 THE FEBRUARY 2008 BAJA AND BACK CARAVAN MEMBERS |
 ONE OF THE GLASS BOTTOM TOUR BOATS HEADING FOR THE ARCHES AT CABO SAN LUCAS |
 OUR BOAT SLOWLY PICKED ITS WAY THROUGH THE GRANITE COLUMNS |
 OUR GUIDE POINTED OUT THAT THE VERTICAL ROCK FORMATION LOOKS LIKE THE PENINSULA OF BAJA |
 OUR BOAT GUIDE WAS INFORMATIVE AND SO FUNNY |
 EVERYONE ENJOYED OBSERVING THE MYRIAD OF TROPICAL FISH ON THE REEFS AT THE ARCHES |
 THE FISH CAME RIGHT UP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT UNDER AN EERIE GREEN LIGHT |
 LOVERS BEACH ON THE GENTLE SEA OF CORTEZ SIDE WAS FILLED WITH BATHERS |
 THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED ROCK FORMATION IN ALL OF THE BAJA-THE FAMOUS ARCHES |
 THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO THESE COLUMNS FORMED AN ARCH |
 THE FAMOUS ARCH VIEWED FROM THE PACIFIC SIDE |
 WE WERE TOSSED AND TURNED ON THE CURRENTS NEAR THE ROCKS |
 THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY CAVES CLAIMED TO BE USED BY PIRATES WHO RAIDED THE PASSING SHIPS |
 THE ROCK FORMATIONS WERE SPECTACULAR............ |
 OUR TOUR GUIDE WAS ABLE TO MANUEVER THE BOAT BETWEEN MANY OF THE ARCHES |
 AN ARCH IN FORMATION-HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF YEARS WILL IT TAKE? |
 THIS WAS "DIVORCE BEACH" ON THE PACIFIC SIDE-NO SWIMMERS HERE |
 THE HOMES YOU SEE ON THE CLIFFS ON THE PACIFIC SIDE OF CABO SOLD FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS |
 THE ARCH AGAIN FROM THE PACIFIC SIDE-NOTE THE LARGE DINNER CRUISE BOAT AT THE RIGHT |
 THIS WAS THE TINY BEGINNING OF ANOTHER ARCH-THE WATER WOULD SHOOT OUT AT EVERY WAVE |
 I ASKED SOMEONE ON LOVER'S BEACH TO CLICK A PICTURE BEFORE I WENT TO SWIM WITH THE SEALS |
 I SWAM WITH THE FISH AND SEALS AROUND THIS ROCK UNDER THE GAZE OF TWO PELICANS |
 THE MANY SEA LIONS ON THE ROCKS BELOW THE ARCHES-THEY WOULD HOWL AT OUR PRESENCE... |
 ONE OF THE MANY SEALS-"HEY, DO YOU WANT TO PLAY?" |
 THIS FELLOW SWIMMER WAS STARING DOWN A SEAL...... |
 NOT ALL THE SEALS WANTED TO PLAY WITH US.... |
 MANY OF THE SEALS AND SEA LIONS OF CABO SAN LUCAS WERE TOO BUSY SUNNING TO JOIN US IN THE WATER |
 HOW IN THE WORLD DID THIS LITTLE FELLOW GET UP ON THIS ROCK? |
 THIS MALE SEA LION LET US KNOW NOT TO MESS WITH HIM..... |
 A LAZY DAY ON THE ROCKS OF CABO SAN LUCAS |
 THIS SEAL WAS MY FAVORITE-HE PLAYED TAG OVER AND OVER AGAIN |
 THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE "MODERN" SUPERMARKETS IN THE BAJA |
 THIS WAS A TYPICAL MEAT COUNTER-HEAVY ON PORK AND FISH-YOU COULD SMELL THE FISH |
 EVERY MARKET ON THE BAJA HAS A WIDE SELECTION OF VEGGIES-FRESH AND CLEAN |
 THE CHECKOUT LINES WERE OFTEN LONG AND EVERYONE BOUGHT TORTILLAS |
 THIS WAS A MORE MODERN SUPERMARKET IN CABO SAN LUCAS |
 MANY OF THE RURAL PEOPLE OF THE BAJA LOVE TO SHOP IN THE CITIES |
 MANY OF THE MARKETS HAS A COOKED FOOD COUNTER-CLOSEST THING TO "FAST FOOD" |
 A TYPICAL SMALL ROADSIDE MARKET-THIS ONE SOLD EVERYTHING INCLUDING HOMEMAKE BAKED GOODS. |
 SARA LOVED TO SHOP THE OUTDOOR MARKETS |
 MANY OF THE CLOTHING SHOPS ON THE BAJA ARE OUTDOORS |
 THE T SHIRTS ARE EVER PRESENT AND WE HAVE TOO MANY ALREADY.. |
 SOME OF THE MARKETS WERE VERY UPSCALE LIKE THIS ONE IN CABO SAN LUCAS |
 THE LOCAL WEAVERS DISPLAYED THEIR WORK EVERYWHERE-USUALLY MADE OF WOOL AND VERY HEAVY... |
 THIS HORSE WAS MADE OF NATURAL DESERT VEGETATION AND VERY EXPENSIVE |
 THE DOLLS WERE ALL HAND SEWN AND SO CUTE...... |
 THE PEOPLE OF THE BAJA OFTEN DISPLAY LOCAL ART IN RESTAURANTS AND PUBLIC SQUARES.... |
 THIS MERCHANT HAD A "REAL" SENSE OF HUMOR |
 SOME OF THE ROADSIDE ART FOR SALE WAS VERY NOVEL..... |
