Monday, October 12, 2009

Copper Canyon

We are back in Mazatlan after 6 days exploring the Copper Canyon area riding the famous Chepe train. This train runs from the Pacific coast inland through some incredible canyon scenery to the city of Chihuahua. We rode the rails for only a small portion of the length, stopping for three nights at Cerocahui (a village near the Bahuichivo stop), one night in Posada Barrancas, and one in the historic town of El Fuerte. We took an overnight bus from Mazatlan (TAP - 320 pesos each) to Los Mochis and another bus to El Fuerte, boarding the train at that station.



Map of the entire route. Note the elevation profile - Posada Barrancas, our final stop is close to the highest point at Divisdero but not even half way to Chihuahua.




Boarding at El Fuerte. Note the security guard with automatic weapon. Rani whose photo I took in the spring with a similarly armed soldier wanted her picture taken with the man in black. He declined. This is the first class train.



We took the economico (2nd class) train, which stops more often but has reclining seats (some of them, anyway) and air conditioning (some of the time). It costs less than half of the first class train and is used by middle class Mexicans and budget travellers.



The land between El Fuerte and the beginnings of the canyons is quite flat and fertile. We are now entering the canyons.



There are frequent views of rivers and this stunning stretch of water that I think is a lake or maybe just a widening of the river.



The train crosses many bridges and passes through dozens of tunnels.



We are now up in the canyons. Rani took these pictures while hanging out of the door way. A helpful Mexican businessman pointed out the sights to her on the route.


The train does a loop at this point to gain elevation within a single valley. There is a huge waterfall at the end of the valley. We have just passed over the bridge you see far below and will pass under the mountain to our left.



Alberto and Francia met us at the station. We had considered staying at their hotel as well as at one of two other budget inns in the town of Cerocahui. Alberto was persuasive and gave us a fair rate for our stay in his very comfortable and new inn (300 pesos per night or about 30 Canadian dollars). Here is a brief video of their establishment:






This is Cerocahui, a small agricultural town with a mission (ex-Jesuit) and school. It is located in a lovely valley, surrounded by mountains and rivers.




The mission in the morning light, photographed from the town square.


The town was full of wildlife - dogs, roosters, chickens, horses, and the occassional burro. At night, the dogs would start a chorus, sometimes keeping it up for an hour or so. Our rooster alarms would usually go off a couple of times in the night when a car's lights interrupted their sleep and start in in earnest well before dawn.



The next morning, Alberto and Francia invited us to join them on a trip to their rancho, a cattle ranching operation down a long 4 wheel drive road and into another valley. The fields are full of yellow wild flowers after the rains of the summer have passed. Here is a small video of our ramble at the ranch:





Cows and a bull or two.



Clothesline used by the Raramuri indian family that works the rancho.






We came across some other wildlife on our walk. This little guy is about 10 cms long (see next pic).





Centipede with hand for scale. The farmhand who accompanied us got a good shriek out of Rani when he flicked this critter at her using a stick.



We also came across a hefty spider, about 7-8 cms across. We think this is a type of tarantula:  Brachypelma vagans is commonly called the "Mexican redrump" or "Mexican black velvet". It is a burrowing species found in Mexico and other parts of Central America.



Rani recovering from centipede shock. Actually she is enjoying a quiet moment at the waterfall we hiked to that afternoon. We went for a refreshing swim although the water was ice cream headache cold.

Later that evening we took a van tour from Alberto to the rim of the Urique canyon. People who have seen the grand canyon, told us this was even more impressive.


On the road to Urique (a town in the bottom of the canyon).


Perched on a rock outcrop at the Gallegos lookoff. The road winds down 1000's of feet below us and the drop off at our back is at least 500 feet.


We hiked the next day in the valley of the lions. The so called lions are a stunning ridge of red rock with a layer of white on top. The pinnacles do look like animals or birds from different angles. The village of Cerocahui is below.



Red and white lions.


Hiking in the valley below - note the wild flowers. The fields are deceptive here because they are covered in small rocks making stumbling easier than walking.


