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..... |
No comments:
Post a Comment