Caravaning to Catavina

Through the mountains: narrow roads and crazy drivers

Day two. At seven AM, wiping the sleep from our eyes and clutching our morning coffee, we were lined up with 20 other RVs  ready to hit the road and leave Colonia Vincente Guerro behind us. We had been promised a breakfast stop, so we sat back and enjoyed the morning sun reflecting on  miles of tomato and strawberry fields as the early fog lifted. The RV caravan we have joined for this trip down the Baja is run by the  Good Sam RV Club. There are other organizations that do the same trip, but we liked Good Sam’s itinerary  and their schedule fit ours. Also, they have been doing this for a long time and seemed prepared for most eventualities. Bill, our, caravan leader, has done this trip 20 times.

In the caravan, the leader’s rig is at the head of the line guiding the way. This is a treat since it alleviates me from my usual map and GPS work as navigator-in-chief.  There is also a “tail gunner”  who rides last in line. If any of our fellow caravaners pull off for a pit stop or have a mechanical problem, the caravan carries on and the tail gunner stops and stays with them until they have caught up with us.

Breakfast by the sea

We stopped for a breakfast break on Playa El Paballon beach.  We set up some chairs (given to us as part of our caravan package) overlooking this beautiful expanse of beach and I took Lissa, our Golden Retriever, for a walk while hubby whipped up some bacon and egg sandwiches. We enjoyed the morning sun and watched as members of the group searched for sand dollars and walked the shore. We joined the search until it was time to leave.

Some close calls

After breakfast we drove through some desert that gradually becomes more mountainous as we headed away from the shore into central Baja. This is a long stretch of narrow mountain roads with sharp turns, long drops and crazy Mexican drivers who ignore all no passing signs. The 18-wheelers are all too close for comfort. The front rig calls on the CB when something is approaching us so we can prepare for it. The tail gunner does the same from the rear for cars and trucks jumping forward through the caravan. This gives some warning, but Hubby still hates this kind of driving.

Catavina

We camp at Catavina, a pretty spot in the middle of a boulder field, surrounded by desert and cactus. We dry camp, the campground has no water, sewer or electrical hook ups. The caravan organizers provide Frito pies for dinner  (Frito’s topped with chili and cheese; no one said this trip was heart healthy.) Everyone else contributed a side dish or dessert, and we all enjoyed a beautiful sunset and a campfire under the stars.

After dinner campfire

The sun sets on the day