We had to ford this stream to get back to the village.


The next day we took the train to Posada Barrancas. At each stop, Raramuri women and children approached the train selling baskets and apples.



We also learned what the third class trains look like.



At Posada Barrancas we stayed at Cabanas Diaz with Sr. Diaz and his family. We slept in a small cabana with its own stone hearth and enjoyed a blazing fire that took the chill off the night.


A group of four Finnish exchange students also stayed in these cabanas and took a horse tour of the valley the next morning. We were allowed to tag along, but soon got frustrated with the horses' slow pace.



The views from this hike were incredible. The canyon rim is a short walk from where we stayed and there is even a hotel (Mirador) on the rim itself if you don't care to work for your view.



Raramuri family heading to the hotel on the rim to sell baskets.


We bought a half dozen baskets made of fragant pine needles and pine wood from this woman. Most Raramuri are shy and turned away from us if they saw our camera. They rarely looked at us even when discussing prices for their wares.



Rani watches two young Raramuri weaving with pine needles.



We left the rim and returned to the train station that day, arriving in El Fuerte late at night.


We wandered around El Fuerte the next morning then took the bus to Los Mochis and the TAP bus to Mazatlan.
We hope to leave Mazatlan this week and sail across toward La Paz or Los Muertos assuming Tropical Storm Patricia leaves the area before then.





























Monday, October 5, 2009

Back in Mazatlan

It has already been a week since we arrived in Mazatlan last Saturday but it feels like a lot longer.

The 90+F temperature combined with 70% humidity was quite a shock to the system as we stepped outside the airport. Would I ever feel fresh and cool again? Streams of sweat coursed down my face and into my blouse as we waited for a collectivo taxi to gather some more passengers.

We arrived at the Marina Singlar to be greeted with hugs and kisses from the staff who were having a BBQ. It felt as if we had come home.

My luggage had not arrived with me and I figured that it was probably due to a close connection between my flights at L.A. Airport. I was worried that the expensive sheets, winch handle and other items for the boat may never make it despite the airline agent's reassurance that the bags would be delivered within a day or two.

Miraculously, we received both pieces the next evening with a note explaining that the lock on my duffel bag had been cut by the U.S. Transport Security people to examine suspicious looking objects. It was all Chris's fault, of course, as he had packed a conical zinc for our propeller and it looked suspiciously like a missile tip! Combined with the saw blades, safety harnesses and my ethnic name on the bag, I can understand why they thought I might be a terrorist - if only they had seen my photo and my 5 foot frame!

As for our Ladybug, after 5 months at the slip, it was in remarkably good shape, thanks to our friend Tony, who came over each month to air it out and check the engine etc.There were only a few telltale stains from water leakage on the galley counter beneath the main hatch, amazing considering the nightly showers in the summer.

On our first night we had a simple supper of huevos rancheros cooked on Ladybug II as we had to rely on a little shop near the marina for supplies. Chris filled our water tanks from the dock and I realised that we would be drinking tepid water for months to come - yuk!

The next morning, we took the air-conditioned bus to the Mega for our staple foods and fresh produce. The A/C cooled store was a welcome relief from the humidity and heat outside. In fact, when we entered the store, it felt as if we had stepped into a freezer. It was a challenge figuring out which veggies and fruit would survive in the not so cool lockers on board ( we do not use ice as the lockers are poorly insulated ). Since we do not have a working fridge either, we keep a few necessary items like cheese in the staff fridge at the marina.

It took several mornings to rig the boat again in readiness for cruising and Chris has now stripped and applied Cetol to both the cap and rub rails giving the boat a lovely varnished look. We were sapped of energy most afternoons due to the heat , so we sat close to the little fans inside the cabin and occupied ourselves by reading. In the evenings we generally take a short walk around the marinas for some badly needed exercise.

