Back in the USA! 2-18-18

Pat and I got up early this morning and attended Mass at the Mission Church at La Cholla.  This place was built by one man and his wife who were from Southern California.  The guy's name is Bob and before Mass started, he gave us a brief history.  He and his wife now reside permanently in Puerto Penasco and he is a Deacon of this church.  The priest who celebrated the Mass came from downtown and he spoke only a little English but was very endearing.  The Mass took twice as long as normal because they pretty much had to do everything in both English and Spanish. 

Feeling blessed and happy to have experienced this, we broke camp at 11 am and headed back to the USA.  No problem.  For those of you who are curious, US customs asked us only:  do you have any fruit or meat?  That's it for Sonoyta/Lukeville crossing.  No one ever asked us for the visas that we had purchased ahead of time and no one ever asked us for any TIP (temporary import permit).  We will see how that goes when we head down to San Felipe later in our travels. 

We decided to spend our first night back at the Organ Pipe Cactus Monument -- just 15 minutes from the border.  Fortunately we had enough time, after a brief lunch and nap to take a spectacular 4.5 mile round trip hike.  This time I had Pat to hike with.  While we were about 1 mile out we heard the ever so familiar howl of coyotes.  Thank God we didn't take the doggies with us this trip.  In any event, Pat said "oh, I wish I had my whistle.  They don't like that."  So I shot them off a whistle and, sure enough, no more howl.

Here are some pictures of the hike and the sunset.  Doesn't get much better than this.

Wonderful trek amidst the indigenous cacti!

The Victoria Mine -- the Destination 

My Hiking Partner Pat and I

Cute Little Cacti Family


How about these apples for Alpenglow

Tomorrow we are heading to the Painted Rock Petroglyphs.  

Nitey Nite.

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