This is the final part of the Baja family road trip adventure we had during spring break this year. I’ve took a big break since the last time writing and it’s fun to remember some of the details as I look back through a little journal I kept, in addition to the photos. Finally, after all those miles of driving, I managed to have the camera out to grab a shot of the cows who don’t mind being within a few feet of 65 mph vehicles. Semi-trucks take up the entire lane most of the time, so there’s not much room for error for the animals.
On this section of our travel from La Paz to Bahia Concepcion, one of our trailer tires was really close to falling apart. We had a spare in the trailer, but all the tools to replace it were at the bottom of everything that was packed. We happened to spot a tire store along the way, pulled in and asked for help with my weak Spanish skills. The crew easily switched the tires and refused payment. Once again, we were humbled by strangers willingness to help.
I should have put a quarter or something down to show scale. These were amazingly big and bumbly around us while we were cooking our dinner. But Craig easily swatted three out of the sky. The kids were skeptical because he did it with the spatula that he was cooking with.
After a week and a half of concentrated driving and fun, rest at this last beach was pretty important.
The entire trip we had been warned about the last weekend that we were going to be in Baja, which was Easter weekend. Many, many people spend the long weekend on the beach camping and we weren’t sure if finding a spot would be possible. This was a small beach really close to a jam packed one, but it didn’t have any toilets. We made do anyway and it turned out to a be a sweet spot, away from the music going late into the night at the beach nearby.
The first night at this beach the moon came up right as the sun set, so Craig and I went out for a moonlit paddleboard. It was AWESOME! With the moonlight, we were able to see through the clear water to the bottom.
The next day began with a breeze that picked up into a strong wind. Of course, Kena and K had started out for a quick paddleboard to catch up to the dolphins and then ended up downwind with no hope of getting back. It was all worth it in their eyes, because they were close to the group of dolphins and even saw a little baby one. But once they were out there, I think they ended up being blown over half a mile downwind. Craig walked along the shore to catch up to them and I drove past them so they could just paddle to me and catch a ride back home. They are the tiny yellow speck in the right part of the photo below.
Camping along the Bahia Concepcion was a pretty cool treat. We counted four different ice cream trucks or vans that would come by camp each day.
Soccer was one of our main activities at camp.
A little later in the day we could see humpback whales breaching.
Sometimes we would drive into the closest town for the mid day meal.
We decided the best meals we had down there ranged from the super spartan and cheap taco stands or the room shown below up to the sit down restaurant type places in the bigger cities that were similar to home. Wherever we ended up in the middle of the day, we were kind of a slow and sleepy bunch.
The beach near us that was jam packed with people was a long spit of a beach that could be walked out to a little island. We ventured out to walk during low tide.
On the way back to our camp, I didn’t want to be the obnoxious tourist with the camera glued to my face, so I just shot at the hip while walking.
That’s the guy delivering water to the campers.
Back to ‘our’ beach.
This is the very first beach that we were actually charged to stay. Even that was a little sketchy, or rather, humorous. That’s because the elderly lady who came to collect the 100 pesos (about $6) lived in this building and walked through camp each day asking for money, only speaking in Spanish. Who was she and does she really have authority to ask for money? Those thoughts passed through our heads, but it feels fine enough to just give her the 100 pesos each day.
I miss the colors of Baja, Mexico.
The wind and waves didn’t keep them grounded. Today they wanted to master riding up and down the waves.
I’m used to having all the food we need for camping packed when we leave. I was won over by the vendors each day though, since why work hard at dinner when they would deliver tamales and empanadas at a cheap price and bring dessert by multiple times each day if we wanted?
We made friends with the fellow campers.
K and I went out to explore a little.
Our Baja experience ended with an exclamation point. The neighboring family was a joy to spend time with, compare notes, and hearing the adventures in life they have had. After all that travel, the family camaraderie of shared adventure, the beauty of Baja, and the generosity of strangers who quickly became friends are the highlights of the trip.
Roadside vistas are still interesting to me, even after the 40+ hours of driving just in Mexico.
If we lived here, this would be my kids.