Winter in Baja Day 57: Back on the road

A beach south of El Conejo //

After an entire week spent resting and working in a cozy casita in Los Barriles, we’re eager and excited to get back on the road this morning.  We’ve spent five weeks in this southernmost region of Baja and today we’re ready to begin our slow-paced journey back north.  After restocking groceries in La Paz, we made our way to a remote beach a few hours west of the city.  

From point A to point B was about an 8 hour journey.  It included weaving our way through the mountains from Los Barriles back to Highway 1 (dodging potholes), navigating the hectic city streets of La Paz (dodging motorbikes), and bumping along for a couple of hours on a series of dirt tracks (dodging stray dogs) to get us to the Pacific Ocean.  Many decisions were made along the way as is always the case when you don’t know where you’re sleeping or how you’re getting there.  And needless to say, the day required driving with precision in order to not hit any of the obstacles along the way.

By the end of the day I was feeling a deep sense of gratitude for Mark and all that he does to make this lifestyle not only possible for us but also safe and immensely enjoyable.  On days like today he does all the work.  I have the effortless job of simply being a passenger.  While my role technically should be that of navigator, I’ve proven I don’t have much to offer in that department.  And since Mark usually prefers to drive, he has thus taken on both roles and manages to perform them simultaneously.  I think it’s the pilot in him that allows him to execute these roles with such grace.  My admiration and appreciation for him is endless.

It felt great to get all settled back in to our little home.  Though I was met with a strange sensation this evening in the form of loneliness, an uncommon occurrence for my introverted self.  While this beach is exquisitely beautiful one can’t deny the fact that this winter, sharing our travels with friends has elevated our experiences to an entirely new level of enjoyment.  Luckily, I don’t think it will be long before we’re in the company of friends once again.  Until then, I’ll be enjoying the company of my best friend whom I’m lucky enough to share this journey with every single day of the year.