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