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Natures playground

Stacey Tourout • April 29, 2023

  Mesquite Canyon

 

  Maturing into an adult can be scary sometimes. Stress lingers as the pressure from society forces your inner child to hide behind the curtains until asked politely to come out and play. Reminding ourselves that the inner child plays an important role in the person we are today, we have chosen a life that compliments that piece of our soul. Today we get to embrace that jungle gym temptation and immerse ourselves into one of Baja’s best kept secrets, Mesquite slot canyon.


 


  Sunday the Chinook and Michael’s 60 series Landcruiser have been secretly discussing how much they enjoy rock crawling together. So of course, we must allow these horses to gallop. It’s so interesting watching the two very differently built vehicles maneuver through obstacles. Michael’s Landcruiser is much closer to the ground as it sits proud on 31 inch tires, and leaf springs. Noticeable right away is the unfortunate hang ups the leaf spring hangers cause. Otherwise, the mighty 60 wagon laughs at most of the terrain and screams old trucks rule the entire way.


  Sunday tends to stare adventure in the face and screams BET! Propped on top of coiled suspension and 35 inch tires, the big rig sways back and forth as he flexes his muscles over the boulders. Quite the show off he is sometimes.


  Pedestrians hike past us in disbelief that vehicles could even drive this far down the canyon. We considered parking with the other vehicles, but that inner child is screaming louder than ever today. Smiling ear to ear, I am outside with the camera, spotting and enjoying every minute of the show. The end of the “road” presents itself, and our group gathers whatever personal belongings they see fit for the hike. I have to laugh when I look at our friends holding a small backpack and a smile, and look down at what Matthew and I are bringing. The camera bag, drone, lunch, phones, towels, clothes sits heavily on our backs. We’ve got this.


  All six of us make our way to the entrance of the slot canyon, and all find ourselves sizing up the narrow hallway ahead. Misshaped boulders invite us in while the morning sun kisses our sunscreen coated cheeks.

 

  The first few meters set the tone for the rest of the journey as we find ourselves taxying our belongings over our heads, forced to succumb to the depths of the first pool. A small waterfall standing above the pool requires luggage hand offs and careful foot placement. Pool after pool, we've transported into what feels like an Indiana Jones video game. We're in a slot canyon jungle gym scattered with surprise palm trees, song birds and even some friendly frogs. The pools range from bath water to refreshing as the canyon narrows, and we all find ourselves elated with the breathtaking beauty and playful experience. As we come to the final pool, we all wish we had more time and more daylight to do it all over again. Instead, we get to roam the plateau above at sunset which brings forth a different version of nature's art. Cacti line the trail, and intimidating jagged rocks kiss the lowering sun.

 

  It's the three of us again tonight, and I think we make a great team. Michael chops wood, I attempt to gather smaller sticks, and Matthew is in charge of eating all of the chips while we're gone. Our first fire in Baja is toasted with a Tecate. We share stories and future plans and savour the warmth until the very last coal. As per usual, the canyon owls hoot us their stories from the day, and we drift off into another deep sleep.

A Hard Goodbye

By Stacey Tourout • July 23, 2023
What is your idea or perception of familiar? What does the “comfort of your own home” look like to you? I know for us familiar looked a lot different seven months ago. Familiar used to be coming home through the same door, sleeping in the same spot, buying the same groceries, hugging the same people. Mexico gave us a new sense of familiar that we weren’t expecting. Familiar is the smiles and greetings from strangers. Familiar is patience as we learn a new language, and familiar is the phone in our palm for Google translate. Familiar is being open to laying our heads anywhere, and familiar is feeling safe. Familiar is not knowing the food you’re purchasing, and letting your taste buds be the judge. Familiar is being so excited about the unfamiliar, that you’ll never know familiar again. Let’s just say the comfort of our home has transitioned from four walls to a million new, way more colourful walls. We love it here.

Soul food in the South

By Stacey Tourout • July 12, 2023
The incredible contrast between temperature, flora and fauna that Mexico elevation reveals will make sure you never feel prepared. Whether you’re coming down a mountain into the hulk green sauna, playing hide and seek with perfect surf breaks or slowly rolling the window back up when you see a pine tree. Mexico touches your skin with different hands around every exaggerated bend.

Cheer for Chiapas

By Stacey Tourout • July 6, 2023
Scrolling on my phone maps around our current location, I notice a think line I haven’t seen in awhile. I pinch, and zoom in to get a better look… a border. Guatemala awaits our arrival, but Mexico still has its strong hold on us. Chiapas could potentially be our last state if we choose to skip the eastern section. This thought throws my stomach out the car window while driving over the bridge. See ya later tummy. It feels like Mexico has warmed up to us just as much as we have to it. In the early days we questioned more and enjoyed the nervousness of our first date with a new country. We moved quickly. Now, , more comfortable with our surroundings, the language and the culture, we’re finding it hard to leave.
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