Passports, Mex auto insurance, dogs’ health certificates, and a pocket full of pesos, we are ready for the border!  The drive from San Diego to Tecate was absolutely beautiful, at least that’s what Jodi kept telling me, too busy trying not to soil my pants from nervousness, I really did not notice. Deciding to cross in Tecate, versus Tijuana, was definitely the best decision for us. We were the only vehicle crossing south bound upon arrival,  immensely lightening our stress.

    

The idea that most people speak at least some English in Baja, yeah right, not today. Only one, of the four federales, had very limited English.  But they were all calm, and immediately put us at ease, very patient with our poor Spanish.  They wanted a look inside the van, “tenemos dos perros grande señor”, I replied.  And of course, as we opened the door, everyone fell in love with Rasta, the rockstar.

 

 

 

After securing our visas, we were off.  Wow!  Zero transition, we are in Mexico!  Random road work everywhere, with really no posted signs or detours, sent us barreling along the busy roads in wrong directions, lefts, rights, abrupt stops, and then go!  We had no choice but to join in the hap-hazard traffic pattern.  A memorable way to get our feet wet.  

 

 

Our first destination was Punta Cabras, about an hour south of Ensenada. While traveling down Mex 3, on the lush and mountainous ruta del vino, we happened upon a hitch hiker. I try to help hitchhikers when I can. Often hitch hiking myself, I know all too well how it feels to be along the road, hoping for a brave soul to pick me up, a typical scenario of whitewater paddling. Our new hitch hiker amigo, Jose, knew zero English.  The hour long ride to Ensenada, where he works on the barcos, was one full of smiles, laughter, and some head shaking, accompanied with a lot of arm gestures. It was a fun way to practice our Spanish, and I am sure Jose is still laughing about us silly gringos.  He quite possibly, will start checking license plates, before thumbing his next ride.