Catevina - High Desert Night

The drive to Catevina is one we are successful in forgetting.  That’s why we do it again and again.  The road is narrow, the truck traffic memorable and the abrupt shoulder or mostly no shoulder just an edge….well…it makes for a long trip even though it’s short.

We arrive at Santa Inez campground around noon and have our choice of sites.  We are again, the only campers.  It is absolutely beautiful up in this high desert place.  The dogs can run a little, Skipper can play ball and Sparky can be on a long line.  We unhitch the Jeep and take a run into the little restaurant and backyard junk yard hoping to find Pancho Marina.  Last year Pancho welded a part on John and Deb’s trailer on a Sunday morning in less that balmy weather.  Steve took note of his tools and saw the hack saw blade was warped and more than dull.  One of our last stops was Home Depot to pick up a few blades as a gift.  Luckily we walked right up to Pancho, who was in the back folding a tarp. We try to explain he had helped us last March and we were all so grateful.  Smiling he gives Steve a “fist up” handshake. 

Driving a little further on we realize how easy the road seems in a car.  Not exactly wider, just so much easier and enjoyable.  A few stops for burro photography and amazing cactus pictures and maybe just because we could.  You can never pull the RV off the road any old place!

As we get toward the magic light hour….or minutes…we both take our cameras and hike up the desert trail adjacent to our camp.  There is every type of cactus waiting to have its portrait taken.  Our first Gilla woodpecker appears, calling loudly. 

Quiet is the word for the night.  Tomorrow on to Guerreo Negro and our last look at the Pacific side of the Baja for quite a while.  We hope we remember that the road gets a little or a lot better?  If only wishing made things so!

P.S.  Posting this tonight from Guerreo Negro....tucked into Marios RV for the night.  Once again, ALONE!  Where are the tourists?  

If It's Sunday....It Must Be Tijuana

Morning surfer line up!

Morning coffee with Pete and Nancy at Starbucks and it’s hitch up the Jeep and away we go! 

  The sun is out, the pavement is dry and the miles click away toward the U.S. – Mexico border and the new El Chapperell Crossing.  As advertised, it’s easy to navigate and see where to go, but on this Sunday morning, a helpful (but not helpful)  assistant points us over to “Something to Declare” and some parking near a big new building???  We make two rounds as nothing appears to be over there for RV’s and he keeps directing us back.  Finally Steve parks and holds, and I get out and go and find the official he is pointing toward.  He says he speaks very little English….and I say I speak very little Spanish, but “Vamos a Baja con RV y mi esposo y dos peros!”  He says, ok, wait here for me.  He is gone 10 minutes or more.  By the time he comes back I realize I am at the new office for acquiring tourist permits and paying for them and getting them stamped. (already did that in Algodones!)  He returns and I show him our permits.  OH!  He says, in perfect English….”You are all set for 180 days!  You’re good to go!”  I smile, yes, I am.  Then he says, “Well, over there (pointing to a group of four very young folks in uniform) are Customs agents and they might want to see you.”  

So, I go over and ask if they are Customs.  Yes.  A young woman and a young man come over to the RV.  First they look in the Jeep.  The new brake contraption hooked up to the brake pedal (Steve calls it “the hoof”) is a curiosity.  She taps it.  I wonder if she’s thinking…something is hidden inside this box?  I explain, sort of, it’s an extra brake.  What is the word for brake again? 

  Soon they go to the door of the RV where Skipper and Sparky greet them.  The young girl melts.  Ohhhhh!  Lassies!  Now I know we’re good.  They pet and pat both dogs, ask their names, ask their ages….I muddle through.  Ok then, have a good trip!  As they leave the young man suddenly realizes he needs to ask for the Jeep registration.  He comes back, I get my notebook, both dogs break out of the RV, I’m grabbing them, dogs on the run, leashes trailing...the notebook goes in the air, I try to show him the page and he just laughs and says….Adios!

So, that 45 minutes put us back in the original line we were headed for, and right on through.  The route to Mex 1 Toll is easy to find, and we are so sure we’ve got it all now that we miss the turn for Rosirito Beach Mex 1 Cuota and wind up headed off the toll road to Playas Tijuana.   Good thing it’s a Sunday and a turn around with whole rig in a little shopping area is possible. 

Good travelers....most of the time....

The tolls to Ensenada add up to $21.00, but the road makes it well worth it.  In Ensenada our new GPS tries to get us to go the shortest route, which is down the too narrow shopping street….and we have to keep turning away.  Word to the wise.  Use your past experience and follow the regular route past the malacon.  A little longer….but easy wide street and definitely the best route.

The usual one hour from entering Ensenada to leaving the southern outskirts of town.  On to San Quentin arriving at El Pabellon beach park at 4:45 p.m.  Almost dark!!  Later than planned….but then those little unexpected detours came our way today.  We know not to camp alone, but it’s dark and we won’t drive more today.   We have been here many times, so it’s just a quiet night by the sand dunes, open Pacific reaching out to the west.

