Spectacular sunsets and scrumptious shrimp . . .

Puerto Peñasco - known mainly for shrimp and beautiful sunsets . . .

Harold took this shot last night - it's REAL!!
If you look closely, you can see the mirage (what looks like low,flat-topped "mesas" 
on the horizon just right of center that are not actually there!) - truly spectacular!

 "Our" beach (El Mirador) at low tide - this is when Trixie likes it best!

 

 

Tamale  making project . . . 

Harold said " . . . a how-to-make tamales cooking show!!!"

Out our window, a couple of entrepreneurial young ladies
set up for massages on the beach  . . .

Lunch!  Harold proclaimed the chicken tamales a success!

And then it was off for a bit of retail therapy (Carolyn, wish you were here!):

Following 4 pics are at Cholla "Mall"

 

Harold seemed impressed by this relatively upscale shop!

Yours truly - just another day at the mall!!

Time to leave the Cholla Mall and get a few groceries . .

Next stop - the Puerto Peñasco "Super Ley".  We'd been told it's "like Safeway" and in some ways yes - "pero todo en Español!!"

This is how they do the self-serve bakery items -
walk around with a tray & tongs.
  Then a clerk puts them in a sack and prices them.

LOTS of great looking goodies!  We had to exercise restraint!

OK, so that was our day yesterday.  Today we're just sitting here looking at the sea.  The massage girls are back and there's lots of friendly visiting to take part in up and down the beach.  But for now - I'm just going to go out and take Trixie for a romp in the sea!!

Oops - just realized I forget to mention the shrimp . . . oh, well - - mañana!!  And now for one last look at that sunset!

We're here! Puerto Penasco, Mexico

Got in to the RV park mid-afternoon.  So busy enjoying ourselves, forgot to take pictures.  NO PHONE SERVICE here, but we do, woohoo, have wi-fi!!

Since we have no photos yet, you can try this link to get the flavor!   In reality, this place is not nearly as resort-y or glamorous as the web-site would have you believe!   But, we are looking right out to the Sea of Cortez

http://www.playadeoro-rv.com/

Oh, and speaking of flavor - Puerto Penasco is a place to eat SHRIMP!!  For dinner, we found a little place where we had "avacado surprise" - 2 avacados (4 halves!) yummy shrimp salad  . . . also delicious shrimp tacos!!  We are in SHRIMP HEAVEN!!

Saying good-bye to Why

How did it get to be Wednesday already??  Our time here in Why (and nearby Ajo) was very laid back and has passed too quickly!  

Here is Coyote Howls from a distance.
  We are waaay over there on the corner of Mesquite & Boondock!

We've lived the past week minute by minute - no plans, no schedule, no agenda.  We got in several bike rides, a couple of scooter rides, walks of course!, the scenic drive around Ajo Mountain, a really pleasant hike on the desert, a bit of shopping at a fun little shop in Ajo called ¿Si, Como No? (Yes, why not?) and some lazy lounging around reading and watching the sky, etc., etc.

We discovered some unique architecture

 while scooting around Ajo looking at homes!

And culture!  We saw the Smithsonian exhibit "Key Ingredients"
 (about the evolution of regional food!)
 at the historic Curley School in Ajo.

Did I mention that Coyote Howls has a Garden Club?  They do!

Here's an example of Coyote Howls variety "Bottle Brush" .

Trixie liked the scenic drive around Ajo Mountain (I think)!

Yesterday, we enjoyed a delightful desert hike!

No, Harold was not tipsy - just me being lazy about editing the photo!

Grammy on the trail - happily saw NO snakes!

But ya gotta watch out for these jumpin' cactus!!

Hey - I got up here all by myself!!

Through the fence - not sure we were really
 suppose to go there, but we did.

Hi-ho, hi-ho, we're off to Mexico - Puerto Penasco on the Sea of Cortez, that is!!  If we have Wi-Fi when we get there, I'll make a liitle post that we made it!!  Tune in again . . . 

Life in the slow lane . . . .

Yesterday, Wednesday January 19th - marked one month of being away!  And what better place to be celebrating than Why!

Had a very leisurely drive from Yuma and checked in here around 3 o'clock.  This is Coyote Howls East - a boondockers dream.

Okay, so not everyone appreciates this style of "getting away from it all",
but we have learned to camp quite comfortably without hookups!

We claimed a little spot in the dry dusty desert and got ready to really relax! What a night!  We were greeted by a full moon in a cloudless sky, temp in the 70's to 80's and just a whisper of a breeze.  Then, just back in the RV from taking Trixie for her nightly outing on this moonlit night, we listened to quite the coyote chorus - now we know why they call this place "Coyote Howl"!  I'll take more pictures eventually, but for now have just these of our "new address" and of Harold in his new "default mode".

in Why, Arizona

Actually, he's just enjoyed a much deserved rest!

So here we are!  We plan to stay in Why for a week (maybe two!) and then maybe to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument or Rocky Point in Mexico for a few days?  Will make a post when we move from here . . .

San Diego chapter - the last page!

OK, so where was I?  Oh, right, here are a few pics from our wonderful Saturday at the zoo:

The flamingoes are so pink!

He seemed a bit curious about us!

The little meerkats are the cutest!

Not four feet from this pacing leopard - a bit unnerving.

Lots of koalas here and they're adorable.

Big!

Did you know? - Zebras are not white with black stripes,
but black with white stripes!  

Then on Sunday, we went again to Cabrillo National Monument to check out the activities of Whale Watching & Tidepool Festival weekend.  A guided exploration of life in the intertidal zones was scheduled for low tide, and we wanted to get in on that.  We had a great time, felt like kids!, exploring the tidepools - fascinating creatures and interesting plant life to observe and, as you can see, very well attended!

Intertidal zone was the place to be!

Some pretty orange kelpy mass!

(not really sure what this was about!)

Harold was taken by these little hermit crabs!

Go here if you can!  The museum displays and programs are fabulous!

Monday came and the RV part we were waiting for didn’t, so we found ourselves with one more day to enjoy.  We took this opportunity to pay another visit to Jean Leighton and Kim.  We were so happy to see that Jean is doing amazingly well following her bout with pneumonia.  We had a great time talking and laughing, sipping a little white wine (with ice!) and recalling old memories.  I remember abalone!  Once plentiful, they’re pretty rare there now!  Jean gave me a beautiful polished shell – I’ll treasure it always.

With Kim on the porch!  As a kid, I thought Jean served us way too much abalone!!
 Now all those shells (see them hanging on the post there?)
bring back happy childhood memories.   

Delightful afternoon - whiling away the hours with Jean!

Then it was Tuesday, the RV was finally really ready, and we said good-bye to San Diego.

It felt so great to be on the road again!  We took a gorgeous route – Scenic Highway 94 out of San Diego. Stopped in tiny Jamul for produce and paletas (Mexican fruit popsicles), then wound our way east on the "blue highway" through dots on the map (Dulzura, Portrero, Campo), skirting the border of Baja California.  We wound our way through beautiful desert country with some really gigantic, stunning rock formations.  The road was great and it was fun in the RV, but we couldn't help thinking how much fun those “twisties” would be on scooters! 

Blurry - but you get the idea!

Sun going down as we rambled along - pretty!

Back in the driver's seat and burning miles.  Can't you just hear him . . .
"On the road again . . . . ."

We experienced a minor (mis)adventure trying to find a recreation-boondocking spot south of El Centro.  Eventually decided that even though it was on the map, it does not exist in real life!  Gave up on that and made a b-line for Yuma, arriving in the Wal-Mart lot well after dark!  Tomorrow - - - Why, AZ!