Mazatlan: The Adventures of Patty and Peter Zimmerman

By Patty Zimmerman.
contained in an email from Chris Samson
Chris , sounds as if you are definitely the world wide coordinator for Petaluma.
Will give short update and send to many people.
Please let people know that I am planning to be back in Petauma the first week of Feb and staying till at least the end of March.
I will certainly stay with Jane for part of that time and will certainly pet sit for Angela.
I am looking for paid pet and house sitting and plan to work with Gary Smith and do my dog walking job at that time.
For the wonderful people who helped with advise and work on our vehicles this is for them. Toby and Maralyn, Mike and Ginny, Julie, Greg, Stephan, etc............
First thing that happened was the rain started pouring in over the door while we parked overnight in the terrible weather in the Ventura Moose Lodge.
Never could figure where it was coming from and now it isn´t raining.
Second, When we finally felt well enough to leave the hotel in San Quintin we forgot to secure the fridg and Connie´s bottle of apple juice and a bottle of olives broke and made a lovely mess all over the floor.
The door did not come off, however.
Third, while driving onto the beach to park and visit our friends at Danzante, at Mike´s recommendation, of course, we got stuck in the sand with the tide coming in.
It was actually my fault but we got towed out by a small red 4 wheel drive, diesel pick up truck, quite embarassing.
But Mike and Lauren did invite us up to the outrageously fabulous resort they have built on the top of a small mountain for dinner of huge shrimps in garlic sauce, rice, beans salad, mango cheesecake, beer, margs and red wine, so we didn´t feel too bad.
Also enjoyed a hot shower and good plumbing.
Please go to their web site danzante.com to see the place.
They charge between three and four hundred dollars per night and have nine double occupancy rooms.
They had sixteen guests and we got to sit at the head of the table with them on either side of us and watch as the full moon came up behind the mountains.
The restaurant is round with a palm roof and windows all round overlooking the beach.
They have three huge cats and a wonderful dog.
Fourth, that evening our toilet in the trailer broke and flooded the bathroom.
There is no turn off knob so couldn´t use any of the water in kitchen or sink ,etc.
That told us what we were going to do the next day.
Drive twenty miles back up to Loreto and find a plumbing shop and fix it.
Peter did a weird job on it but in fact I like it better now.
Isn´t that exciting?!
Then off to La Paz for a night and onto the ferry to Topolabampo. Six hours, leaves at 3 pm every day and arrives at 9pm.
Costs $800.
A lot but saved us 2000 miles driving.
We had to get from Baja to the mainland of Mexico an we are working towards Cuanavaca to tie up with the vampire and hi witch queen, Amanda.
Fun trip, beautiful weather, had dinner on board, lots of very well behaved kids, a fight tried to break out at the bar as we were pulling in but it was so pathetic that it never went anywhere and was too boring.
Getting off the boat was not boring. We were squeezed in between enormous trucks and trailers and cars and now it was dark.
The handsome fellows who were organizing the getting off were very efficient and very kindly had us wait till everything else was off and let Peter drive out instead of having to back down a steep ramp.
That was quite a relief.
By now it was dark and we had to find a place to pull off the road for the night as we promised ourselves not to drive at night.
There are cows wandering across the road when you least expect it and many many huge trucks.
However, it proved impossible for many miles as we hit massive fog.
The other vehicles drive with their blinkeers on which was good but sometimes there are no l ines in the road. In the end we parked in a Pemex station for 50 cents.
Next day left very early as Peter was sure we were not supposed to be parking there and it was still foggy.
After about an hour we heard a scraping noise and yes, sure enouh our great back porch had bitten the dust.
Oh dear, what to do?
As some of you know we had a lot of weight on that porch.
It lasted 2000 miles.
We started to dismantle all the heavy metal boxes and take stuff out.
Right on the side of the road with huge trucks whizzing by.
It was only a few minutes before a charming man stopped and helped us while I made tuna sandwhiches.
The people here are nothing but charming and helpful.
He wouldn´t take a peso from us.
We managed to put everything in the trailer and the porch wasn´t scraping on the ground once the weight was taken off.
We made it all the way to Mazatlan before dark.
Now the lady says I have to finish as she is closing.
Will contine lateer.
Love to all