Travel Day 10 is a rainy one. Dom & I have not seen so much rain in Baja. Christine our Australian traveler says it is her fault; it seems every where she goes it rains even in a desert where it hadn’t rained in years. Baja is green and beautiful.
We are leaving the Sea of Cortez to go inland to fruit grooves and farmland. We had slimy fun when we tried to stop for our first body break and ended up in an alternate spot after some quick thinking and maneuvering by the group.
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In Ciudad Insurgentes our fuel stop George discovered a tire problem and had to change tires. Half an hour later all fueled and tire fixed we exited the Pemex station as usual and made our way to the traffic circle to discover it has been restructured and no longer doing what it used to do so instead we found a u-turn and were on our way to Ciudad Constitucion.
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We had a lunch break and grocery shop in Ciudad Constitucion. This is usually an interesting experience for everyone; shopping for food in a foreign country where the language and packaging can make shopping a challenge but a fun experience.
Just down the road from the Super Ley grocery store we arrived to Palapa 206 a Motel and full service RV Park, our stop for the night. Mike the owner greeted and directed us. He made a few renovations since last season and now there are two gateways, one for the Motel and one for the RV Park.
Everyone set up and caught up on e-mails. Mike met the group and his young son arrived to play and tease whoever would engage him. Nigel the older son is a Baja Buggy off road racer. The buggy was being repaired so was not available for rides.
Later on some of us sat and visited. Rudy and George went on an adventure in search of a tire shop returning later with success.
Three dogs came to charm us and Norm & Christine fell in love with a small black chihuahua type dog. We even named it but we all had the strength to say goodbye to Nochi and drive away the next morning.
Travel Day 11 took us to Playa Tecolote which is approximately 24 km’s north of La Paz but we have to drive through La Paz to get there because La Paz is situated at the bottom of Bahia La Paz and the beaches are up on the eastern jut of the short pennonsla on the Sea of Cortez side. This is the largest city on Baja and capital of southern Baja.
There was a long stretch of construction and detours for us today north of La Paz. A big project that looks as if it has been abandoned because there were no signs of men or equipment. Otherwise we had a great day on the road.
On route to Playa Tecolote we passed the Pichilingue Ferry Terminal from where ferries travel to mainland Mexico.
When we arrived at the beach Playa Tecolote (owl beach) it didn’t take us long to get involved in our favorite beach activities; lounging and walking the beach gathering shells. It was a bit windy but warm wind is better than weather at home for most of us.
The second beach day was more of the first except for waking up on the beach with the waves lapping the sand; just walk outside with your coffee and sit in the morning sun looking at the turquoise water.
A few of us woke during the night to see the stars twinkling in the dark skies.
I went with 7 people for a 1 1/2 hour hike. Others read and relaxed.
On the beach Dom and I met Peter & Ruth from Switzerland whom we met in Argentina in 2007. They traveled every country in the Americas as we did and are now enjoying Baja and later this year will be in Canada and Alaska. We knew they were in southern Baja and had hoped to meet but this was a pleasant surprise.
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Everyone enjoyed themselves and to wind up our stay here we had a pot luck on our last evening. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again ” it is amazing what can come out of an RV kitchen”, the meals have been perfect.
After the meal we sat around our little propane campfire. Thank you Ross & Sandy, friends from back home who gifted it to us. It has been at the center of many lively visits. The evening cooled and George swapped his sun hat for his Daniel Boone raccoon skin winter hat; George likes to entertain us.
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Travel Day 13, a short trip to the beautiful Rancho Verde RV Haven in the Sierra de Laguna Mountains. On route we pass through EL Triunfo and San Antonio. We stopped in El Triunfo for a walk around in this former mining town. We looked at the remains of the old mine and took photos of the old rusty equipment and old smelter tower designed by famous French engineer Gustave Eiffel. In its prime the town was the first to install electricity and telephone, and culturally active with regular concerts. Today, people interested in the town work hard to keep tourists coming. It is an attractive little town with a few gift shops, a piano museum and a cafe bakery where we stopped to have brunch.
At the campground each had most of the afternoon to spend as they wished; some went for a walk, took photos of the various trees and flowers, others lounged and read or visited. Later on we met in the newly rebuilt palapa (damaged in the last hurricane) for a drink and visit together. I think everyone was ready for an early night and no doubt a good night sleep in this cool mountain air.
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