We are still anchored in Puerto Escondido. Yesterday, we took our rental car (a little Hyundai), along with some good friends, and drove 36 kilometers (or about 25 miles) up a crazy mountain road to visit Mission San Javier. The mission, one of the first in the Californias, is 340 years old and is in original, unrestored, but pristine condition. Very beautiful! The road was not so pristine! Steep, narrow, and in various states of repair. Many tight switchbacks and moving water covering the road. Mostly paved with sheer drop-offs. Huge boulders that had fallen from the cliffs above were scattered on or near the road. However, because of the abundance of fresh water (that I assume can only have come from underground springs) the terrain in the arroyos was lush and tropical, like an oases in desert mountains!

We had lunch at a small (3 tables) restaurant in the little mountain village by the mission. Machaca is a dry, seasoned, and marinated beef that is prepared a little differently throughout Mexico. The menu was pretty extensive. You could have machaca burritos, machaca quesadillas, machaca tacos, or machaca steak. Machaca just about any way imaginable! We all opted for machaca... It was pretty good!

By the time we got back to the anchorage, the wind was kicking up. 15 to 20 knots. The dinghy ride to the boat was wet. Wind howled all last night and is supposed to continue for the next few days. We'll be staying right here in this protected anchorage...

More later...