San Javier annual festival

Yesterday I went with a group up to San Javier for day 2 of a 3 day Festival. Hundreds of horses and riders arrived at the mission. Coming in from ranches many miles away they were greeted and cheered by the crowd and a local band. Some of the horses danced to the music. The festival is like a Fair. The wide street in front of the mission (about 2 short city blocks) was lined with venders and crowded with people walking, eating, singing, playing music. We saw two "plastic tuba" players. People, cars and tents all along the main street, around the church, along the river and the road out of town. I had heard that many people came for this festival, but wasn't prepared for the masses I saw. We toured the museum. Did not know there was a museum in the church and it is usually closed. They opened it for the Festival. There was a service in the church so we did not tour there. There was a bicycle race from Loreto to the Mission: a distance of about 18 miles and all uphill. Some people walk all the way to the Mission as a pilgramage. It is a fun time for marriages, baptisms, dancing, singing and horse races. Although I saw the horses and riders there were no races to see yesterday. The road has been cleared of debris from Hurricane Paul, but there are still washouts that leave only one lane for driving and detours in other places. My van would not be able to go up the mountain this year without dragging bottom and I was able to drive last year.