A happy new year to you all from Nina and Rob. We were excited this morning to think that this is the year we plan to travel across the Eurasian continent. We have been saying 'next year' for so long that it has become a reflex. Right on the heels of that thought was the realization that based on our tentative plan we will actually ship the truck out of US west coast in 11 weeks. Yiks; thats not far off; and boy do we have a lot to do between now and then. Nina immediately started making a list. These thoughts have irretrievably turned our mind towards preparation for Russia and the things we have to do after Mexico.

Discussion of Russia preparation occupied us for much of the day as we drove south beside the spectacular Sea of Cortez on the twisting road and steep coastline and then up into and over the Sierra Gigante a range of mountains that splits the southern end of the Baja Peninsular. Crossing through the Sierras we saw a flowing river, the first in Baja, we had been beginning to believe that Baja had no river beds with water in them.

After the crossing of the Gigante the country turned back into flat desert but ploughed fields and green crops started to appear as we neared our nights destination of Ciudad Constitucion.


Our choice tonight for a camping spot was an establishment that seemed to function as a Balneario, an RV park and tent campground as well as an orange farm - called Camperstre La Pila Balneario and Trailer Park - it is located on the southern side of town immediately left after the Leys supermarket. It was a dusty though tidy establishment with toilets, electricity and cold showers. When we arrived the family in residence was having a new year celebration and so simply directed us to the camping area with the guidance that they may collect some money tomorrow.

Throughout the afternoon we chatted to two of the children, who curious about us and the vehicle kept riding past on their bikes.

PS

The soldier sitting in the drivers seat is not trying to steal the truck - he had Nina take a photo of him with his camera.