Trip to Loreto
24 March 2013 | Puerto Escondido
Fred
Our car arrived at 9:30 and Bill and Sue Houlihan, our good buddies from Sun Baby II, and us signed up and jumped in an drove the 22 KM to Loreto and found a laundry mat to drop off our clothes. The name was La Rana, the frog, and I don't know how it got its name but it was clean and the owner was very nice and said to come back at 3:00 to pick up. $50 pesos ($4.00) per load folded was a good deal. We are getting spoiled here in Mexico with the laundries that do such a nice job and fold your clothes so well. Have to find one in Point Loma when I get back. After the drop off we stopped at Tacos El Reyna, a taco shop that was full of locals eating a late breakfast or early lunch. It was 10:30 and we each had a fish taco and a carne asada taco and a drink and it was really good. Then off to explore town where we just walked around and got the lay of the land. Saw the first mission in Baja that started the whole mission chain up through Baja and California. It was built in 1697 and in 1699 a padre went up in the hills and settled a second mission called Mission San Javier. We left Loreto and went to San Javier Mission which is about 20 miles back in the mountains. We were told that there were several washouts that have not been repaired yet from the big rain they had this past summer. We found the first one and pulled over and parked as there was a sign that indicated an archeological site. There was running water and we could see lots of really green palm trees upstream. What we found were some cave paintings that were in plain view and open but there was a chain blocking access. We were able to get pictures and to hike up the stream a ways to see the palm oasis. Onward we went dodging washouts that would swallow a huge truck and maybe did. Followed the water as I am sure the Padre did hundreds of years ago and passed some small ranchos and finally made it to San Javier where we found a beautiful mission and a small village. After a tour of the mission we toured the village and came across a sign that indicated that CFE the utility company had established electrical power in 2010. We saw the pad and the fuel tank where the old generator used to be that gave the village its power before. On the way back we stopped at a place called Del Borracho that was advertising the best burgers in town. We decided to stop in for a beer and I had a great chocolate milk shake as I was the designated driver. We then went to the grocery store in Loreto and purchased groceries. After touring around for awhile one gets hungry and it was dinner time. We were told that there was a great steakhouse at the entrance to town called Domingo's Place. We had passed it on the way in so the Houlihan's and us stopped and had dinner. I had a filet wrapped in bacon with a baked potato, salad and grilled veggies. Penny had chicken and I think she got the whole thing. We are having chicken tacos that she is preparing as I write this. Probably can have them tomorrow also. Back to the boat and to bed ready to get up in the morning get going.