Lessons learned so far

1. I can stay in a 8' camper and not kill my husband. Thank God for outdoor chairs!
2. Nice cosy carpet gets very dirty from wet ground. Especially carpet that was carefully installed underneath everything!
3. I over packed clothes. So far only used long pants to avoid mosquito's. The lightweight pants I bought at the last minute in San Felipe, are invaluable! But Jerry and I only needed two pairs of jeans not 4. Windbreaker has been invaluable. But not our hooded sweatshirts. I really needed those light weight pedal pushers I left home, have not used the jean pedal pushers at all. Glad I brought the light weight dress, but only have wore it once. Bought a skirt, that works well in the heat.
4.Had no problem with ants until here at Rio Duice. I managed to stand in ant pile, and get bit, first hour of being here. Now they are in the plastic bag I put my box sugar in the raw in! Insect repellent works on ants!
5.Maybe I will kill my husband, he keeps interrupting me and talking while I type this!
6.If you have a tall camper, stay away from objects that will damage it.
7. When driving one person looks close in (the driver) for topes and holes, the other looks way ahead. And pull over if you need to read those signs.
8. No one has the right away here in these countries, just push in and politely move over if three cars are passing. No one here gets too concerned about that, or people/bicycles/horses/taxis on road.
9. Taxis are wonderful. Stop in a gas station, find a taxi. Research where you want to camp, come back and get your vehicle. Narrow streets are not a place to try and find camping, and that way if there are several options you can decide which you like.
10. Use a plastic pan in your sink and toss the dishwater on the plants. That way your holding tank does not fill up.
11. Don't put a what you think is a not very hot frying pan on edge in the plastic pan you do your dishes in. Makes a nice hole!
12. Probably brought too much insect repellent. 10 cans maybe was too much.
13. Pencils with erasers and small paper tablets have been useful to give out to children.
14. Speed bump signs may be labeled, maybe not, may have paint, maybe not, may really be there when signed, maybe not. They are called viparos, reductors, topes, speed bumps and tumulos.
15. Hot showers, is something camping places say, but rarely exist. We have have hot showers here, but prior to this maybe twice. Cold is standard. My water purifier pitcher with a tea pot of hot water will mix for warm water for the shower. Jerry does not do this, he is tough!
16. Camping is very primative. Still costs. Hookups are what we figure will work.
17. Hand, battery operated fan with sprayer the best cooler.
18. The fantastic fan in our camper we installed is wonderful when we have electric, and we should have put the solar panel on the top of the camper.
19. Did not need the sleeping bag but two nights, and in the way after that.


Carol