Estero Beach stop 15

March 10 and our last caravan official travel day. We were headed back to Ensenada and Estero Beach Resort. We indeed left earlier than the 6am that was scheduled. All of us were ready so we headed for a long day of travel. We did seem to mess things up – first we needed gas so we stopped, then we needed propane so we stopped. Finally we arrived at the campground. We found a place to park with our back to the bay. After we got all in and had checked the electric before we did so, we discovered our unit would not allow electric to work. We decided to stay anyway. We were getting good at dry camping. At least we had water. I ended up flagging units in and Winston helped park. The office had given us wrong sites so we did a number of exchanges. The end of the hour for everyone to arrive and we were missing 8 units of the 25. We were worried. We had heard from some that Jack had lost his transmission on his classic motor home about 40 miles after he left the last campground. Two others were with him trying to determine what to do. But where were the others? Three others came in. Now we were only missing two – W.D. & Martha and John & Judy. It was over 2 hours after the expected time and finally they appeared. John & Judy had had a blow out. There was quite a bit of damage to the underside. After we got them parked we all wandered over to the dinner at the resort dining room. We had a last game of Joker with Tom & Penny and Dick & Judy.

March 11 and we had another day in Ensenada. It was a free day to catch up and get ready to leave. Some of the Mexicans in the park had offered to wash the camper and car. Oh, they looked so good and the price was reasonable at $45. They even windexed the windows. If only the inside was as clean. We drove to the Wal-Mart and Costco. It certainly was nice to see familiar stores. We had planned a crock pot meal and since we had no electricity, Lois cooked the food. We all ate together. Then we had one last game of Joker. Jack had gone down with a two truck and they brought his motor home up to Ensenada for a new transmission. The resort had a nice room that he was able to have for a nice price.

March 12 and we have one last chance to see the sights. After working on computers and pictures with Lois we decided to head back to La Boufadora and see if we could find a couple of items to buy. Lois was looking for a whale tale pin and Winston was still looking for a ring. The four of us were off in the jeep. It is a beautiful drive, south about 20 miles along the coast or bay line. We saw hills and homes and fields. Finally we saw the community. We paid a man to park and walked down the line of vendors. A number were not open but those that were all were trying to help us. Some the word was up and down what we were looking for. And we found it. Winston now has a beautiful red coral silver ring that fits. Lois has a necklace with a whale tail. I was able to find a few things I had wanted as well. We headed back in time for the banquet, a cookout. It was nice and Linda did a great job as MC. The 1st timers received a certificate as did all of us for completing the caravan. We went ahead and moved the motor home to the parking lot so we would be ready to leave first thing.

March 13 and the last day is here. First we met most for breakfast at the resort dining room. It was a nice good-by. We were all given the last segment of the caravan journal. Then our group was ready to go – Norm & Lois, Dick & Judy, John & Judy, and W.D. & Martha. The others pulled out around us and we heard the CB’s going crazy as everybody tried to keep from getting lost as we wandered through Ensenada. It is a good sized town. We had a hard time keeping the 5 of us together because of the Altos and the stoplights. We had decided that we would take the toll road instead of Mex 3 that went through mountains, had narrow roads and construction. It was a good idea but, we were in the lead and we missed the sign (The sign was wrong!) that should have said Mex 1, not Mex 1D, the toll road. We DID Tijuana, all of it. We must have driven through that town for hours, well at least one hour. Dick & Judy took the lead when we tried one road and found we wouldn’t make it. Norm & Lois had said they really didn’t want to lead – didn’t blame them, that’s for sure. We wandered through some areas that made me glad it wasn’t after dark. We saw homes, if you can call them homes, on the side of the hills made out of 4x8 sheets of plywood. Then we got in construction where we were turning at 90 degree angles with our units. It was some trip. Finally we made it to Tecate and somewhere near the border. That was interesting as well, since the directions were not clear. We did begin to hear the others on the CB indicating they were on one side or the other of the border. Now we know why people say they got down and kissed the ground!! The border crossing was simple after all of our worries. They wanted to know where we were from, where we had been and did we have anything to declare. Norm & Lois headed on but the rest of us found a place to eat on the little back highway we were on. We had a great hamburger. French fries and knew we were home to the USA!