Escapade 57 - Escapees Rally - Tucson, AZ

We have had an educational week here at the Escapee Rally! We have attended so many classes our brains are on overload! I have learned a lot from Jim and Chris Gould (Geeks on Tour) about my IPhone, Google photos, and blogger that I can't wait to have some "down time" to experiment with everything.

Tommy, Dorothy and Judy have joined us, so it has been fun to share all our new information. And, of course, the vendors have prospered from us! We purchased a new magnetic windshield cover and a new Verizon plan which gives us unlimited data (yea!) and me a new IPhone 7! Roger gets my old phone - sort of like when we get a new car!

Tommy, Dorothy and Judy are leaving for home today but we are staying in Tucson for the annual Alfa rally. It will be great to see our Alfa friends but we are anxious to return to Texas - been on the road a long time!

Roger joined the Elks Chapter in Wilcox, AZ - so we can camp at their lodges - we are heading there on Sunday for Steak Night and he is being inducted on Monday night - along with all the other Escapees that joined!. They made it so easy that we couldn't pass up the opportunity!

Yuma, AZ

We are "vegging" in Yuma for a week. Cleaning the dirt and dust from every crevice inside and out! In all the years we have had a motor home we have never paid to have it washed and waxed - until yesterday - it was filthy and the temperature was in the  90's!  Money well spent, it looks great!

We are staying at Cocopah Golf & RV Resort - planned on relaxing and playing golf - but, it is way to hot. I barely tolerated 9 holes yesterday. I know it is a "dry heat" but...... !

We met Jim and Pat for pizza on Friday night - one last get together before they head back to California. Tommy and Dorothy leave for Phoenix today. We had a great time with them in Mexico - need to plan another great adventure!

Santo Tomas

Our last stop was at Santo Tomas Winery, just south of Ensenada. There is no campground there so we just squeezed in where ever we could.

Their winery tour was unique. We rode through the vineyards as our guide told us the history of the winery and about the varietal grapes and wines they produce. Tasting stations were set up along the way so we could sample the wines near the area where they are harvested. We then went to an old stone building, saw a short film about the winery, tasted two more wines and made our own “blend.” Of course, we ended up in the sales room – Roger and I bought a nice bottle or Merlot Reserve that we’ll save for our wedding anniversary.

Those of us camped together shared all our left-over food for a late dinner – trying to use all the meat and vegetables we can’t take across the US border. What a feast!

John and Becky our "Wagon Masters"

We’ve had such a great time with this fun group of “friends” – even if we never see any of them again, they will be in our fond memories of this awesome adventure!

Driving through Mexico

Here are some typical scenes as we have driven through Mexico.

Gordon duct taping his mirror - an 18 wheeler knocked it off!

Osprey's build their nests right on the power lines!

Car wash in Mulege

For some reason, all the buildings have re-bar sticking out on top. We think maybe they don't pay as much taxes if it isn't finished! 

The wild flowers on the way north reminded us of Texas

Heading north to the wine country

Typical "home"

This is a very nice suburb

Miles of  "green" houses in the agriculture districts

A typical town where the locals drive in the dirt on the sides of the road!

Dust everywhere!

Clamming on the Pacific

Jose' and his mother-in-law Maria run the North Pabellon RV Park on the Pacific Ocean. Jose' demonstrated how to dig for clams and then made us a clam stew - similar to jambalaya - that was delicious. We found a few small clams but he bought big "legal" ones for us to eat.

The beach is nice because it is firm sand, easy to walk on and is loaded with shells and sand dollars. The wind and water make sculptures in the dunes!

These two vehicles launched boats out in front of our motor home this morning!

Whale Watching

We went whale watching this morning – OMG what a great birthday present!

Shamon’s Lagoon is a refuge and favored area for the whales to mate and give birth because it is warm, calm, and protected. The whales mate and then come back a year later and give birth. March is the perfect month to see them because the babies are a little older and the mothers are less protective and more eager to show them off! They begin their migration back to Alaska the first week of April. 

Gray whales reach 45 feet (our motorhome is 40 feet!) in length and weigh 35 tons!

We were in small boats, twelve people, and were amazed at how curious the whales seem to be – they come right up to the boat and almost look you in the eye! I was even able to “pet” one! One stayed under our boat – tail on one side and head on the opposite side – and lifted us up as it scratched it’s back on the bottom of the boat!  A couple of us got our faces washed when one surfaced and blew water all over us – nothing like whale snot to exfoliate!! They are magnificent creatures!

It was difficult to get pictures - the boat was rolling in 3 foot swells, all 12 of us trying to get the best shot and all the action happening suddenly and quickly! But, here are my best! Click on them to enlarge.

Guerro Negro

We left the sunrises on the Sea of Cortez for the sunsets on the Pacific.

Guerrero Negro is a town of about 15,000 and is noted for their huge salt refinery and whale watching. The salt plant is owned by the Mexican Government (51%) and Mitsubishi (49%.) Only 3% of the production is table salt – most of that going to Japan – and the rest is for commercial purposes. Most the residents work at the salt plant where they earn good wages, benefits and discounts at the company store. Some even qualify for special housing. The town is a little more “upscale” than the ones we have been driving through! We enjoyed great seafood last night and delicious fish tacos at a food truck for lunch!

The "Last Supper" on SantispacBeach

It was an absolutely, gorgeous day at the beach today. Several of us ladies went swimming and snorkeling and I sat in my chair, in the water and read my book. We organized a potluck, everyone came and we celebrated Mitch’s and my birthdays. Shortly before dinner, a guy came selling fresh tuna so we bought all he had and grilled it – delicious!  Six large fillets for 350 pesos or $17.00! I made a yellow, cinnamon Bundt cake and everyone inhaled it!

We saw the most amazing phenomenon last night. Plankton comes in on the water, on some nights, and when it is disturbed it illuminates and glows in the dark! If you walk in the shallow water and splash or throw sand or a rock in the water it brightens and is beautiful! We were playing like a bunch of kids with sparklers!  I need to look it up on the Internet.

We finished the night sipping chocolate tequila, a new favorite, and watching the stars!