March 1st – leave Roca Azul to head to Patzcuaro

We left Roca Azul about 8:45 am – the temperature had been 14C at 7 am but warming quickly.  We drove along the south shore of Lake Chapala.  Beautiful view of the lake and the towns on the north shore nestled at the foot of the mountains.

We stopped for gas at the town of Tizapan El Alto and a couple of the local boys were asking about the Even Brake braking system on the car and took a tour of our “casita” … little house. They were quite amazed.


Bev spotted a local cabillaro riding a donkey, and towing another, botrh loaded with some sort of vegetation.

After highway 15 turned south away from Lake Chapala we passed through valleys with rich dark loam of fertile crop fields.  Outside of the town of  Jacona we passed Driscolls, home of the raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries we purchase off season at home in Loblaw.  There are fields of greenhouses containing raspberry canes and strawberry plants.  Near the town of Tangancicuaro we pass vendors along the side of the highway who are selling flats of strawberries. 

Just past the town of Chilchota we saw men excavating clay for pottery.  The artisans shops for the pottery were just a few kilometers down the highway.

Taking Highway 37 south from Carapan the scenery has changed significantly.  No more palm trees – the area looks like Ontario with the edge of fields lined with coniferous and deciduous trees.  On the coast everything had been green.  Here the fields are all brown, looking quite dry.

In a small village, Turicuaro, the streets were very narrow, with barely enough room for two vehicles to pass. The over hang of the roofs reached right to the curb and you were always concerned about it when passing another vehicle. Bev was apoplectic but Vic thought it was all part of the adventure.

In another section the road was quite steep and winding. We were in first gear and pedal to the metal for what seemed like several kilometers but was likely only two. Later on, the climb moderated and soon flattened out and the drive was very nice.

We arrive at El Pozo Trailer Park in Patzcuaro around 3 PM.  The weather is warm when we arrive, about 25C but quickly starts to cool off around 4:30 PM.




BTW, it was granddaughter Maxine's 1st month birthday today. She celebrated with her BC grandfather Bill, aunt Laura and Uncle Sean, on Gabriola Island, near Victoria BC.