(^148) The tents were pitched behind a petrol station and amongst garbage
and chickens that evening. The petrol station didn’t make the quietest
place to sleep, but I didn’t mind and thought the sound of the trucks
pulling in and out soothing. I liked how they appeared from nowhere
and disappeared into the night. The desert dogs barking was far more
annoying. At least I could look up into the night sky and see fireflies
and shooting stars, a terminology I preferred to ‘meteoroids’ as it
sounds more romantic.
El Oasis – Santa Ana - 100km
The scenery remained unchanged as we biked the hundred kilometres
to Santa Ana. Roadworks made cycling a pain, but the new section
was smooth with a wide shoulder. Upon reaching Benjamin Hill, we
realised it was indeed an uphill trek. However, the gradual downhill
made it easy riding into Santa Ana.
Santa Ana - Magdalena de Kino - 22km
Tiny Magdalena de Kino is situated in a landscape straight out of a
Wild West movie, amongst giant cacti and surrounding hills. At first,
we missed the turn-off as there were no signs and only once on top
of a hill, did we notice the town below.
This charming settlement, with twenty thousand inhabitants, turned
out quite historical. It was here where Father Kino (not sure what his
claim to fame was) passed away at the Mission in 1711. In 1966, the
town was renamed Magdalena de Kino after discovering Kino’s
remains (now displayed in a monument on the plaza for all to see -
so much for RIP). Magdalena was an agreeable settlement with
cobblestone streets, historic churches, and hotels. Vendors sold
trinkets and local produce, but primarily strings of dried chillies.
leana
(Leana)
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