Culiacan, Hermosilla, Mexicali

It’s Sunday the 10th of August. The last three days I’ve driven 9 hours each day covering about 420 miles each day.

Friday I drove from Guadalajara to Culiacan. I had originally thought I might stay in Mazatlan but was able to go a couple hours north and made it to Culiacan about 7 pm. I was happy to realize that I had crossed a time zone and had gained one hour.

I first stopped at the Radisson in Culiacan but quickly left when I was told it was $120 a night. I settled for a local hotel that was just $25 a night. I was sitting on the bed when a large cricket like creature surprised me landing on my leg. I have no idea where he came from in that windowless room and I think he was as surprised as I was scampering quickly under the bed. I never heard or saw him again.

That night I walked up to the main street and found a restaurant named “Tu Sushi”. I ordered a chicken and avocado roll deep fried and topped with sirimi. I also had a meat and vegetable rice dish. It was not the sushi I’m used to but it was tasty.

Saturday I got up early and was on the road by 7 am. I drove from Culiacan to Hermosilla. In Hermosilla I followed the signs to the Zona Hotelera and found a large resort like hotel with a swimming pool. I arrived after 4 pm but was again pleased to learn that I had crossed another time zone and it was actually about 3:30 pm. I had time to lounge by the pool and enjoy the extreme heat. I paid a total of $84 in road tolls on Saturday.

Sunday I was again on the road by 7 am driving from Hermosilla to Mexicali. I easily found the hotel that Marcine had recommended and again had time to enjoy some heat poolside. I saw a sign as I drove through Mexicali showing the temperature was 105 degrees.

The Mexican countryside has been spectacular. Saturday I drove through lots of farm land. Most of the day Sunday was desert and desert mountains. The last part of the drive as I neared Mexicali the farming picked up. For much of the last couple hundred kilometers I drove very close to a large fence on the US border. Driving parallel to the border I have experienced some serious military checks. One check was obligatory for every car. All passengers out of the cars the search included looking at the underside with mirrors.

The Lucerna Hotel is supposedly only 10 minutes from the newer quicker border crossing. I hope to be on the road to the border around 7 am Monday morning. My last border crossing back into the US.