Baja Part 1

My friend Mary invited me to drive with her down the Baja.  Her and I, along with two other RVers drove all the way down to Cabo San Lucas and back in the winter of 2008. 

Our caravan leaving Arizona

We saw so many wonderful sights.  We went through quaint little towns with the little markets

Market in Tacate

All kinds of scenery in the desert as well as hundreds of different kind of cactus.

Painting on a Rock in the Desert

Candlestick Cactus

More Cactus

A donkey we came upon on one of our excursions off the beaten path.

Ensenada was a fun place to stop.  We went to Cantina Hussongs, a must-go-to-place to have a margarita we were told.  I will tell you they were the STRONGEST margaritas I’ve ever had, too strong for me!  But fun all the same.  Everyone ate peanuts and threw the shells on the floor. 

Catina Hussongs

We also went to Papas & Beer, a funky bar and grill that reminded me of Robinson Krusoe.  It was as funky on the inside as it was on the outside. 

Papas & Beer

But of course besides the restaurants and bars there was the wonderful seafood market right on the water, yum yum!

Mercado de Mariscos

Just as we were nearing Guerro Negro we unfortunately went off the road.  The roads are so very narrow, not the best place for an RV.  Along our trip we saw many, many abandoned cars that had run off the roads as well as memorials of lost ones.  We were fortunate that no one was hurt.  Locals that were driving by stopped to help as well as the Federales.  Everyone was so nice even with the language barrier.  After many hours we were finally pulled out.  We could have easily rolled over, we were so thankful it turned out okay for us.

After being pulled back onto the road.

Come back to read the next installment of the great Baja trip!

Blogging Has Gone to the Dogs

I just found out that Pedigree has a new campaign called ‘Write a Post, Help a Dog’. Basically, for every blog post written that mentions the campaign, Pedigree will donate a bag of new PEDIGREE Healthy Longevity Food for Dogs to shelters nationwide. Well, I couldn’t say no to helping out shelter dogs! #dogsrule

According to Pedigree, more than 4 million dogs wind up homeless each year. Four million! And unfortunately, we all know that there are not 4 million families out there looking to adopt a pet, so many of these dogs are euthanized simple because there is not enough room for them.

This campaign is dedicated to educating the nation not only about the quantity, but the quality, of shelter dogs. Shelter dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Some are purebreds. Some are lovable mutts. Some are small puppies. Some are full-sized grown-ups. And each one of them has his own individual personality and disposition. And while shelter workers will offer plenty of advice and guidance on which dog is right for you, in the end, it’s your choice. But no matter what age, gender, color or breed your new dog ends up being, that dog should be treated like a member of your family. Because every shelter dog deserves a good home.

I have nannied for many dogs, and a lot of those dogs have come from shelters or rescue groups. I can testify that these dogs are wonderful pets that provide all the love, loyalty, and personality that you see from dogs from breeders. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not against breeders. Responsible breeders take care of their dogs, and most importantly, will take the dog back at any time if the owner decides to give him up. (Therefore not leading to more shelter pets.) But, I am saying that there are fabulous dogs right now in your local shelter waiting for their forever home. Please consider them if you are looking to add a dog to your family.

The PEDIGREE Adoption Drive is also raising awareness about awesome homeless dogs by donating a bowl of food to a shelter dog for every person who becomes a “Fan” or “Likes” the PEDIGREE Adoption Drive on Facebook. So check that out as well and let’s help shelter dogs!