Baja Get Away by Jinx Schwartz

Author:Jinx Schwartz [Schwartz, Jinx]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-04-14T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

After a visit to PAWs to consult with the fine folks there about taking a “stray” back to the US, we headed for Santa Rosalia to buy dog food and treats, and pick up Chinese for ourselves and Scruffy. Since he was probably sleeping in the van with us until we reached the border, his part would not be spicy nor pungent.

We ate while parked on Santa Rosalia’s malecón—a stone-built esplanade high above the waterfront—because we were sticking to our vow to avoid gringos as much as possible, at least in the southern half of Baja California. Once we crossed into Baja Norte, the chance of running into someone who might ID me were much slimmer.

I’d wanted to stop in Mulegé long enough to show Jeff the lovely little oasis town, but chances were too great of encountering some of the same folks we’d seen at Taco Tuesday the night before at Playa Buenaventura. The less gringos the better.

Walking Scruffy along the malecón, it was obvious he wasn’t leash trained, but he was so affable he let me lead him rather than him pulling me, which he was certainly capable of doing. He’d be a quick study once I had time to spend with him, teaching him the ropes. If I wasn’t locked up somewhere. In that case, he would have to be trained by Jeff, my sister, or my parents. Not that any of them knew that yet.

The water below was still roughed up from the north wind the night before, but I also detected a seasonal change in the air. I experienced a moment of melancholy, remembering spring days in Texas.

Tears blurred the waves crashing on the black sand beach—not volcanic like in Hawaii, but black granulated slag from the town’s historic copper smelting days—as I suddenly realized this might be my last look at the Sea of Cortez, maybe forever. I’d grown to love it, and the Baja, and didn’t want to leave, but life happens, and it was time.

I wiped my cheeks and said, “Scruffy, if we’re lucky, we’ll be in Texas for bluebonnet season this year. I’ll bet you’re gonna love all that green stuff, huh? After all, you’re part Irish.”

“Guau.”

“That’s what I thought. Maybe I’ll get you a doggie DNA test one of these days.” As we walked, I gauged the reaction of most Mexicans we met and was satisfied that, despite the dog’s sweet nature and tail wagging, he sent a few scurrying across the road. “Perfecto, big boy. Now if I can only teach you to actually bark or growl in English.”

“Guau-guau.”

***

When we returned to the van, Jeff was happily hunched over his laptop. “We have a strong cell signal!”

I hooked Scruffy to the door handle, put his water bowl next to him, and climbed inside. He curled up on the sidewalk and dozed off.

“I doubt we’ll get much service from here on out if we don’t want to check into a hotel.” I dug out my iPad and logged onto his Jetpack.

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