Where is Beach Parking?!

Here are some pictures from the nine days we spent at La Saladita with Matt and Norah, who we now lovingly refer to as Beach Parking (a combination of their last names Beechinor and Parkinson.) We had such a great time with them and definitely miss our caravan partners! Henry says you both have an open invitation to come back on the vancation whenever you want!!

This is Mateo´s Birthday night and our first night in Saladita. We got into town and immediately got in the water for a while. Went back to the van for a quick change and headed out for a good Mexi dinner at one of the 4 restaurants on Saladita beach.

The break at Saladita...that is now calling our name to come back...and we are answering! We´ll be there tonight.

The sunsets are picture perfect every night...

Last night we stayed in a small town called La Carrizal, about 30 km north of Accapulco. We drove to Zihuatanejo this morning and are here for the afternoon, taking care of some business and re-stocking supplies. We are headed back to La Saladita tonight, which is about a half hour outside of Zihuat. Our plan is to be there for the next month or so! We will be in town once every week or so and will keep everyone updated. It has been so fun reading comments from everyone on the blog!

Valle de Bravo

These are some pictures from our weekend in Valle de Bravo, a small town set in the mountains about two hours outside of Mexico City. The surrounding mountains almost brought back some feelings of around Idaho with big trees and a beautiful lake right in the center of town. The town is the annual host to a few weeks worth of paragliding competition, that draws the world`s best including Matt Beechinor and Nate Scales from back home in ID. We can see why they keep going back there year after year. The town has a great, almost European feel.

These are a couple pictures from the rooftop of the apartment where Matt and Nate stay every year. We were able to park the van right in front of their place on the street and take advantage of some free camping.

Blake couldn´t resist some pics of these. And claims they are going to be our next "van" remodel. They would definitely handle the roads down here better than our 91 Ford, with 6 wheel independent suspension.

The takeoff everyday for the 150 paragliders in the comp, was from the top of a ridgeline outside of the city, with some amazing views of the country. This is Matt at launch...

Landing Zone on the last day of the comp was right by the lake. Pretty scary some years for some guys that overshoot the landing and end up in the lake. Matt came in first on this day of the comp and ended up boosting himself into the #1 ranked position in the US!!!!

On the day we left Valle, we drove up to the butterfly reserve that is home to millions of returning Monarchs year after year that migrate as far as into Canada and come back to the same tree each year in Valle...it takes 4 generations to make the trip each year!!

Pictures, Pictures!!

Here are just a few of the many pictures we have started to take along the way. The first couple are from Seattle, as we began on a little side trip, to see some very special people along the way and start the trip out right!!

This was the first night we made it to the coast, after the first few nights spent at Pemex Stations. This camping area was such a welcome site and so beautiful that next morning when a low fog set in among the countless palms.

Our third night along the coast, we were lucky to stumble into the small beach town called Troncones. We pulled in right at sundown and just in time for this shot...

This is the top of the pass, driving up and over the Sierra Madres on our way to Valle de Bravo and ultimately Mexico City, to meet up with Matt and pick up Norah.

We are currently just outside Acapulco in a place called Pie de la Cuesta and are taking off further down the coast in the morning. Hope to have a few more pictures up soon when we find a faster internet connection!

Back to the Beach

Hi All, We have now been "living" on the beach outside of a small town called La Saladita for the last 5 days. There is a great left hand point beach break, perfecto for us beginners to learn to surf. We have been able to pick up on all the in´s and out´s of the surrounding area from a couple of the local Canadians who have now been living and camping in the same spot since before Christmas. Very sleepy town with no phones or internet cafe´s, so we are in Zihuatanejo for the day to re-stock on food and water and get in some city time (including a little shopping for the girls). Zihuat is a pretty fun town, and we will def. be back on our way down to Acapulco when we take Norah and Matt to the airport. :( It has been a blast having them along on our travels for the first part of our trip and figuring out Mexi life together. We´re off to the SuperMercado for some more sunblock and aloe! We´re going through it fast, the sun is hot south of the border! Hope the winter is treating everyone well, let us know if the snow is still flying fast and make some turns for us...we´ll do the same for you...in the waves!! Love to all.

We REALLY are South!

WOW,

After driving for the last week, we are finally in the almost deep South of Mexico and have a minute to breathe and update everyone on our travels thus far. We did cross the border last Friday afternoon and spent the first couple nights in Pemex gas stations, the monoply on Mex gas. Made it to the coast on Night #3 to a great makeshift camping and caravan spot filled with Canadians and Americans. A welcome and very safe spot after a long day of driving and the sun disappearing on the horizon. I think we would have been sucked into the place for a while, if not for the big push to get to Mexico City. Had a few more loco driving days along Mex 200, the coastal road that somewhat follows the coast, but more than anything winds through some crazy mountain areas. Ended up in a great small town called Troncones, about 30km North of Ixtapa and had a day to relax before the big push on to meet Matt Beechinor in Valle de Bravo, where we are this evening, Whew we made it!!

We did end up doing the drive into Mexico City yesterday to pick up Norah Parkinson, even after the offer of some guys in Valle offered to have a taxi go pick her up. We knew it was part of our whole experience and we couldn`t miss out on driving through the largest city in the world. There are no words to describe how insane trying to navigate through the city and avoid the millions of people that seem to be on the same road at the same time with you, all fighting for pull position. It is chaotic to say the least and def. kept us on our toes. It took us twice as long to get there and back than anyone predicted, not taking into account Friday afternoon traffic. Plus having our first encounter with "La Polica" for supposedly not being able to drive in the city with our license plate # on Fridays. We called his bluff tho and were let off after a bit of an argument. It`s all part of the fun!! Made it back to Valle de Bravo safely last night and had a relaxing morning around the town square. Then headed over in the afternoon to see the final landing of the Pre-Worlds for paragliding by the lake, where Matt pulled in first for the day!!! A great day and a great start to the next 20 days with Matt and Norah...we`re on our way back to the beach very soon!

Love,
The Eagles