Baja Trip Day Quatro

Today we find ourselves in Santa Rosalia on the Sea of Cortez. Since this is on the other side of Baja from the Pacific, the cooling Pacific Ocean winds don't exist. The temperature is much hotter and more humid but the cerveza is just as fria (cold)!

Our day started out in search for the famous Salt Harvesting operation in Guerrero Negro. We first found the general office and were told that motorcycles were not allowed on the grounds, but there were tours available. Off to the tour office we go. There, they arranged for Victor to show us around. Victor was a great guy who was not only fun to talk to but really knew the operation.

What a fantastic operation it is! There are roughly 54 ponds of various sizes, but all are huge. Each are flooded at various time with salt water and a brine of salt water. Then they sit for 4 to 5 months until the water evaporates. At some point thereafter, the harvest takes place. The top 25-30 centimeters is dozed into a hill and a special harvester comes along and scarfs the mound and conveys it into a 3 trailered truck capable of hauling 360 tons of salt. The product is then taken to a washing station and then off to barges holding 7000-10,000 tones. This is then taken off shore to an island there the port is deep enough to load into big ships for shipping world wide. We found salt, Peter.....

Because of the high salt content of the surround water, thousands of wales come here to calf.   The high salt content naturally in the water is boyant and allows the wale calfs to surface, float, learn to breathe and swim.  Without an area like this, it would be impossible for the wales to survive.

We hit the road and headed to Santa Rosalia! (But of course, not without “Events”.) The first stop was for a bite to eat. Peter with Huevos en Chorizo. It looked fantastic and he enjoyed it. I tried a Mexican hamburger. Pretty darned good! Avocado and jalipinos on the burger...good stuff!

There are a number of “security stations” that exist along the way. What their true function is, is unclear. However, they are equipped with enough firepower to take out a couple of motorcycles, a few watermelons and who knows what else. Well, Peter decides to get us killed!   Out comes his camera at one of these stops and he starts snapping pictures of the guards, the weapons and probably all sorts of secret stuff that keeps us “safe” 100km down the road... The guards are on him like flys in a cow pasture. Of course, my “amigo” tries to talk me into snapping a couple of pictures of the rapidly approaching guards!  ...I declined.

His bike surrounded, he relinquishes his camera and all of those pictures are deleted. Mercifully, they let us leave. A block or so later, I notice a flock of Turkey Vultures who can only be after those who refused to relinquish their camera......

We “luckily” arrive in Santa Rosilia without bullet wounds. Santa Rosilia was founded by the French and they found copper and  established mines. When it became impractical to profit from, it was given back to Mexico. The town has tremendous potential but looks to be in somewhat scattered disrepair. Some places are fantastic, some haven't seen that status in some time. In the morning, off to the next stop (cerveza time!)