We weathered a similar storm last night in the tent and thought we would make our way down the road but the rain and wind came on just as we were packed so we drove over the the registration desk instead and got a room. We took a quick ride out when there was a break in the weather for provisions but got caught on our way back.
The rain is truly a blessing here in Baja California where, as one of the gardeners said "has no water" or at least not fresh water. Even the shower water is slightly salty. It is beautiful on the estuary here lots of bird activity seals fish and when the tide is out folks are out digging clams.
There was also an amazing sunset.
We have been around Ensenada now for almost a week just recharging and catching up on some email work. Earlier we were at San Miguel or Punta San Miguel for the surfers. It wasn't much of a camp ground more a community with a gate and a parking lot but a busy place for surfing apparently it is one of the best places for surfing around and the island you look at to the west in Todos Santos where the waves can be even more impressive. We found this all out talking to Brian a photographer from Half Moom Bay who was down with a couple of very good surfers he was photographing on the wave. They also went out to the Island because apparently the weather was looking good for big waves. "All the big names in surfing were around". Watching them on the waves the day after we did see some amazing moves. Would have been fun to go out and watch.
Punta San MiguelWe crossed into Mexico through Tijuana. It was all pretty straight forward once we figured out where to go - there are no signs saying " this way to the boarder" and then getting through the gates we just squeezed past the cars made eye contact with all the official looking people and just biked through. Now we knew we needed Tourist Cards so we stopped once we realized we were through and I asked someone who looked like a fellow tourist and she pointed us to the right door we paid our $20 or so each and got stamped and that was it we were in. We followed #1 up a terrible hill breathing what felt like the most emission fume filled air I have ever experienced oh I forgot to mention the bank sign just before crossing the border read 95 degrees F. We got up the hill and proceeded till a couple cops pulled us over and said " you can't go through there" in Spanish of course meaning the toll booth ahead. Well they realize we couldn't go back either so they offered to shuttle us in their Jeep Chrokee. Well we had to go one at a time what with the two trailers and two bikes. I had my first lesson in Mexican money and accidentally gave him more money than Ian really wanted me too for the toll - lets just say it was a nice tip for the cop. Sadly we got around the toll and Ian promptly got a flat. Fixing that put us back a little time but the cycling was pretty good as the toll road has a wide shoulder. We got to Playa de Rosarito and couldn't find an RV park but did find an affordable hotel.
Fountain in RosaritoWe hit the road after a nice walk on the beach. We got to an RV park we had found on line with an impossible road in down and gravel. We got there and it was nice quiet - shower, cold but hey, and they said they could give us a ride back up to the road because there was no way our bikes could climb it. The ocean fog rolled in thick as we cooked dinner.
Next day bright and sunny beautiful spot! got the lift to the highway in a beat-up but reliable Ford 4x4.
At the toll booths we were escorted to the sidewalk and got through that way (this is how Ian got through them when he cycled from Haramar to Tucson) The last Toll Booth was San Miguel.
And that was the start of our stay in the Ensenada area. Folks are very nice foods good. Roberto at TNT Cycle did a wonderful job tuning up the orange bike and providing us with tubes for our tires.
So we are hoping to hit the road early tomorrow.
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