March 2013 Part 01 - Baja Amigos

Dom & Grady walking in Potrero Regional Park, a lovely quiet place to walk, bird watch, relax and prepare for our tour.

We met Carl and Conne at Potrero, our only group member for the first half of this tour. We will be picking up three RV’s further south that dropped off from the previous tour.

Dom went to do border business with them while I prepared the food for our rendezvous reception. Everything went well at the border although it was busier than usual.

Our intimate rendez-vous reception with Carl & Conne. There are just the 2 RV's this tour until further south when we pick up others that dropped off last tour. We had a nice time getting to know each other while eating and reviewing the must knows for the tour. The weather was sunny and warm a perfect day for picnic. — Our intimate rendez-vous reception with Carl & Conne. There are just the 2 RV’s this tour until further south when we pick up others that dropped off last tour.
We had a nice time getting to know each other while eating and reviewing the must knows for the tour. The weather was sunny and warm a perfect day for picnic.

Our afternoon was spent enjoying the lovely Potrero Regional Park. I am a bird watcher and anything in nature interests me, be it a plant, animal, bug, bird, shell, stone etc. Baja is a good place for such interests.

Our rendezvous reception was a really nice intimate gathering. Carl and Conne are an enthusiastic couple who are very much anticipating their adventure on Baja.

Our first night was spent at Villarino's RV Park in Punta Banda just south of Ensenada. Ensenada is in the background. I — Our first night was spent at Villarino’s RV Park in Punta Banda just south of Ensenada. Ensenada is in the background.

We had a slow driving day; lots of traffic and slow moving semi's on the highway. We camped at Fidel's El Pabillon in Lazarro Cardenas. Warm breezy weather was great for walking on the beach, collecting shells and relaxing outside in a comfy chair. Later on we had a bonfire and hot dog roast. We met a couple of other RV'sers who are heading north; swapped stories and enjoyed a few laughs. — We had a slow driving day; lots of traffic and slow moving semi’s on the highway. We camped at Fidel’s El Pabillon in Lazarro Cardenas. Warm breezy weather was great for walking on the beach, collecting shells and relaxing outside in a comfy chair. Later on we had a bonfire and hot dog roast. We met a couple of other RV’sers who are heading north; swapped stories and enjoyed a few laughs.

This was one of the bigger sprays from which we escaped. It was a lovely day, afterwards we enjoyed a slow wander through the Mexican shopping stalls and bought some items. — This was one of the bigger sprays from which we escaped. It was a lovely day, afterwards we enjoyed a slow wander through the Mexican shopping stalls and bought some items

La Bufadora spouted wider and higher than we've ever seen it. — La Bufadora spouted wider and higher than we’ve ever seen it.

Catavina dinner was yummy and a nice evening with a lovely sunset was enjoyed by all.

Karl exits from the newly discovered 6000 year old cave paintings, which were done by the early Cochime indians.

Conne stroking a whale. Carl said; "the whale watching tour was an incredible once in a life time experience." Within 20 minutes we had whales all around and under us. Mama's with their babies stayed and played, came out of the water so close we touched and splashed them, and they spouted back and showered us. The whales are almost ready to start their journey north to Canada. We are in Guerrero Negro at Mallarimo's Hotel and RV Park for one night. After a very windy traveling day we are so relieved to be here. The electricity was off in the whole town due to the high winds but the Hotel generator supplied electricity for the campground. by evening the campground was almost full as many travellers had to get off the roads Besides whale watching our stay in Guerrero Negro included a taco lunch, a driving tour of the town, grocery shopping and an evening meal at Mallarimo's Restaurant. — Conne stroking a whale. Carl said; “the whale watching tour was an incredible once in a life time experience.” Within 20 minutes we had whales all around and under us. Mama’s with their babies stayed and played, came out of the water so close we touched and splashed them, and they spouted back and showered us.
The whales are almost ready to start their journey north to Canada.
We are in Guerrero Negro at Mallarimo’s Hotel and RV Park for one night. After a very windy traveling day we are so relieved to be here. The electricity was off in the whole town due to the high winds but the Hotel generator supplied electricity for the campground. by evening the campground was almost full as many travellers had to get off the roads
Besides whale watching our stay in Guerrero Negro included a taco lunch, a driving tour of the town, grocery shopping and an evening meal at Mallarimo’s Restaurant.

Now, the boat dropped Karl and Conne off on one of the salt piles, for this pic.

We had a short driving day today on a quiet highway with no wind. We left the Pacific Ocean to go inland to a date palm Oasis, our stop for the day; in San Ignacio at the Rice & Beans Hotel and RV Park. Shortly after arrival we headed out to tour the town including a visit to the very impressive, restored and preserved Jesuit Mission church of San Ignacio, the museum with a section of a cave with paintings and a walk around the really nice square. — We had a short driving day today on a quiet highway with no wind. We left the Pacific Ocean to go inland to a date palm Oasis, our stop for the day; in San Ignacio at the Rice & Beans Hotel and RV Park.
Shortly after arrival we headed out to tour the town including a visit to the very impressive, restored and preserved Jesuit Mission church of San Ignacio, the museum with a section of a cave with paintings and a walk around the really nice square.

Cave paintings in the museum at San Ignacio

We met a man on the street in San Ignacio who is a craftsman of palapa roofs. He told us the whole process, from gathering the palm fronds to preparing them for roofing.

Saint Patricks Day and Carl is in green while he sips a margarita from Rice & Beans who claim to make the best margaritas in Baja.

Playa Sansispac presents us with a beautiful afternoon, and idyllic scenes.

We had a very short quiet driving day to Loreto, one of our favorite towns in Baja. Loreto was the first permanent settlement in the California's, was the Capital for many many years and is home to the first Mission. It is a well kept town with a beautiful town square; groomed trees and shrubs, cobblestoned streets lined with interesting shops and restaurants and old buildings considered historical monuments. The Mission "Nuestra Senora de Loreto is on the town square. The spent a couple of hours walking around town in these places. Diane & Conne bought some very interesting jewelry made by local artesans. — We had a very short quiet driving day to Loreto, one of our favorite towns in Baja. Loreto was the first permanent settlement in the California’s, was the Capital for many many years and is home to the first Mission. It is a well kept town with a beautiful town square; groomed trees and shrubs, cobblestoned streets lined with interesting shops and restaurants and old buildings considered historical monuments.
The Mission “Nuestra Senora de Loreto is on the town square. The spent a couple of hours walking around town in these places. Diane & Conne bought some very interesting jewelry made by local artesans.

The drive through the La Gigante Mountains to Mission San Sebastian Javier was well worth it. the weather was overcast and comfortable for a good look around the second oldest Spanish Mission in Baja. It is one of the most beautiful and well preserved of the California’s; initially founded by the Jesuit missionary Francisco Maria Piccolo in 1699 then re-established in its present location by Juan de Ugarte in 1702 after being abandoned in 1701.

Our hosted meal was a lovely intimate time on the town at Mita’s Gourmet Restaurant on the town square.

The interior of San Sabastian Javier Mission.

Carl & Conne posing for a photo in the lovely gardens around the Mission.

Dom & Grady taking a rest while the rest of us look around.