Our only excursions have been to a swimming pool at a nearby resort and a nice beach for a swim. The usual 20 minute walk to the beach probably took longer under the scorching sun but it was well worth it. I needed some encouragement to get beyond the breaking surf as it looked quite turbulent out there. On the walk back, I picked up a coconut from a bunch left by workmen trimming a palm tree outside a house and we asked a gardener to use his machete to cut it open for us. The coconut milk was sweet and delicious!

It's been great getting in touch with some of our old buddies out here, although most of them are up in the Sea of Cortez and we probably will not see them for a while. A great surprise was finding some long lost friends through Tony. We had lost contact wit musician friends Lori and Ken after spending a very special Christmas 2008 with them in Magdalena Bay and found them right here in Mazatlan.

This coming week we shall be heading to the amazing Copper Canyon which is 4 times larger than the Grand Canyon. We plan to take the El Chepe train to Creel from Los Mochis, stopping at some small villages en route to hike the fantastic trails to waterfalls and cave dwellings used by the Raramuri Indians.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Ontario to NS

I made it to NS where I have spent the last few days visiting my parents. I plan to clear a trail and camping spot at the cottage lot and then head into Halifax to see some friends. Rani will join me here near the end of August.
Here are some pics from the remainder of the trip. I visited Ottawa where I finally saw the inside of the parliament buildings. 26 years ago I was in the band that marched every day onto Parliament hill for the changing of the guard, so watching the performance as a spectator had special meaning. It only seems like yesterday that I was wearing a bearskin hat and hot red wool tunic.

Ceremonial Guard band marching toward parliament hill.


Ceiling of lobby outside the legislature. Note Nova Scotia light house.

Lester Pearson's (or at least his statue's) shoe.
Next I visisted Bruce and Olga in Montreal and spent the weekend at their cottage with a number of their friends. The cottage is on Bark Lake and can only be reached by boat. Their daughter Catherine is a delight and has grown so much since I saw her last Winter. Bruce and I went to McGill university in the mid-80's and played trumpet together. I was last at the cottage 25 years ago and not much had changed - we still stayed up too late and drank too much :)


Bruce MacNab


Olga

Catherine
From Montreal, I drove through Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine where I ran across a wonderful sculpture garden (all welded by the proprietor).


Dinosaur on the loose.
Alien and ship
Frog band
The following was a view on my last morning in Maine near where I camped for the night:

Sunrise in Maine
It's good to be back in Nova Scotia, but I look forward to continuing this blog in September/October when we return to Mexico and Ladybug II.



Thursday, July 30, 2009

Alberta to Ontario

I left my lovely camping spot behind the general store on July 22 and headed for Saskatchewan. My first stop was Cardston, where one of Brigham Young's daughters and her husband formed the first Mormon settlement in Canada. This town is also the birthplace of Fay Wray of Hong Kong fame and home of the Remington Carriage Museum. This fascinating museum was formed around approx. 50 superbly restored carriages, sleighs, and wagons donated to the province of Alberta by Don Remington. I spent 4 hours here and it was well worth the price of admission ($9). The carriage building industry was massive in the late 19th century, using assembly line techniques and automation that formed the foundation for the 20th century automobile industry. I learned where such car terms as dashboard and trunk come from (dashboard was literally a board at the front of the carriage to protect the passengers from whatever the horses stirred up). Another interesting (to me anyway) fact was that some people welcomed the coming of the automobile as it would reduce polution from horse manure that filled the streets in many towns.


Dump wagon - ancestor of the dump truck - used in road building.


Sleighs and wagons.

Next I visited Writing on Stone provincial park and hiked the Hoo Doo trail to look at the battle scene petroglyph. This and the other drawings in the park were quite hard to see and some idiots had writen their names over the pictographs (red pigment paintings). I was too late for the tour to the restricted area, where there are supposed to be better scenes.


Battle scene pictograph with increased contrast.


Hoo doos.

I camped at the side of a dead-end farmer's road (in a ditch) near Medicine Hat that night. It is much harder in farming areas to find good free campsites. I was now reduced to finding a place near dusk and cooking my suppers and breakfasts at picnic parks along the way.

