The Non-windy Side of Los Barriles

Scott on the cajone with Leanna and
Leonard singing/playing guitar

As the windy season comes to a close and we makes plans to move on, I am already nostalgic for the fun times we've had at Playa Norte (North Beach) in Los Barriles. Our neighbors, who we fondly call the "Von Leonard Family", hosted many music filled nights around their campfire.  "Von Leonard" is not their real name but the dad's name is Leonard and they are a kind, loving, musical family (think The Sound of Music's Von Trapp family).  Credit to Kim and Frank for the name.  The Von Leonards brought down a drum box (called a cajone) that they let Scott play during the campfire songs.  It's perfect for Scott -- he loves drums, music, and not socializing.

On top of the fantastic musical nights with the Von Leonards, we've enjoyed croquet on the beach AND even a late night game of Cranium. I don't think they realize how much they have influenced our stay on the beach in Los Barriles.

Margo and Leonard supervising Scott's croquet technique

A couple of weeks ago Steve and Wonder (no, I don't think that's her real name) rolled up in their hippie mobile and parked right next to us.  Their rig is everything but subtle.  We forgave them for blocking our view of the water, when they hosted a movie night by putting a huge white cloth on the side of their bus.  We watched "The Princess Bride" on the beach, steps from our refrigerator full of yummy beverages.

It's Getting Warmer on the Sea of Cortez

Picture courtesy of okckayak.com

My mom said in a recent email, "I guess you're making Los Barriles your new residence".  This is true, but soon enough, the wind will die off, and we will be on our way.  Until then, we are kiting our brains out.  The past week has been an amazing, grand-finale in the wind department.  Nearly 4 days in a row of 20+ knot winds, leading to some very sore knees.

The temperatures are starting to rise in the Sea of Cortez as well as on land.  With the change of seasons, we've noticed a lot more sea life, including lots of big turtles.  One of those turtles met my kiteboard yesterday. Good thing he wasn't skinny dipping. I'm still not sure who faired worse, the turtle or my kiteboard, which lost a fin and sustained a pretty nasty ding.  Poor turtle. Poor kiteboard.

Gastronomic Adventures in Los Barriles, Baja

Benign and delicious torta

As I've mentioned in a previous post, one of our pastimes is stuffing our faces with yummy food and drink.  A few weeks ago, we decided to try a nearby lunch stand. We expected to order a burrito, or possibly a torta.  It seemed that almost everyone there, and those that had just left, had ordered a mysterious yet delicious looking soup. We asked, "¿que tipo?". The answer, "menudo". Scott had a vague memory about menudo having a reputation as a hang-over remedy.  We didn't have a hangover, but we still ordered some of the soup and a carne asada torta (beef sammy). I was admittedly excited for the soup because it was filled with hominy and something else that we couldn't quite make out.  When it arrived, I dug into the soup, only to realize menudo is, according to Wikipedia, "tripe, honeycomb and 'librillo' stomach beef meat along with the beef feet and tendons".  I didn't need Wikipedia to realize what I was eating had some sort of histologic/physiologic resemblance to intestines.  I couldn't do it.  I didn't eat one piece of it.  I always thought I was an adventurous eater, but this was too much.   Scott had to take over.  He made a valiant effort, eating about a third of the bowl. His conclusion: menudo may or may not be a hang-over remedy, but you'd have to be drunk to even consider eating it.

Looks delicious doesn't it?  Just don't look too closely.