Baja Adventure - Part TRES - MUCHOS Beach Activities

getting up early to watch the sun rise and have coffee never got boring.....however,

on several occasions during our weeks of preparation to travel down Baja we discussed what we would do with our time while parked on the beach. We are not beach people...you know - the people who go to a beach, spread their towels, lather on the sun screen (or not) and lay down to bake. There is nothing wrong with this activity...however, our days of rving are filled with museums, hikes, national parks, historical buildings and the local history of whatever village, town or city we might be touring. Boy, were we pleasantly surprised! In addition to just sitting and reading a good novel, walking leisurely through the surf and interacting with the many beach vendors we discovered much, much more to the fine art of boondocking on the beach in a foreign country....

Our first day in town we attended an art
show to benefit the volunteer animal clinic
Patron of Animal Welfare.

These panels are actually cement slabs/tables/benches/counter-tops with cut glass designs embedded.

SeaKelp baskets <

Weekly art classes are available

for those who want to learn a new craft...

led by artisans that winter here as well.

                              Sea-grass basket weaving >

Gourds

In addition to the arts - other activities included:

 Geocaching/hiking

 Fishing

Kayaking

Paddle-boarding

bird watching....includes pelicans (shown), blue-footed boobies, egrets, herons, vultures, gulls and hummingbirds, ravens and assorted songbirds.









Baja has many beautiful and ancient Spanish missions....scattered throughout the countryside. Day trips to see Mission San Javier, Mision de Loreto Concho, or Mission Santa Rosalia de Mulege .

Other day trips to view pictographs near Mulege and Loreto were also on the calendar....

and drives down arroyos found us viewing trees

or to discover an oasis along the way.....

and when all else fails....deciding to learn now to cook in a solar/sun oven - not that I did.

 But one does have the time to learn if so inclined.

or looking for and collecting shells...

We discovered a variety of activities that filled the hours between sunrise and sunset and still managed to lather ourselves with sun-screen....

~ Adios amigos~

Baja Adventure - Part DOS - Beach Boondocking? Si!

Life on the beach....Sunrise

While the journey to get here was, at times, steering-wheel clenching, once we arrived and got our rig parked this (above) was our breathtaking view from our doorstep. Mere footsteps to the high tide mark...

< - View from the kayak

      View from the road above - >

Honestly, we hadn't done much real true boondocking....oh, a night here and there - but we were talking serious life without plugging in or hooking up the hose to a water faucet. We don't have solar or a water pump...we do have a generator and good friends! (Solar is the next addition once we get home in the spring) Not everyone who travels this far (650 miles from the Arizona border) have rigs...some people actually camped in tents....motor homes are abundant as are travel trailers....

Tiny Airstream or Tiny Teardrop (behind the yellow tent room addition)

The problem of fresh water was solved by Emilio who provided us with a 55 gallon plastic barrel and delivered water as needed, along with fresh fruits and veggies every morning at 7am....if he didn't have what you wanted-just ask and he would deliver it the next day....Fresh tamales, empanadas, and tortillas could also be purchased.

Fresh Fish delivered several times a week unless you catch it yourself ....we had an abundance of shrimp and scallops in our diet....



  

Emilio<                Fish lady >

Other Beach Vendors.....daily visitors (to all of the beach camp grounds) made the rounds including Sundays and holidays...

Adolpho "Almost Free" trinkets

Lupe - Bread/Pastry man

Peleo - Trinkets, blankets and hand made accessories from yarn

Baskets and more..... 

Water coolers (w/sprouts) from Adolpho

The locals are extremely industrious and have created/delivery systems for the services that we "gringos" are accustomed to having...examples: the wash/waxing of your vehicles, (including the RV), delivery of pre-ordered roasted chicken and pizza, clothing and jewelry; to name just a few.

We really didn't need to drive into Mulege (approx. 22 miles) for goods unless we wanted too....or you needed fresh RO water, propane, laundry or needed to make a call.

