Day 27 to San Ignacio

Then up on a short drive to San Ignacious, about the middle of the peninsula.

We were driving through a desert with cactus, and cresote bushes and ocotilla, with some coming into flower




and then comes a forest of palm trees. It is an oasis, a big beautiful oasis.














In their midst is the town, a very old town.






The church dates back to the 1700s









Great place to visit.

Day 26 to Santispac Beach near Mulege

.From here, we went back to Santispac Playa for a camp on the beach. On route, we took a short break by this restaurant













And, of course, a military check point where they may inspect your rig and car looking for ....????




















The views of Bahia de concepcion were beautiful





















Six of us drove into Mulege for a dinner at Ray’s - oysters Rockefeller, coconut shrimp and flan. Absolutely wonderful!!!!

Day 25 to Palapa 206

Good bye to two

Two rigs decided to spend more time in the sun, so it was goodbye to Nancy and Dick, and Mike and Mary. The rest of us were up and on the road heading for palapa 206 near C. Constitucion.

Tonight, there was tacos and a showa. The tacos were a mix of chicken and beef, with all the toppings - mmm.













And the showa was a group of student dancers presenting folk dances from a variety of regions in Mexico. This 8 year old can really handle that lasso.






They were really good - with 2 young men dancing with machetes sending sparks flying as they clashed them together.








At the end, they got people from the audience up to dance a round dance and a chicken dance. Someone was always out of step - maybe too much tequila.

Carnival

Carnival parades are at night. They have a parade on 3 evenings. - Same parade going back and forth on the malecon. Not so much into beads as into confetti, which they have by the bagful or have eggshells that they have filled with confetti . As we waited for the parade, a little one had great pleasure emptying the confetti, and rolling in it.










The parade was lots of fun. School bands, community floats, dance schools, one drag float.






Reminded me of the Mission Christmas parade - only it was at sunset, and it was warm.
























Monday and Tuesday were lazy days with adventures to the Carnival and the parade each night. Had great dinners. Shopped for groceries for the trip up the Baja.

Around La Paz

Headed towards the baja ferries that go to the mainland.




Then beyond that there are 2 ( dos) wonderful beaches – Playa Balander




And playa Tecolote


Back to the RV Park, where a mirror was snapped off by someone trying to back into a parking spot. He had no spotter behind, and backed in and broke the passenger mirror, then drove forward, and backed up into the drivers' mirror. Fortunately, we were there and banged on his rig and he stopped before he snapped the second mirror. It will now be really interesting dealing with the Mexican Insurance company. And someone in our group had an extra mirror which we duct taped on so George could see out the side - a must for RV's. And me sticking my head out the window to ensure no one is coming up as we turn or change lanes (not much of a problem in Mexico, because most roads are only one lane wide.

Moving on

On the road to La Paz



Short drive – 63 miles north to La Paz. The drive went through oasis of palm trees and up over the Trinidad mountains to the city. No problemo getting in the Rv park. Then we caught the bus to the Malécon. The bus wound through the city and finally get to the central area. A short walk to the waterfront. They had closed the street to traffic, and all the booths for Carnival were along the roadway. Most of the action happens at night, so it was easy to get about. Many of the booths were food, or beer, or take-a-change games like the PNE. Then there were the booths selling clothing, rugs, blankets, and dishes. Each block had at least one band setting up so all along we hear “si, si, si, unos, does, tres, si” at varying volumes from loud to deafening.


After strolling the malecon, Dustin took us to this little eatery - plastic tables and chairs, tarps for sides - and all they served was shrimp - by the kilos, boiled or fried. Or peeled with garlic, or chilis. No veggis, some tortilla chips. Boy was it ever good!!!! - and cheap $140 pesos for the kilo and drinks and tip.

Touring North and South

Beaches




Beaches


And villages with churches




And more Beaches




Nothing but beaches. Life is tough!!

Los Barriles

Our stay at Cabos is over. On the road by 8. took the new toll road from the corridor to the aeropuerto in San Jose del Cabo - no one was on it and it went through the hill country just west of the city. Then over the hill, and along the coast of the Sea of Cortez, and set up at camp by noon.

