29 January - 2 February, 2007
Loreto, Baha California Sur, Mexico
- population: 11,800
Rivera Del Mar Campground
Dear Friends of Barbara and Charlie (B/C) ...
Humphrey again. This email covers the drive from Santispac down the coast of the Sea of Cortez to Loreto, 71 miles. We stayed here five nights. This has been our favorite town with easy walking access from the RV park.
The park was a little cramped with all of us in residence but Scout was satisfied. Adjacent to the park was a very nice restaurant with WiFi in which we had several meals during our stay. And we had another group dinner, filet minion as I recall, at another very nice restaurant. Here, next to Barbara, is pictured Gary and Nancy Goerz who have just started full-timing in the past year. They are members of "Escapees" headquartered in Livingston, TX which is now their mailing forwarding address.
Another afternoon activity was learning the right way to drink tequila: lick a dash of salt on your hand, down a jigger of tequila straight, then immediately suck on a lime. The instructors were Gaylord (retired contractor) and Yvonne (ex-secretary and Makah Indian from Neah Bay, WA.)
The Loreto waterfront is exceptional. A resort hotel fronting on the ocean. The divided road along the malacon or paved waterfront walk. The malacon with cruse ship anchored out. The town has an international airport but doesn’t attract many tour ships because it doesn’t have a landing pier. It was just announced by the Federal government in Mexico City that they will build one. Tourist hotels are already under construction and it is hoped that the local atmosphere won‘t be destroyed.
Loreto has a reputation for fishing; here fisherman await their guide. Some try fishing just off the dock (the splash is from a couple dive-bombing pelicans).
The town’s residential areas are quiet and laid-back.
Loreto is the site of the first mission in Alta (US state of California) and Baja California, begun in 1697. It was the origin of all mission built through out the Baja and the state of California. The mission has been restored as a tourist attraction.
Adjacent is a very attractive tree-arched shopping mall that contributes to the laid-back atmosphere of the town. 
A modern elementary school. Free public education was decreed in about 1910; we saw lots of children in school uniforms. Across the street was an interesting house under construction. Thatched roofs are common and we had many a restaurant meal under them. This is how they are built.
Barbara and Charlie both agreed this is a town that they would like to return to.
Next stop: Ciudad Constitucion
… Humphrey, for Charlie and Barbara