Cell phone coverage started about 15 miles from our beach, ....and unless you were prepared with a satellite dish - no TV. Several businesses in/near town did have free WiFi - but we quickly aligned ourselves with few of the interruptions that I take for granted most days.

Sunset - same spot as sunrise....ahhh, the best in life

 PART TRES - Baja Adventure continues with activities...

~Ciao

A jewel in the forest...

Out for a search and discovery drive, we came upon this stunningly beautiful and under-populated Emerald Lake - which boasts a conference center/resort.  We first spotted this quaint gift shop and canoe/kayak rental area from the parking lot...but we decided to walk as the lake loop trail was only about 3.4 miles and it was a nice day. Simply gorgeous!



Anytime we are about to enter "wilderness" we try to ascertain whether there may be any bear activity and were told that the previous week a family (parents, 2 toddlers) had surprised a mom w/cubs and she chased them into the lake - the very glacier cold lake - where they stood for 20 mins while the bear growled at them. Wasn't until other walkers came along that the family was rescued...of course we had a good laugh about the story because we are sick and twisted, after all, it wasn't us standing in the lake...funny how we decided that wearing our 'bells' would be a good idea after hearing that story.

Emerald Lake is so clear and pristine, even on a cloudy day we were able to capture the mirror images.


Emerald Lake



Another mirror image awaits us.

Half way - resort in the background



At about the halfway point, the lovely paved path, with it's park benches to stop and enjoy the view ends, eat lunch or just rest, ends  and  wooden boardwalks appear to lead you off into the forested portions of the trail, leading you back to the resort.                                                                                   

This is worth the drive to see....and unlike Lake Louise - less congestion = more peace and enjoyment.

This sign was waiting for us at the end of our walk..Good to Know....if it's cold enough to freeze the lake then it's too cold for moi! This day the weather was perfect for a stroll around this gem...

~Ciao

Apple Pie in the middle of a hike=Perfection

Our original plans for this adventure was to see Yellowstone & the Grand Tetons and then travel into Alberta to see Banff/Lake Louise and the Canadian Rockies via their national parks system. We had no idea that the area contained some really beautiful lakes that are rarely, if ever, mentioned. In conversations with those we know who have visited the aforementioned "Lake Louise" no one ever spoke of other lakes in the area.  While I will briefly tout the beauty of Lake Louise - the Canadian Rockies has many beautiful lakes to enjoy along the way and over the next few days will share their beauty and what we found

First up: Lake Louise

Dockside looking up the lake 

Looking down the lake @ Fairmount Hotel

There is a lovely paved walk to nearly the end of the lake. Along the way you can then decide to hike up to the Agnes Tea House (3.2km) or take the longer, steeper and more scenic route to the Plain of the Six Glacier Tea House (5.5km). Both offer sandwiches, desserts and tea. Try the apple pie - delicious!



Snow still on the trail



Cable line for traversing this part of the trail...



Rocky part of the trail lined with a cable to insure you don't fall down the slide of the cliff - water is pouring down the side from above

This is the tea house at the end of the Plain of Six Glacier trail...staff live here 5 days and cooks everything from scratch...including the Apple Pie....all the waste is packed out, all food staples needed packed in....

Since we hadn't grabbed our backpack when exiting the car, lunch at the Tea House was both welcomed and tasted "well earned!" after hiking 5.5KM (3.4 mi/one-way).


Teahouse information

Below is the view of Lake Louise from the Tea House rest area....spectacular isn't it?



At the beginning of our day at Lake Louise, we had no idea of the views we would encounter - certainly not from 3 miles beyond and above the lake, however, we were thrilled to discover this treasure literally in the woods!

Ciao!

Athabasca Falls in Jasper National Park...

Athabasca Falls is Canada's highest...the river feeding the falls is massive and fast. Here are two short videos...hope you get the idea of it's beauty and it's power.

Athabasca Falls - this link will provide you with additional information about the falls and the park.