An afternoon off - then three days of projects

ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - The Admiral and I took a lovely afternoon off at Tenacatita, then launched back into projects at the property, a Jan. 31, self-imposed deadline looming like April 15 for Americans.

Sorry about that reference.

January 31 is when Sylvia brother David arrives and a week later, son Dylan (with two amigos), cousin Ruth from Hector, New York and Laura from Calgary, Canada. Laura is going to be teaching English to a group of village children and the village children are vibrating, they are so excited.

Will the showers and banos be done? The maestro said the main part of that project would be done by next Tuesday. The Admiral says she wants to hear the sound of flushing toilets - soon.


A roof, a floor and then it will be 'voila'

As part of all the chaos, we were able to move the original Grey Goose Express back closer to its new brother (which we dragged down this year behind the Toyota Tundra). After getting the trailer close to its intended destination, we relied on pure Mexican muscle power to lift up the tongue and slide it into the parking spot.

And the miracle? Without touching anything, the GGExpress is sitting perfectly level in its semi-permanent home.


Almost in place


RV park in the making?

But the biggest improvement has been being able to use our now-tiled palapa, though it has taken the Admiral and I - with some young helpers - many washings and scrubbings to get it clean. This morning the Admiral gave it another mopping and it is starting to shine. She's nesting there, and loving it.

As it is Sunday, however, it's almost time to call time on the projects. The afternoon we are headed to the Grand Bay Hotel in Barra de Navidad to meet some sailing cruisers - and sit by the pool there.

They serve a great drink there called a 'ballena.'

It's on my agenda.

In Arroyo Seco, Mexico after 8 days - and 2020 miles

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - We pulled in to the compound in Arroyo Seco at noon today, eight days after leaving the fog of Sacramento and crossing 2020 miles of California, Arizona and finally Mexico.

The Grey Goose Express II is safe, parked almost where it will be finally, and the shower/bathroom project has been started - barely.

The day we left Sacramento, the fog was down on the deck and it took hours to get out of our apartment, put the last items into storage and finally load the trailer.

We left Sacramento at 1:30 p.m.


Sacramento fog, the day we left


The load we packed into the trailer just before we headed south

This posting is coming from Palapa Joe's where we just had lunch and now have to zoom back out to Arroyo Seco where today is the first of a two-day fiesta to celebrate the founding of the town.

Cervezas ahead?

More on the rest of the trip down - with our Canadian RV amigos - tomorrow.


Our first overnight spot, well south of Nogales

Grey Goose II leaves space dock, passes first flight inspections

CAL-EXPO RV Park, Sacramento, Calif. USA - The Admiral and I took the Grey Goose Express II out of its storage yard Friday for a trip to Cal-Expo, probably about 10 miles considering the roundabout way we got here.

The trailer performed perfectly under flight conditions and was relatively easy to get level once we parked.

This little RV park - maybe not that little - is a gem, tucked right next to the state fairgrounds and a few blocks from movie theaters, and a Chili's restaurant (where we will likely dine tonight). We are definitely one of the smallest units here, with most of the RVers those 40+ foot jobs with four slide outs and generators big enough to light up Cleveland.

Immediately behind our parking space is the American River, with trees all turning fall colors.


American River, right behind the RV park

Given that we will be underway for Mexico before Christmas, it seemed like a test run was in order for the Grey Goose. So far, the only thing not working up to specs is the propane side of the refrigerator (which runs when there is no electricity.). Oh, and the light in the fridge seems to be stuck on, adding heat in there.

RVing is a lot like operating a big cruising sailboat - there are all kinds of little tricks and twists that the more experienced can show you.

While I labored mightily to level the trailer with the jacks that are affixed under the trailer, a Good Samaritan came by with some blocks to stick under the wheels. The jacks, it seems, are good for minor leveling - not four or five inches!

By the way, has anyone ever heard of a Bad Samaritan? Think about it.

After hosting a dinner party for six last night in the trailer, we opted to take a second day and night here at Cal-Expo, enjoying the sunshine (temperatures close to 80 degrees) and a decided lack of wind. Winds of up to 40 mph had been forecast for Friday and Saturday.

I'm very glad they were wrong.


Admiral catches some rays


Grey Goose Express II from the front - with slider out

Grey Goose II rolls off the lot and goes to - storage?

SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA- The Grey Goose Express II left the RV Max sales lot this morning shortly before noon after we had received a thorough briefing on all systems by Mike the mechanical guy, not to be confused with Mike the owner guy who sold us the unit last Sunday.

And with Mike the owner guy, we had a nice conversation again about his business and how he would really like to open a branch in Mexico.

He said it would be damned good excuse to visit the warm climate in December and January when it is cold, even in Sacramento.

We motored out gingerly with a special hitch made to distribute the weight evenly, but even at that, we knew we were towing a huge package behind us. A new electric brake system took most of the terror out of it.

But still...

After a short tool around the city, we went to the Costco in Rancho Cordova (close to daughter Anne's house) and parked out on the outskirts (so we could turn around and leave). We loaded up on a few items and then had a nice lunch - with the slider popped out.


Basket of goodies for the Grey Goose II


Grey Goose II parked - with the slider popped out

After lunch, we checked out the napping spots (many) and the Goose II passed that test without any problems.

And it passed the maneuverability test, too, when we motored to Allstar Storage where we had rented a slot that was about 18 inches wider on each side than the Grey Goose II. After several attempts - and several pleas to various deities of Christian and non-Christian origins - the Grey Goose II slid into place nicely.

However, if the trailer didn't have a back door, we would not have any access without moving it.

Ouch!

Tomorrow the Admiral and I will start preliminary packing for our departure to Mexico with a tentative first cruise next weekend to see if all the systems work as advertised by Mike the mechanical guy.

The best thing is, if they don't work, both Mike & Mike said to bring the Grey Goose Express II back for fixups. It's all part of their service.

Is this a great country or what?

It's official - the Grey Goose Express II is set for Mexico

SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA - Timing is everything.

A week ago today, we were steered by several people towards a used RV lot here in Sacramento called RV Max , but it was late on a Sunday and so we decided we would wait until we had exhausted all the private-party sales of trailers we found through Craigslist.

And we found plenty of those. And by late yesterday afternoon, we were exhausted.

We found light trailers, heavy trailers, little trailers, big trailers, cheap trailers, expensive trailers - even wrecked trailers with dubious titles.

But today we decided to swing by RV Max and talk to owner Mike. Yup, Mike, who came highly recommended by everyone in the business. Mike had a unit for sale we thought might work. We had seen it on Craigslist, of course.


Admiral in front of Grey Goose Express II

When we arrived, we were sad at first to see that the unit we came to look at - a 30-foot behemoth that weighed at least 8,000 pounds - had been sold already. It didn't matter much, because the trailer was at least 2,000 pounds over anything we should consider towing with our Toyota Tundra. And after last year's narrow escape of problems with the Isuzu Trooper, I wanted a relatively light trailer. No more cooking transmissions, if I could help it.

But on our way onto the lot, we walked past a unit that had just arrived the afternoon before from the trailer auction, where owner Mike had found it and thought it would make a good addition to his lot.

Just arrived! The afternoon before!

We did a quick walkthru, talked with Mike, and within 15 minutes had:

• Bought a 26-foot trailer at a bargain price, including a special hitch and a guarantee
• Made a friend in RV Max-owner Mike, who is dying to come to Mexico
• Found a Spanish tutor for me, one of people who works for Mike at the lot

Here's what the trailer looks like on the inside:


Admiral by the couch and front door


Galley and refrigerator at right


Dinette slideout

The slideout makes all the difference in the trailer, pushing out the living room, dining room, galley area about three feet to make the place seem like, well, a home, not a skinny tube of aluminum.

And speaking of aluminum, the unit is constructed largely of aluminum and weighs only slightly over 4,000 pounds, well within range of the Tundra's pulling (and more important, stopping) abilities.

A few hours after making our find, we signed a short-term contract for a parking spot about a mile from the university so we can begin stocking the Grey Goose Express II (known at Goose II for short) for our sojourn to Mexico and Arroyo Seco. Now that we have two travel trailers (the original Grey Goose Express and this unit) we have to decide if one of them should be posted on one of the beach lots, or if both should reside in downtown Arroyo Seco.

Decisions, decisions. Where to put the trailer? And how much Grey Goose vodka to carry for the trip.


Parking place for Grey Goose II