Culture Shock. March 21, 2018
Here is where I started this day. These are 3 white pelicans I saw along my run on the malecon in San Felipe. I know you can't see that they are white but trust me. They are. The first time I have ever seen one and they are traveling in a pack. Lucky Me!
And here is where I am ending my day. A beautiful and under-occupied camp just along the border with Mexico -- in fact you can see what they have already as a wall from a couple of miles from here. What a difference 6 hours makes.
This is the road we drove on to get here. We took the toll road MX2D which wends its way westward through the Sierra Juarez mountain chain which stands between the desert and the ocean in Baja. The climb was incredible and dramatic. Even though the summit was only 4,000 feet, we attained it very quickly. This road ran along rocky cliffs. Everytime I looked up I had to close my eyes for fear of witnessing one of those humongous boulders balanced precariously above us becoming unhinged and crashing down on us.
One of the curious things about this "super highway" is that they have spots alongside it that advertise a phone, basura and water. The only problem is that were you to need one of these items, there is no place to pull off without diving over a precipice. I can't figure it out. The highway has mostly huge trucks with duble remolques driving at breakneck speed (whenever the uphill climb allows it), and only a skinny shoulder where I would be most hesitant to stop for help. We did stop, however, to use the traveling outhouse we pull and I wanted to see what the trashcan labeled "Agua" actually had. Sure enough, just a huge trashcan of water -- the signs made it look like you might want to wash your hands there (water from a faucet pouring into a human hand), but I suspect the water was for overheating engines maybe. BTW, the BASURA can was empty, expectedly so since it would be hard to hit that can with your trash going 70 miles an hour. After observing several of these outposts, I began to realize that there was a pole there with a solar panel atop it and a box with, I suspect, a phone in it to call "SOS" as advertised. Shades of the desert in Arizona.
In any event, we made it unscathed to our little campground at Potrero County (San Diego) park where the price is $27 per night for water, electricity and an extra $1 for a dog.
Last night we went to farewell dinner with Jim, Jody, Pat and Steve. The chosen place was the Parrots Cracker, an American owned place out the the north of San Felipe. As expected, it is frequented entirely by American (including Canadians) customers. Tuesday nights are distinguished by a couple of things. One, the special is Liver and Onions (yuck) and two, it is "amateur old people night." This night was even more special because it was a fund raiser for "Ride for the Boobs," a few ladies who drive their race cars in an off road race to raise awareness for breast cancer. There were a few items auctioned off at very reasonable prices so I got me a pink tutu to wear this year for Moms on the Run in Reno.
Here is a picture of some old farts dancing in tutus to help their ladies.
And here is where I am ending my day. A beautiful and under-occupied camp just along the border with Mexico -- in fact you can see what they have already as a wall from a couple of miles from here. What a difference 6 hours makes.
This is the road we drove on to get here. We took the toll road MX2D which wends its way westward through the Sierra Juarez mountain chain which stands between the desert and the ocean in Baja. The climb was incredible and dramatic. Even though the summit was only 4,000 feet, we attained it very quickly. This road ran along rocky cliffs. Everytime I looked up I had to close my eyes for fear of witnessing one of those humongous boulders balanced precariously above us becoming unhinged and crashing down on us.
Can you see the windmills? Yes, Mexico has them too!!
One of the curious things about this "super highway" is that they have spots alongside it that advertise a phone, basura and water. The only problem is that were you to need one of these items, there is no place to pull off without diving over a precipice. I can't figure it out. The highway has mostly huge trucks with duble remolques driving at breakneck speed (whenever the uphill climb allows it), and only a skinny shoulder where I would be most hesitant to stop for help. We did stop, however, to use the traveling outhouse we pull and I wanted to see what the trashcan labeled "Agua" actually had. Sure enough, just a huge trashcan of water -- the signs made it look like you might want to wash your hands there (water from a faucet pouring into a human hand), but I suspect the water was for overheating engines maybe. BTW, the BASURA can was empty, expectedly so since it would be hard to hit that can with your trash going 70 miles an hour. After observing several of these outposts, I began to realize that there was a pole there with a solar panel atop it and a box with, I suspect, a phone in it to call "SOS" as advertised. Shades of the desert in Arizona.
In any event, we made it unscathed to our little campground at Potrero County (San Diego) park where the price is $27 per night for water, electricity and an extra $1 for a dog.
Last night we went to farewell dinner with Jim, Jody, Pat and Steve. The chosen place was the Parrots Cracker, an American owned place out the the north of San Felipe. As expected, it is frequented entirely by American (including Canadians) customers. Tuesday nights are distinguished by a couple of things. One, the special is Liver and Onions (yuck) and two, it is "amateur old people night." This night was even more special because it was a fund raiser for "Ride for the Boobs," a few ladies who drive their race cars in an off road race to raise awareness for breast cancer. There were a few items auctioned off at very reasonable prices so I got me a pink tutu to wear this year for Moms on the Run in Reno.
Here is a picture of some old farts dancing in tutus to help their ladies.
And, just for giggles, here is a picture of my girlfriend's motor home with her newly upholstered benches done in, you guessed it, colorful Mexican blankets. I think they turned out pretty nice, don't you? Some people have all the vision.
One more thing. I'm not sure if it reported this yet because I missed a day but yesterday 3-20-18, some of the ladies and Russ and Steve managed to corral a drugged dog (done on purpose) who had been living with a rope around it's neck. Apparently it had been living that way for a long time because its neck had grown so much that the rope had become embedded in the dog's neck. No one could get near it to cut the rope off and by this time, cutting it would not have solved the problem. So 3 ladies plotted to rescue the dog. They got sleepy stuff from the vet and when the dog finally dropped in its tracks on the tidal flats they went out, dragged her in on a blanket. The fellas helped with the muscle to get her into a cage and off to the vet. As of last night, the doggie was doing fine at the vets and racking up a bill. If you want to donate -- let me know. I asked for a report today but haven't heard yet. Keep you posted. That is one lucky dog. One of the ladies will foster her (she will be fixed too) until she is healed but then, I suppose, she will be turned back into the wilds of San Felipe. She had been doing well for herself food wise and she was a nice dog from what I heard. I am so happy that these folks were able to help her. Can you imagine what culture shock it is for her to have had all of this attention at the vet's and kennel?
Okay. Enough for now. Sorry to go on.
Nitey Nite.
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