Playa Tecolote--paddling, cleanup, and desert hike

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Sunday, Feb . 26

Today, I took a much deserved rest—like an old dog, lying in the sun on the porch.  I just lay in the trailer, listening to music on my Ipod for much of the day.   In the morning, I took a brief stroll around the beach, and noticed the immense amount of trash strewn about in the desert behind the beach.  I was even half-heartedly thinking I should organize a volunteer party to pick some of it up.  But it seemed futile, if the Mexicans didn’t seem to care. 

Carnival in La Paz

Monday Feb 20

I got up before dawn, took a walk taking photos along the beach, then drove to La Paz.  It took about 3 hours from Insurgentes.   I stopped en route to have a taco (not very good at a roadside shack in the desert) and to take photos of cactus personalities.

When I arrived, I was very tired, feeling almost sick.  I napped before going to the parade.   Afterward, I showered, and felt much better.

Tuesday-Thursday, Feb. 21-23

Without a phone, I found it almost impossible to connect with the three people I had found on Couch Surfers.  The internet wasn’t always working, and they might not respond for several days.  I didn’t want to hang around La Paz waiting for something that might or might not develop, so I gave up on contacts.

Carnival in La Paz

Everyone knows I come to Baja to see the marine life.

From Wisconsin to the border

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February 11, 2012--Departure

I left Madison late in the afternoon on Saturday, Feb. 11.  It’s taken two good weeks of hard preparations.

From the border to Guerro Negro

Thursday 3/11

By the end of Wednesday, as the sun set, I made it to the American side of of the border at Tecate. I asked about auto insurance, but decided to wait till I crossed the next day, to save a day’s fee. Then I drove 6 miles to Potrero, a small ranching community in a valley among the boulder-strewn mountains.