Rancho La Trinidad and Arte Rupestre

 Whoa Amigos!  What is happening here?  Our time on the beach is all too rapidly drawing to a close....and it seems we forgot to do so many things we planned on doing...always mañana.  Mañana  is here and now!

I contact Salvador in town who owns Mulege Tours.  His only internet is on his cell phone, so he arranges to come out to the beach and meet with us and talk about a tour to the cave paintings.  The next Friday our group of 7 is up and at 'em early to be at our appointed meeting spot by 0800 hours!

It's a bouncy van ride!

 We head out of town and make a stop at the local orange and grapefruit orchard.  Here Salvador cuts up oranges for us to enjoy as an early morning snack.  We purchase a kilo for 6 pesos.  (2 1/2 pounds for .48 cents)

Enjoy!

Debbie does enjoy!

Then it's off on the back road to Rancho La Trinidad.  There are about 18,500 acres of land here, and 750 head of cattle.  These cows are definitely not the scrawny cows we see wandering along the main highway in Baja.  They are well filled out and beautiful! (or handsome!)

It's a bouncy 17 mile ride in Salvador's white van which seats 14.  We've asked if we could bring two dogs as the trip could take most of the day and it seemed like a better option than leaving Sparky in the RV on the beach.  While we count on Skipper to sleep, sleep, sleep, we can count on Sprky to chew, chew, chew.  So, our group is 7 Coyote Beach buddies, two dogs (Sparky and Sam...Court and Ann's dog) and 2 Swiss women.  It's a full van.

Along the road to the ranch we stop and Salvador points out a 500 year old cordon cactus.  Perfect for a photo op!  He also shares a lot of personal knowledge about desert plants and medicinal uses.

Our tour group

7 coyotes, 2 dogs, 2 Swiss

Salvador lecturing about medicinal plants in the desert

Once we arrive at La Trinidad we pay our additional 100P to the ranch, and then we must all sign in the tour book log.

Court copies our detailed list of names 

Steve gets his gift bookmark

Nan checks out the table made of cacti

Rancho walkway

Entry table set for guests?

 We are soon off for the hike to the arte rupestre, or cave paintings of La Trinidad.  This hike was totally changed by the last hurricane in September.  There used to be a place where hikers had to become swimmers and swim across the water basin.  That is now totally filled in with rocks and sand that washed down the canyon.

It's a long trail

There are ups.....

There are downs.....

...and then there are the "hop across the rocks" parts...

I have to think about this hopping part.  Swimming...no problem...but leaping from rock to rock...another story.  I find it much easier on the way back!

We are all totally amazed by all the water that appears out of nowhere up the canyon.  Water!  Desert!  When those two elements are together it is totally awesome.

Steve stops to look for frogs...and finds them!

Steve gets so distracted by the water features and the frogs....frogs in a desert....that he sets out lunch down and forgets it there.  But, for now we don't notice that it's gone missing.

We finally arrive at the spot high in the canyon where the paintings are located.  Time for a rest....for people and dogs!

Time for a rest

Debbie finds time for photos

Salvador has a good 30 minute talk...in excellent English...(thank goodness) about the people that lived in these canyons and the recorded history on the rock walls.  We could definitely tell what they had for dinner!

Yum!

Good hunting!

It appears there was meat on the hoof and meat on the fin....shot with spears....cooked with big bar-b-que forks.  Or something like that.

Grinding stones

The grinding stones were left in place, and used year to year as tribes migrated through areas.  That way they did not have to figure out how to move large heavy objects as they walked from camp to camp with the seasons.

Salvador enjoys his audience!  We appreciate his information.

After lunch we hike back to the ranch.  I am reminded that "what goes up...goes down..." as we reverse the trail.

Back we go....both up....

....and more up....

....are we there yet???

Nan has a good sit at the end of the trail

Steve, Jerri and Norm sit too!

The rancho cattle dog is waiting for us as we all arrive back at the rancho hacienda.  Steve has a little time for a little more ranch photography.

The work is done....

Cowboys have come in and finished for the day

We are all ready for the bouncy ride back to Mulege.  And bouncy it is...Sparky is the only one who sleeps...he's finally tired!

I'll just close my eyes for 5 minutes.....

The Big Coyote Fun Swim! Sign Up Now!!

Publicity!!!

Now, how could I not consider joining in on this beach event?  You see, it only takes one "40 something" camper to stir it up among the "60 and 70 somethings"....

