San Quintin stop 3

January 31 and we were up early, leaving with the parkers at 6:30am. We traveled along quickly learning about topes (speed bumps). I am not sure there are any stoplights in Baja California or Baja California Sur. They use Alto (stop) signs freely and the toe-pez are unbelievable. They come in 2 sizes – small and narrow or large and wide. Often there will be about 8 or 10 small ones followed by one BIG one. We called out to each other on the CB when we saw them and also when eighteen wheelers were coming at us. The roads vary but typically have a center yellow line and white lines on the sides, but they are narrower than in the US and the real problem is the drop-off of about 8 to 12 inches on the sides. Often their may be another dirt road off to the side. At one area we saw the Mexicans flying down the dirt road beside us trying to pass and they did. The only paved road is the highway. Other dirt roads are not bad but they may be washboards. Luckily our second rest stop was at a Pemex gas station. Needless to say we filled up. Pemex is the only gas station in Mexico. Its prices are set across the country by the Mexican government. The parking crew arrived in time to set up and grab lunch. The campground was down a dirt road bout a mile. The El Pabellion RV was on the good side of the dunes with the Pacific Ocean on the other side. It was windy but we had protection. Winston and Jack worked together at one end parking the rigs and Dick and Judy did the other end. Linda flagged them in at the office and I went out to the highway and flagged them down and talked them in over the CB. We got them all in with only one problem, David turned to go into his site and when he hesitated he got stuck in the sand. With help from many he soon got out. We had another Fiesta.


February 1 and we drove to downtown San Quintin with Dick & Judy. We walked the main street going into a Mercardo (grocery store or supermarket) where the only thing we bought was toilet paper (4 rolls that are half as tall as US and half as large). We wandered through a novelty store that every type of candy, paper goods, piñatas, anything for a party. We when into a pandered - bakery (and bought some rolls and a doughnut). The Mexican bakery is not like American. Usually only un-sweet items are sold there. The sweet items are sold at another store. We checked out a Pharmacia. Soon we began picking up or guessing many of the words. Now if we could just do the same with the money. We headed back to the campground. The number of places selling things alongside the road is unbelievable. Many are little taco stores that are open air – anything to make a little money. The people seem so poor. As you drive highway 1 on each side are the stores but between on each side is a dirt road that often the Mexicans drive on. They drive crazy and fast. It was difficult to believe it was Sunday although we did notice in the plaza at the band shell a group was singing. They were dressed up. We got back and it wasn’t long before we had to gather our drinks and silver so we could go to the cookout. We had all been given our steaks to keep in our own refrigerators and the cookout committee had fixed potatoes, avocadoes and corn on the cob. Mmmm good! Afterwards we had a nice campfire followed by the driver’s meeting. Our time was coming to move again.