Day 166  to 178

December 19th to the 31st, 2007

From La Paz, on the way to Cabos San Lucas!

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Bienvenidos a La Paz, BCS (Baja California Sur).

 

The "malecon" of La Paz is really beautiful. But the strong wind makes our visit there a little less enjoyable...Check out the palm trees...

 

Most everywhere in Mexico, you have to really watch for those "topes". Here in La Paz (and probably elsewhere also...) they use a (new) trick. A "topes" sign, yellow "topes" paint on the pavement, but...No "topes" !!!
There are the real topes and the fake topes! And, of course, you never know if the next will be real or not!

 

La Paz is a big city, not exactly what we're looking for.

We're very glad to hit the "non-road" again. Our route will take us back to the shore line, where the scenery is jaw-dropping. Fantastic!

Looking to the north...

 

...Or to the south...

 

The blue of the sky mixes with the blue of the ocean...

Blue is a pretty nice color...I really like blue...

 

Don't miss the turn!

 

Soon, the rocky cliffs turn into a "playa".

 

 


Not really related but cute!

Oh! Minnie, Sweetheart, you brought flowers to Mommy!!

 

 

Yeah ! Cabo...Soon !!
Yeah ! About 200 more miles before Cabo San Lucas! We're almost there!!
Bof... Cabo...Soon !!
Bof... ...Guess that means...We'll soon be heading...North...:(

 

 

     Polaris Industries - Canada                            Polaris Industries - USA

 

 

Welcome to Los Barilles. Nice little town. Here's main street in the tourist area...

 

...And here's a local street that the tourists visit a little less...Pretty easy to figure out where the wealth is...

 

We're setting up for a whole week, on a campground, near the ocean. A little relaxation will be welcome.

 

Now, what's hiding behind that lovely, flower covered corner? Click here to find out.

 

The wind, blowing almost continuously in winter we heard, puts a smile on the   windsurfers face...

 

...And makes the kyte-surfers happy also !!!

But, for us, who have benn living outside for over 5 months, we're a little tired of the steady wind. Sand everywhere. Difficult to cook and eat outside without eating sand. Hard to really enjoy our environment. We're not complaining here, far from it. We mention it so you know our situation. But, when we were planning this trip, we were thinking of the months spent in Mexico as the cherry on the sundae. The relaxing, vacation part of the Adventure. In fact, our time in Mexico so far as been the most challenging, weather wise. It's part of the game.

We'll learn a lesson from this: When on a trip, don't have expectations on what you'll find or see. You could be disapointed. Discover as you go what each and every new area has to offer to you. You know, in fact, it's not that Baja is'nt extraordinairy, Baja is FANTASTIC...But, it's even more enjoyable in the spring or in the fall when it's less windy and warmer.


December 24th, 2007.

It's Christmas tomorrow and we have to stock up in case everything is closed.

We're like kids in a candy store...
finally, a food store where we can find everything! The shelves are full!!! And it's stuff we know!! Youppi!! It's really Christmas!

 

Far from family and friends, this is a very special Christmas for us. We could have gone to "town" and probably find a bar where to party this evening but, since we're not really the "bar people", our Christmas eve dinner will be kind of a romantic one (like we did'nt have 150 romantic dinners alone in the woods or the desert on the way down here...) On the menu, full moon, starlit sky, the sound of the waves and, T-Bone steaks, home made rice and a bottle of "vino tinto". (Note that the menu includes a treat for Minnie also. After all, it's Christmas for her too!). A little poem with that? (Thanks Lorenzo!)

Merry Christmas, Hon! Merry Christmas, Minnie!

 


Christmas day, 2007.

Hey Andy, Manon and Emma! It's super nice of you to invite us to share your Christmas dinner!

A very friendly and happy family on the go for a year. What a fantastic experience for them! Even Canelle (the dog) enjoys the ride!

You can follow their journey along on their web site www.designonthego.com

Thank you guys sooooo much and we'll see you later!

 


Mini news report from Minnie!

The beach, for Minnie, is hours of fun in the sun with tons of new 4 legged friends! She just loves to play with other dogs and run in the sand!

 


On the "off-road" again. Still heading south, this time via the beach! What a cool way to travel!

 

Potty break for Minnie...She's as cute as ever but, she leaves less and less room on the seat for Mommy...

 

After about 20 miles, we have to turn around and find another way down. According to the map, there's supposed to be a trail here but we can't use it. Too many rocks. Possibly at low tide...

Fortunately, there's another trail a little more inland.

 

Backtracking. Part of the Adventure!

 

 

That's Baja !!

19dec_29.jpg (28653 octets) Careful when you travel on secondary roads!

The road is heavily washed out and don't look for a sign to warn you!

A few hundreds feet down, it's the ocean...

Here, a section of road so narrow, it's impossible to meet another vehicule!

 

 

Baja coast line on the sea of Cortez...

 

Baja the wild and mythical. This is the Baja. The original!

Most people who come to Baja will never see this! They will see hundreds of houses being built all along the coast, on the used to wild beaches. Oh! They're superb houses but, beach castles are'nt what Baja is about, at least not what it used to be about. Only those who are rigged to get off the beaten path still can appreciate the real Baja!

