WildTender Ranch

The directions were these:

"After going through the arches, take a left at the gargoyle and proceed toward the ocean. Eventually, you'll come to another stump with a laughing Buddha on it; go right toward the little cabin and park before the stumps."

I laughed as I read them for the first time, and then again as I read them aloud to my coworkers. "This is a trap," they all said. "We'll send a search party out for you if you're not in the office on Tuesday."

WildTender Ranch was most certainly not a trap. It was a tiny slice of heaven nestled in the untamed hills along Pacific Coast Highway 1. For two days, we camped at the ranch, with sprawling views of the Pacific to our west, and horse-filled mountains to our east. 

The campsite was wrapped in fog when we arrived Friday evening, and again when we woke Saturday morning. It was pleasant, though; the dreary weather eased us into relaxation. We sat around the fire, sipped coffee, and made friends with the ranch dog, a huge husky mix named Nella. When the fog burned off around 10:00 AM, I was dumbfounded. The reaches of the Pacific below us were so vast. There was a herd of free-roaming horses not 100 yards away. With the sunshine, everything transformed.

Below is a collection of photos from our time at WildTender Ranch. If you haven't caught the camping bug yet, be warned.

Sailing Baja California Sur: Part III

We ventured into San José del Cabo for dinner on New Year's Eve and I knew instantly that we had to come back to see this pretty little town in daylight.

Colorful buildings, cobblestone streets, friendly locals, and a smattering of galleries are the essence of San José del Cabo. Nick, Lacy, Garrett, and I came into town on the morning of our departure. We strolled around, popped into a few artists' showrooms, and of course, snapped a few pictures.

Sailing Baja California Sur: Part II

The Puerto Los Cabos marina in San José del Cabo was beautiful. It's fairly new and extremely well-kept, with lush landscaping, bathrooms with warm water (a wonderful thing), and friendly, honest staff. A bicycle and walking path weave throughout, creating easy access to amenities like the open-air restaurant and bar, luxurious Hotel El Ganzo, dolphin swimming, and more. Eleven bronze sculptures by Jose Luis Cuevas are scattered along the path, eerie, beautiful, and daunting. All in all, this marina was pretty amazing.

We kicked off New Year's Day with margaritas at the bar and then headed out to the beach. The beach was gorgeous and almost empty, a real treat. When we ventured back to the boat, we veered off path and discovered — of all things — camels. There were four in a fenced-in paddock, and one was particularly curious. It was a little sad, to be honest, seeing these odd beings locked up so far from home, but it was a cool experience to play around with them nonetheless. Pictures from the day are below!

Up next (and last): Sailing Baja California Sur: Part III

Sailing Baja California Sur: Part I

Garrett and I flew from Christmas holiday in Chicago to Cabo San Lucas to visit our friend Nick. Nick, captain of Wedimynd, is wintering in Mexico before crossing the Pacific this spring. We were joined by his girlfriend, Lacy, who is joining him to spend the better part of January sailing around Mexico. Garrett and I traveled along with them for five short days, starting in Cabo San Lucas and ending in San José del Cabo.

Cabo San Lucas, in a word, was chaotic. It felt somewhat purgatorial, a space caught between development and deconstruction. The mammoth bones of abandoned buildings that littered the landscape were juxtaposed with a vivacious community, which made for a both awe-inspiring and exhausting environment. 

We spent only 48 hours in Cabo which, for me, was enough. On New Year's Eve, we readied Wedimynd for open waters and set sail (well, motored; the wind decided not to show up) to San José del Cabo. The trip took about three and a half hours. It was easy-going, filled with glimpses of stingrays, catching Bonita with a hand line, singing off-key to guitar strumming, all the while being flanked by the rugged coast of Baja California Sur.

Arriving at the Puerto Los Cabos marina was one of my favorite memories of the trip; it so contrasted the hustle and bustle of Cabo San Lucas with its empty, palm tree-lined beach, and quiet, still waters.

The below photos were taken in and around Cabo San Lucas, during our sail along the coast, and arriving into Puerto Los Cabos.

Next up, Sailing Baja California Sur: Part II.

Thanks for reading!