San Ignacio to Loreto

San Ignacio to Loreto

I took an early morning walk into the town square before the ride today.  All was quiet with just a few locals sweeping the streets outside of their shops.

The following excerpt from our tour paperwork explains today.  “Ahead of us this morning is the massive ‘Volcan Las Tres Virgenes’. Which tells us the origin of recent lava flows around us. We descend Devils Grade, seven miles of switchbacks that take us down to the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez. We ride along the shores of beautiful Bahia Conception, whose deep-blue waters, volcanic islands, and isolated beaches are real Baja delights. In the afternoon we reach Loreto, the oldest Spanish settlement along the West Coast. The town offers a picturesque central plaza, shopping, and an array of excellent restaurants.”

We had a rest day upon arriving at Loreto.  Our van driver took 4 of us up the mountain to San Javier Mission.  Founded in 1697 by Jesuit Missionaries, it’s the oldest Spanish settlement on the Baja peninsula and one of the best preserved.  Beats the hell out of me how or more importantly why they would want to create a settlement up in the mountains like they did. It was a challenge getting up there with a paved road, how did they manage without one? 

San Ignacio to Loreto

A local

 

Mission San Ignacio to Loreto

San Ignacio Mission

Prime waterfront realestate

San Ignacio to Loreto

Warming up before their performance

 

Day 3 Catavina to San Ignacio

Catarina to San Ignacio

A hot ride through the Vizcaino Desert today, also dry and dusty and windy in a few areas.

Stopped at a food van in Guerrero Negro for the most delicious fish tacos.  Deep fried fish fillets in a soft taco and topping of your choice. 

Our stop for the night was a true oasis in the desert.  Riding into town past date palms and water, did I say water!  Was nice to see some water apart from the ocean.  Dinner in a little restaurant in the town square.  We wanted to sit outside so they moved the tables out onto the street for us.  Celebrated Robyn’s birthday tonight, Tom celebrated with a few too many Margaritas and didn’t feel the best the next morning.  A little toast with butter and my vegemite and he felt he could go on.

 

Catavina to San Ignacio

A rest stop in the desert

Fish Tacos for lunch

San Ignacio Kadakaaman

Cross tucked into the corner of the mission

 

Old Church in Thomson Brook

Headed out to Grimwade campsite on the Bibbulmun Track yesterday with a friend from camera club and we happened to pass by this old church in Thomson Brook.  This was my first trip out to this area but will definitely not be my last.  Lovely rolling green hills plus much much more.

Here’s a little bit of history about the church.  The St. Thomas Anglican Church was architecturally designed (by Eustace Cohen) for the Thomson Family in 1908 and cost 475 pounds to build on their property. The bricks were made on site.  The ceiling, floor and most of the furniture, designed by Cohen, was all made of local jarrah.  This church is one of a small number of churches in Western Australia that were privately constructed and has been almost continuously used by the Anglican community and in more recent times is also used for wedding and other special occasions.

All images taken with either 100mm or 50mm prime lens and processed in Lightroom with a Vintage Preset

Old Church Thomson Brook

Old Church Thomson Brook

Old Church Thomson Brook