Day 17 - Ensenada BC Mexico Repeated

So I know I’m a few days behind and planned on writing the last couple of nights because there is a lot to talk about, but after having some long nights at Salu, the cantina I’ve been visiting every night because they are the sports bar in English I just didn’t feel like writing. That and since the games start at 5:00 my time, by the time they’re done I’ve already downed a few and haven’t been coming back to the la casa (house) for cena (dinner).

That likely means I have to back up a little and base on the photos you can probably figure out what I’m talking about. The way I left it was with the ride with Rolando and his son Santiago to La Bufadora and I hope I covered most of that being broken in how to ride these roads in Mexico, aggressive, being escorted back to his house and borrowing a burner phone that I’ll be able to use for my ride to Cabo. Well, I’m not sure if I covered the fact that everything on the phone Rolando is loaning me is in Spanish, but sure I’m going to school to learn, but he messages are way out of my league and especially the messages I’ve been getting every time I try making a call. I eventually figured out how to change the phones menu to be in English, but that didn’t do anything with the messages I was getting and some of the other settings I should probably worry about. Fortunately I was able to go to the local TelCel which I’ve already visited a number of times, but found someone who spoke English that was able to help me out. Although it’s not like the states where you can dial a 1 or 2 for Espanol, I have another number I can dial that will give me my messages in English. 

So I’m good with the phone and it should get me to Cabo that it was back to Lou’s bar Salu for game 6 of the world series which was a great game. Sure I was cheering for Kansas, but I moved up on my visit to Salu. I finally got to sit with the big boys at Lou’s table with some of the other local Americana’s (gringos retired in these parts) that visit the bar pretty much every night. Based on the picture there is Steve who is Lou’s right hand man, a retired trucker from upper Washington, Lou, the owner of the bar and a couple that happen to be in Ensenada for other reasons, Erin and Brett. 

Erin happens to be from La Crosse so we had some things about God’s county Wisconsin to talk about and Brett an Ausie is in town for cancer treatment. Yes their a couple from either Washington or Oregon, sorry I don’t remember but Brett’s getting the treatment he needs and it’s a great place to be doing it. His doctor in America suggested he come down here to try some experimental drugs that the FDA hasn’t approved and they are apparently making a difference. They left a business they started, but right now they have to get past the health thing and they’ll be back. According to Brett it was definitely the right move for him because it is making a difference. 

I did talk to him about my idea of being able to ride my bike around the world and wouldn’t you know it, it’s a dream of his and he has the kind of bike to do it on. A BMW, similar to the guys I met back in 2006 in Alaska that had these bikes with the aluminum bags and the bike is like an enduro, good for touring and going off road if one has to. You know me I’d like to prove that a Harley can go pretty much anywhere one of those bikes can, but I after Sturgis this last year and another off road dump of the bike, I’ll have to do a little more work on the off road. Ok, not necessarily going to get too into it, but I did dump it in Sturgis through a construction zone, fortunately I was only doing between 30 and 40 that going down and no injuries. The other was Tomahawks fall rally and hitting a mud puddle where the bike completely slipped out from under me. No harm, except my pride and getting a little wet, but I was fortunate for how bad the road was that, that was all that happened.

Ok, back to the story. Anyway, I got to sit with the group and had a great time talking with Brett, Erin, Lou and Steve and Lou took care of my by sending someone down to the local pojjo (chicken) char house that was cooking the chicken over a wood fire and it was pretty good. A great night getting to know the locals and yes, I’ve been in this bar pretty much every night of my stay in Ensenada.

So day 16 rolls around, yesterday and sure I had planned on writing, but it was game 7 of the world series that I had to tell my Señora doing all the cooking that I wouldn’t be home once again for cena (dinner) because I have a beisbol game to watch. (no I didn’t get the spelling wrong cuz that’s how it’ spelled down here.). Writing might have been a good idea, but remember the start of the game is 5:00 here that by the time I leave the bar before closing I’ve probably had plenty. 