The next day I spent in Eastend – a charming small town with a very good little museum. The museum had the obligatory dinosaur bones and several restored buildings including a marvelous 1950's/60's bungalow that reminded me of where I grew up. The main difference was that they had an armadillo in their living room... Strangely, I met up with and had coffee with 2 sailors in this very landlocked town. They live on board a large ferro cement boat in North Carolina and were interested in sailing the Pacific coast, so I told them about our adventures there.


Armadillo on classic 70's carpet.

Because driving across the highways of the prairies can be a bit sleep inducing, I took to stopping in all the towns along the way. Some were quite lively and clearly a going concern, but most were faded remnants of their former selves (see picture of Aneroid's sign). I found it very sad to see churches and businesses closed up and houses collapsing into the high grasses. The amalgamation of so many farms and the resulting increase in farm size has depopulated many centers.


What's wrong with this sign?


Abandoned house.

My next night's camp was much more pleasant, with deer grazing nearby and a nice view out over a farmer's pond. Thinking of Rani, I concocted a one pot Indian 'biriyani' of rice, mexican peas, red pepper, soy protein, and Patak's vindaloo curry paste. It actually tasted quite decent :)

The next day I visited the excellent Cherniak gallery in Assiniboia. This privately created gallery is free to the public and has an excellent collection of recent Canadian paintings, Australian art, Chinese antiques and even a room full of group of seven paintings. It is the gift of a local banker to the community. The gallery was superior to many public galleries I have seen. That night in my farmer's field campground, I heard two coyotes howling very close to the tent.

The following day I reached Winnipeg and enjoyed a walk along the trails near the Forks historic site, followed by an afternoon at the Musuem of Man, etc. The museum had some superb dioramas and the Hudsons Bay company exhibit was particularly good. They also had a complete – and I mean complete – replica of the Hudsons Bay Company's Nonsuch ketch housed in a massive room that was built around her when she retired from her sailing voyages. The legislature here reminds me of the one in Victoria, complete with statue of Victoria in front and fountain at the rear. The Manitoba version is strict neo-Classical with massive doric columns.


Buffalo hunt diorama


Nonsuch transom - I plan to redo Ladybug II to look like this.


Manitoba Legislature
The next day I crossed into Ontario, stopping to make breakfast in the lovely town of Kenora. In Vermillion Bay I had a refreshing swim in a lake and a much needed wash (the only main downsides to this nomadic lifestyle is having to carry your own water and limited access to showers). I bought some water treatment for the tent as it looked like rain was threatening. The night's camp was up a lumber road and I went for a nice hike through the woods here after waterproofing the tent fly.

In Thunder Bay, i spent most of the day at Fort William – an extensive and well presented reconstruction of the North West Company's main fort and trading post. There were dozens of re-enactments and I had a chance to paddle a voyageur canoe. The North West company was based out of Montreal and competed head on with the Hudsons Bay Company until they amalgamated around 1820. In downtown Thunder Bay I visited the marina (of course!) and chatted with a sailor on a boat the same size as Ladybug. He had paddled around lake Superior last year in a kayak (an 8 week trip) and hoped to sail the same route. My camp that night was by a peaceful gravel quarry.


Furs at Fort William.


Birch bark and wood canoes.


Terry Fox tribute near Thunder Bay.

I finally had a good hike the next day in Lake Superior Provincial park. They have a Coastal trail here similar to the Juan de Fuca trail near Victoria. I met two large groups of teenagers on this trail. I almost ended up camping here, but decided to drive a little outside the park and camped on a lovely sand beach overlooking Lake Superior. The driving here is through lovely mixed forests and the hiking trail was in great shape and looked lightly used.

