We finally made it into Mexico on Nov. 14, easy, quick crossing;
they just wanted to see both vehicle registrations. Before we left California
Robin scraped off any US flag emblems on the RV and we put Canada flag stickers
on the RV and the car, making sure they were easily seen – no need to have the
Mexicans think we are Americans and Trump supporters!
It didn’t take long to hit road construction including
several long detours onto temporary dirt roads; it’s OK though because any
improvement to the roads are welcome!
Our first stop was near Ensenada at La Jolla RV Park - $15 US per night, right
on the ocean. There were hot springs under the beach, accessible at low tide,
you dig a hole with your feet and the water gets too hot to stand in. The steam
rises off the beach – pretty strange sight. A couple of Mexican campers dug a hole
big enough to lie down in and they spent hours in there. We stopped at a
favorite taco stand twice for amazing tacos, I was dreaming about this place
long before we got here! We got our fishing licences, set up our internet USB
stick, I got a haircut (about $12) and we made a stop at the fish market for
shrimp. Lots of birds to watch on the beach, shells to collect and time to
enjoy the sand between our toes.
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our favorite taco stand!
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steam rising from the hot springs on the beach
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After 3 nights in Ensenada we moved south to Fidel’s camp
near San Quintin, also on the Pacific ocean with miles of deserted beach,
covered in dozens of sand dollars (anyone need sand dollars?). We were lucky
enough to spot a group of dolphins fishing near shore. The trip here was thru
agricultural areas growing asparagus, sunflowers, grapes – lots of wineries,
then huge greenhouses with raspberries, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes.
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| typical detour for road construction |
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collecting money for the ambulance, or fire dept.
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| beautiful sunset over the Pacific |
We seem to hit Mexico the same time each year, which is the
Baja 1000 race week – we thought we could avoid the extra hiway traffic by
stopping where we did but we realized that the race was actually really close
and we decide to go watch. This is a 1000 mile race over 36 hrs max., mainly on
dirt roads thru the desert, for dirt bikes, quads, dune buggies, special
trucks, etc. The locals love it, coming out in droves to watch. Common sense
would dictate keeping a safe distance from these speeding vehicles but we were
as stupid as everyone else and stood less than 20 ft. from the track! We
positioned ourselves at the top of a dirt hill thinking it would be a good spot
– not paying enough attention to the direction of the wind. As the trucks came
flying up the hill the dust (and lot and lots of it) covered us instantly. You
couldn’t see a thing until the dust cleared. The helicopters flying overhead to
film the action didn’t help. After a bit we got smart and moved to the other
side. It was exciting to see and fun to watch the locals cheering – many had
tables and tarps set up so they could spend the day, kids to old folks.
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| looking down the hill at a part of the crowd |
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| just a bit too close! |
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| here comes the dust! |
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| going up the hill |
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| from a distance, looking up the hill |
After a couple nights we left the ocean and continued south
– were stopped at two military checkpoints where armed soldiers come in to
inspect the RV – this year we brought a bunch of decks of playing cards for
them which went over well. The roads have improved a bit in 3 years, but still
narrow. Lots of different cacti and boojum trees (they only grow in a small
part of Baja), across flat land then through mountains. We stopped for the
night at Rancho Sonora, a road side stop near an old abandoned onyx mine, then
we drove out to the mine (we were there 4 years ago). This time we were a bit
more selective in what we took, but of course we still took a bunch of nice
banded onyx. (We will figure out a use for it, we hope!). On our way back to
the RV we were lucky to see a spectacular sunset!
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| boojum trees |
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| a chunk of onyx |
We stopped near Catavina in an area of huge oddly placed
boulders surrounded by multiple varieties of cacti. Great for photos and some
hiking.
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| Another road detour, due to wash-out |
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| good boots are a necessity! |
Our next stop, where we remain, was Bahia de Los Angeles – a
side trip off the main hiway and over to the Sea of Cortez. The sight as you
come over the hill is beautiful, reddish islands and deep blue ocean. We
negotiated a deal to stay for a week, works out to be $10 Can. per day, no
service but there is water, bathrooms with showers and palapas (shelters). We
are about 150 ft. from the ocean, easy acces to kayak and great bird watching.
We have been out fishing in the kayak – I fish & Robin paddles (pretty
sweet deal), but no luck. We have tried fishing off the beach and I caught a
small halibut – we can see lots of fish but they seem very selective in what
they want to bite. Today is very windy so more of an “in day” – may try to
create something with all the seashells we have been collecting.
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| Bahia de Los Angeles |
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| it's dark by 5:00, asleep early so here we see sunrise |
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| our first fish, a halibut |
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| Robin feeding the fish scraps to the pelicans |
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| looking for clams |
We have met a variety of other campers, though there aren’t
many – a large family from California here for the week, a family who travelled
all the way here from Colorado for a 2 week vacation, people from France,
Germany, Switzerland, Puerto Rico, even 3 Europeans riding bicycles down the
Baja. Today is US Thanksgiving, one of the restaurants in this tiny, out of the
way village is serving a turkey dinner! We will stick to tacos and our fish for
our supper today. Perhaps we will take out a couple pieces of pumpkin pie that
I stashed in our freezer – we really are living the good life!