 AND CONSTRUCTED FROM WHAT WAS AVAILABLE IN THE DESERT SURROUNDINGS-BONES AND CAR PARTS |
 THE STREET SHOPS WERE EVERYWHERE |
 SOME SHOPS SPECIALIZED IN ITEMS TOO LARGE OR HEAVY FOR THE RV.. |
 THERE WAS NO "PRODUCTION" STAIN GLASS HERE-IT WAS QUITE EXPENSIVE |
 THESE ARE ALL HAND MADE AS IS MOST ART IN THE BAJA |
 THE ARTISTS OF THE BAJA ARE PARTICULARLY SKILLED WITH METAL |
 MORE OF THE METAL WORK-WE WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THIS ONE IF WE COULD HAVE FIT IT IN THE RV-SARA LOVED IT |
 THIS SCULPTURE WAS VERY, VERY HEAVY AND EXPENSIVE.. |
 THE POTTERY CAME IN A CASCADE OF COLORS...... |
 IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.................. |
 AND MADE WITHOUT LEAD BASED PAINT ACCORDING TO THE VENDOR..... |
 WE BOUGHT TWO BEAUTIFUL RUGS FROM THIS YOUNG MAN ON A BEACH IN LAREDO-HE WAS SO PROUD OF HIS WARES.. |
 THE FAMOUS BAJA "GRIME"..... |
 IT COVERS EVERYTHING WHEN IT RAINS |
 OUR TRUCK "BEGGING" TO BE WASHED....... |
 AS WAS OUR RIG................IT HURT TO SEE THEM SO DIRTY..... |
 ONE THE RIGS IN THE CARAVAN GOT STUCK IN THE MUD.......WE WERE ABLE TO PULL IT OUT |
 TECATE IS THE NATIONAL BEER OF THE BAJA AND IS SOLD EVERYWHERE |
 ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF TECATE STANDS THAT DOT THE BAJA |
 TECATE IS BREWED IN THE BAJA AND IS SO POPULAR |
 EL EQUIPO DE CASA MEANS "THE HOME TEAM"-S0UNDS FAMILIAR DOESN'T IT.. |
 TEQUILLA COMES IN MANY BRANDS AND SOME ARE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE |
 TORTILLA PRODUCTION OPERATIONS ARE BOTH LARGE AND SMALL BUT THE PRICE IS CONTROLLED |
 NOT ALL PEOPLE PROSPER IN PARADISE-IN FACT MANY DO NOT.. |
 THIS IS A VERY "MODERN" HOME IN THE RURAL BAJA |
 THE WATER TANKS ARE BLACK NOT TO HEAT THE WATER BUT TO PREVENT ORGANISMS FROM GROWING IN THEM |
 NOT ALL THE HOMES IN THE BAJA ARE MODEST... |
 MOST OF THE FANCY HOUSES OF THE BAJA ARE OWNED BY WEALTHY GRINGOS FROM EUROPE AND THE STATES |
 THE "TOYS" OF THE RICH SIT IN THE MARINA AT CABO SAN LUCAS |
 THE CONSTRAST BETWEEN THE RICH AND POOR OF BAJA IS EVIDENT |
 THIS STONE MASON WAS REPAIRING A CHURCH IN RURAL BAJA |
 SOME COWBOYS GREETED US AS WE TRAVELED DOWN CENTRAL BAJA |
 SOMEONE SAID THE TWO WORST THINGS TO COME TO BAJA WERE AUTOS AND PLASTIC BAGS |
 MORE OF BAJA'S TRASH-UNFORTUNATELY IT SEEMS TO BE EVERYWHERE AND NO ONE SEEMS TO BE PICKING IT UP |
 SARA HAD DEFINITE MISGIVINGS ABOUT OUR IMPENDING ATV ADVENTURE |
 ALL SUITED UP WITH HELMETS, GOGGLES AND MASKS... |
 BUT SOON WE WERE GEARED UP AND READY TO RIDE |
 RUTH, A MEMBER OF THE CARAVAN WAS TOLD BY HER FAMILY BACK HOME NOT TO ATV |
 WE HEADED OUT INTO THE WASH.... |
 THESE FOLKS BROUGHT THEIR DOG |
 WOW HOW RUTH COULD RIDE.. |
 WE CROSSED A SMALL STREAM SEVERAL TIMES.... |
 AND SOME FOLKS GOT STUCK |
 WE FINALLY MADE IT TO THE END OF THE WASH AND TO THE WATERFALL |
 IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AT THE END OF THE WASH |
 THE WATER CASCADED DOWN THE FACE OF THE DAM TO THE POOLS BELOW |
 WE HAD LUNCH AT THE DAM....... |
 IT WAS SO REFRESHING TO SEE WATER AT THE END OF THE WASH..... |
 A DIP IN THE POOL WAS SO TEMPTING |
 AND SEVERAL PEOPLE TOOK THE PLUNGE...INCLUDING DON OF COURSE... |
 FINALLY WE HEADED HOME....... |
 WHAT A FUN TRIP......WE WOULD DO IT AGAIN........... |
 THESE MEN THOUGHT MY T SHIRT WAS SO FUNNY -NOTICE THE STONE ON THE TABLE |
 THE FIELD MANAGER OF THE LANDOWNER...............NOTICE THE SMILES |
 ANOTHER EMPLOYEE AT THE STONE QUARRY....... |
 THIS LAND OWNER GAVE ME A "SPECIAL" GIFT |
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 GOOD BYE........... |
 BAJA..................... |
 AND THANK YOU............... |