Unknown territory

Palm in the Palms

Jelly

Pepe's Place before we got kicked out

Holy goat ming on the Ferry

Anyone know this tree and can it grow in South Carolina...I want one.

Bye Bye Baja

No fumar

View from our room in Mazatlan

Playa San Pedros des Palmas

La Paz's famous hoodoo

 

2/15/12

We left Cabo San Lucas yesterday after running a few errands, to try to camp at a beach near Todos Santos. One errand which we didn’t complete was to mail a package to Lucy Long for her 3^rd birthday.  We got her a little toy and tried to mail it to her but the Mexican Post Office said we needed go through customs which was not near the PO so we tried the Mailbox store across the street and they said we didn’t need customs but it would cost us $49 American dollars to send a 50 pesos ($4) toy to her.  So, we didn’t send the toy and hopefully we don’t have to carry it with us until we come back.

Eventually, we came to Playa San Pedro Des Palmas to camp and walked out on the beach then back to our car to scope the area for a campsite.  There was a nice area behind a fence that use to be someone’s home a while back but now was clearly just an area to dump basura (trash).  So, Jon unhooked the fence and made me drive through.  We then proceeded to set up for dinner and gather firewood for later.  I had just started to get my food out to start prepping for dinner when Pepe (as I like to refer to him) walked around the corner with 3 grimy, scabby dogs in tow and told us in Spanish that we needed to leave, that was his home and he was calling the police.  So, Jon told him we were sorry, would be leaving directly, and to have a nice day. 

Next we drove further into town and went to a public beach access where we cooked an excellent dinner of shrimp tacos and rice.  Then we climbed into the back of the truck and just slept at the beach.  Some people showed up pretty early, whistling while they got out of their truck and went to the beach.  No problemo.  We then went into the desert where Jon changed the oil in the truck and I cooked breakfast.  There were lots of skulls and bones in this area so it seemed fitting to change our oil here.

We have just arrived in mainland Mexico from the ferry we took from Baja.  It was the Baja Ferries California Star from Pichiligue, B.C.S to Topolabompo, Sinoloa, which left at 2:30pm and arrived all said and done at about 10:15pm.  We had a dinner included on the boat and some Mexicans even did Karaoke and got drunk in the bar section.  Jon spotted a humpback whale, which jumped out of the water at least 5 times seemingly trying to get our attention.  When we purchased the tickets I put the vehicle ticket in my name, which meant that I had to load and unload the truck by myself while Jon walked on.  I was very nervous about this because we would be separated for probably a half hour and I don’t speak Spanish very well yet and they really pack the cars in the ferry so maybe I wouldn’t be able get it in there.  Everything worked out.  It seems I am always recounting my fears in these blogs. 

We met two notable gentlemen on the ferry today.  One gentleman, in the later years of his life, named Carlos from British Columbia, is actually driving around in the Americas for the second time in his life.  We talked so much with him that we ended up sleeping in our separate Toyotas right next to each other outside of the ferry terminal.  He has given us many good tips and told us that he did this trip 15 years ago and is doing a shorter version right now.  The other man was a dude who had an accent that sounded like he was from Alabama or Mississippi and came to us asking us to help him carry his dogs off the ferry.  He was traveling by himself with 3 little dogs (clearly gay) and was deeply distressed (his words) about how scared his dogs were going to be getting off the boat and he wanted each of us to carry one of his dogs off.  I immediately gave Jon the “No Way!” look and I guess the guy got the drift.  He was willing to pay us but I was imagining one of those scenarios where someone asks you to carry something and you get arrested for smuggling or something.  In addition, these creatures make us uneasy. 

So, we are here in Topolobompo, Jon is chatting and drinking beer with Carlos and I’m writing the blog.  Tomorrow, off to Mazatlan for Carnival weekend.  Until then.

2/16/12

In Mazatlan right now, the weather is cloudy, our hotel is surprisingly nice but somewhat resorty and we have an excellent beach side room. We got some tamales on the way into town and they have thus far been the best quick snack. The next three days should be fun and not so stressful since we will be staying in one spot.  It will also give us a nice chance to let New Beige rest for a little while.  She still has been losing power at least once a day.  We have ruled out the alternator and have a new battery.  So, we still think it is an electrical connection that has become loose because of all the dang bouncing on these roads and the topes, which are awful speed bumps.  We are still deciding on what to do about that.  

Carnival activities start today with the Coronation of the King of Happiness and an Empire of the Seas, water/laser show.  Sounds pretty interesting and we are going to attend.  I will check back in a few days before we leave for Mexico City.