Canyon to my sisters place . By 2 oclock we were at my sisters ,my brother his wife and her would be out for a bit as they went golfing . Now for those of you that dont recall my sister Mary, she is the one with her companion, our cousin from holland Hai that did the mad bull thing a couple years ago in El Feurta as we , and she had drank far to many margeritas for just being normal .This promted her to entertian the community with a make shift bull fight in the town square at 8 oclock on a friday evening with my cousin.Bringing the town to its knees with laughter!! In any case they would be out golfing for an hr or so . Latter she arrived and asked how we got in , well my sister is a creater of habit and here key is stashed exacly where she told us it would be 2 years before . We had half her beer drank and the glasses ready for happy hour by the time she was in the door bringing a wide smile to her face as well as my brotheres wife. Now brother Ken is the one in our family that abstians from acoholic libations . He had a rondezvous with destiny many years ago and has stood back from the jar ever since. Leaving the rest of the famly the great challenge to hold up his end!! We had a great time that day as it was his 51st birthday and we went out for first a stop at the Harley dealers in Apache Junction to get some clean clothes then on to a great supper spot . I cant remember the name for whatever reason but surfice to say a good time was had by one and all. After supper we stopped by some of my sisters friends place from Quebec and induleged in some fine wine from the kitchen . yes there was a big box of it in the kitchen sitting on a chiar . God that was the biggest box of wine i have ever seen . These folks knew there wine . They would have to, to find such a big box full . Im sure they were wine experts cause after a couple glasses it wasnt to bad. In any case tommorrow was going to be anouther day and as we have found out since it was. We left brother Ken his wife and sis Mary at 8:15 the next morning after a bellyfull of good food and plenty of good coffee.We were off to see Mexico Bob at the boarder for our insurance needs. That day Bob couldnt be there but had our package layed out for us and with the kind assistance of his assistant we made our stop there short and sweet. Reliefing ourselves of a couple hundred bucks and gianing peace of mind as old Bob knows what we need and is always sure to have all the documents sighed so my wife can drive as well.Our crossing of the US Mexico boarder was absolutly painless as we proceeded to the 21 km marker and the impotation station . There all went well untill the smart ass at the money change when we asked to get a few sheckels changed was a prick and insulted us by saying he would give us 7.5 for our dollars . Now Im all for capitolism but an asshole is still an asshole in any form of union. He Indeed was a true embarrasment to his country a true embarrasment!!You had to be there I guess! Oh well after that bad taste of stupidity was passed we proceeded south and on into the land we love Mexico fully documented and smiling agian. We drove on to Hermosillo stopping there to geat some cash at the cajero at the mall on the south side of town , a almost new mall with all the bells and whisteles . Topping up with gas we decide to head down the yellowhead or in Mexico hyw 16 for a few more miles . As we did we were amazed to see old Henry Ford had a factory there that is as big as any car manufactorer I have seen anywhere including Detriot. Blocks and blocks and blocks of factory. Rds called Herny Ford Way and Henry Ford drive were the norm in this area on the south eastern outskirts of Hermosilo. Driving east we were met with more manufactoring that of cement . Huge mines for the raw product to make cement are mined in the hills 50 or so kms to the east of hermosilo. As the day grew on we began to tier and lose the light so as the hyway is very narrow and we were unfamiliar with the area we pulled up in a small town by the name of Tonichi. A small humble hotel with a smiling owner greeted us as we ask at his gas station about his lodgings . For 150 pesos we had a resonable room with clean bed tv and friendly folks next door to share a beer and a laugh with as the night wore on. Hunger took over and we found our way to a local taco stand with suculant looking food . They met our ever need and expectation as we chowed down on some of the best food of our trip a real feed and a happy hosts as we continued to compliment them on there wonderfull food and beer!!!I think I will leave for now and come back agian latter as The next part of our trip takes us to the great falls and on to the east side of the copper canyon. See you later todeleeedooo jiminalta