The Cousins Mexican Adventure

Jeff,

WONDERFUL sunset photos!!!  And it ain't easy to dance on that outrigger netting....

ArdraF

ArdraF said:

Jeff,

WONDERFUL sunset photos!!!  And it ain't easy to dance on that outrigger netting....

ArdraF

Click to expand...

Ardra:

No it isn't but the later it got, the easier it looked!

Jeff,

It's amazing what a few pina coladas or margaritas will do to one's perception of their abilities.  ;D ;D

ArdraF

Day 26 - Headed North to La Paz

It is just unbelievable that we are on our way back to San Diego! A 42 day caravan sounds extremely long when you are getting acclimated and are in the first few weeks but now we are 16 days from Tecate! Each day seems to fly by and as you make friends with everyone there seems less and less time to enjoy a day with them doing something special. In the first weeks we would find ourselves saying, "Let's do ......". Now there is little time left to do it!

As we gain more experience traveling in Mexico more and more of us are ready to strike out in the morning ahead of the caravan and enjoy the sights. Today the trip up from Cabo was a good example. At least half of the group left a few minutes early and found our way north on our own, something that would not have happened five weeks ago.

As we left Cabo we were paralleling the Pacific coast for awhile before heading for La Paz on the Sea of Cortes. Several of the group stopped in Todos Santos and had a great breakfast at the Hotel California. There was also time to browse the shops before heading north to La Paz.

We arrived to 90 degree temperatures and found the pool a welcome relief as well as the best electric hookups we have had in Mexico that allowed us to use air conditioning. We then gathered around the pool for cocktails and dinner as the temperatures cooled back down. As dinner ended several of the guys decided it was time to really cool off and the fun really began!

Miles Driven: 106

Day 27 - La Paz

La Paz is the capital of the State of Baja California Sur (South) and is a bustling city of government workers, tourism, and a fishing industry. We spent the morning hearing about the city's history as we visited a weaving factory, museum, and market in the middle of downtown.

This area was discovered by a mutinous sea faring crew and was then settled by Cortes in 1535. It remained a favorite of pirates for a hundred years who are still remembered with street names and statutes.

We topped off the morning with fish and seafood tacos on the waterfront and then spent the afternoon taking it easy and preparing for the next few days traveling north. This evening we had a group  photo and hamburger cookout and packed it in early for our eight hour drive tomorrow.

Day 28 - La Paz to Loreto

We are now 225 miles further up the Baja. Leaving La Paz this morning we climbed up onto a flat plateau that we followed north for over 120 miles. Baja roads are not that wide so it requires constant attention when meeting traffic to keep on the hard surface road and a 220 mile trip is a long drive! The terrain varies from desert to a large irrigated farming area around CD Conception. After turning east at Conception we descended back down to the Sea of Cortes for the last 30 miles into Loreto, a seaside town with a local fishing industry.

As you can see the last few miles were very scenic, especially after over 100 miles of desert driving. We pulled into town and got set up with enough time to relax for awhile before some of us headed out to dinner at a local waterside restaurant that featured BBQ that was very good.

Tomorrow is a free day until we go out for dinner so we will probably do more exploring then.

Miles Driven: 220

Fuel Purchased: 45 Gallons, $91.00

Jeff  Certainly glad to see you were finally allowed to be included in a pic.  The smile on yor faces tells the entire story of your adventure.  Glad you are enjoying it, we certainly are.  Thanks again./;

Thanks Shayne

Day 29 - Loafing in Loreto

This has really been a low key day! It started off with Sue on the Beach at sunrise looking for whales (no luck). collecting shells, and watching the local fishing fleet get launched.

We later headed for the local neighborhood market for fresh vegetables and as you can see the gringos had to start dancing to the local music. After a late brunch on the Macelon (waterfront) we loafed through the warm afternoon doing odd jobs (cleaning windshields) until it was time to gather for dinner at a local steakhouse.

Our expectations were exceeded with a great meal and entertainment and an evening of great fun and great company! We returned to the m/h for coffee and tequila cream with two other couples and then called it a day.

And more tomorrow!

Jeff,

Your "See where we are" link works great.

Thanks Don.

Ah-ha, I see the food pictures made it!

Thanks for the travelogue and pics. And people in shorts....Wow!

Day 30 - Last Day in Loreto

We have become adjusted to the slow pace we have been keeping the past week. Today was a cool morning with a fog bank off shore and it provided a cooler, quiet scene to Loreto bay. We went downtown for breakfast and hung around the campground most of the day. Sue and a couple of others headed out this afternoon but were back by 4:30 for happy hour.

About a dozen took off after 6:00 to check out Meditranneo, an Italian restaurant with beautiful seating on the second floor balcony overlooking the waterfront. We enjoyed the evening there with great food and friends.

We pull up stakes in the morning for a short 60 mile run up the coast to Bahia Concepcion (Conception Bay) where we will dry camp for three days on the beach.

Day 31 - On the Beach

We are truly parked in an RV'ers paradise! This morning we drove up from Loreto to Bahia de Concepcion (Conception Bay for you gringos) and are parked as far into the soft sand as we dare go facing the beach. It is about 25 feet across the sandy beach to the warm water from our front door and the temperature is a perfect 87 degrees. One of the caravan members son described our trip as the "Over 50 Spring Break" and he is close!

Bahia de Concepcion is a beautiful bay protected by a hilly peninsula that is 40-50 miles or so long stretching south from Mulege (Mu le hay). The sandy beaches are surrounded by low mountains and the scenery is a combination of the sea and dry Baja hills. The protected coves are perfect anchorages and all size boats and yachts are anchored everywhere.

Swimming and fishing were on the agenda for the afternoon and we then met out in front of our RV for happy hour on the beach at 5:00PM. After an hour's good times some headed to the restaurant (another 50 feet up the beach) while some of us grilled dinner at home. At 7:00PM we met back on the beach for ice cream and a campfire that lasted until well after dark.

We were entertained with beach music from who else, the Beach Boys, that was downloaded by Terry Brewer two years ago when he and Betty were here with Pat and Alice. It sounded as good today as it did back then, thanks Terry!

We will spend tomorrow checking out Mulege  which is 25 miles north on the Sea of Cortes.

Miles Driven: 60

Jeff,

You're too fast for me - you deleted the ice cream pic as I was trying to view it  ;D

And I really wanted to delete a different one but don't know how to get it back in sequence without doing them all over again.

LOL Jeff, there's no way to change the sequence except, as you say, by starting over.

Oh well the banana splits tasted better than they looked anyway.

Day 32 - Trip to Mulege

The sunrise over the Bahia de Concepcion was beautiful and Sue was up to take the photos. This morning a group of us loaded up in vehicles and headed up the Bay 25 miles to Mulege (Mu le hay), Mulege is a small town at the mouth of Bahia de Concepcion that is a winter retreat for a lot of gringos. Its the place you head to if you are living down on the beaches of Conception to shop, and its restaurants and shops cater to Americans and Canadians. The south side of the river leading out to the lighthouse is completely developed with snow bird homes with RVs parked all over.

The light house and shrimp boats are at the mouth of the river about a mile east of the center of town. On the way back to Playa Buenaventura we stopped at several beaches full of RVs and the small town of El Coyote with is also a boaters haven.

We spent the afternoon reading, relaxing, swimming, and watching Art trying to make his first real catch (still waiting!). The evening get together included cooking Mexican hot dogs and being serenaded by Ted. As it got dark he needed help from Isabelle reading the music!

The sunset and campfire were the end to a tranquil day.

Top Notch again Jeff  thank you.