Ramie rules!

Three years ago Ramie wondered....hum...I wonder if I could swim way over there to that island?  And so she did...taking Nick, from Nova Scotia with her.  That year there were 2 swimmers.  Last year a few more...and this year...NINE!

Ramie zips up Pedro's wetsuit

Nan puts on the layers

Determination

I've always loved swimming, but in salt water...with sea jellies and sting rays?  Not so much.  Basically,  I'm a pool girl.  And oh yes, happier in warm water.  But, there is a certain chrisma in group enthusiasm!  So, out comes the wetsuit and flippers.

Ramie clears the way with the sting ray shuffle....backing in with flippers....Nan follows!

Steve checks the wind with our iPhone app....as it's getting windy early...and we don't need big waves!  But all is good....3.6 mph....

Wind check.....all good!  

 Pedro gets out the starting horn.....and we're off!  Of course, anyone is off whenever they want to be "off"....no rules, remember?

Taaa-DAHHHH!!!

It's been a long, long, LONG time since I've gone for over a  mile swim!  (? maybe ever?)  So...off we go, Debbie and Nan paddling along with flippers, and man...wet suits sure do float you!

I said it was a "FUN" swim!

Eye on the prize....focused Debbie

Half way....I think...

We have lots of support from our fellow campers....every kind of floating support you can imagine...and come conversation along the way too!

Paddle boarders carry water

Jelle sails along

Norm paddles by John

Leslee with the rescue noodle!

Janet....and her umbrella assist peddle yak

Remember....NO rules!  Here's John getting a bit of a tow from Tim!

Why not?

Once the beach on Isla Coyote is in sight....the energy soars!  And...there's a beach campfire going...as well as shots of ice cold Bailey's Cream!

Celebrating Debbie!

Nan....entering the shallow beach....backwards! (remember the flippers)

Yay for John!

Yes, Yay for John....and actually for ALL of us!  We had nine swimmers and about 30 folks all together!  What a crew!

The 2015 Swim Team Coyote

Swimmers and Support Swimmers!

Thanks Ramie for the inspiration!  Inspiration works both ways you know!  So, just another Sunday on the beach with another answer to "what do you possibly do down there living on a beach for three months???"  I know....how about an hour swim to start the day???

What Could You Be Doing All That Time???

What is the answer to that???  What COULD you POSSIBLY be doing all that time...three months on a beach in Baja?  Hard to say....but here's a few clues....

Steve and Sparky trying out a demo of a paddle yak...

Infecting another coyote person with Ukulele.....

Mardi Gras fundraiser for local firefighters....

Great costume!

Who is this couple???

Ann---A!

Debbie

                           Many parties for celebrating Fat Tuesday and beyond this year.

Local high school dancers at fundraiser for Mulege Rotary

Always time to celebrate a sunset at the beach

Horseshoe competition organized by Court and buddies

Another sculpture appears on the road to the beach!

Why not build one???  And they did!

Just sayin'.....seems always something is happening....from dolphin drop in, to evening celebrations, to creating a standing man rock garden....kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming...oh yes, the Big Swim...that's next...get ready!

Speechless in Baja!

Nan....making memories!

It's a Tuesday morning.  Steve and Nan have completed the "dog walk."  Then we return to the rig for breakfast for everyone.  (dogs inside....we're outside)  As I aim a spoonful of morning cereal and fruit to my mouth...my eyes fix on a specific splash out in front of us.  Hum.  Is it?  It might be....  YEP....dolphins!  And lots of them!

We stash the bowls on the table, lock the dogs inside (hope for the best) and grab the kayaks.  Off we go, and several more beach buddies right behind (or ahead) of us!  Usually this is a futile effort by kayak, but why not give it a try?

Right in front of us!!!

Debbie...hey...look in back of you!!!

Soon we are in the middle of Coyote Bay....dolphinos ALL around us!  To make it more unbelievable....they turn around and come back again....under, around, in front, in back....

Steve with a big smile!

Jerri!  In her new peddle yak!

It seems everyone is out here this morning....enjoying the spectacle...and experience.

Chris

Casual Time

I estimate at one time, more than 300 dolphins....rushing around, leaping through the air, changing directions and really fishing their way through our bay.  We are totally entranced for over an hour.

What a morning!  Speechless!

Here they come!!

Close pass by!

It doesn't get much better than this!