21 - 23 January 2007
Bahia de Los Angeles, Baha California, Mexico
- population: 800
Villa Vitta Hotel & RV Park
Dear Friends of Barbara and Charlie (B/C) ...
Humphrey here again. This email covers the drive through Catavina and through the mountains across to the Sea of Cortez side of the Baha to Bahia de Los Angeles, 232 miles. We were here three nights.
Possibly what you envision Mexico to be like. This is unusual for the heavy coverage of cacti, several different varieties.
One stretch ran through a boulder laden landscape, quite surprising. Note the modern petroglyphs; the peninsula is known for “the most spectacular petroglyphs and cave paintings in the western hemisphere” (Lonely Planet).
Our first view of the Sea of Cortez, also known as the Sea of California. Another good example of the highway.
The campsite at the Bahia de Los Angeles. What the long drive the past two days was for and all agreed it was worth it. We spent two full days here. The property has recently been sold with the RV park to be replaced by a large condo project.
Interestingly the town in not connected to the Baja electrical power grid; it has a diesel generator that runs limited hours in the evening.
Besides the beauty, there was culture -- a very nice local museum. This is a snap that Barbara took of a picture of a local burro trail (foot prints ground in the stone).
Another snap by Barbara of another nearly by-gone tradition of the Baja, the Baja 1000. Before the Baja highway was built in 1975-80, the peninsula was known for it’s cross-country dune-buggy endurance race from Tijuana to La Paz. There still is a remnant of the race held every year, the Baja 500, some of which follows the highway.
An extra attraction arranged by our wagon master was a slide lecture by a Mexican marine biologist who conducts research locally on area turtle species. His research documented the annual migration of one type of turtle that established that they come from Japan to nest in the Sea of Cortez. 
A briefing at a holding tank at the turtle research facility.
This documents Barbara’s discovery of an upside-down carrot cactus which she hunted for several days. Our trip-tic included a nice write-up of some 9 varieties of cacti we’ve seen along the way.
One or our days here some of the group went out fishing. The Sea of Cortez is renowned for its fishing. They were successful and shared their catch in a dinner fish-fry. By the way, the tall fellow in the center of the picture, Jim Harrison, (retired senior Marine Corps officer) with his wife Bettie on his right, is the caravan member who is sharing his satellite internet connection with the group.
Sunrise over islands in the Sea of Cortez the day we left.
Next: on to San Ignacio south of Guerrero Negro.
… Humphrey for Charlie and Barbara