  

Only campers at El Pabbelon tonight

Morning walk on the beach dunes....all new experiences for Sparky!

 On to Catavina Monday morning....safe arrival by noon.  More on this wonderful spot in next post!

Singing in the....California Rain

We arrive at Carlsbad State Beach Park and our campsite is right next to our Friday Harbor whale watch buddies, Pete and Nancy!  They are Camp Hosts here for three months this season. 

Our "inland" site...$33 a night for old folks rate

High rent district site...empty...leaves us a nice view!

This is our last U.S. stop before heading across the border.  There are still a few more details to take care of…does it ever end?  (Yes, when you cross the border! ) Upon our arrival I look out to sea and notice the dark black clouds.  Is that rain I feel?  Ohhhh, yes.  Lots and lots of rain pounds on the RV roof all night and into the next day.

Nancy has located a ukulele jam session the night we arrive at a pizza restaurant down the road, so Steve, Nancy and Nan head on over there at 6 p.m.  There are at least 100 folks, playing and singing away!  This turns into a practice uke jam for us.  We got to the place, brought our instruments, had some pizza…but…music was missing.  We learn that you can download music lists off their website “Moonlight Beach Ukelele Strummers” and then it’s there on your iPad right in front of you!  We looked over shoulders. 

Pete and Nance strum away

Steve in his element!

The good news is that Thursday night there is ALSO a uke jam, even closer in Carlsbad.  We make a plan and go.  This set up is perfect as we eat dinner first, ukes in hand arrive and the music and words are projected up on a big screen above the bar.  It’s a great evening! 

Happy Hour lives on...

Frio!  In California!?

But it's a warm fire!

We really should leave Friday, but we are at least one campfire behind, and the roads may be wet with the recent heavy rain.  What’s one more day?  The ocean calms down some, the sun comes out, there is still no one in the waterfront site in front of us…so, an inland price and location but an oceanfront view!  I fear I’m getting used to this….tomorrow it’s across the border we go.

One more stop at our favorite coffee shop....

See why they're called "Bird of Paradise"???

There We Go....Here We Come...

So much to do before heading across the border, but the quick install of the satellite dish seems to get us moving quickly to southern Arizona.  Sometime between Quartzite and Yuma, right after Sparky unzipped his fabric kennel from the inside and got into the receipts…(yum!).. I start thinking about passports and where was that again I put them?  Then the sinking feeling in my stomach as I search the passport drawer in the RV and come up empty handed.  A few more places and I give up and call brother Rob at home.  Hey, maybe he could just wander over to the house and see if by some incredible chance they are tucked into the passport drawer at home.  Yep.  There they are.  So begins “Operation Passport Recovery” plan A.  Since it’s Friday, our heros: Rob at home and at Post San Juan can arrange for FedX, but not until a Monday departure for Yuma.  Sigh. 

So far the broken brake “reader” arrives in Quartzite before our planned departure.  Thank you Poulsbo RV and UPS!

Our first broken part arrives in AZ

Job: Unwrapper Extreme

One windshield wiper is picked up in Everett….but the other has to be ordered and sent to San Diego.  In Arizona they tell us, no they don’t have that part.  It doesn’t rain in Arizona.  Hum.  Thank you Tiffin Motorhomes in Red Bay, Alabama, and UPS for a quick delivery.  We just figure it IS going to rain on this trip….sometime.

Now with the passports delaying us in Yuma we decide to turn it into an opportunity to go up to Senator Wash and see what the dry camping is all about on LTVA land. (Long Term Visitor Area)   We find very busy desert RV communities all set up for a “long winter stay.”  Check out the camper who has the easy chair out in front of the RV…coffee table…reading lamp (is it real?) and a few other items as well. 

Check out this camper's "Living Room in the desert"!

We enjoy lakeside camping at Senator Wash on National Rec. Land

While enjoying the lakeshore there we meet Nadia and Kevin from the U.K. who have a motorhome like ours.  We have two great chats about the rigs and learn about their year long U.S. adventure “driving the loop” from one coast to another. 

We set up the satellite dish but it won’t lock onto a signal.  Upon deciding to put it down again….Bummer, it’s stuck in the “up” position.  No cell service here to call our installer in Quartzite, so we drive 15 minutes to a signal, Paul tells us what to do…we drive 15 minutes back…and the “fix”…doesn’t work.  That’s sad.  Three more trips and the third trick works.  The next morning we put it up, it grabs the satellite perfectly, but again refuses to stow.  More driving, more tricks, including in the end a hot wire approach. 

Oops....dish stuck in "up" positio

So Monday it’s back to Quartzite. Of course, it worked perfectly.  But on the 8^th or 9^th try, the same lock up!  Yay!  It’s officially broken and now Paul knows what to do to fix it for real.  A new sensor and motor is installed and we spend the entire day and evening doing trials.  By the next morning and trial #15 we are satisfied it is good to go. 

