Baja Trip Day 10 (Diez)

This morning, early, we packed up and hit the road. Our goal was to be back in Ensenada this evening. According to some other travelers that had just come from there, it is about a 10 hour trip. Long day but nothing we haven't already done. Off we go!

The weather is cool in the mornings and that makes those first couple to 300 miles easier than the blazing deserts in the afternoon. We start our in shorts and shirts I had my jacket on. A little chilly at speed, early in the day but the temperature climbs rapidly. We stopped for liquid (okay, I had a taco too) a few hours in and a store owner said to me that I made her laugh because I'm wearing shorts and a sweater. Peter explains to her that it is just that I am loco!

From Mulege we head up through the last few towns that Highway 1 passes through before beginning our crossing across Baja back to the Pacific side. We're looking forward to the cooler temperatures off of the Pacific.

The temperature climbs as we leave the coastline and begin our inland crossing. When it reaches what must have been about 112 degrees (f), we stop so I can stow my jacket.

At the top of the mountain range that separates the coasts, the wind hits us. It is very strong and gusty which makes travel difficult. You are constantly getting blown around in the lane and oncoming semi-trucks can pack some tremendous wind buffet as they pass by. This slows us down but we press onwards.

Finally back on the Pacific coast, it is quite cold to us. We stop for fuel and to put long pants and jackets on. Ensenada to Guerrero Negro was a long trip coming down and it looks to be about the same in the other direction...

We pass through a few small towns that we didn't really recognize from before. It could be because they are all teaming with people and cars and families doing whatever they do on a Sunday. Families are very close and important here. Life is simple but very hard and everyone in the family contributes towards life's goals. It's nice.

We finally arrive in Ensenada and luckily Peter remembers the way back to the hotel we stayed at before. As we pull into the hotel's driveway, the proprietor recognizes us and shows us to our same parking spaces. We have an “amigo” at the hotel now and we chat like old friends. Nice.

The trip odometer reads 2293. That means we burned up 547 miles of pavement, dirt and gravel and sand roadways. It took about 11-1/2 hours and every part of my body knows it.

An easy night and California is our destination for Monday.