on a mission to Misión San Francisco Xavier de Viggé-Biaundó

We spent another two blissful days in Puerto Escondido with R&B at the Hotel Tripui. We went  for a walk around the port infrastructure with large dock and luxury residence lots complex that was once a joint project between Canada and Mexico. It is very peaceful walking around the site and it's for sale.  There is a huge curved concrete water front where all you need to do is look over the edge to the sea green water below to see many kinds of tropical fish and sea stars. As we walked along the edge, curious pipe fish followed us with their big silver eyes.

Next day, sans RVs, we headed north towards Loreto, and then west up into the Sierra de la Giganta to visit the Mission San Javier. The road is paved almost all of the way and has the most dramatic grades and hairpins turns we've been on. The gravel section has some big rocks and ruts, but were not too bad with 4x4 capability. There are big machines wherever there is highway contruction, but a good portion of roadwork is done by hand. And the work crew was happy, waving and calling, "Que paso!" on a hot Saturday in the middle of no where.

A graded section.

The locals flew past us in their compact cars. Date palms line the San Javier arroyo and on the approach to the town of San Javier, there is an small dam with interesting water fowl puttering around along at the water's edge.

Bev, Vida & Michael

San Javier is small, lined with beautiful flowering trees and muy tranquillo.  Walking to the end of the double-wide cobblestone road to the mission set at the far end of the town is like passing through a door into the past.The mission walls are very thick and it is very quiet inside. There is an attendant and a collection box to support preservation of the site which is in impeccable condition.

Watch for Chihuahuas crossing.

 After viewing the mission and surrounding grounds, we headed back up the road to a family home with an open air restaurant for a very good lunch of coffee, quesadillas and french fries.

micro mission

Puerto Escondido in the distance

 Then it was back down the winding road for a dip in the pool and more relaxation back at camp. Before supper, we played train dominoes on the patio at the restaurant and the ladies won 2/3 rounds. When our waitress heard the news, she cheered "Arriba las mujeres!" The staff are very warm and welcoming here and remembered us from our stop in November.  Carmela, the boisterous young golden retriever pup, we met in November now had her own pups.