Yuma pick up center

On to Yuma, again, arriving at FedX just in time for the noon arrival of the passports.  Nan is smiling. 

One happy camper...or two!

On to the Quechan Casino, park the RV, get in the Jeep and drive the five minutes down the road to the border town of Algodones.  Here we walk across, get our tourist permits stamped and make a visit to the Purple Pharmacy.  We can buy drugs at 1/5^th of the copay price in the U.S. 

Yuma Proving Grounds....watch out for these crossing the road!

Yuma Proving Grounds....guns, guns, gun

At the casino we are parked right next to two rigs from Canada.  And I mean, right next!  When they arrive, their tow car is so close to hitting the Jeep they have to stop.  Steve goes out intending to help out by  moving our car.  The woman says, “WAIT…we are having a “family DISCUSSION” right now, and although it very generous of you to offer to move, that’s not what I need right now!”  I knew I liked her from the beginning!  We have a lot in common, being almost neighbors at home, part of the winter migration RV community. One couple is from Nanaimo and the other from Calgary.  Happy Hour turns out to be a great time with these new friends and we are sorry we don’t have more time to share.

Quechan Casino, Yuma....a parking lot approach, but....FREE!

Had to check out the games....we don't know how to play any of them!

Wednesday morning we are off in time to get to the Costco in El Centro when they open.  Get the last of the Costco supplies, stow in unique nooks and crannies aboard and off to San Diego.  The weather is lovely and I-8 in that part of the world is straight and smooth!

Not quite feeling like we’re off on a “trip” yet.  More like a series of inconvenient problems to solve… three steps ahead and four backwards.  Maybe tomorrow….

Baja Bound Again!

No doubt about it....winter is on the wing...and soaring over Froglanding.  We finally manage to slip away from the island, with warm breezes and sunshine on our minds.  Leaving is a bit complicated by the failure of the Tracker (our tow vehicle) to pass it's annual physical.  Ok then.  Before time for a new car, it's time for a new car!  As by some premonition I have spent a day in June lurking around car dealers on the mainland.  But, I never really thought we would be suddenly "in the market" now.

Keeping in mind the rationale: "No Bad Days in Mulege".....

Remember why....

Somehow we are loaded up by Dec. 1st....cargo rack installed by Steve in the garage, kayaks up, and various other "must have" items stowed on top or inside.  The clothes are loaded, the books, the first aide supplies, the cameras, the binoculars, the computers, the dog food, the things needed or wanted for three months on the beach...all of it and then some...stuffed into 28' of RV and a deep cherry red Jeep.

Ready to roll!

Skipper and Sparky take up space inbetween our two seats.  I discover there is a lot to traveling with a not yet 6 month old pup who just happens to be teething.  He constantly looks for things to chew....ANYTHING to chew.  Quiet means he IS chewing something and if I haven't given it to him...he has discovered it for himself.  He is interested in so MANY things....pens, pencils, books, paper, tags, or how about Spanish flash cards?

Angel dogs...

We're big..but we're small!

Skipper must have done it...

Words...how do you say
"woof"?

My choices for chewing: stuffy rabbit, stuffy pig with squeaker, stuff duck with squeaker destroyed, Kong rubber toy with peanut butter, Kong rubber bone with treats inside, Red Barn chew stick (*the favorite) and ice cubes.  When the above are totally run though, and it's not time for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and he's had a pit stop, then....kennel time with treats sprinkled inside.  Usually he falls fast asleep.  Finally.  Sparky is....well....sparky!

Who me?

We arrive in Quartzite, Arizona after three and a 1/2 days on the road.  We were blessed with dry pavement most of the way, some wind, but not too much wind, some rain, but no big storms, and NO snow!

 Our stop here has one purpose: Motosat satellite installation for internet on the road.

Has our name on it!

We drive through the gate at Advantage Satelitte on Wednesday and park for the night.  At 09:00 hours today the installation team put a ladder to the roof and by noon....the install is complete!

Waiting...

Up it goes.

System up and running!

This is one thing Steve is not installing himself and since this crew does it all the time, we are amazed at how efficiently and quickly it all goes.  Before I know it I'm giving up precious space inside my storage cabinet and the modem and boxes with blue lights are finding a home inside the Breeze.

There is still time left this afternoon for an oil change for the generator, and that happens by moving the RV one fence line over to the neighboring business.  Quartzite is set up for anything with "RV" in the description.

Tonight we are back in the yard at Advantage Satellite.  Paul said to test it out as long as we want and ask him as many questions as we can come up with.  So far so good.  It's very odd to think about having this luxury traveling along with us on top of our mini bus.  With the press of a few buttons the dish goes "up"....swivels around until it locks on satellite 83West....and we send off things like emails or this blog post...from my laptop...zooming into space...contacting 83West and .....zipping back to Earth...and you.  From anywhere the bus is.  Anywhere.  Oh my.