REVOLUTION !!

We awoke to a trumpet call from the nearby Navy barracks. A little later, someone said that it looked like maybe there was going to be a parade. That sounded good to us, so, walking shoes installed, we set out for the Malecon and downtown.




This is what it looked like when we got close to the action. There was going to be a party, and everyone, I mean everyone, was invited. This is Friday in La Paz. A special Friday to be sure. A celebration of the Revolution which took place, I believe, 99 years ago. Wonder what it will look like next year !?






It was a really fun parade!! First the little kids - gradeschoolers, all lined up in uniforms for their school, and marching. Well, sort of. But having fun - out of school at least. Then, the older kids, each class in their own colorful outfits. Then we had boxing clubs, karate clubs, kung foo clubs and others, each dressed up and doing demonstrations. What a kick. Oops, no pun intended.








One thing each group had for sure was a rolling boom box to provide the LOUD. Reminded us of driving the streets of Grants Pass, only these could actually be heard for blocks. These sound systems would support a local band, and some were elaborate while others were just thrown together in the back of pickups. I've tried to give you a couple of pics. Too bad you can't hear them.

Then came the military and the police. They were not to be outdone by the kids, all dressed to kill. Oops! We called these guys the stealth dudes. The local police had a Motorcycle group that would have given the Seattle Cossacks MC Drill Team a run. Sorry, no pics.

These guys are everywhere, here and there, all the time. Amazing what you get used to...........
Anyway, the parade was a fun filled two and a half hours. "let's go find some fish tacos".

Oh, we've been working too. We put the dinghy together in the water yesterday and put on the motor for the first time (thanks Dennis, the mount is perfect) . It worked perfect!! WooHoo! And I'm putting together a set of lazy jacks that will help make it easier to lower the mainsail.

Well, it's dinnertime. Baked potatoes with onions in foil on the grill and smothered in vegetables and all the beer I can drink. Mmmmmm

E

The Cow Sign

This is the famous "cow" sign. We first saw the sign last year when we made out now famous trip to see the whales. At first they look to be just routine, stamped out traffic signs but the more you watch them go by the more fun they become. The sign is telling you to look out for cows, since all of the Baha is free range. I will throw in a few pics of those free range cows later but back to the sign. As we traveled further into the interior of the Baha the signs changed. I wish I would have been able to take pics of them all but it took me 5 trys to get this one. You will need to put your imagination cap on. The first signed I noticed that looked strange had both of the cows legs pointed in so it looked like the cow was balancing on a very small rock. The second sign had very small critters (black like the cow, shaped like "stick" foxes) riding on the cows back. After that I was actively looking for the signs to see what would come next. There were signs with bullet holes for eyes, bullet holes as a halo around the cow, little baby "stick cows" running along side the big cow, cow "poop" (piles of it), one cow with an umbrella, one cow trying to sit down, one cow pretty much obliterated by bullet holes & last but not least the 1/2 cow (somehow someone scratched off the top half of the cow). There were many more missing a leg or with a herd of small critters running along side. Emrick had to miss most of them because his eyes were glued to the road for safety but I had a lot of fun. So, that's the cow sign.

Back in Ole Mexico

Sojourner's new home. (She's the small one)

It was an unusual, yet somehow comforting feeling. Claudia and I looked at each other and smiled. An old familiar burden had been lifted. Just, gone. And replaced by something new. It was immediately recognized, I believe, by both of us. The knowledge, almost painfully obvious by our surroundings, that we were once again responsible for ourselves.

That was a Wednesday morning as we drove out of customs and immigration into Tijuana Mexico. What followed was three days of the most intense driving I've ever experienced. Roughly 1000 miles of the famed Mx Highway 1 down the length of the Baja Peninsula. While the road is all paved, save for a few spots not yet repaired following the recent Hurricane Jimena, the condition, by American standards varied from good to are you kidding? But at least it was consistently VERY narrow. And as there were no shoulders, you absolutely dare not go over the white line at the edge. It made my memory of the narrow two lanes of western Pennsylvania seem like childs play.

Yet while the drive was totally challenging, it was equally magnificent. The first two days had us climbing steep grades - often in second gear - round and round, in and out, through switchbacks and canyons with no room for error, nowhere to escape. Then we'd arrive at a top to the reward of an incredible vista. Miles and miles of valleys, mountains, desert, rock, cactus, and occasionally the blue ocean. And, because of the rains from Jimena, everything was alive and green. I've never seen desert like this. Just spectacular! The whole package was sensory overload. Claudia did a good job with the camera, but alas, it's still unable to capture the vistas or the grandeur of it all. I guess you just have to be there.

Our good old van - for which we are taking name suggestions - made the trip without a whimper. Even gave us nearly 18 mpg and a good night sleep just north of L A . Thanks again to Kenny, Peter, Scott & Donna, Kristen, and Les Schwab for their efforts in preparing said van.

On our arrival in La Paz, we promptly checked into a "no tell" Motel. All I saw was a newer, clean looking place with an actual garage for a fair price. The guards at the office with the blacked out windows, and just the clandestine nature of the place, and a rate for an eight hour stay came into focus as we found the TV had a couple of porno channels and Mexican game shows. Oh Well. It was a well deserved air conditioned evening respite after the drive and the two miserable days preparing Sojourner to splash. Oh. We were now in a little bit different climate than what we left in Oregon. Sunny, daytime temps in the low 90's and 80% humidity should leave little to your imagination. It was HOT.

Then, last Monday, the Travellift gently lowered Sojourner into the Sea, and we were back aboard. We spent the entire week moving items from our storage unit back to the boat. And, of course, we had to find places to put all the stuff that we brought with us too.

Amidst the sweat and frustrations, we had a bit of good fortune too. That came in the form of a slip in a fine little marina just a few blocks from downtown and a few steps from friends we met last spring. There's still plenty of work to do, but now the pressure is off and we can begin to relax. In fact we're leaving now to watch football aboard m/v Penalty Box with cold beers and good friends.

Emrick left out the sand fleas that attacked me when we first got into our storage unit. I didn't feel a thing but the next day I looked like I had a case of the measles. Wonderful. We have a few more pictures I would like to share of our trip down, especially the "cow sign", but those will wait until next time. . . . .

E & C