Good morning! Chet and I went for our morning walk down to the estuary at the dry riverbed that separates the 2 parts of Loreto. The main downtown area is across the river from where I am. At the estuary we watched many herons, egrets and pelicans. On the bank was a group of larger dark colored birds warming their wings in the morning sun. I couldn't see them well enough to know if they might have been buzzards. There are lot of buzzards in the desert and in parts of town. We watched sardine size fish darting about in the shallows near the road.
The main route across the riverbed is closed to traffic as a concrete road is being built there. It will be nice to have a nicer driving surface than bare dirt, gravel or sand. I am curious to know how they are building to withstand the Fall floods. It does have a lot of concrete and rebar.
Rules of the road.
Left blinkers and left turns. When driving down here, we were told not to use our left blinker to make a left turn. A left blinker on the Transpenisular Highway means that it is clear for the cars behind you to pass. If you use your left blinker for a left turn you might be T-boned. We used the blinkers a lot to let traffic get past our 4 vehicles (a 5th wheeler, a motorhome, my van and a pickup). We all had CB's and the lead vehicle could tell us when it was clear ahead to "blink them on by". Sometimes we had to wave them on as the blinker signals weren't understood or believed.
If you do want to make a left turn off the main highway, move to the center line and when clear ahead take command of the left lane and go off at an angle as the edges are usually rough and bumpy. In some of the larger towns, there are actually left turn pockets like we usually see. Another way to make a left turn off the highway is to take an access road to the right then turn left to be at right-angles to the highway and when clear go straight across all the lanes to the other side. This is the preferred method to get into Loreto from the North and also Nopolo a resort/golf complex 5 miles south of Loreto at Loreto Bay. Cd. Constitucion is a much larger city and has 6 lanes for traffic. The two on the left and right are one way each direction and the two lanes in the middle are two way. You do not make a left turn from these middle lanes. Again, you go to the outside lanes and go straight across the middle lanes to the other outside lanes or across them depending on where you want to be.
Flashing headlights. While driving you may see an oncoming car flashing headlights at you. This usually means to slow down and watch for some sort of hazard ahead. Hazards are often cattle, horses or goats beside or in the road. Sometimes, there has been an accident or there may be workers beside the road. So............you slow down when "flashed' and watch for whatever hazard there may be.
Just returned to my little home away from home and took these pictures on the way. Had a wonderful Christmas feast with friends at La Damiana Inn and met new friends. People coming in from Seattle, Danville, California and Salt Lake City were there too.
My 152 peso pancho. Spent most of the day over in town and this afternoon a strong cold north wind began to blow. I wanted to stay in town longer so went in serch of a jacket. Found this big blue pullover with a pouch pocket and asked the price. $17.00 dollars he said. I looked in my pocket and told him I have only 152 pesos. OK, he said taking my last peso and we both laughed and I went away warm. This picture was taken at Loreto Shores beach and shows the rough sea from the wind. Chet is braced kinda funny with his front legs all spread out.
Looking west along the dry river. New road across the riverbed in forground and truck driving across the riverbed. There are several "streets" across the riverbed and all of them excet the new road very bumpy and dusty. Mountains to the west are Sierra de la Gigante. I find them quite beautiful and rugged. What you see changes thruout the day with varying light.
Looking east along the dry river. I know, I know............it is blurry, but the only picture I have now and I want you to see the riverbed east to the estuary and the sea. Another car driving across...........this is the way you go when you are on Nicholas Bravo street.
Ah. The new road across the dry river. It is a fine road and we wonder if it will still be there November after the next flood. This picture is looking south toward main part of town. Chet and I usually walk to town this way. The new road is 14 metres wide. Enough room for two lanes of traffic and parking on each side. The space you see to the left of this road is where the vendors come for the Sunday Market and set up their tents. On Monday morning it all cleared ground again.
The new road looking south at the DARK clouds that came with the cold north wind. In this picture you can see the sidewalks that are being built also.
Pictures: If you look closely you can see the early morning sailboat passing by in the first picture. I just liked the clouds and the pool is where I swim when I don't swim in the sea. Up until yesterday the sea was rough and dirty, but calmer now. The last picture is my "computer center".
