It took two days to reach our first stop over called Punta Chivato. When we stopped the wind was blowing fiercely but we found a good sheltered place near the sea and anchored the tent with heavy weights to ground it. Next morning the wind was down so I checked the water and found it warm enough for swimming. We liked the place so decided to stay for three days. Paul caught fish and other seafood so we had good food. 

Next we pulled up camp and headed further south to stay at Puerto Escondido. It had a boat launch ramp, showers and electric hookups, all for $5.50 each, per day. Now we were ready for more exploring in the nearby islands.

 Paul told me about a Hot Springs area so we drove another 20 miles south and found the road heading to the coast. It was all gravel and two lanes, except where there were boulders or broken places on the road. It was scary and took us one hour to go only twenty miles. Finally we arrived at the coast at a village called Agua Verdi. A man with a pongee boat agreed to take us fishing at a nearby island. I snorkeled while Paul went scuba diving. He had no trouble getting fish and filleted them, so we could have them for dinner. Driving back didn’t seem as bad because it was mostly uphill, and I was on the inside of the road. 

Even though the winds were blowing again we still tried to go boating. Next the motor quit so we had to come back with the oars. Then asked for someone that could fix motors and had parts. This led us to Laretto, about twenty miles up the road. Now the winds were worse and my hair looked really wild so it was time for a haircut. We looked around and found a shop called Francis, where a man was cutting hair. Maybe he had a women helper? No, Francis let me know that he could do mine. I said for him to cut mine short and that’s what he did. Afterwards he put loads of spray on it and Paul said I looked like Alice of the "Brady Bunch". After that it was real cool and easy to comb.

While waiting for the motor to be fixed, we had a big Thanksgiving dinner in the club restaurant. Paul brought a turkey with us and had it iced down. The cooks fixed it Mexican style and he gave them half. The dinner was wonderful and I felt like a queen but he said more like a princess. It was a great evening all to our selves. 

Paul always wanted a dog of his own but with his busy life, it wasn't possible. Whenever he saw strays, he stopped to feed them. One day a crippled little dog stopped by and he fed it. I named it Mutsy but he said she should be called Missy and the other name wasn't nice. She stayed close by and ate fish everyday, and later brought her friend along to join in the food. At night the dogs barked to keep others away, until Paul got after them. One day she got a bath in a big plastic tub and held still for him 

We were now getting acquainted, and invited to visit others. One elderly couple Bob and Petie asked us to stop by on the beach where there home was. They had a palm tree roof that was open on the north and south for year around breezes. She was an artist and he did carpenter work and liked sailing. Year around, every night, they climbed a ladder to go to bed. Not bad for two eighty year olds. Others camped or lived in trailers next to the ocean. With no rent to pay and a near by spring for water, they had a good life and in a warm climate. Most stayed several months till it warmed up in their northern homes. To me camping life was fun and easy because it was low maintenance and we had comfortable tents and air mattresses.

 After two weeks we were getting short of money and I suggested we start back. Paul said I was being wimpy and he loved it here and wanted to stay longer. We took one more island trip and Paul caught two big fish in his hands by scaring them into a crevasse. Coming back it was cold and windy as we bounced  around on the waves.  After we got back he had me hold the boat while he went for the car. In ten minutes he drove down the ramp and got out, with clean clothes on, to connect the trailer and boat. Then slipped in the water, which made me laugh, as now we both were wet again.

 Finally he was ready to leave, so we packed up and headed north. For two nights we stayed at cheap hotels and looked over new areas. This was rugged desert country and I thought the early settlers must have been strong people without air conditioners or roads. Now Mexico seems more prosperous each time we travel there. We took a side trip to a beautiful, small fishing and farming village on the pacific coast. We also saw an abalone farm that shipped everywhere. 

San Quintin was our next stop and we decided to check out the bay and see if there was a boat launch ramp.  Afterwards we looked for a motel for the night. The price was right, so we stayed at an older refuberished place. At first we had no lights but as it got dark they were turned on. Next we went to town for tacos. We came back and noticed the place smelled musty. Now it was late and the lights were off again and it was really dark. Then I heard someone moving around and it was real spooky. In the morning I told Paul and he said I was looking in my suitcase for a towel to stay warmer. We left ASAP! 

 At last we arrived in busy Ensenada. We did errands, ate and continued on to the first pay station and then realized we had forgot to save enough money for the rest of the tolls. We dug into our pockets for more change and found maybe enough for another stop. We handed the rest of our change to the guard and he looked angry as he counted it out. We said that was all we had, and thought he might send us back. He finally said we could go on. Then we both looked at each other and laughed. We still had to go through Tijuana to avoid the last toll, but knew we would make it.
 

Miss Muriel