Witness: 2013

In March Brendan and I decided that what better time to take off on a 2+ week road trip! We were both unemployed and never really had a honeymoon! Packed up the car and drove south - Joshua Tree National Park .. then to the Salton Sea which was tops of my list for awhile. It did not disappoint! People go there to fall off the grid and live simply. Abandoned towns and half populated trailer parks that surround a lake that is now too salient for its fishy inhabitants that are washing ashore in the thousands. Met some real characters at the local "eatery" the Ski Inn at Bombay Beach. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salton_Sea Then we found ourselves at Salvation Mountain and Slab City. Some incredible art installations at Slab City and Salvation Mountain is something I won't forget anytime soon. http://www.slab-city.com http://www.salvationmountain.us

Then off to San Diego for a night to visit with Brendan's brother Oshin his fiancé Rebecca. Had a quick but great visit. We then headed to just north of the Mexican Border town of Tecate and camped there to cross early in the morning. That night as we tried to sleep in our tent - we heard coyotes rampaging for hours - I have never heard anything so chilling. Then homeland security helicopters were flying very close to the ground and if that wasn't enough a HUGE wind storm hit the camp and made it impossible for me to sleep. Brendan however slept like a log - even though the tent was completely flattened around him. That morning we were up early and crossed into Mexico via the town of Tecate. Just waved right through. Had to find parking and then get our tourist visas - then we were off!!! During our almost two weeks in Mexico we drove as far south as Loreto. We camped on beaches for $8 a night and saw so many amazing sights. Driving near the border is unnerving at best but once you are an hour or so south it's smooth sailing. Stayed in a village called Ejido Eréndira and stayed with our friends dad Eric and his partner Ronnie. We had only planned on staying a day but fell in love. What an amazing little town filled with crazy, friendly, lovely people. Slept overlooking the ocean in their neighbors back yard and befriended every dog in a 20 mile radius.

During our trip we encountered 3 puppies in a yard across where we stayed in San Ignacio on the way down. We promised ourselves we would stop on the way back north and see how they were. Needless to say, on the way back we obtained these 3 puppies who were left alone in the back of a house since they were born -No shelter or water.. (We bartered a deal with the sister inlaw who we tracked down working in a market in town). They were named: Ignacio (Iggy), Guadelupe (Lupe) and Longshanks (Shanks). Iggy and Shanks our living with us and Lupe went to live with Parker's teacher. It is a miracle we only brought back 3!!!

The landscape of Baja is so diverse. Changing by the minute. Sea of Cortez is so beautiful and we played in the Phosphorescence like kids.

Military check points were frequent but fine. All they ever wanted to talk about was my tattoos! Funny to see 18 year olds like fully automatic weapons. But they were all nice enough and the job they did was greatly appreciated.

Anyways… enough rambling - here's some photos. Also from when we went back to Joshua Tree with Parker about a month later.

They are in no particular order :)