From here I drove into St Sault Marie and visited the locks (broken) and art gallery (not great). It was somewhat depressing to learn that the Canadian locks fell down in 1985 and were rebuilt on a much smaller scale in 95, leaving the only way for commercial shipping to reach Lake Superior via the 3 sets of American locks. The reason we built our own locks in the first place was because in 1870, the Americans denied access to a ship load of our soldiers en route to quell a rebellion. It strikes me as ridiculous that we did not maintain this important shipping link from the Atlantic. From Sault St Marie, I began to see farms again amongst the woods. I camped that night beside a microwave tower with the sound of cows lowing in the distance. Today I am off to see the big nickel in Sudbury.


Video of oil pump in Saskatchewan - there were hundreds of these in farmer's fields in this province and Manitoba.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Alberta Bound

I began the drive across Canada on Friday July 17 and thought I might as well blog this, too...

The first picture shows Ladybug being hauled out at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, with the new owner looking on.


Ladybug out of the water

I stopped off at Pitt Meadows near Vancouver to pick up a stove that had some burners which are hopefully of use to the new owners of Ladybug. Then I headed out on the Lougheed highway, past Hope and took a wrong turn up past Yale. I camped at the side of the road on an old logging road beside a stream – actually a very nice site. The next picture shows a strange little stone entranced structure about 4 feet wide. Two of these were set into the hill above the stream and I do not know their purpose. Maybe food storage? Any comments?


House in the hill.

The next day, I stopped beside a huge slag heap in Greenwood. The picture is taken of strange bell shaped objects – each taller than a man – that lie scattered over the slag heap. I explored what looked like smelting ovens and various foundations and a huge brick chimney. Later I learned that this was a copper mining operation. It must have been a big one, because the environmental impact is still huge!


Copper mine slag.

Saturday night I made clam chowder and a bear arrived looking for its share. It circled me at a distance twice and then snorted and made to charge. I was in the car by this point and packed up ready to move to a better camp spot. Note that these pics were taken with a small point and shoot – yes, that bear is pretty close!


Bear 1

Bear 2.

On Sunday, I went for nice hike (Kootenay Columbia trail) in Rossland and checked out some of the coal mining exhibits near the visitor's center. On the hike I shot this plant that I believe is called bear grass.


Bear grass.

The next pic shows my Sunday campsite (on Monday morning) in a vacant lot near Lake Moyie. I am enjoying the challenge of finding good sites that don't cost a fortune (nothing for the first 3 nights).


Campsite 3.

On Monday, I went for a hike at Mount Fernie park and took this picture after a grouse errupted from the brush, crying and puffing herself up in order to lead me from her young. I was amazed at the bravery of this little bundle of feathers!


Grouse.

I entered Alberta and explored the Crows Nest Pass area. I took the self-guided driving tour of the little towns that make up this area and then headed to an off the record campsite behind a little general store on the way to Waterton Lakes. It cost $5 a night per person and I have had the whole campsite to myself for two nights.

The windmills are part of a huge turbine installation (I counted more than 70 on two nearby ridges). The scenery in Alberta is stunning with the prairies and farmland set against chains of mountains.


Windmills.

Today (Tuesday) I spent the day hiking in Waterton Lakes National Park. The bison are in a paddock at the park entrance and reminded me a bit of cows, I'm afraid – maybe because they are penned in. The deer was munching grass in front of the visitors' center.


Penned bison.


Tame deer.

I walked the Bertha Falls and Lake trail and also around the lake – about 14Kms and maybe 500 meters vertical gain. The trail was surprisingly empty early in the day and I had the lake to myself. The picture shows the red sandstone that forms the lakeshore at this point with the head of the lake hemmed in by bluffs that probably reach 7000 feet.


Bertha Lake.

The last picture is taken from Red Rocks Canyon – a slightly disappointing place except for the wonderful drive in. The 'canyon' is fairly small and narrow and was full of very well fed tourists waddling around the paved walkway and families splashing in the water. The people in the water were having fun, anyway...



Off to see some petroglyphs tomorrow...

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Ladybug Sold

I am both happy and sad to say that Ladybug is going to a new home. Chris and Judy James at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club are the new owners. She is currently hauled out and will be getting new standing rigging this week.