1200. More desert, couple of town stops, one stop for military to walk through the bus and look for something, but gladly not us. For speed control where needed, they had hollowed valleys in front of the bumps (HVB's). Very effective, and enforced by design, not a cop, so no ticket revenue for the town… nice they have not copied us that way.
We sit in the seat assigned. My seat was by a window, next to an existing lady, rather stout. With a couple of bags on my seat, she slid them and herself to the window, and angled her sizable butt toward me, and now the elbow rest was denting my butt on the other side while her iron butt denting me as well. If she had a cold with sneezing, I may have opted to walk through the desert and hitchhike; hope her stop is soon! OK, still squeezed, but as we slow for the burros on the road she smiled and offered to share her nuts with me. Now I am the asshole.
S__t, I spoke too soon. Now she IS coughing, and I think I smell germs! Think she would accept one of my cough drops that I always carry? And I don't think I have ever had one side of my butt without the other.
The two lane highway keeps winding through hillsides of cactus and red rocks. Make that plenty of cacti. Speed limit in curves is 60kmh (Brian will know the equivalent MPH), but this bus ain't close to speeding. Driver keeps to the smoother side of the highway, even if that is the wrong side, but it is more comfortable. I am guessing 'camiones' means 'curves' ahead. S__t, it means TRUCKS! And the reality is Trucks on Curves! Arghhh! Big Mother Trucks (BMT's). A whole lot of them. As we slow to zip for more hvb's, our Big Ass Bus (BAB) touches the middle line on one side, and the outer line on the other. Oh yes, beyond the other side is usually a cliff down, so I love it when a Mexican BMT coming toward us , hopefully the road is smooth so they stay on their side of the road.
Whoa, my seatmate shifted again, and now My Boys are getting choked while my butt is still sweating on one side and dented on the other.
Finally found a BMT going slower than we are; now crossing a stream. The water comes from where? All I see is rock. Must be cactus juice, all I can figure. Good, the BMT is now faster downhill.
Best news! After 4 hours of choking The Boys, she just moved her cans. I recaptured an inch and a half of butt room, and The Boys are rejoicing as we slowly wade through more cacti juice while a work crew (I know they are a work crew cause they all have orange vests) throw dirt into the cacti juice (water?). Now I know where Cal Trans sends trainees.
Holy S__ t! Our BAB just passed to the left of a BMT, I mean the sides were within a foot, and the mirrors within inches, but we are back pushing 40kmh while an SUV passes going up a hill on a curve over a solid yellow line. That guy must also drive the 395 to Mammoth.
Just finished our second movie since the last pee stop… did I mention I am 65 now? I can't believe we are starting a third movie, but at least the movie distraction calms my highway anxiety. We just passed a pile of rocks with a cross. Not a whole busload of rocks, at least. So I shared the last of my empanadas with Brian and my seatmate. She accepted. Then, she reciprocated with a canned fruit drink for me (who already has to pee), but I can't offend the culture where I am a guest, so I take a sip, smile, and gesture to share. She signals 'No', all for you! So, I have maintained international relations, but REALLY have to pee.
We switched drivers and techniques. We did slow for the HVB's on the curve, but went on the wrong side of the road to avoid the HVB's. He did pull down a blind for the sun glare. No sun, or even road vision, comes through. Perfecto, Sigh.
You know what I don't see? Trash. I think they made all the messy folks go to the US. Or, maybe these locals take pride in their country. Or, maybe it's too hot to roll down the windows and lose the AC so the trash just stays inside cars.
Third movie not finished, at last a pee stop. Behind even their schedule, so no time for food. A guy who did get a quick taco just sat across the aisle from Brian, and Barfed! Took off his shirt to wipe down… I can't make this stuff up! I gave him my last paper towel from Sauvage. Diana will vouch that I always keep a spare. Fortunately, he has earlier taken off his long sleeve shirt so he just sacrificed his T-shirt. More fortunate was his window seat was open, so he doesn't have to sit in his mess, but I hope that seat does not get assigned the next stop. Oh yeah, I don't recommend the carne asada tacos with a peach drink. FYI Brian says he just choked on his coke and spilled his taco; if I was sitting where he is, I would hold that thought, too.
Not sure where we are, but it is afternoon and we are back in sight of the coast. The Sauvage delivery boys have to wait for the breeze and seas to drop more for their return. Still muy malo. The coast brings more towns, more traffic, and a lot more agriculture. No mas cacti. Who says only CA can change arid land to farmland? Now, we are following a cement truck toward Ensenada. Maybe they will arrive to finish one of those hotels so they can be charged taxes? Not likely. Towns still similar to my old- very old- surfing trips. The tortorilla's and panderia's look the same. Wonder if I can still eat them for 15 cents a day.
Yeah! Just passed a BMT uphill, even if our BAB was over the double line.
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