The Homestead…
The gate to the ranch and the incredible pool area that they are building.
Our wonderful host, Liz picked us up in La Paz and we headed into the mountains for about an hour to arrive at the Rancho La Venta homestead. This approximately 350 acre ranch is a piece of paradise, with 10 horses, 4 dogs, 4 cats, the main house, a casita for guests and an amazing pool built on the side of the mountain.
Our wonderful host, Liz picked us up in La Paz and we headed into the mountains for about an hour to arrive at the Rancho La Venta homestead. This approximately 350 acre ranch is a piece of paradise, with 10 horses, 4 dogs, 4 cats, the main house, a casita for guests and an amazing pool built on the side of the mountain.
Our honeymoon castia - outside and inside
Relaxing and Happy Hour on our private patio
Our cozy honeymoon casita featured a private patio and an outdoor washroom/shower close to the horses and the garden area. We spent the first night with Bob and Liz who took us to a local truck stop restaurant, which was an authentic Mexican experience (only $35.00 for full meals and beer!). They originally hailed from Alaska where Liz had a restaurant (needless to say the meals she prepared were amazing) and Bob was a commercial fisherman. Prior to that he spent many years sailing the oceans, so he and Peter had quite a bit in common. Liz is also an artist, singer and passionate horse-lover and dog rescuer. We became fast friends.
The Campsite….
Our rustic casita - thatched roof and dirt floors - totally comfy
The next morning, after coffee and cinnamon buns on our patio, we saddled up the horses and headed cross country for about 6 hours to the wilderness camp, which was much more “deluxe” than we had expected. It had 3 individual casitas, an outdoor shower and an outhouse with a view. We set up camp under a large tree where meals were prepared over the open fire, Liz’s special margaritas were dished up and tall tales were shared around the campsite, while the horses wandered throughout the camp.
Goats wandering through camp
The adventure continued just before dinner when our horses all spooked and my horse ran right through the page wire fence letting all the horses out. In their flight they scared either a cougar or coyote away who had just moments before killed a baby goat. My horse Cuba sustained cuts to his chest, but no serious damage and the horses were easily rounded up. Bob trucked the dead goat to its owner, who was able to salvage the meat.
For the next two days we set out from this base camp and rode though a variety of terrain, including mountain trails cut out by the cows and deers, palm trees, cactus and we cantered through the dry river beds, locally known as arroyos. The riding was fantastic! We also visited Scott and Kathleen, friends of Bob and Liz who have a minimalist homestead run on solar energy, requiring a 3-mile walk in and out. We hit it off instantly with them as well. Very special people. Full moon rising over the campfire
Outhouse with a view - shower in the great outdoors
On the last day at camp after going for a ride, we trailored the horses back to Ranch La Venta and spent the evening at Liz and Bob’s house for dinner and another night at the honeymoon casita. The next day, after our final ride around the ranch, they drove us to visit with our old Abbotsford friends Kate and Lee Fenner who live 7 months of the year at their beautiful home in Los Brailes.
Visit with Kate & Lee….
We arrived at Happy Hour and spent a few hours catching up before their friends joined us for a lively dinner on the deck overlooking the ocean. Just before dinner, I went in to our bedroom to finish making up the bed, when I got a big surprise. I got stung by a Scorpion!!! It was very ironic that we were so careful while out in the bush, but I got zapped while in the house. (Poor Kate was horrified). Liz had a very large and scary centipede in her wilderness casita, which she fried in the fire, but that was the closest we came to being bitten out in the camp. The scorpion sting was quite painful and throughout the evening the fire continued up my arm. 
We managed to polish off a few bottles of wine and that seemed to help!! Now a couple of days later, the pain is almost all gone – but the good thing about it (just for you Krys) is I now have another great story to add to my memory treasure chest! We spent all of Sunday with Kate and Lee showing us their wonderful town and then we caught a bus back to La Paz where we plan on spending the next few weeks while Peter gets the alternator fixed, other boat projects completed and we take daily immersion Spanish lessons.
Until next time…….do something crazy.
Until next time…….do something crazy.
1 comment:
Sounds like you two are really having a blast, I keeping checking on your updates.Cathryn T
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