April 5 Heading North

April 5 Leaving Los Barriles


On the road again, early, truly early for us, we were on the road by 7:00. We were aroused by a nasty mosquito, buzzing around my ear, then around Lorne’s, then me, then him…..slap, slap slap, we slapped ourselves awake! Well, we wanted to get going early.


The roads are relatively quiet after Semano Santos. Hopefully all those who have seriously imbibed all weekend are safely tucked in their beds recovering and not driving down the road all blurry eyed!


The cardon are blooming – beautiful white flowers. There is a pink blooming seemingly leafless tree between Los Barriles and El Triumpho, very pretty.on them at all.


We decided to take the road over to Los Planes from El Triumpho. I drove. That’s right I DROVE the motor home that is 6 inches narrower than the lane! The first part was fine but the second part – from La Ventana up the big hill and part way down was full of extreme potholes, so deep they were through the asphalt and well into the sand below! It was impossible to miss them; very hard on the tires. There were others on the road that whipped on past us, I guess of the belief that if they go fast enough they will succeed in flying over those pot holes. Did I mention that I drove this part!! I am impressed I am. In the past I have been too frightened to drive on these narrow roads. However, Lorne has been dizzy for the past three days so I had to do it as we need to get north now.


Later…
Lorne feels much better today so we didn’t go into the clinic and he is driving now from La Paz to Ciudad Constitution – a 200 km jaunt through the dessert. This is not the prettiest part of Baja. We are aiming for Loreto today. I drove to the Gigantes Mountains after Constitution. Downright amazing! Twice in one day!


The check point right after La Paz was quite serious this time, we had to pull off with a number of others to be searched. They wanted to go in the pod (under the kayaks) which would have been a big deal so I told them I didn’t understand what they were saying; “no intiendo.” After a series of attempts to ask me about that I still did not understand; so they gave up and searched inside. One of them was particularly enamored with a hunting knife of Lorne’s and wanted to know all about it, where it was made, where we got it… When asked they told me they were looking for guns.


We just passed two road workers with shovels loading a truck with asphalt. It is a hot day for such hard work. It’s a hot day for driving! In the past we have also seen two workers filling a pick up with gravel with their shovels, and big rocks by hand. These days we see many more backhoes and dump trucks.


We had a fabulous time in Los Barriles this year. We always do, but this year was even better. Since we were able to spend such a long time in one spot we became more a part of the community and got to know so many gringo neighbors. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see our Ranch Pescadero friends as much as we would have liked; although us girls did go to yoga twice a week together and frequently went for lunch afterwards. There are just so many very nice people and things to do here. We were able to go out to listen to music lots too, as we were so close to town it made it easier to quad in. Most everyone here is our age or older and living life fully. It is truly like club med – there is something to do every day if you want to and lots of social interaction. The live music is excellent; there are a couple of local bands who play frequently at the restaurants and the hotel. Music starts at 7 and the crowd starts thinning out around 9 or 9:30 and the band is beat by 10. The atmosphere is lovely, tables by the pool under the stars filled with friendly faces of people we know and others we are about to meet. Some are familiar because we have run into them so many times. For the most part every one is very friendly and very casual. We have had lots of opportunity to practice Spanish, unfortunately I didn’t take any Spanish courses, next year I hope to.


April 6
Unbelievable, we made it all the way to Santispac in one day! This is an absolute record for us! Normally this would be a two day drive. We got into Santispac about 6:45, just as the sun was setting so good timing! Had dinner played a few tunes and fell into bed.


Yesterday Lorne saw a bob cat and ran over a big rattler on the road. I missed them. This morning a skunk ran across the road.


We won’t be stopping in to see John at San Lucas Cove this time, we need to push on. So, on the road this morning at 7:00 am again. Lorne is feeling ok today with only a very slight amount of dizziness…. Excellent.


South of Santa Innis (at Catavina)
Whew this road just gets worse! It is so rough and patched over we have to drive very slow. Its also incredibly windy. The dry lake bed had lots of water – well I don’t know how deep it is but it covers a large area!! This is the first time I’ve seen that! It is very green here, lush with flowers as well, yellow daisies, white , pink, purple blushes of small flowers, stands of white poppies, the red tipped barrel cactus. Very picturesque – just ask me – I have taken a ton of pictures of this area with my new camera. This is an incredible camera, an excellent deal. Its an Olympus 26X optical wide zoom. We paid about $350 for it. Last years version was $570 – the new version (mine) came out that much cheaper and better.


This high desert is very beautiful and strange. The boojum trees tower and there are some of the tallest cardon I have seen anywhere. Some of these cordons go straight up as tall as a telephone pole without branching. The ocotillos are covered with tiny green leaves and their orange flowers are at the very top. The sun is getting low and the light through the thorns on the cholla is really quite beautiful, even through the dirty windows. With any luck I can get some pics of those when we stop. I think this area is one where I have tons of pictures of cactus and the strange landscape.


Later…


Pulled into Santa Innis just after 6:00 with light enough for a walk. The area is beautiful. The field where we park the motor home is all green, today it looks like a well groomed park. While filling with water a man came by – it was Keith – from Ligui several years ago. Fantastic, he remembered us (but we didn’t remember him right away) … his wife is Betty. They bought a casita this year at Bahia de Los Angeles in Dagetts RV park. They are travelling with Ray and Delaina! What a treat – we met them at Ligui several years ago too. They are a lovely couple from Kamloops who are full timers in their trailer. They have been travelling for the last 6 years all over Canada, the US and mainland Mexico. This year they returned to Baja and while they planned on going further south they stopped at Ligui and didn’t see any need to go any further, the fishing was good, it was beautiful, the people were nice…. They plan on going there again next year so we will stop in there to see them too. Ray is still fishing and playing his guitar. Delaina has quit water color painting and is now focusing on her threads. Not sure what that means other than sewing. I will find out next year I guess.


What a windy night!! It was whistling and blustering so that the old motor home was rocking, and not gently! The straps on the kayaks were vibrating and buzzing. Not much sleep for either of us.


April 7


On our way about 8 or so, into the wind, the road was marginally better than the rugged road into Santa Innis then about an hour out it was paved with a shoulder. Very nice indeed, next thing I’ll be wanting to drive. Ha!