Well, for my visit tonight I ended up meeting another Ausie, Steve who happens to be the president of the local biker gang, the Mercenarios. A club he started a year ago since the other club in these parts wasn’t worth being a part of and he had a lot of good advice for me making a trip south. The first is make a stop at most every gas station I see cuz you never know if the next one is going to have gas or not so its not a good idea to push it. The second suggestion and the other reason for filling up on a regular basis is if you get somewhere where things just don’t feel right, ride away. My well being is more important than getting gas that I’ll eventually figure it out. Sure I’m carrying a can of gas with me, but hopefully I won’t have to use it. I did tell Steve I had just met a local, Rolando who was going to ride with me part of the way Saturday that he said I still need another backup plan which was him giving me his number and making sure to check in with him on a regular basis. As he said it’s always a good idea to have a number of backups that he’ll checkin with me and that if I don’t return a call or answer he’ll wonder what is going on so now I have someone who I’ll need to check in with. Probably not a bad idea at all because if he doesn’t hear that I’ve gotten to where I wanted to get or when I’m leaving he can send out the gang to look for me. Too bad I couldn’t get them to ride with me, but hey, how bad could it be…well, I guess we’ll have to wait and see. 

So the baseball game didn’t turn out the way I had hoped, but congratulation to all of those who were cheering for San Francisco. I did ask Lou when I showed up to the bar last night that I wanted to know where to get a good burger and wouldn’t you know it it was there. Just like the shrimp taco I had a few days ago, or maybe it was last week, if I want it he can get it. He did go and get the meat and cooked it up right away that hey, I wasn’t ready for one, but was just asking. Fortunately Steve, remember his right hand man was hungry that the at it. It was later that me and another retired Americana, Mike order burgers ourselves which yes, meant another trip to the meat market by Lou. I sure appreciated because it was a good burger and although I’ve been spoiled with the great Mexican food I’ve been getting from Diana something from home was nice to have.

Before the night ended my friend Rolando and his son Santiago were able to stop in and spend sometime drinking with me and firming up our plans to ride Saturday morning which is set. Right now I’m planning on leaving early, likely 8:00 with a call to Steve to let him know we’re leaving and eventually a stop for breakfast which Rolando suggests. We’ll see whether I stop to eat or just move on, but that’ll all be based on how far we get and how far I’ll still have to travel on my own which will be a totally different experience. Not sure if I’ll be able to ride as fast as the both of us will be able to because Rolando would maybe talk us out of it that once I’m on my  own it’ll be what Spanish do I understand and how much will I have to pay the cop to let me go. Ok, I’m not going to worry about that now.

Today was another day at Salu, Lou’s sports bar for Thursday night football and running into the regulars which tonight happened to be Steve (right hand man that he’s been there every night) but tonight saw Erin and Brett stopping in again. It was great visiting with everyone again because I’m not sure what Friday night will bring, but a good nigh around. Tonight I tried something different a side street taco stand that had some really good tacos and for only 15 pesos that was a deal. I haven’t gotten into it and although I’ve figured out the peso to dollar value, it’s still a little tough when you get a bill for over 200 pesos where you might not stop and think that you’re spending more than what you should. That was my bill the other night when Rolando and Santiago visited, but it was till less than 30 US that it ain’t bad at all. I guess it’s just the brain getting use to what is what. 

Sure I have a lot more I could probably write about, like how today after 2 weeks of wiping my ass and remembering to put the toilet paper in the basket next ot the toilet that I had a brain fart and dropped it in the toilet which I found out isn’t the thing to do. Sure I remembered before I flushed, but you know how hard it is to get it out before, not fun but I didn’t want to find out what an overflowed toilet might be like. If anything only one more day of la escuela espanol that I’ll be ready for my vacation to really kick in which I think will really hit when I get to Cabo. More to come so stay tune. 

Day 17 Ensenada pics