Monday 28 January 2013

Lo De Marcos To La Manzanilla

Saying goodbye to Lo De Marcos and our Canadian family we set of to La Manzanilla.

With 294 km to do it was an easy day, weather ok temperature for riding in and fine, the trip was uneventful so quite a bonus.

Arriving later than we anticipated after getting caught up in thick traffic we went down to Jolandas Restaurant and the staff told us where to find Jolanda and Leons where Ken and Carol Duval were staying, we had some goodies for Ken so we were playing delivery boys as well.

We headed back into town to check out the sunset.







Jolanda and Leons is a great hideaway with great security, a cool as Rotweiller (once you have been introduced), swimming pool and three Cabanas set 2 km off the main road, we really enjoyed our stay for three nights relaxing and getting more health back day by day.



Ken and I chewing the fat



During our stay we all piled into and onto the ute and went into town for a rock concert night at Jolandas, danced and drunk Pina Coladas ... what a treat! 



Silly face contest



Leon makes bread as part of their Restaurant and Accommodation set up, we bought some to try and it was second to none, freshly baked you just about have to reserve your loaf as they go quickly.



With beautiful sunsets and birds La Manzanilla is a really neat place, the other wildlife we caught up with was a very spooky fish head on the beach ... dunno what breed it was but I think it came from Mars. 





Jolandas accommodation is found at N19 17.939 W104 46.176, you turn off opposite the turn off to La Manzanilla township, first house on the left after going through the trees, through a dip in the road then along a straight, spot the white house with the black double gates, highly recommended with neat cabanas.









The restaurant is downtown and RIGHT on the beach, easily found at N19 17.001 W 104 47.305 down the main drag, last turn right before the beach and 300 metres along on the right hand side.

Me sittin on the beach in the sun



The lineup, Len, Me, Ellen, Jolanda, Ken and Carol



The restaurant



These guys are both RTW motorcycle travelers too so plenty of good yarns over Red wine.

Thursday 24 January 2013

La Paz To Lo De Marcos

Leaving La Ventana on Baja we headed up to La Paz to the boat, arriving is La Paz we did a drive by look around on the way out to the Ferry terminal.







Arriving at the terminal we paid for our tickets, all went well until we left the ticket office, then they wanted $300 Pesos to park the bike ... port fees..WTF? we just paid our tickets!!!!

So some arguing and phone calls then f i n a l l y an English speaking lady said there is a port fee and it was $70.00 Pesos.

Back over to the $300.00 Peso people and yes that right it is $70 Pesos for motos ... here we go again.

$70.00 Pesos paid and we were good to go again but waiting for someone else to jump out with their hand out.

Getting onto the boat with time up our sleeve I went to tie Maya down, the shipping crew asked me where are my tie downs .... WTF this is your ship which I just paid to use?, so the guys comes up with a rope about 40 mm round..... nup that won’t work, then they bought truck size snig chains and I said very very polity like fuck!!.

So they found some rope and started to tie Maya down sensibly, they acted like they had never seen a bike before????



I had to do this all by myself including locking and tying as passengers are not allowed so they go on a separate bus.

After tying and securing Maya I went upstairs, by this time I was dripping wet and hot as, I found our seats and as luck would have my was and auto recliner or in English terms it was fncked.

Anyway leaving the gear there on our seats I went outside, set the socks out in the sun to dry etc ... nice.

Ellen soon appeared and we were reunited so I guess I will have to take her.

Soon as the boat set sail we commandeered some cool window seats that didn’t auto recline, we missed out on a cabin so we saved $500.00 Pesos ... always a bonus.





The sailing was smooth, not much sleep for me tho, maybe an hour over 48 hours so I was a bit dozy ... no one noticed any difference anyway. 

Disembarking at 11.30 am we had to the aim of getting back to Lo De Marcos to see our Canadian family of friends, it was 12.40 pm when we exited Mazatlan with a 400 km ride ahead of us.





The traffic was thick with trucks and overloaded utes which slowed us down, luckily with the power of Maya this helped to get ahead.

Arriving at Lo De Marcos just on dusk we were greeted like family which was really really nice, riding through the entry gate I felt I was home again.

Hugs, kisses and smiles from George, Carol, Alexandro and Mabel were had so everything that makes a trip worthwhile, again the next morning catching up with Isy and Rod who were there to help when Ellen was struggling with her feet.

With an invitation to tea we had a quick shower, warmed up and turned into humans and were fed and watered like Kings and Queens.

Next day was a relaxer and reenergizer which was well overdue and needed, a walk along the beach and a bottle Red that night all was good.



Tuesday 22 January 2013

La Ventana

Leaving La Paz we headed south to La Ventana to stay with some friends of friends, we were welcomed in which was very nice and nice to have a break while getting better, for the first time in a week we could say it was warm. 



Our first day was to relax, go for a walk on the beach, we also took a local ride to Bahia de Los Muetros and out to the lighthouse at Punta Arena.

Us in front of a plant 



A trip out to some hot springs



Turning Maya in a sandpit 



Time to get out of the sand .... gotta love hp!.... just shift that sand behind me...... 



Down to the beach to watch kite boarding, some talented people riding them





Photo op .... does my bum make that boat look small?



Getting around here in the sand has its moments and once or twice I left a couple of small swerves and trenches

 

On the way to the lighthouse





The lighthouse



Some ruins ..... and a knackered concrete structure  



More plants



I originally put my helmet and glove there out of the wind ... then I liked the picture 



The old structure and old lighthouse base



Next on the plan was to do a ring circuit of the bottom of Baja for as look, total 390 km day return taking in all the sights and places, an uneventful trip was had along with a beautiful lunch from stall beside an industrial area. 



No pics of this day tho .. bit slack really but nothing r e a l l y caught my eye.

Saturday night we went to an event called Burning Bush which was the 10th annual event, a small brother event to Burning Man in the Arizona Desert.

This was absolutely fantastic, never seen anything like it, what an effort these guys went too, fire displays lit up the sky with assistance from petrol, diesel and LPG ..... totally cool pyrotechnics with good music and atmosphere.

As it was a rising from the ashes theme the Phoenix was the feature of the night with huge wooden birds with wings able to be flapped with human power.

Here is a multitude of pics, got SO many but you get the story anyway.

Structures awaiting their fate





It started



Our crew from left to right, Jill, John, Brenda, Ellen and I



The burning sphere ..... my fave, this was totally cosmic lying on the sand looking up underneath it, best had with a dooby or whiskey to enhance its effects 





Now shot darkening the structure ... check it out!!











The bubble man



Some burning plants



A close up looking into the burning plant



Some Phoenix birds that the wings operated and were fire breathing





The big Phoenix on the beach



The volcano erupts





Finally the hill that goes boom  .... this was REALLY cool and let off quite the boom with a totally cool mushroom to go.



Apart from that it has been boring