15D road report

[Tequila]

I am now just north of Mazatlán. Road is good to San Carlos although construction of an interchange at the Guyamos turn off is causing some confusion. The usual ramp is out of service. The right hand off ramp is out of service, you have to detour left. The road from El Carrizo to El Fuerte is in very bad shape with one bridge out, go to El Fuerte via Los Mochis. Transitos are active in the many 40 kmh sections, be careful.

The road surface is very rough from Guasave to Culliacan. Lots of potholes.

Pemex 4925 south of Los Mochis where many overnight, is now gone. It is now Smartgas. The compound is still available for use, not sure if it is still free. There is a Subway, Oxxo and an Banorte ATM available.

I will have a report on Teacapan in a day or 2.

Villa Celeste in Celestino is open and very full for the first time in years. I plan to check out other parks along here today

[Wm_Elliot]

Yes, the mosquitoes and other insects are very bad in San Blas. Teacapan, on the other hand the mosquitoes are not an issue.

[moisheh]

They tried making San Blas a tourist area about 30 or 40 years ago. The president of Mexico arrived in a helicopter. He got out and the mosquitoes were so bad he left right away. San Blas is a great spot but those jejenes are horrible. A number of people have tried building small RV parks but I think they are mostly closed. San Blas has been a hideaway since the days of pirates. In the 60's and 70's it was a haven for hippies and criminals running away from prosecution in the USA. Mostly white collar crime. Of course there were also drug dealers. The first time we stopped in San Blas I could not understand why there were so many hippy women in long skirts. They were the remnants of another era. This area is also home to a lot of Huichol. I am sure Mex has some stories about san Blas.

Moisheh

[Tequila]

I drove it last year, good toll highway, but you still have to use the old road to get to las varas which is problematic for larger RV's. San Blas is obviously being developed as a major tourist resort

[MEXICOWANDERER]

A low-road bypass-around-Tepic report would be handy. The one that heads toward San Blas, then T's and goes south around Matachen Bay, Sta Cruz then meets Mex 200 at Las Varas.

[Tequila]

Thankyou, I am doing that route in about 3 days. I am avoiding teacapan due to my low slung rig, but my partner will be checking on it. Where is the washed ou tbridge detour?

[jtomich4]

Oct 30 thru Nov 2: Nogales to Guadalajara, all plenty good enough for my 36 foot diesel pusher. Never stopped or searched. No more pot hole and construction problems than most years along the road, even the washed out bridge detour was only a five minute delay. Mazatlan, Obregon and Guadalajara bypasses all open. Slept in gas station truck stops the whole way and never left the highway except for our traditional meal at La Bruja on Playa Cerritos. Some hurricane wind damage, roofs, trees, road signs, near Esquinapa/Teacapan but nothing that interfered with travel. Five or six of the toll booths waved us through with no charge. Saw at least four lengthy Militar convoys along with many crashed big rig’s rolled over in the center ditch.

[Lou_Morris]

Thanks for the report.I heard recently that the Mazatlan bypass Libramiento south was closed, perhaps due to hurricane damage? That true? I’m passing that way next week, would be helpful to get an update if you get a chance.

[Tequila]

looks like villa celeste is the only RV park left in Celestino

[Wm_Elliot]

I'm looking forward to hearing about Teacapan.