Insider's Route

So in the next ten hours we will be driving across another border. This time I will be joining John and Tonto as we cross back in Mexico and travel down the Baja peninsula again. Lobo is not so sure he is excited about leaving all the green grass of the north behind. I let him wiggle around in a patch of it near Palm Springs the other day - catnip for mexi-dog.

Tomorrow we will also be looking at the Pacific ocean from the most south-western point of the US. From the most north-western part of the lower 48 most people would have expected beach combers like us to have taken a nice tour down the coast. Who can resist the 101 and the spectacular Washington, Oregon and California coast? We can. That's right. The allure of some outstanding mountains, more national parks, epic bike rides, and welcoming friends who live in really cool places not on the coast kept us pretty much riding as far east in those states as we could. We even had a good time on the Cali-Nevada boarder in Las Vegas and the Mojave desert!

One of the real highlights after the Yosemite whirlwind weekend was passing through Mammoth Lakes to visit 'cousin' Brian and Marissa and then going full speed into Death Valley. It was as if this park was made for Tonto. The 'Baja Tan' color blended in perfectly with 125 plus miles of remote dirt roads, the Eureka sand dunes and the un-earthly rock formations! Death Valley is the second largest National Park behind Denali in Alaska and with only three days to travel through we could only get a glimpse of the northern most part of the park. We attempted an offroad challenge up a canyon only to be turned around because it got too narrow for Tonto. We hiked up Uhebe peak and spent some time imitating rocks on "the racetrack". With less than two inches of rain a year, and an evaporation rate that makes working up a sweat very difficult, there is not much to see in terms of plant and wild life. It was very, very quiet. We did find a cool route through another canyon and really got to give Tonto a shakedown. He performed beautifully!

We had our first "camp guest" when John's dad Fred came to visit. We picked him up in Las Vegas and warned him that he was in for a real Tonto Treat! There is a route through the Mojave Desert that is a famous trail from Indian trade routes, to early settlers, minors, and now off road vehicles. It didn't dissapoint. While not as challenging as some of the more rocky terrain, the sandiness and remoteness of the area offers its own challenges. We had a great time with Fred taking turns riding on the motorcycle, watching spectacular sunsets and listening to car talk! Fred was a great guest and Lobo really enjoyed the opportunity to snuggle up in the guest tent with him!! Lucky dog..Lobo too...

We spent some time around Las Vegus to finally get a leak in the exhaust in front fixed, and find the PERFECT extra gas and water cans and NOT to stop in at any "Little White Wedding Chapels". However my sister did entice me with the idea of bridesmaids dressed in sequins... Anyway, we found some outstanding boondocking and mountain biking in Red Rock Canyon only a few miles outside the city.

And then there is another national park that is not to be missed. Joshua Tree! Here is another climbing mecca (of course we didn't have the gear or the time...this time) with spectacular geological formations and the wildest looking trees! We had read about an offroad trip through Berdoo Canyon and it did not disappoint! Very tight canyon with some great rock drops that made the route exciting.

And now we are here. In San Deigo with our friend John and Marcie and their dog Reece. It is great to see them again after our visit in Mt Hood and it is a real comforting feeling to be driving down in a caravan over the boarder and down south. We are really looking forward to the end of running errands and the fruits of all our preparing as we sit on the sand, watch a sunset, and catch some surf.

Will write soon!!!.....