We're Coming Home

As we left La Paz this morning headed back north, Dave commented by intercom that he now feels a stronger pull back home.  I know what he means but we have a lot of riding and more adventure to come on this trip.  I really want to ride my bike on a beach, hopefully with our panniers in a hotel.  We may have a chance as we move now to the Pacific where the beaches are better for this.  We want to eat of fish tacos from a street vendor.  I still have to go swimming in the Pacific; I don't think snorkeling in a wet suit counts.

For those of you following this blog being awed and inspired by our skill, manliness and courage, I invite your comments while you still can.  As my son, Creighton, often recognizes, I am very good at prompting compliments.  Actually, you can make any comment you want.

The ride today from La Paz to Loreto was smooth and not too hot with the sun now at our backs.  We passed back through Ciudad Constitucion and Ciudad Insurgentes but did not stop for lunch.  Our second wonderful breakfast on the terrace held us well.  We again struggled to find shaded places to water and rest our horses, I mean bikes.  We chose a stop that forced us to park on a dirt road.  We soon found out that road was an active service road used by large semis hauling produce.  Thankfully the truck that came could bypass us and we had time to water and climb back in the saddle, I mean seat.

With the sun behind us the scenery was even more enchanting, especially as we finished coming north along the Sea of Cortez.  We came to a turnout with lots of space to take in the beautiful expanse of the Sea of Cortez.

Commonly along roads in Baja we pass small memorials or shrines with a statue of the Our Lady of Guadalupe or the Virgin Mary Our Lady of Guadalupe. I do not know specific rituals but they do provide a commonly available focus for worship even in the more remote parts of Baja we have visited.  Many are small, only two or three feet tall and wide.  Others can be quite opulent and as large as a small home.  The shrine in this picture at this turnout was above average size.

As we returned to Loreto we decided to try another hotel further from the city center, Coco's Cabanans.  As in La Paz, the GPS got us close but finding the hidden place required asking directions and dead reckoning (seeing small signs) again.  What we found was worth the effort.

After meeting the owner, Steve, and getting a tour of this surprisingly large, gorgeous, well constructed and kempt facility, we chose the cabana away from this beautiful pool but easy to park the bikes nearby with security.  It also has separate bedrooms.  Dave prefers to sleep in a refrigerator and there often are not enough blankets for me.   Tonight we will both be comfortable.

We quickly unpacked, got our riding gear off and headed for that pool.  After a long hot day of riding, the pleasure of a swim in a perfectly heated pool is hard to beat.  We both would like to return to this place with our wives, Joyce and Marcia, someday.

As we turn homeward, I was thinking of the lyrics to one of my favorite songs from high school.  I amend them hear for the trip:

"Rocket Man (I think it's going to be a long, long time . . . )"  Elton John and Bernie Taupin

She packed my bags last night, pre-ride
Zero hour eight AM
And I'm going to be high as a kite by then
I miss Denver, I miss my wife
It's lonely out in Baja
On such a timeless ride

And I think it's going to be a long, long time
Till driving home brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
I'm a Moto man, Moto man
Burning out his fuse out here with Dave alone

Baja ain't the kind of place to raise your kids (actually it's very fine)
In fact it's hot as hell
And there's many there to raise them, if ya did
And all this Spanish, I don't understand
It's just my job, seven days a week
A Moto man, a Moto man

And I think it's going to be a long, long time . . .