Baja. On the Plaza.

[








This story begins at the horse ranch of Juan Cunnigham.







As it often is, Juan's is a coffee stop and launch pad. Today, breakfast is Venison Machaca Burritos.

















The animals are examined, immediate family members reminisced and associated adventures laughed about.





Meet Mili. Pronounce Mee Lee. For Milagro or Miracle.

A baby when she came to the ranch, her face was ravaged, mange like, by wounds of her mother. A rattler had struck the nursing mother where the child fed.

Today she roams freely, with the house pets . . . dogs and cats, drinking from a bucket of goat milk in the kitchen, effuse from daily production of cheese.







Over the cheese pot, horses return to free range.






Today, two parties will travel separate ways.

Mundo & I head for San Nicolas and ride with our friend Cheri King, Mula as known on this board.


The others will track cattle.






Typical route to San Nick





Cheri King at her ranch on the Cortez side.





In the orchards.





Meyers lemon blossom, the 23rd of January.






Neem Tree. Called the Medicine Tree in India but is a great bug repellent. Farmers put them all around their places in San Juan de Londo.





On the road in, we'd meet this critter.





Raymundo is removing fat from the fairly lean fellow.





Oil rendered from this fat, is instilled 2 drops each nostril for sinusitis.
2-3 days following, sinus cavities are completely clear. Blown out . . .






Ride . . . what we've come to do.


Here, a regularly scheduled clinic is for anyone - gringos, kids, animals . . . everyone and everything.





Discussion turns to VCR programation.





Human grave on a hill.












The Kings. Mula's place below at the junction of crossroads, Paradise and Oasis.

One should only question "what ifs" so long.

The Kings are Pioneers. Nomads of action. With ranch homes carved out on each side of the Peninsula, there is no "what if" it gets hot near the Cortez. Lopez has San Diego's climate, and Lopez is where they'll be. Paradise & Oasis intersect at that end of the Plaza as well.





The Dona Cheri









A New Day Shining





A New Day Riding





Passing time





Fish suppliers of the outback, this part of the Plaza.





Birds, always around.







Tracks. Like computer links.






Passersby leave lengthy tales for those who read them.

Mundo points out one pair. The one a Yejua, female horse, the other her child.





We follow them awhile.





A place of life.







What might there be?






"essence to dress for"






Flowers springing from rock all over the place . . .













The place has attitude







Settlement and view without escrow












Mule Builders. Tradesmen of the Plaza.














Baja. On the Plaza.





Here along the way,

This plaza mankind

In brilliant display--

From it you will find,

Between heart and mind--

Union in wisdom:

The heart, His' kingdom. *1



*1 1997, The Rucksack Trilogy

size=5]Verdaa[/size]

Jeff and Indio, Jurelito and Celia.


Jeff and Indio with the San Nicolas Bay behind them.