Los Barilles means the Barrels - named because the sailors would bring barrels ashore to fill with water from the artesian wells. It is beautiful here. Not the park, as it was washed away by Hurricane John and they are rebuilding, and it is nothing but a sand parking lot. But they have power and water.




But it is right on the beach




- and it is a perfect walking beach
miles and miles of soft sand. This is obviously a wind surfing area, though the winds were light today.

And the water is that amazing blue - azul in Spanish sound more like it.

Spent the day walking the beach and enjoying the sun. at dinnertime, we noticed it was getting chilly and we changed to jeans - it was 22 - I think we have acclimatized nicely!!

East of Cabo

Hero Adventure

Took a trip east of San Jose del Cabo. We went to the beach where we left for our dive adventure many years ago. What a difference!! It is being developed into Port Cabo, with a modern marina with cement wharfs and landscaped boulevard.







Then continued driving east along a dirt road – rough dirt road which followed the coast line around to the Sea of Cortez. K’s and k’s of beach!!



And then a small group of not so shabby houses, or a collection of RV’s ( no idea how they got in without shaking every bolt out of place.)

Then we came across about 18 Italians standing on the road, with a minivan that had slid off where the side of the road had been washed away. It was tipping quite a bit. Hero George wheeled my trusty jeep into position, attached the tow-rope thing, and on the second attempt - aborted the first attempt because car started to slide farther into the washout and tip even more - on te second attempt, pulled the car back onto the road. Great cheering and shouts of “Bravo” filled the air, then offers of drinks in San Jose tonight ( turned down ). The question begs to be asked - what were 3 rented mini-vans full of people and luggage coming from the airport doing on the dirt road going to San Jose - there is a direct, paved highway! However, the videos ( 4 cameras ) they took of their rescue will make a great story!







Kicking back

Monday and Tuesday were spent relaxing in the sun, doing little tours and finding a great grocery store. Did I mention that the weather has turned perfect - sun, highs in the low 80’s, slight breeze off the water in the afternoon. Tomorrow we head out. I could stay here a while!!

Todos Santos ( musica - Hotel California )

Group trip up to Todos Santos. It was their arts festival, so there was a market










And entertainment.










Had a fabulous lunch of fish in peanut sauce. Mmmmmm






Saw the updated, remodeled, repainted, decorated, almost elegant Hotel California. What a change for when we were last here. It looks like a destination hotel now.




And on the way back to Cabo, went down a dirt road to an amazing beach.

We made It!!!

Cabo San Lucas

We have arrived!!! The destination achieved. Once again we started out at 8, and headed to Cabo via highway 19 through Todos Santos. Boy have things changed!!!! I think we were here about 10 years ago and it is totally different. Lots of new hotels, the highway is paved, lots of buildings.

And then we got to Cabo. It has a Costco, Walmart, Home Depot. Lots and lots of new resorts. The glass factory which was in a field is now totally surrounded. In fact, we couldn’t even see it. Is this progress?




Our camp is just east of Cabo, and is clean, with good showers, and wifi. Many people here are from BC.
View from our Park.

We went for a drive in the jeep to see the condos where we stayed before - good grief, the whole area is now shops, and condos, and hotels. No more empty fields. The Fiesta Inn is not next door - it is now Desire Resort and Spa. The bakery in san Jose is gone - I was so looking forward to their fresh baguettes!

Diving Disappointment

Decided to go diving today. We had booked it yesterday when we were in Cabo. The water was cold, so we were outfitted with 2 wetsuits each to keep us warm - I could hardly move. There was a cruise ship in, and the harbour was crazy with boats zipping here and there. The first dive was just outside the harbour, before Los Arcos. George did feel right in the water, so he did not dive. Then it was just me and the guide. Water was cold, but bearable, and the visibility was about 20 feet. Lots of sand in the water. There was lots of fish, and we saw a frog fish on the move - a very rare sight. At one point, I thought a boat was overhead, and when I looked up, it was a very dense school of fish. An alright dive. Second dive, the cold set in, and my ears hurt so I stopped early. Got back and slept the afternoon. Don’t think I’ll dive anymore this trip.

