A stuck van and bathing in the ocean ....

After leaving Guaymas, I drove 7 hours. Dean picked up driving for another 2 hours to bring us into the town of Mazatlan a tourist beach town. We drove through the poor town to get to a beach littered by condos and large hotels. Had a little dinner, and started walking around to find a place that we could park the van and get a little sleep. We found a parking lot that was open and led to the beach. Almost immediately we happened to get our van stuck in the sand, and the rear wheels so deep that we were resting on the gas tank. After an hour of digging ourself even further in the ground we decided a tow was the only way. We started out from our beach front, and were yelled out by some garbage men. After a lot of sign language, and much bad spanish we came to the conclusion they wanted to help tow us out using the dump truck. We attached a rope to the frame of the van and to the dump truck. The van came out with ease, and we gave the men $30 for their help. We then thought that bathing in the ocean was a good idea, so we did so by sharing a bar of soap and drinking from a bottle of wine. Once so fresh, and so clean clean, we started to dry off at the van. Then came the cops, who spoke no english, but could communcate very well that we weren't supposed to be swimming during the night. So we jumped in our van, soaked, and found a place where we wouldn't be bothered and and hit the rack.