From Haule to Gringo in one week.

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!Hola! Como estas? Estamos muy bien! We have successfully navigated our way through Gringolia (Tijiuna to Ensenda), the dry desert of middle Baja, the beautiful beaches of Bahia Conception and Loreto, got our ticket for the ferry to Mazatlan in La Paz, and now we are sipping some serious Margaritas in Cabo. Not bad, huh?

It turns out that going into Mexico from California, is easier than going from your couch to the fridge. The "guards" actually wave and motion for you to go faster as to say, "Hurry up! Get in here and spend some money!" We did stop at the border and get our tourist cards, which took about 5 minutes. However, it was at that point that I (Josh) realized my Spanish wasn't all I had hoped it would be. An example of a typical conversation -
Josh - "Hola. Ahhhhhh. Donde es, ahhhhhhh, un restorante?"
Mexican - "A restaurant is down el street"
Josh - "Oh. What about a bank?"
Mexican - "El Banco?"
Josh - "Si"
Mexican - "El Banco es en Santa Catalina"
Josh - "Que?"
Mexican - "Bank, in Santa Catalina"
Josh - "Oh, gracias"
Spanglish, love it.

After the border, we drove past a multitude of second homes for Americans. The whole stretch from TJ down to Ensenada is filled with Time Shares and gated communities with beach houses. There are some beautiful beaches (see picture). It is just kinda funny to see more US license plates than Mexican ones. We camped the first night just south of Ensenda on the beach. We had to drive about 10 miles on a "concrete road" and then another 3 miles on a "dirt road". Trust me, Mexican concrete in American dirt, and Mexican dirt, is more like American ....well....dirt. It was a great campsite though. A little bit cold the first night, but the waves crashing along the beach soothed us to sleep, which was nice.

The next day we drove and drove and made it deep into the Baja Desert. Cactus and sage brush everywhere. We camped in a dirt lot that actually turned out to be pretty comfortable. Catavina is right in the middle of the desert and right in the middle of an smaller area that has these huge boulders and very rare cacti. We hiked around the boulders and wondered, wow in the .... did they come to be like this. After about a half hour of that, it was Tecate time! We met Bob and Lynn Swan of Spencer Iowa that night. It turns out that we are the youngest campers in all of Mexico. I honestly think we bring the median age of gringos in Mexico down about 2 decades. Bob and Lynn were great and gave us some serious tips, which have already paid off, big time. One day we will have a Trailer and sleep in comfort. Oh yes, it will be a glorious day.

I would take you the rest of the way down Baja, but sitting in a computer lab 50 miles from Cabo San Lucas has lost its umph, right now. We have our ferry ticket for this Saturday to Mazatlan, where we will arrive on Sunday. Yea, that's right. We will be watching the Seahawks play in the Super Bowl from a hotel in Mazatlan. Not sure which one of those things is most unpredicted, Watching the Super Bowl from Mazatlan, or the Seahawks actually playing in it. Go SEAHAWKS!!!!!

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Photos

Here we go!
Getting started from Claremont California.

Viva Mexico
Mexicans love huge flags.

South of Rosarito
You would think that Marisa would have the "shaka" down by now.

Our first campsite in Mexico
A perfect first night stop.

Boulders in Catavina
All of a sudden you come across about a 50 mile stretch of land with all these huge boulders. It looked as though God dropped his marble bag there.

Crazy Cacti
The only place in the world except for directly across the Sea of Cortez on mainland Mexico where these cacti grow. More proof that Baja was connected at some point in time.

Comments

[Cassie]

Loving it
Josh and Marisa, I am living vicariously through your tour of the Americas. What wonderful experiences you've had so far. Keep the journals coming because I am loving it! M- I am on my way to Fiji and NZ, so expect a blog in return. Travel safe. Cassie

[Ken]

A travel trailor sounds nice.
I'm glad you are enjoying the tenting... I would have loaned you my queen sized air bed... (It probably would not fit in your tent. OH Well.) Glad you are enjoying your trip. I still need to get a more detailed map of Mexico so we can trace your trip from the US through Mexico... coast, Tom's and back to Texas. Can you point me to one? Be careful and have fun. Love Dad

[Herb]

alright!
Very nice! Thanks for sharing! Very, very cool!

[Scott]

Parece como estas disfrutando Mexico y las playas, que bien!! Buenas suerte con tu Espanol....y vamonos Seahawks!

[The Pond]

Hola, where is la bathroom
Josh, your blogs seriously pump me up dude; keep em coming. Your the man! Tell Marisa I said hello also.

[Charlie in Iraq]

Out of control
Josh - Marissa: Kim and I are living vicariously through you. You have your sand and I have mine. It sounds awesome. Congrats on the travel and the Seahawks. Have plenty of margaritas for those of us that can't. Stay safe.