We started our day early, hitting the pickleball court before 8 a.m. Leo, the campground manager at The Last Place, was eager to learn the game, and Ken—who usually plays with us indoors at the YMCA—was excited to try his first outdoor match. Janice teamed up with Leo, while Ken and I paired up for a friendly competition. They won the first two games, we claimed the next two, and they took the tiebreaker. It was great fun!
The rest of the day unfolded at a relaxed pace. I spent some time working on a Gray Family Foundation grant for Umpqua Watersheds. Janice and I indulged in a refreshing midday nap. Somehow, Comet got left out when we came into the motorhome for our nap. Unphazed, she let herself in by climbing up the screen door to the motorhome and through the slider to the main door that was left open. I was napping on the couch and was quite surprised to se her crawling up the screen and jumping through the opening. She was quite proud of herself!
In the afternoon, we took a bike ride to Cabo Pulmo, hoping to visit the farmers' market we had spotted earlier, but it wasn’t open. Undeterred, we explored the area on our e-bikes, relishing the effortless glide over sandy roads. The sense of freedom these bikes provide is incredible—it feels like flying over the desert landscape.
Back at camp, we soaked in the infinity pool, chatting with Jenny, Diana, and Ken under the palapa. As we gazed out over the ocean, we were treated to the sight of a whale and some stingrays playing in the water. I scrambled to get my drone in the air, but by the time it was up, they had disappeared. However, I did spot a sleek yacht in the distance and managed to buzz over for a closer look. With the drone over three miles away and the wind picking up, the battery drained quickly, so I had to bring it back sooner than I’d hoped.
The highlight of the day was an evening hike with Leo in the mountains behind The Last Place. In his early 30s, Leo is an engaging and knowledgeable guide, fluent in English and passionate about the history of the region. He shared fascinating insights about the Pericú, Guaycura, and Cochimí peoples, who lived here for thousands of years. Many of their burial sites were in the caves of Skull Mountain, but they also used the caves in the surrounding hills for shelter from the heat and as sleeping quarters.
As we ascended, breathtaking vistas of the ocean and rugged mountains stretched before us. Near the summit, Leo suddenly paused—he thought he heard a rattlesnake. We never saw one, but the moment added a bit of excitement to the climb. Reaching the rocky peak with our friends was unforgettable.
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