 

San José del Cabo! We're getting closer!

 

Between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, we had planned on drving on Mex. 1 but, Marc saw, on his map, that there might be a way to completely avoid pavement. Cool! Of course, that would mean doubling the miles and sleeping one more night in the desert...Think that's a problem?

Back inland.

 

Mexican people are very religious people. Here, a somewhat remote place, atop a mountain, where people come to pray for their loved ones. We're in the middle of nowhere, about 6 miles of rough dirt road from the nearest town.

 

For the first time in a long time, tonight we're going to have a nice campfire. In the desert, hidden in an arroyo, dry wood abunds. Trees grow here thanks to the water that flows down a couple times a year and many die of the lack of water.

We pick up wood and Marc gets busy feeding the fire to make sure it does'nt go out as it is going to be another cool night.

France: "What's that little critter on the piece of wood you just put in the fire?"

Marc: "Hum, I don't know. Can't see too well..."

F: "Euhh...Is'nt that a scorpion?"

M: "Ah! Yeah! It's a scorpion! Hey! This is a little fellow. I thought scorpions were a lot bigger!"

F: "But, but, Now that you knocked him off the branch, his coming in my direction!!!"

M: "Wait a minute...Hop!... Oh shit! I threw it off into the fire!!....Ah no!...Our first scorpion...Shit! Finished! I threw it in the fire with a stick..."

F: "Well... What else did you want to do with it?"

M: "Well...I don't know, catch it and...Bring it back...Maybe..."

F: "Of course! Bring it back!! Alive maybe?"

M: "Bof, anyway, he's cooked..."

F: " Exactly!"


December 31st, 2007.

Getting closer to our southernmost destination. Cabos San Lucas!

But...If we can see Cabo, it means we're almost there! That would mean we did it! So it was possible after all!! Canada to Cabo, on quads!

YYYAAAAHHHOOOUUUU!!!

Our hearts in our throats, we push towards the ocean, there, where the Pacific meets the sea of Cortez!

YES! Now we can really say it! It is doable on quads!

Please stay with us and don't miss our next, very special update on Cabo San Lucas where we will celebrate our 6 months on the road! (or rather off the road...but...you know what I mean...)

 

...T.B.C...

 

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Vue d'ensemble/
general view

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carte  détaillée/
detailed map/

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>> Click to enlarge

 

 

 

 

 

                 GPS

Au / At    Los Barilles
Date       12-23 à/to 28.
Lat    N    23 42 05
Long  W   109 42 05
Elevation  0 pieds/feet

 



 

 

 

 

 
50C   122F
     
  40C   104F
     
30C   86F
     
20C   68F
     
10C   50F
     
0C   32F
     
-5C   23F
     
-10C   14F
soleil.gif (1277 octets)

Daytime high

 

 

50C   122F
     
  40C   104F
     
30C   86F
     
20C   68F
     
10C   50F
     
0C   32F
     
-5C   23F
     
-10C   14F
meteo_lune.jpg (1865 octets)

At night.

 

 

 

 

 


Facile

Moyen

Difficile 

Easy

Moderate

Difficult 

Easy and wonderful!

19dec_12.jpg (6961 octets)

 

 

 

 

 


Les statistiques

Total 13 jours / 13 days

278 Miles
6840 Miles: à date/to date
$305 Resto
$322 Épicerie/Food
$73 Essence/fuel
$170 Camping
$25 Divers/Misc.
$905 Total


 

 

 

 

                

Dû à la très faible disponibilité de bouffe fraîche, et aussi dans le but de pouvoir goûter les mets Mexicains locaux, nous avons décidé, pour la durée de notre séjour à Baja, de manger plus souvent au resto.

Si nous découvrons quelque chose d'extra-ordinaire, nous vous en ferons part.


Due to the very limited availability of fresh food and also to enjoy local Mexican food, we decided to eat at restaurants more often for the duration of our stay in Baja.

If we discover something worth mentionning,we'll let you know.


Aujourd'hui /Today:

What's for breakfast?

To save time and because it's a nice change from the same old same old, we thought it would be cool to have breakfast at the local restaurant. We pick up a place where the locals go. They don't really serve breakfasts (although they open at 5:00am...) but the guy offers us a soup...At 9:00 in the morning?...Bââhh, why not?
"Uno café por favor" with that?
The (beef) soup comes with all the imaginable meat fat and is "muy picanté". And, as far as the coffee goes...It's serve yourself...
Well, we wanted a change, we got a change...

Click on the photo to really appreciate!


 

 

 

 

Les Oscars-The Oscars:
...et le gagnant est... LA CHOSE LA PLUS COOL!:

 

THE COOLEST THING!:

Our first scorpion!!

 

 

 

 

 

Nous sommes fiers de vous présenter nos partenaires.
Ils nous ont fourni un soutien important afin de nous aider à réaliser cette aventure. MERCI À TOUS
 

 

 

We are proud to introduce you to our partners.
Their precious collaboration helped us live this fabulous adventure.

THANKS TO ALL.

Polaris Industries - Canada
Polaris Industries - USA



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