Mexico Part 5. The Pacific Coast
Monday, 24 September 2012 9:21 am
Sunday 23rd September:
It was a hot still night and those roosters knew how to crow at the break of day. I think we were all pleased to be back on the road.
Our travels will now take us 1,300kms down the pacific coast, past Acapulco to almost the Guatemala border before we turn inland again towards the Yucatan Peninsula.
The road follows the coast, up over jungled headlands then dropping down again into crescent sandy bays.
One of these sandy bays we chose for lunch and a swim in the cool aqua waters.
We just had to find one of these bays for our camp tonight.... and we did.
It was too good, we had to drive up the beach however despite checking the sand the road pressures were just too high. A quick deflate of the tyres and all is good.
We set camp and set out the deck chairs and make the ssshhh noise as the beer cans are opened.
The beach is a dark colour, sand and rocks from volcanic origins.
The surf break is short and ferocious. The waves are about 4 metres and pound the shore with energy. Too dangerous to even contemplate a swim, but great to watch.
Camp 224: Hildigo Beach Camp
Cost: MXP Nil
N18* 11.550 W103* 04.817
Today : 188 Kms.
Trip Total: 86,304 Km
Monday 24th September:
A mating pair of turtles in the surf this morning to start the day.
Today we decided to get to Acapulco about 480kms south and with the winding coast road it took some time.
Then we noticed the security guard.
Finally it dawned on us. As this coastline is the drop off point for the drugs from Columbia on their way to the US, of course it is COKE - the REAL THING!
.....just kidding
We have found no violence just smiling faces.
Arrived Acapulco around 6pm and found the Trailer Park with no problem then headed into town to check out the sites.
Then you have hundreds of blue and white VW taxis charging at you, squeezing through the tightest of spaces.
The big tourist thing in town is the cliff diving (La Quebrada Clavadistas)
Since 1935 it has been a spectacle of young fellows diving off a cliff face into narrow turbulent sea water below.
There is no way I would jump of...certainly not for only $4 !
Acapulco is not at all that one thinks. Maybe it was one day but today the town is very old and drab. In fact it reminds me of Bombay, with its narrow streets and traders busy in every square inch.
Camp 225: Acapulco Trailer Park
Cost: MXP 250, negotiated down from 350
N16* 54.189 W099* 58.555
Today : 469 Kms.
Trip Total: 86,773 Km
The park is right on the beach and about 14kms from Centro. A bit old but clean. Cold shower water, nice on our hot tropical day stay
Free WiFi
Tuesday 25th September:
The local busses are all personally named, I just do not know how they see through the windscreen with all that writing.
In the evening the busses are illuminated with great lengths of LED lights.
An Acapulco must, was the old Spanish Fort dating back to the 15th Century.
Built on top of a hill overlooking the magnificent Bay of Acapulco.
The museum is well illustrated and sets out the time line of the explorers Columbus, Magellan, and Vasco De Gama through to the devision of the world between the Spanish and Portuguese powers.
This imaginary line from the North Pole to the South Pole is called the ‘Alexander Line’. West of the line is the Americas, and the Philippines, these became Spanish and thus today Spanish speaking, and East of the line Brazil and Africa became Portuguese.
The fort was built to protect the trade from the British Buccaneers, Freebooters, Corsairs, and Pirates like Sir Francis Drake.
Acapulco became an important port for shipment of goods from China and the Philippines via Acapulco across the land peninsula then shipped onto Spain.
Some of the best old timber chests filled with Chinese ware, also bronze cannons and cutlases. Really interesting.
This changed my appreciation of the town, realising that it had been in existence and an important trading port for over 500 years.
Drove south on the ocean road through to Marquelia and then down to the beach. Between deserted beach huts we picked up the old beer bottles and set camp
Camp 226: Marquelia Beach
Cost: MXP 100 see note below !
N16* 33.451 W098* 48.570
Today : 176 Kms.
Trip Total: 86,949 Km
Wednesday 26th September:
He knew we were there the night before so I was a bit ‘pissed off’ that he did not say anything then.
Anyway paid MXP100 for the 3 vehicles and promptly left.
Happy to pay, but give me the choice first !
Check out the old and new
The ass carries the fire wood whilst the young man texts on his i-Phone !
Tried to find a camp around Puerto Angel but overcrowded with backpacker hotels and eateries. Not a square inch available.
Camp 227: House Construction site After we had settled in a guy came down and said it was Ok
Cost: MXP Nil for us to stay the night. It was his bosses property but no problem.
N15* 43.352 W096* 25.451
Today : 352 Kms.
Trip Total: 87,301 Km
Thursday 27th September:
A quick shot as we round yet another corner and say good-by to the Pacific Coast.
Now our journey takes us across the Mexican Peninsula to the Atlantic Ocean side.
Thousands of wind turbines and large power lines leading away from the area.
We had a strong head wind and then cross wind so it must be the ideal position.
At 4pm we started to look for camp but only after we left the costal plain and started our rise over the central mountain range did we find a great pull off.
Just finished our communal dinner before a tropical thunder storm broke loose, heavy rain accompanied by lightning and thunder.
Camp 228: Road side pull out
Cost: MXP Nil
N16* 25.684 W094* 06.336
Today : 354 Kms.
Trip Total: 87,655 Km