Mexico Day 91: High alpine haven

San Jose del Pacifico, Oaxaca //

I wake to the chirping, singing, and calling of multiple birds I’ve never heard before in my life.  When I step outside, while I don’t see any birds, I’m greeted by a perfectly still forest that has just been touched by the first rays of sunlight.  The forested terrain I can see in every direction is a welcome change from the 8’ high concrete walls that surrounded us for two weeks at El Rancho RV Park.  Aside from the birds and a distant chainsaw, it is blissfully quiet.  The noises we’ve become accustomed to in Mexico have made us acutely aware and supremely appreciative of peace and quiet.  

Due to the fact that we’re sitting at about 8,500’ in elevation, I expected the morning to be cold; however, the temp is just below sixty.  It’s an indication of how far south we are from the mountain terrain that we’re familiar with in Colorado, where the current morning temps are likely in the twenties.  Mark and I each find a sliver of sun on the patio of the cabana that we’re parked next to.  We sit in our camp chairs and sip our coffee & tea while watching the sun climb up from behind the trees.  

Speckled throughout the forest here at Rancho San Melchor are a handful of beautifully built cabins, or cabañas as they’re called here, though none appear to be occupied.  My assumption is that this is a summer destination for the folks residing in the surrounding lower elevations.  As for now, in late February, it appears as though we have the entire place to ourselves.  Being parked next to a cabaña provides us with outdoor electrical outlets and access to a clean and fully enclosed bathroom.  These amenities pack a lot of value into the $10/night fee.

Aside from a couple of passing vehicles, we don’t see or interact with anyone all day.  The day is as peaceful as the night, and all four of us are glad we chose to stay for two nights.  And because we all love to travel slowly, chances are high come tomorrow we’ll be inclined to stay a little longer.

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