Motorhoming from La Peñita de Jaltemba, Mexico to Oregon

 Outrunning the Heat and Wildfires to Reach the U.S. Coast

Minnie Winnie at El Mirador RV Park

At Playa Huatabampito, Sonora, MX

This is our first RV trip back to the United States since we drove our Regency Class C motorhome to Arizona to sell it in early 2020. (You can read about that trip at OUR LAST RV TRIP IN MÉXICO AND WHY! New Travel Plans) Minnie Winnie is making her first road trip from La Peñita de Jaltemba, Mexico to Oregon. As with all adventures, some unexpected events in the U.S. slowed us down.

Driving To Mazatlán, We Loved Seeing

The Green Hills and Fields from Recent Rains  

The New Toll Road from La Peñita to Mazatlan was Great!

We enjoyed most of our usual stops along the Mexico Pacific coast, though it was so hot we decided to cut each stay short. We only spent two nights in Mazatlán, one night on the beach at El Mirador RV Park in Playa Huatabampito, and then bypassed a favorite, San Carlos, Sonora. Instead, we hightailed it to Punta Vista RV Park in Santa Ana, Sonora which left us a short run to the border the next day.

Passing the Lines of Cars at the U.S. Border Crossing!!

I was uneasy about crossing the border as Americans with Mexican Permanent Resident Visas driving an RV with Michoacan, MX plates. To make matters worse, we missed the Mariposa crossing exit and drove through the center of Nogales, MX, where RVs are forbidden. Fortunately, a trinket vendor told us to get in a dirt lane along the railroad tracks because RVs and buses won’t fit through the Nogales centro entries. We received a gentle scolding from the U.S. immigration officer for not crossing at the Mariposa truck crossing, but he was kind as he checked our passports and wished us better luck following Google Maps next time.😅

Our border crossing went smoothly, and we entered Arizona! A whole new kind of heat awaited us--blistering hot and bone dry.

Driving into a Dust Storm in Buckeye, AZ

We outran the Arizona heat and plowed through a dust storm near Buckeye, AZ—we didn’t stop in Arizona except to change drivers and grab a snack from the fridge.

The Arizona and California Heat Finished This Tire OFF!

It was my turn to drive through San Bernadino, California when the heat caused a massive front tire blowout. Jon said I handled the rig well, braking smoothly and pulling safely to the shoulder. We sat there only thirty minutes after calling for help when a roadside assistance guy arrived. Jon enjoyed helping the serviceman remove the wrecked tire and put on our spare, even in that scorching hot weather!

Jon Helped Change the Flat Tire on the Side of the Freeway

It was time to buy a complete set of new tires. We drove slowly to the closest Les Schwab Tire Center in Fontana, CA, and got five new tires (darn, they didn't have all 6). The guys were great, working until 8:00 to get us back on the road. They warned us that our brakes were in dangerously poor condition and needed to be replaced.

So, we drove slowly and carefully for hours after sunset to reach our reserved Santa Barbara campsite. It was good practice to downshift and use the Tow Haul rather than our brakes to slow our speed. We were glad to have missed rush-hour traffic. 

Four Days of Driving from La Peñita de Jaltemba, Nayarit

To the Fresh, Cool Air of Santa Barbara, California

A Santa Barbara Sunset Viewed from the Wharf

I feel a special connection to Santa Barbara because it is Puerto Vallarta’s sister city. The palm trees, the Pacific Ocean, delicious fresh seafood, sunny weather, and beautiful beaches make us feel at home. The Sunrise RV Park was an excellent central jumping-off place for walks and Uber pickups.

How We Choose Our Camping Sites in July and August:

1. We wanted to be near the California and Oregon Coasts to avoid the heat and wildfire smoke typical in late summer. Our RV air conditioner can't keep the rig cool in temperatures over 82 degrees, so we're hugging the coast. (We'll be solving that later.)

2. Within walking distance of restaurants so we can get exercise and tour the area on the way to lunch or dinner. Or, we want access to bus, Uber, or taxi services to get around since we don't have a car.

3. I search for areas with views of blue water, such as the ocean, bay, lake, or river. This gives us a dose of Blue Mind (or Blue Water Effect, as I like to call it), a calming effect that improves mental health.

4. After our dash north through Mexico, I wanted campgrounds or RV parks that allowed us to stay for three to four days so our travel would be relaxing and unhurried.

Four Days in Santa Barbara and a Walk to East Beach

Two Nights at Morro Dunes in Morro Bay

Three Nights at Moss Landing RV Park, CA

Near the Marina and Several Good Restaurants

Four Nights at Casa de Fruta RV Park 

Near Gilroy, CA, Recovering From Covid

Lots of Walks in the Country

Then, it was time to find the next Les Schwab to purchase our sixth tire and new brakes for all four wheels. Minnie Winnie will be ready for many more Mexican miles after replacing all four brakes and six tires at Les Schwab.

Jon "Supervised" the Brake Replacement

He Was Amazed at How Large the Rotor/Hubs Were 

We were so glad to be able to have this work done while in the U.S., where they could obtain these parts. It was a big job, but they did it in one ten-hour day! Jon says we're rebuilding her from the ground up. 😀

Time to Get Back to the Coast of California!

Two Nights at the Porto Bodega Marina

RV Park Bodega Bay, California

Two Nights at Caspar Beach RV Park

We Caught the Local Bus From Caspar Beach To

Historic Mendocino, CA, Where We Shopped and Ate at

A Favorite Pub, Patterson's--Good Memories 💚

One Night, Walks, and Picking Wild Blackberries

The Ancient Redwoods RV Park Near Eureka, CA.

We Finally Arrived in Oregon!

Two Nights at the Brookings, Oregon Beachfront RV Park

Seven Nights In Bandon, Oregon

We Ate Lots of Delicious Dungeness Crab Cocktails

And Tony's Famous Crab Sandwiches on the Boardwalk

We finished Creating the RV Bed's Headboard

 To Match the Bedspread From Puerto Vallarta

Five Nights at the Port of Siuslaw Campground and Marina

In Florence, Oregon, One of Our Favorites

We Discovered New Darling Buildings While

Walking Around the Florence Historic

District. ❤️ The Hanging Flower Baskets

One Night Camping with Electric Only

At Three Rivers Casino, Florence, $30!

No More Free Boondocking Here

Six Nights at the Port of Newport Marina

RV Park With a Beautiful View of

The Yaquina Bay Bridge

On Another Walk, We Discovered Nye Beach

In Newport, Oregon, and Rested at

The Taphouse with a View of the Water

A Rare, Warm Day at the Oregon Coast

Sitting on an Outdoor Patio at Nye Beach

We Recommend This Restuarant on the Newport Bay!

Four Nights Over Labor Day Weekend At

The Logan Road RV Park Owned By This Tribe

Lincoln City Weather was Gray and Rainy

We Spent 42 Days On the U.S. Coast,

Between Santa Barbara, Time in RV Parks On

the Way North, And In Lincoln City, OR

We Like Leisurely Coastal RV Trips In the Summers

Time to Go Inland to Visit Our Family

Hoping For Cooler Weather and No Smoky Skies

Clear Skies Would be Hit-and-Miss as

We Dodged Forest Fires On Our Trip

Down Memory Lane in Oregon.

Burned Forest From Santiam/Detroit Fire 2020

We Found Blue Skies in Rogue River, Oregon😊

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Cheers,

Terry

Terry L Turrell, Author

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