RE: Churches Mexico Guide
Thanks for all the positive comments.
Yes, we'll be traveling throughout the mainland next year working on the fourth edition. It will come out during the summer of 2009.
About the updates. Most of what you've said is exaclty right. Everyone has a different background and sees campground features differently. We like to monitor the information that appears on our site. Maybe some day we will set up a bulletin board but sites like RV.net already do a good job.
Another thing about updates. Terri and I travel like crazy people from early December until late summer or early fall. That doesn't give us a lot of time to work on the website, particularly since we're also researching, writing, and selling other books too. However, during August-January and sometimes later we add a lot of updates to our site that we received during the previous season. That works pretty well since most people head south in December or January and that's when they need the info. We also make a big effort in December and January to post early information, that received from early travelers, since that early information is particularly valuable to those on their way south.
Thanks again for all your support.
RE: Sonora camping
freewilley - About the Playa de Cortés. I think you're questions about this place are right on the money. In our experience the Cortés is often almost empty when other RV parks in town are full. Caravans lke it because they can always get in. We think it's a little isolated with not much going on around it but if you have a toad that's OK. If you, or anyone reading this, figures out why this place is not popular, we'd like to hear. Seems like it never develops a community.
RE: Barra Del Tordo Revisited 12-2007
Fantastic campground write-up Chris. You should write a book! You're going to make the east coast as popular as the west.
RE: Welcome to Mike Church
Good luck you guys. We've known bsprague for years, we worked together back in the late eighties. Running buddies. We've been trying to get him to Mexico for years. Maybe this group can shame him in to it.
RE: Welcome to Mike Church
Hi everyone,
Thanks for the welcome. Terri and I have been occasional visitors to RV.net over the years but we've never had time to get involved. No question this is a great resource if you take the time to use it.
We're in Benson right now. Just finished writing the 4th edition of Alaska and in the middle of the 2nd edition of Pacific Northwest. Our plans are for a stay on the Baja in late January and February. Then we'll dash back to Georgia (in the RV) for The Rally before coming back for some more time on the Baja in late spring and early summer. Next year will be a big Mexico year for us with visits to all of the mainland campgrounds before putting out the 4th edition of Mexico.
Anyway, thanks again for the welcome. With our schedule we can't be daily visitors to this site while we're on the road, but we will try to make a decent contribution.
Brett, great memories of Guadalajara. Heard anything of Brodie lately? I'll send you a pm.
Jonna, I remember you telling us about the Sam's Club in Xalapa. I've used the Chevrolet dealer's lot and also parked on the street overnight, but wouldn't recommend either. Maybe we can come up with something a little better, Xalapa's museum demands a visit with a decent place to stay. Will send you a pm too!
RE: Returning thu Nogales on Sunday
I'm going to get sucked in here. I'm not promoting the book or website, just answering the question.
When we were researching the last edition we came north through Nogales and there were barrier bars at the Mexican customs stop on the toll bypass leading to the Mariposa crossing. You couldn't get around them, we had to unhook and then go back and cross at the the downtown gate. It was a mess and very tight but that's what we were expected to do, the US guy had no problem with us crossing downtown when we arrived although he growled at Terri for going through the RV gate with the toad, it wasn't attached. He said that the Mariposa gate was being closed to trucks because the US border guys were short on staff and RVs were just having to live with it. Rather than barring trucks they just barred all tall rigs.
However, there's been an update on our site since January of 2006 saying that the Mariposa Gate is now fine on Sundays. It's keyed to page 84 of the third edition where the crossing is discussed. It's really a good idea to look at the updates because, as you folks know, things do change in Mexico. While we work on lots of other books in spring and summer, Mexico is on our minds it the fall, and there are tons of updates. All it takes is a quick look since things are arranged the same way the book is.
Moisheh, what you say about the downtown gate now being closed to RVs is new to us and makes sense. The RV lane would be perfect for card traffic, it was sure miserable for RVs. We crossed there going south last year, which was fine, but have avoided it northbound because it's so tight. Hadn't been turned back there and didn't know about the closure, none of our readers had notified us about it either. I'll put it on the updates.
RE: Boondocking Locations in Mexico
Nothing wrong with boondocking if the situation is right. Anyone know a good spot in or near Jalapa (Xalapa) in Veracruz. Great city, no formal campgrounds.
