Free at Last .......

Well, after an eight month hiatus, we are on the road again. Those of you who are familiar with our family know that Mimi has been tied up with taking care of her father. It was during the trip to New Mexico that we received news from her sister, Emily, that their dad was deteriorating at an alarming rate. Since then, we took Marinus in and provided hospice until his demise on Nov. 11th.
It was quite an experience! And precluded our being able to travel. Following his demise, a service was planned for January (after the holidays) and disposition of the estate was initiated. For those of you who haven't been involved in those activities, consider yourselves lucky. Just be sure to have your own affairs in order and in a trust. In addition, Marinus' condo needed to be cleared out and rehabbed for rent. Who says retirement is easy. We worked harder than a real job to get things in order - but thankfully it is done!



We have wanted to visit our friends in Mulege for some time. So that's were we are starting. Mulege is about 600 miles south of San Diego. There are some beaches there - particularly Burro Beach, where we hang out and have some good friends. Parking the motorhome just so that high tide doesn't reach us, popping a cervaza, and watching the waves. That's living!

The challenge is getting there! It is a long, arduous drive. Baja is a poor state of Mexico, and there is a lot of poverty to be seen on the way down. Also, the bureaucracy has to have it's say. We crossed the Mexican border at 11 this morning. First stop was Immigracion, immediately over the border in T.J. We had prepaid visas obtained at a local Baja travel club. Of course the Immigracion officer found some problems. The amounts paid differed from what his rate sheet indicated. Also, we needed photocopies of the receipts. I think they love to hassle Americans trying to get into Mexico. Mimi pointed out that adding two figures on the receipts reached the total money he was looking for. In my infinite wisdom, I brought along a computer printer that had copy capability. Back to the motorhome for some quick copies, and the immigration officer was forced to stamp our visas - reluctantly.

Next stop, Ensanada. The toll road from TJ to Ensanada costs about $18. It is deteriorating, and has many potholes and lanes closed for repair. There were more than the usual number of soldiers on the road and at check points - trying to combat the thriving drug trade in the area.

The road between Ensanada and San Quintin is both beautiful and incredibly ugly. The beauty is in the countryside, with green fields and rolling hills. Interspersed are sprawling, dusty, ugly towns where the people live. Most are farm hands who have come here to work at the megafarms which supply produce to the U.S.

We finally landed at an ocean side campsite just south of San Quintin - at about 5 pm. Both of us are tired, and enjoy just listening to the Pacific surf rolling in about 200 feet in front of us.

Tomorrow - the Cativina Desert and Guerrero Negro.