We are comfortable here in Mesa and there is lots to do, BUT we have never been content to sit in one place too long and the temptation to just sit around and do nothing is great.
We basically have three choices for the rest of the winter: 1) stay put, 2) head down the Baja like we sort of had planned and 3) drive over to the Rio Grande Valley and the Gulf Coast.
The cheapest choice is 1) stay put. This holds some attraction with the falling value of the Canadian dollar. We could arrive back home with more in the bank than we left with.
Reverting back to our original plan for Baja would be fun. The downsides are twofold: 1) El Nino! It will be a wet winter on Baja. Wandering off the main highway could result in bad roads and overall miserable conditions. 2) Price of gas. Mexico has become out of step with the rest of North America in it's gas prices. Combined with the fact this is the longest route (1.900 miles each way) makes this a consideration when driving a rig that gets 7 MPG. With gas costs of about fifty cents a mile, gas costs alone will be an extra $2,000.
We have always enjoyed 3), the RGV, the Gulf Coast and Texas in general. I love the food and the people, at least the ones not packing. It is much closer (1,200 miles) and gas is much cheaper in the US, well under $2 per gallon adding only a little over $1,000 to our current winter budget. The weather in the RGV should be good as it is about the same latitude as the south Baja. Going there, we might be able to coordinate with Chris and Juan and arrange a short road trip with the car down to Monterrey, Mexico to visit them for a few days. This will give us our "Mexico Fix".
Lots to think about in the next few weeks. Whatever we decide, Life Is Good!
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Or choice number 4) The real Mexico, and with the RV! :-)
ReplyDeletewww.travelwithkevinandruth.com
We have a problem staying in one place too. Mexico too many more miles and expenses, and we are personally not crazy about RGV. Been there a few times and much prefer the desert for the most part. Sunshine, no bugs, no humidity and boondocking for the most. Other than a few free membership campgrounds. We may do the gulf coast on the way home, but time will tell.
ReplyDeleteWhatever you do you will enjoy.
Just move around a bit.
Last year you did DHS and found it was too long in one place, remember?
I vote #3 or #4.
ReplyDeleteI vote #1.
ReplyDelete:)
Deleteyou know I vote #4 too..anywhere you go just be safe and happy and keep saying to Norma "yes dear or deer..get it??) les
ReplyDeleteSo many choices! I guess we will all know once you decide...or decide not to decide. It is nice having options to do...or not to do, isn't it? Cheers.
ReplyDeleteWhile in Mesa, you need to do to Organ Stop Pizza if you have not be there yet.
ReplyDeleteBeen there a few times. Yes, lots of fun.
DeleteIt was a hard decision for us. We, or I should say I, wanted to to New Mexico only because we could boondock and fuel is cheap. OTOH, it isn´t worth it for us to cross the U.S. border anymore. Too much hassle. They don´t treat us like guests, they treat us like terrorists. Fine. We´ll stay in Mexico and go to Mazatlan.
ReplyDeleteShould you decide to enter Baja, there is nothing that says you have to go all the way down. Spend some time around Ensenada, go to the bar of the stars at the Prohibition Era bar and hang out on the coast visiting the wineries.
Whatever you decide, good luck.
ReplyDeleteyep I know the feeling as we have been here in south Florida for 7 weeks and still have 6.5 to go... I ma getting the itch as well
ReplyDeleteI vote Texas because you know we LOVE it so much - there is much more then just the RGV but we did enjoy South Padre. Maybe give Terlingua a try - one of our most favourite spots! And the Hill country - and NE Texas. How about back to LA!
ReplyDeleteCajun Country would sure be nice! My mouth is watering!
DeleteHmmm... I just checked the weather in Abbyville and it is rain, rain, rain interspersed with thunderstorms for at least the next ten days.
DeleteWe are heading to Scottsdale tomorrow and will be there until mid-January. We need to get together if you stay in Arizona for a while!
DeleteI know mine is watering too - etouffee!!! Well, maybe January will be nicer there - doesn't matter the food more then makes up for it - right!?
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