Ajo to Puerto Peñasco

I left Ajo as the eastern sky was beginning to get light.

I made a stop at Roadrunner Java. It was the only place open at that hour and I’d read online that the coffee was good and donuts were excellent. That review was almost correct. The donut and coffee were both excellent. I highly recommend stopping if you’re ever in town, but go soon. The owner is not young and the business is for sale.

Down the road I went, passing the town of Why, still sleeping at just after 6 AM.

And I made my goal, Organ Pipe for sunrise sunrise.

I crossed the border easily though I got an alto (stop) light which meant my vehicle had to be inspected by the aduana, Mexican customs. I chuckled as the vehicle behind me, truck bed piled high with furniture and trailer equally piled, got a pase (green, no inspection) light. The aduana inspected my vehicle for approximately 30 seconds, and one agent asked where I was coming from. He was shocked and pleased when I said Naco. Then he smirked a bit and asked if I had any weapons. I pointed to my fist and said, “Only this.” He laughed and let me get going.

Soon I was south of town and skirting the western edge of a desolate plant and animal preserve called Reserva de la Biosfera El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar.

Fromthe Mexican government’s page: “El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar, is a magical place of stark beauty, unusual creatures, unique plants, and remarkable geological features. It is the largest active dune field in North America and features the unusual star-shaped dunes. In the area there is a spectacular volcanic shield, where there are lava flows, cineritic cones and impressive giant craters.” https://www-gob-mx.translate.goog/semarnat/articulos/reserva-de-la-biosfera-el-pinacate-y-gran-desierto-de-altar-161908?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

I made no stops for photos, just headed southwest to Puerto Peñasco. By that time I was desperate to get my toes in the Sea of Cortez.

Made it. Ahhh!