August 16, 2015 47 miles I had a delicious bowl of plain cereal with fruit for breakfast from Rice and Beans. We left at 8:30 for what we thought wouldn’t be a really long day. Today we were members of the 3H club (heat, hills, and headwinds). The day stretched on and on and when we saw the Gulf of California we thought it would soon be a break. Another two hours of riding up and down through a huge canyon brought us to the coast. We didn’t have shade all day and was glad we bought an extra 4L bottle of water as we drank over 12 liters between the two of us. It was our hardest riding day since starting at the Canadian border in Washington and we are glad to be in a hotel in Santa Rosalia. The beach was really nice to look at but with two dumps and a mineral plant next to it we decided not to take the plunge. It will probably be cleaner as we move south. Today was one of those days when you are thinking “What the heck…”
August 17, 2015 41 miles We got an early start after a downpour and were greeted with much cooler temperatures for most of the day. We rode into the next town of Mulege in the early afternoon and found a comfortable motel. We were still hurting from yesterday so it was a wise decision.
A school in the town of San Ignacio.The BCS stands for Baja California Sur which is a separate state then when we entered Mexico in Tijuana.The start of a very long and trying day.
We brake for Tecate. It was a lazy Sunday morning in a no name village.While riding out of town there was a baseball game.Continuing east towards the coast.We rode through old lava fields.Are we there yet?
Our first look at the Gulf of California. Little did we know we would not reach the Gulf for another two hours……as we entered a very large and steep canyon that took us up and down. Where’s Waldo #1?The remains of a wreck on this very steep road.Where’s Waldo #2?Where’s Waldo #3?The Gulf of California.After 12 liters of water between the two of us we stopped here for two Pacifico Lights.The first thing we saw on the coast – a dump.“We don’t need no stinking gringos”. And believe me at this point we really stunk!A great location right on the water but as is typical here-lack of work to complete the job.We made it!We ate at the new Italian restaurant in Santa Rosalia. The owner, Gina was very kind and served excellent spaghetti and chicken wings along with a fine bottle of Vino Tinto (red wine)Leaving the town of Santa Rosalia.
San Marcos Island.
Another “dog day afternoon”. These dogs were kind enough to share their shady spot with us.The town has been designated Heroica Mulege because during the Spanish-American war of 1846-1848 Americans tried to take control of this town and many others in Baja, California but were defeated by the Mexicans. This is an official title by the Mexican Legislature.The old oasis town of Mulege on the mouth of the Rio de Santa Rosalia River. Very Moroccan looking. The local mission to the left.
