Desert Bloom

Driving back to the US, we stopped for breakfast at a place called Catavina where I shot these towering cacti.

Tragedy on the Highway

After leaving La Paz on New Year's Day, we came across a truck that had just went off the highway, rolling many times and ejecting the driver through the passenger window. The poor guy landed on a cactus. I discreetly snapped a couple photos with my Blackberry, so the quality isn't very good.

We raced over and kept him alert for a half hour before the ambulance finally arrived. By then it was too late. He had head injuries that were pretty severe. Moral of the story: Don't get hurt in Mexico.

Todos Santos to La Paz

Todos Santos is an artsy community known mainly for the Eagle's Hotel California. I wouldn't have felt bad if we skipped it. Outside of a few well kept blocks, it's pretty much your basic 3rd world hole.

Christmas display, Mexican style

I liked this lonely chimney

I stayed at the Hotel Yaneka in La Paz, home of this mischievous monkey, both when he was alive and now that he's dead.

Ponto Lobos

We stayed the night at a place called Ponto Lobos. It's kind of a shiz hole, but if photographed from the right angle, it doesn't look so bad. I was kind of obsessed with the penguins that loiter around, waiting for scraps from the fishermen.

Laurel & Hardy

Nadine

Something Borrowed, Something New

I stole a few photos from some of my fellow passengers. They captured some moments I missed. Now I share them with you.

This is the true essence of Josh, our bus driver. Unabashedly himself. They also spotlight the amazing slot canyons we hiked through near Playa Escondida.

Gotta grab a shower when you can on this trip

I sorely regretted not taking any pictures of our amazing Sushi Night. The sheer amount and variety was astounding.

Tidal hot springs a few miles from camp

OK, back to my photos. These are from my walkabout near Cabo Pulmo

Cabo Pulmo

We stayed 2 days on the beach in Cabo Pulmo. As beautiful as it is windy. Much of the group camped out in tents, with some homesteading in this abandoned building.

Andy above, Janice below

Nearby shack

Robin & Skye

North view

South view

Robin

Life on the Bus

It seems like life on the Green Tortoise often revolves around food: Packing, unpacking, cooking, eating, and cleaning. Meals are generally quite good--cleanliness standards, not so much.

Cooler filled with food located beneath the benches in the front of the bus

A bin of condiments from trips of yore.

Lunch prep

Breakfast

Tasha & Janice doing dishes

Some other scenes in and around the bus:

French lovers Kim & Nadine

Marty & I

Sully taking a pit stop

The 4 English rugby gals

Marty, Drew, and Jay

Christmas in Baja

Small church in a nearby fishing village

I caught the biggest fish on our boat trip :)

Spent an entire day just relaxing on the beach. One of the many views that floated past me.

Santa even stopped by for a visit. Lyle, Arno, Santa (Lauren), and Josh.

Later we hung Santa while Sully performed his fire dance routine

And then ended the evening with a thorough beating.