I write about our new home in Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico, and the adventure of getting here, 2,500 miles from our former home in Redmond.

First, the travelogue. First overnight stop was in Alturas, California, not far from Lakeview. Driving around Summer Lake and near to Paisley and the famous ZX ranch, we observed a real-life working cowboy moving a half-dozen cows alongside the highway toward his real-life working cowgirl readying the gate leading to lakeside pasture.

The next destination was Tonapah, Nevada, an old gold-mining town at 6,030 feet elevation. Stayed in an old but well-renovated hotel and ate well at a nearby Mexican restaurant.

Some 400 miles later we landed in Kingman, Arizona, and enjoyed a swim in 100-plus-degree weather! And found a developing brewpub. ’Nuff said about that.

Onward to Tucson in more triple-digit weather, then to Nogales for an overnight before crossing the border.

Very pleasant and easy paperwork to send us on our way. Destination now was Navojoa, well into Mexico. Found a real oasis named Del Rio Best Western, complete with outdoor eating, pool and great breakfast.

Next stop was Mazatlan, an old town with a hip ocean front. Little taxis that looked a lot like golf carts took us to fine food and a tour of historic French and Spanish neighborhoods, as well as modern hilltop homes. After two nights there we made the final push to Chapala, and here we are!

Fortunately, two wonderful friends from Redmond moved to Chapala in January and are putting up with us and putting us up, until we end our homeless episode. Carla and Viv have already given us many pointers and are now showing us around the area so we can get to where we need to go to find our own way.

Legal matters, haircuts, laundry, food and, of course, cultural sites are being taken care of as rapidly as we can. Our first venture out on our own was to church in a 400-plus-year-old cathedral, complete with the entire mMass in Spanish. Then to look around a bit and succumbing finally to an eatery with not one, but two identical menus, one in Spanish and the other in English. Very thoughtful. And we found our way back to the starting point!

As one of our favorite writers about moving to Mexico says, let’s wrap this up. After months of sometimes anxious preparation for this big adventure, we are beginning to live the sought-after dream.

More stories to follow? Maybe so.

— Miles Hutchins is a retired Redmond resident who grew up in Central Oregon. Contact him at milesredmond@gmail.com.