La Paz1

Up and on the road by 8. I love these early starts as we are usually in our camps around noonish and have time to explore. The day began driving through the plateau ( it is really big ). But the green quickly faded and it became what I thought the Baja would be like.





By 11, the Bay of La Paz was in view, and we descend down into a busy metropolitan area. Our camp (Casa Blanca) is in the middle of town, beside the hospital. It is a very nice spot – and the showers had hot water, and lots of pressure, and sprayed the water on you, not all around the room. It felt really good. This place has a nice pool ( unheated and cold right now ), tennis courts ( and local kids were getting lessons ).

As we were packing up, a lady came over to say hi - Bonnie Towne from Hatzic Prairie. I couldn’t believe it. George had both her kids when he was principal. It’s really a small world.

Constitucion city

Palapa 206

Up early and on the road. Said a temporary farewell to the Sea of Cortez, and headed in land, up into the mountains ( well, big hills).


George seems to be getting used to the roads without shoulders, or maybe it’s me that is beginning to relax.

Desert is now what I expected - lots of brown, sparse plants. And then, we get onto the southern plateau, which is a very, very flat landscape, with farming, and plowed fields, and green crops. I get confused. Flying over, we saw nothing green.

Drove about 136 miles, past through the town of Cuidad Constitucion ( Constitution City) and to our camp for the night. It was an open area with hookups, and lots of parking.




On our trip up the Baja, we stop here again but this time we have tacos and folkdancing. Arrived around noon, so we had time to explore and do some provisioning. This town was weird, because, once you left the highway, the roads were dirt until you came to a grand boulevard - paved, 2 lanes each way, and a treed divider. Then you were back on dirt roads. Someone had a dream that didn’t quite get finished. Saw some interesting churches.

Loreto

Monday, we had a lazy start today. Lots of time for walks on the beach, and viewing of the sunrise. It was a short drive ( 73 km ) down to the tourist town of Loreto. The drive followed the coast of the bay, then inland for a bit, and then we were there.



We spent the afternoon touring the town, walking on the malecon, going into the old church and an elegant old hotel. ( Forgot the camera, again!! ) It is a really neat little town, and very empty of tourists. Got a little lost trying to find the old hotel and I tried my Spanish, only we didn’t know the name of the hotel, so we did get directed to a hotel, La Pinta – just not the right one. However, we take to people here from California, and they gave us the correct information. Once again we are parked by the beach, though there are one row of buildings between.

The beach is on the Sea of Cortez, and is quite rocky.

Bahai de concepcion

Day 7 & 8

Up and moving about 10:00. It was a very short drive ( 12 miles south ) so we did not connect the jeep. I got to drive out of Mulege, up and down a few hills, and into a beach campsite on the Bahai of Concepcion ( Bay of Conception ) It is absolutely beautiful. There is dry camping only ( no hookups ) but we are right on the beach overlooking the bay. There are a few sailboats anchored, and it looks wonderful and peaceful.


There is a small restaurant on the beach, but because it is election weekend, it is illegal to sell alcohol in Mexico, so they are expection a quiet time. But they close at 10:00 anyway.

We set up camp and then drove back to Mulege to get provisions and a quick tour of the town.

Got back and sat outside and enjoyed the view.

Next morning was an incredible sunrise.


We spent the day walking the beach and sitting in the sun. It was Superbowl day, so we had Margaritas and snacks on the beach, then the others went to the beach bar to watch the game.

Great place.

Hike near Mulege

Day 6

No moving today. Drove east toward the mountains to some glyphs. These were out in the middle of a ranch. It was a short hike from the road ( think lots of dusts, lots of bumps ).

The whole side of the wash was covered with glyphs carved into the rocks.

Many of them were pictures of fish, but there were turtles, and animals,
and stingrays with a jack.










Bringing home the oranges!!








On our return, there was time for a quick shower, and short nap and then off to Ray’s for dinner - this time it was ceveche, salad, coconut shrimp and veggies, and lemon pie cheesecake for dessert. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!