Loreto stop 11

February 24 and we traveled from Ciudad Constitution to Loreto. First we had a nice Mexican breakfast with Patty at her campground. We went through the Sierra Madra Gigantus and that is what they were! Loreto proved to be an interesting town and a difficult time for many trying to get to the campground. The parkers arrive4d in town and discovered that some of the streets were being painted and construction was going on. They ended up with a police escort. Dick & Judy had a tough time not running over street curbs trying to get back and then the streets were narrow. Some Mexicans quickly moved their vehicles when they saw the big silver trailers coming. When we arrived we missed the turn. After turning around with Norm in the lead, he missed it again. We did make it. He had to turn around again and was quite upset at the way a Mexican would not give way just kept coming and blowing his horn. We wandered through town trying to follow Tom’s CB suggestions. Finally there was Judy with a red flag waving at us to turn down a narrow road. We finally blocked the whole road so Norm could make the turn. Then we drove down into an arroyo that the Mexicans sped through passing us 90 to nothing and throwing dust everywhere. We found the campground with the help of another red flag. We parked really close together. It seems like it wasn’t long before it was time for vans to come and take us to Domingo’s Steak house. The steak was wonderful – nearly American food! We were serenaded by 2 guitar playing Mexicans. Our taxi vans arrived to take us back to camp. It is a fairly nice campground close to the water and even has a swimming pool that many took advantage of while we were there. We had time for a little joker in the clubhouse area.

February 25 was Ladies Day. The women went to town together. We wandered all over town shopping and looking. It was fun being together. There was a mission that we looked into. We also walked into an old (although we later learned it had been built only 10 years before) hotel that had a swimming pool at the top. There was a beautiful spiral staircase leading to the level where a small restaurant and the pool were. When you were in the lobby or courtyard you could see the pool through the beams of the roof. Shops lined the small street with nice shade trees on both sides. We all ate lunch together at Loreto Islis Restaurant which was just across from the malison and the bay. A number of the men, meantime had also journeyed downtown and had found another restaurant that Tom showed them from his first caravan to Baja. After arriving back at the campground and a short siesta probably because of the barking dogs and crowing roosters that had raised havoc most of the night. We noticed the dogs all seemed to be sleeping quietly trying to build up energy to bark at night. Soon another joker game was on tap. Winston and I went back into town. He had decided he would like a ring of some stone, probably something like Blue Boulder Mexican Agate (I think that was it). His fingers were too big so he will continue to look.

February 26 and it was a suggestion that we carpool to San Javier, a community of 150 people, and see the area and Mission San Francisco Javier. We drove the 22 miles in Norm and Lois’ little red “Mexican” car. He always says he fits right in with the little Ford Fiesta. The road started out as a black top. We were a little behind the others and passed the turnoff so we played catch-up all of the way. The road was again, unbelievable! The views were awesome as we traveled over and around. Of course the road had soon turned to dirt (and boulders). We ran into construction where they backed the huge equipment out of our way so we could sneak through. Again we had to ford some water. We came across Rancho Las Parras (thought we had found San Javier because of the small mission). San Javier itself was a beautiful little community. The roads were made of cobblestones and the area was well kept. We walked through the mission that was founded in 1699, but what we saw was built between 1744 and 1758. After wandering around the town a little we found the one and only restaurant. It was simple but good. We had quesadias (sp) and refried beans. If you travel in Mexico you had better like refried beans. We even got so we called them brown grits. We drove down one road past the school that seemed full until we found goats. The kids were so cute. We had our cameras going. Since they had blocked the road that at one time had gone just below a small dam we had to wind our way back. According to information the community grows 400 tons of onions a year. I have absolutely no idea how they get them to market over those roads! We went back over those same rough roads but stopped at one area where we had learned there were cave paintings. They were there but not as n ice as the others we had seen. They were trying to protect them a little with a fence but evidently graffiti is a major problem even though the paintings are usually tough to get to and find. We headed back home.

February 27 was a day to wander around Loreto. Norm and Lois went with us. We went into the hotel again to show Norm. He ended up staying for a massage while we went shopping. Winston and I ended up with 3 nice planters – one looks like a turtle. The other two will go on the front porch at home. We were still looking for a ring. One lady said if we came back around 5 she would have had time to go through her inventory. She thought she might have what we wanted. The 4 of us looked for a restaurant and were headed to Domingo’s only to find it was closed at lunch. We went back to the rvs and ate lunch. Later we went back to check out the rings only to find she still hadn’t gotten them. After grabbing an ice cream cone, we drove down to the marina to watch the pelicans. John had told us they were great – dive bombing and splashing people as they tried for food. They were neat to watch. We went back and no ring was just right. Zoom we had to be back for a drivers meeting. Winston said he would fix supper if I would go to the meeting. It was a deal.