Mexico Monday: The "we-are-actually-back-in-Mexico" edition
In which we ride mules, attract new fans, and whine about a few things
Hello dear everyone!
I hope you’re all well. On this fine March day, Millie and I find ourselves back in La Paz, where the living is easy and the beach is two blocks from our door. There Millie gorges herself daily on a sumptuous buffet of fish skeletons and dead animal parts while I ineffectually yell “Leave it!”
Meanwhile, she garners admirers far and wide.
This is a much more relaxed sojourn than my trip to New Zealand. There I was constantly on the go, powering up mountains, schlepping my stuff onto buses, and whining about how — on the few days I deigned to work from there —I had to get online at a criminally early hour.
Back in the familiar surroundings of Baja California Sur, I’m mostly just being. I mean, as much as a constantly overcaffeinated person such as myself can just be. This doesn’t mean I’m not exploring! There are always new things to see. Around here they tend to be of the desert-and-sea variety. Sometimes of the puppy variety.
A couple weeks ago, my pal Beverly and I explored the jagged, picturesque Sierra Giganta mountains on a mule trip with Saddling South. You heard me right - we were muling it, mofos, cuz that’s how we roll. My mule was named Puma, and she was blazing fast like her namesake cat.
OK, not really. But she was steady and strong, and I felt safe on her broad back as we navigated cacti and rivers and rocks in the blazing hot sun. It gave me a new appreciation for those who eke out a living in this rough landscape — like our mule guide, “Che,” (short for “Jose”), who raises and cares for the mules on his ranch, along with his four sons.
Then there is the sea. The Gulf of California, with its aquamarine water, beckons you in and then immediately chills you, making you think you gotta get out right away, until you swim around in it for a while and see a few fish and warm up (sort of), and feel sorry for all those poor soulz in the northwest who are bundled up against the gray and rain. And then you feel (for a few minutes) like you’ve got it all figured out.
Which you don’t, of course. You only play someone who’s got it figured out on TV.
Now, for a quick digression. I know I left you wondering about my overnight trip to the Mueller Hut in New Zealand, and did I survive? Wait, what’s that? You say you’ve completely forgotten about that and don’t care anymore?
Well, I’ve almost forgotten too. But not quite, because it was an unforgettable adventure. Let’s see if I can summarize.
Day 1: Hard, hot, hike. 2,000 stairs up and then steep scree slope after that. Body already in pain from falling on booty during previous hike. Why the eff am I doing this? Wish I had friend here for moral support. And to share amazing glacier vistas with! Guess I’ll just take another unflattering selfie.
That was one of the hardest hikes I’ve ever done. So how did 3 small children make it up here with overnight backpacks??? Nothing soft to sit on in hut. Sleeping like sardines in shared bunkroom. Irish girls won’t stop talking. But the views!
Day 2: Sunrise is beautiful! Wait, why am I up for sunrise? The $#*@! Irish girls! My freeze-dried coffee with powdered coconut milk effing sucks. The 2,000 steps down also suck, but at least I have friendly German couple to talk to. Will my legs really be as sore as people say they will? (Spoiler: yes, and more!) But the views!
I won’t go into the ugly aftermath of the hike. Let’s just say I was sore, grumpy, and strung out for the entire week that remained before I went home, especially because I had to work.
I managed to make the best of it and see some more pretty scenery (which is hard to avoid in NZ) but I was so relieved when I finally got on the plane for California. There I happily reunited with Millie and promptly fell asleep for two weeks.
Now, you are completely up to date, peeps! Millie and I hope to send you at least one more bulletin from the beach before we leave Mexico in mid-April. The spring should bring its own interesting adventures since I’m planning to sell my house in Seattle (gulp).
Bye all,
xo
Rebecca
Those views from New Zealand are amazing. Did you find a Hobbit or maybe an orc?
I am Rebecca famosa and so is Lola! 😂