back to...

...El Triunfo for that pizza and rosemary Gorgonzola bread and giant cinnamon rolls! We had been prepping and packing for the journey back for 3 days straight. The wind is less reliable now that spring is here, so we have not sailed since last report. We took a break to enjoy our last days with Michael off to do some mountain-biking and I to do some hiking. I went with 3 lady hikers and Rosie the Blue Heeler to San Antonio and walked from the San Antonio town square to El Triunfo.

This time I earned my treats. It's a steady climb into the arid mountainous mining country on a historic cobble stone path designed for cart transport. We walked and talked of good books and anthropology and healing and the scenery. It was about 30 degrees Centigrade, and very much like a hot summer day on the prairies. We passed a cattle ranch were the long horns and their young lounged in the dirt saving their energy in another year of drought. A welcome forest of cactus and shade trees lined the road into the village of El Triunfo. We were greeted by "Hola, bunos dias!" while Rosie was greeted by fervently barking canine guardians as we passed the homes along the way.

Vida & Rosie say "adios amiga" in March 2011

We had reached our destination after about 2 hours steady hiking and really enjoyed our lunch on the upper shaded deck on the left of the picture above. We took our shoes and socks off to cool our feet and dry our socks - a foot-soothing method one of our group practiced while hiking in Tibet. In no time our socks were dry and we were on the road back to San Antonio with a breeze to help cool us. The cafe's baking is irrestible and one of my companions helped carry my provisions for the road as well as some left-over vegetarian pizza for Michael in her lovely large backpack. Back in San Antonio, we bought cold drinks and rested in the friendly atmosphere of the town square - a well-tended spot with olive and eucalyptus trees. Very serene compared to life back in the busy community of Los Barriles.

And, so back to...our summer home as we continue taking apart our camp to start out early Friday morning and travel northward over the next few weeks via Puerto Escondido, Mulege, Punta Abreojos, San Vicente, Tecate, a couple of California rest stops and a brief respite in Hood River.

Looks good for wind on the day before we depart!